Miller: Iowa-Ohio State Game Most Important in Six Years

Most in our fan base do not have unrealistic expectations for today's game. Today is about rewarding the kids and the program for laboring through the doldrums and the abyss of what the program had become. Know matter the outcome today we not only have hope but we can see light in the distance.

I hope most we play well and with great energy. Then let the chips fall where they may. I am concerned about our players not having experienced this kind of game with this kind of magnitude. Will be good learning experience.

Go Hawks!

Nice piece John
 
Mark your calendars. Our fanbase is starting to mature. I don't ever remember this fanbase being this excited while still remaining grounded in reality. That's a big step fellas and lasses.

I have been to one Iowa basketball game in my life and it was the Alford era. It wasn't pretty. I have never been a basketball fan in general, life long wrestling guy. I watched the entirety of the Purdue game last season and it was perfect. It put a little energy into my blood for Iowa basketball. I started following them this season and the last two games has that energy back. I will be attending the game this afternoon and am genuinely excited. I don't get excited for sports that aren't Iowa football. I think there are probably a lot of 'new fans' such as myself who will be testing the waters of Iowa basketball today. All it will take is one electric and energetic experience and we'll be hooked. So as Jon said, this game is huge for this program. It doesn't have to be a win. Like a drug dealer, just give them a little taste and they'll be hooked. Make it exciting. Make it an atmosphere. Make it an experience and the people will return.

See you all at Carver. And if you're feeling extra supportive, stick around to watch the #1 Hawkeye wrestling team face off against the #2 Oklahoma State Cowboys for what is sure to be a wild dual. It's a whole other kind of energy and environment for a wrestling match.

Good day, God bless and Go Hawks!
 
Expect Archie to get quite a few minutes. I hope he keeps his head in the game. He is probably Iowa's best defender in the paint. I'm wondering if McCaffery may start him?
 
John, I believe that Fran will get us back to the Lute Olsen type of years..But like you said, we can become jaded and take success for granted and just expect it. Like we are with KF. He has had the best run ever for an Iowa coach,yet we find faults with him that perhaps are not really there. When Iowa hoops is back,I hope that we as fans can just appreciate the journey and never take for granted what it takes to compete at such a high level. What I guess I'm saying is I hope we don't end up running Fran off if he doesn't produce as we think he should like we did to Lute. Go Hawks! Beat OSU!
 
SpecialKHawk said:
Most in our fan base do not have unrealistic expectations for today's game.
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I hope that is the case...this thread has been surprising in that most people don't expect a win..people understand the process and evolution is still taking place and that today is a chance to have a little bit of a celebration along the way. So let's party ;)
 
The one thing that would make this an amazing beginning to a new year? A thread around 4:00 saying " We are back!!" Go HAWKS!!!
 
big10fan said:
We are playing much better than the start of the year, and that has me pumped. But, this article seems to have fairly unrealistic expectations for the game. I much prefer to sit back and just enjoy,no expectations, this year.

Man would a win be awesome, but I just don't see it. They are literally better at every position, with several NBA players. It would take a herculean effort like Cole's Purdue game last year.
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Jon didn't lay out anything unrealistic. He said he doesn't expect a win, but he expects a solid game and a great crowd. Neither is out of the question.
 
I'm as excited for the atmosphere as I am for the game itself. It seems strange to type that, but it really is the case. I've been taking my daughter to games for years and she has grown up to stories about how Carver and Iowa basketball used to be. She looks at me when I tell her these stories as if I'm telling her that I used to have to walk 5 miles to school everyday...uphill...both ways(thank you Bill Cosby).

Although the crowds have gotten more respectable this year, today's game will probably be the first one in forever in which we will see an example of how things used to be. I'm just really pumped for her to be a part of it all.
 
I recently picked up an apple TV box and have been watching some 1980's games on the big screen. It floored me how insane the atmosphere in CHA used to be...to the point where it was mildly depressing remembering how things were. I think today will wake up some of the echoes of the past and I am so pumped to be a part of it, in the stands and not on press row. Daughter got sick, so I am going with my dad for a Carver Doubleheader. Can't wait.
 
Jon Sorry about your daughter being ill, but I'm sure your father and yourself will have a great Saturday! I also remember going to Carver and not seeing an empty seat. Unfortunately unable to make it today " also daughter obligations" do your best to help get CHA rocking again!! GO HAWKS!
 
Iowa only played OSU once in the regular season in 2006,and did win that game,and the BTT final,so they went 2-0 vs the Bucks.
I do not lump 2006-07 in with the last 4 years. We were 9-7 in the Big Ten...that is more than respectable,and we had an all Big Ten player who led the league in scoring in Adam Haluska,as well as Tyler Smith who made the All Big Ten Frosh team.

