Michigan a must win?

L

longtimer

Well-Known Member
If we have any hope of making the tournament I think we need this one. Not only because we need another good road win for the resume but because if we lose that is 5 in a row and this team could really go in the tank. (we have experience at that) Michigan is certainly a winnable game if we can find someone to make a shot. Uhtoff needs to step up. I thought he was going to be the key to our season and he just hasn't played very well especially on the offensive side.

Maybe we should be happy to be where we are. No way we beat this Wisconsin team so those two losses were going to happen. Beating North Carolina and Ohio State twice would never happen again. We really got them at the right time. So now we just need to beat some teams that we are capable of beating and maybe win a couple in the tournament to get into the dance. Fran needs to show us that he can get a team to play their best at the end of the year when it counts.
 
Most of the remaining games are must wins, play .500 ball and 9-9 might not be good enough.

Fran is looking like he is running out of answers with this team. You can say the hawks right now are 4-2 in the Big and 0-2 against Wisky as the OP said.

But they really looked poor against Purdue for 25+ minutes. They just cant play poor for that long of a stretch in games and Fran cant seem to pull them out of it.

Hawks need to be 10-8 in league so every game they drop is another must win. Win at Michigan and it gives you more breathing room.

I would love to see these players do the opposite as last year and go on a great run.
 
The way I see it is if we go 0-2 in the next 2, we have no room for a slip up against the bottom teams. If we go 1-1 we are almost for sure in the tourney. If we can somehow go 2-0 we will have the inside track for 2nd place in the B1G. The whole season pretty much comes down to these 2 games.
 
Not much room for error after losing to Purdue. That was a winnable game that Iowa just didn't seem to want.

Pretty much every game is a must win the rest of the way.
 
I wouldn't put in the the "must win" category. I think the Maryland game is much bigger. Home game against a really good team. Iowa could use another quality win.

But they are a bad matchup for Iowa. Athletic and good in the backcourt.
 
We have to get at least 6 more wins. If we get 7 we're an NCAA lock IMO. Michigan is not a must win. But it will be easier (and less stressful) to go 6-3 than 7-2.

Keep in mind Pomeroy had Iowa starting 2-7 and ending 7-2. That's because our schedule is brutal on the front end and much easier on the back end. If we go 4-5 we're still fine. But we need that 7-2 if the 4-5 happens.
 
I'm watching MICH match MSU bucket for bucket in East Lansing, with 8 minutes to go. I wouldn't bet on us winning in AA.
 
lightning1 said:
I'm watching MICH match MSU bucket for bucket in East Lansing, with 8 minutes to go. I wouldn't bet on us winning in AA.
Click to expand...

I agree, I have been watching it off and on. hadnt seen much of Mich but it sounds from my deciphering of Raftery that Mich and Beilein have found a couple more players. Mich looks more athletic than us and probably better shooters
 
I don't think Michigan is a must win at all. Consider the following:

- It's not unthinkable that Ohio State could run the rest of their schedule. Their toughest remaining games are @MSU and home against Wisconsin to end the year. They almost for sure won't go undefeated, but Ohio State right now is close to being an RPI top 25 team already and Iowa beat them twice. If Ohio State reaches the top 25 RPI, Iowa suddenly is 3-4 against the RPI top 25 including 2 road wins and Maryland coming up. That will be impossible for the committee to ignore.

- UNC is playing really well right now. They blew a large lead @Louisville yesterday which sucks, but UNC is doing damage in the ACC and aren't done yet

- Those Wisconsin, Iowa State, UNI and Texas losses aren't going to hurt at all

- Purdue and Syracuse are currently well within the RPI top 100 and shouldn't drop below that. Hopefully they can finish strong

- 7 of Iowa's final 8 games are very winnable.

- Home game against Maryland is coming up. A win there would be massive.

Iowa just needs to avoid those horrible losses against teams like NW, Rutgers or Minnesota. That will be the key to the home stretch. On top of that we all need to become huge Ohio State fans the rest of the way.

Maybe I'm ignorantly optimistic but I still like Iowa's chances
 
I think we will lose the next 2. How will that effect the fragile will of this team? That will be 5 losses in a row, if that happens. I highly doubt this team is capable of the mental toughness needed to brush that kind of losing streak off. I hope I'm wrong.
 
I rarely thank MSU for anything but I am appreciative of the physically and emotionally exhausting OT win they just handed Michigan. Every advantage is welcome. Does anyone know when Walton is supposed to be back?
 
Mich playing some decent ball. For that reason, this is a must win.
 
I completely expect(ed) Wisky, Michigan, Maryland to be losses, even before White and Gabe owies.

Purdue was the must win and that barrel has already crashed at the bottom of the falls. Because of that, Hawks already have 2 wheels off the NCAA track.

They absolutely must take care of business against Minny, Rutgers, NwU - something they've at least been able to do all year is beat those they should beat - and Illannoy at home. They also must steal one of the 2 at Nebby or Penn State, to get to 10-8. (Indiana is a guaranteed loss but at least not a "bad" one.)

So, have to finish 10-8 in B14, 19-12. That's doing what they should do and while no signature wins, no terrible losses, either. That's also a more favorable 6-4 over their last 10 - something the Committee pays more attention to than you think is how you playing now. 10-8 / 19-12 has them in the last 4 in / last 4 out discussion. That'll leave the BTT to determine which group of 4 they're in.

They can lock into the NCAA by winning both @ PSU and Nebby to get to 11-7 and 20 total wins. The BTT would then be for seed.

So, no Michigan is not "must win". Michigan is an expected loss. Don't even play, it's a guarantee. The absolute, hands-down "must wins" are Minny, Rutgers, NwU x 2, Illannoy.
 
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