Good writeup,Jon. And yes, Iowa fans do need to keep in mind that OSU has 11 top 100 players that play 10+ minutes a game,while Iowa has 1 top 100 player (Gatens)on their whole roster. But, only 5 can play at a time,and bb is a funny game,so you never know.
Still, this OSU team is unbelievably loaded and a testament to Matta the Recruiting Machine. How he can convince recruits to come and sit is beyond me.

Fill the house,Hawkfans...and make it rock off the foundation. Remember ....OSU is winless on the road this year(0-2,with losses at KU and IU) and outside of Buford/Sully, they do not shoot free throws that well...Craft is at 66%...could be huge down the stretch of a tight game with a raucous crowd taunting them?
 
It is not only great to see the Hawks improving and providing some optimism for fans, it's will be great to see Carver rockin' once again.

I too grew up in the days when you could hardly beg, borrow, or steal a seat for a Hawkeye basketball game. I do miss the bigger crowds, but more so, I miss the excitement and passion from the fans.

Let's show these young bucks what it used to be like back in the good ol' days. :D
 
Most important game of in 6 years in a game that we will likely to and are expected to lose? I can't agree with this.
 
Then go on not caring bcl and take your miserable attitude somewhere else. Most of us realize how far the team has come under Fran. They've grown up a lot in 2 years. Hell they are playing like a different team now than they were at the beginning of the season. The point is Hawkeye fans are excited to watch their basketball team again and Carver will be rocking. If you tune in this afternoon and see how packed that arena is then maybe you'll realize why many of us agree with Jon's opinion regarding the importance of this game.

Personally, I'd be thrilled to see Matt Gatens have a huge game tonight. That young man deserves it. He's stuck with the Hawks through the lowest of the lows and as far as I know he hasn't complained once. That kind of attitude is hard to find in athletes these days and I've have gained a tremendous amount of respect for him because of it.
 
We will likely be " expected " to lose most games the rest of the year. We will lose more than we win,most likely. The anticipation that we win however is something we haven't seen in many years. I for one am very encouraged for what the future holds for this team. Fran " so far " is the man! GO HAWKS!!
 
Nice post DP5555, couldn't agree more. Nice to have something to cheer about once football Season is over." Wrestling excluded " GO HAWKS!!
 
DP5555 said:
Then go on not caring bcl and take your miserable attitude somewhere else. Most of us realize how far the team has come under Fran. They've grown up a lot in 2 years. Hell they are playing like a different team now than they were at the beginning of the season. The point is Hawkeye fans are excited to watch their basketball team again and Carver will be rocking. If you tune in this afternoon and see how packed that arena is then maybe you'll realize why many of us agree with Jon's opinion regarding the importance of this game.

Personally, I'd be thrilled to see Matt Gatens have a huge game tonight. That young man deserves it. He's stuck with the Hawks through the lowest of the lows and as far as I know he hasn't complained once. That kind of attitude is hard to find in athletes these days and I've have gained a tremendous amount of respect for him because of it.
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Yeah, because saying that I don't agree that this is the biggest game in 6 years is the same as not caring.

I'm dressed head to toe in Iowa **** in the middle of freaking Indiana in anticipation for this game and I don't care. You obviously missed my point.
 
Kind of surprised we are a 12 point underdog. Didn't think it would be that much. Let's go hawks, we beat wisky on the road as a 17pt dog. Lets do it at home today.
 
BCL, I think the point he was Trying to make is we have not had a reason to be excited for a LONG time. This is the biggest game for Iowa basketball in many many years! Fans are excited again and without the fan support their is no Iowa basketball. Wear your Hawkeye gear proudly and get excited for our BB future, because we are " almost back "! GO HAWKS!!
 
DP5555 said:
Then go on not caring bcl and take your miserable attitude somewhere else. Most of us realize how far the team has come under Fran. They've grown up a lot in 2 years. Hell they are playing like a different team now than they were at the beginning of the season. The point is Hawkeye fans are excited to watch their basketball team again and Carver will be rocking. If you tune in this afternoon and see how packed that arena is then maybe you'll realize why many of us agree with Jon's opinion regarding the importance of this game.

Personally, I'd be thrilled to see Matt Gatens have a huge game tonight. That young man deserves it. He's stuck with the Hawks through the lowest of the lows and as far as I know he hasn't complained once. That kind of attitude is hard to find in athletes these days and I've have gained a tremendous amount of respect for him because of it.
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yep, classic overreaction post and reading way to much into it. obviously this guy doesn't want iowa to win.
 
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