Early in the year it was encouraging to play well against good teams. Iowa State and Wisconsin are good examples. Obviously playing well "close' and losing has become sort of the trademark of this team. The 2 "big" wins over Ohio State and Michigan were not that close. We have won some close games over mediocre teams, but its Tournament time. If you are going to go any where in the tournament you have to win at the end. I remember what Al Maguire the Marquette coach said after he won a National Championship. "Your last shot has to go in" Time to find someone on this team to make that final shot and this would be a good week. doubtful we beat Michigan State easily and if we were to beat them it will be making something happen at the end. A close well played loss by Iowa just doesnt have the good feel it had early in the year
Need to win a close one over somebody Good
- Thread starter longtimer
- Start date
OSU was closer than the final 10 point margin.
It was 70-68 with just under 3 minutes left before Iowa closed the game out with a 14-6 run and 10 of those points came on made free throws for the Hawks.
http://espn.go.com/ncb/playbyplay?gameId=400509979
It was 70-68 with just under 3 minutes left before Iowa closed the game out with a 14-6 run and 10 of those points came on made free throws for the Hawks.
http://espn.go.com/ncb/playbyplay?gameId=400509979
Eda
Well-Known Member
Just beat me to it.
The FT's at the end "inflated" the win, but to suggest it wasn't a battle throughout would greatly undersell that game.
homes
Well-Known Member
Arguing whether the OSU win was a close game or not is losing the forest for the trees. Longtimer's point is still a good one. Iowa has had plenty of "good" losses. However, at this time of the year, there aren't any good losses, just losses. If Iowa bows out early in the tournament (either one) after losing a close game, no one is going to recall this season with the thought, "yeah, but they lost a lot of close games". But, if they can win the close ones going forward, they have a chance to make it a memorable season for themselves and us fans.
MSU will be jacked sideways for this game. Sr day, played poorly last time out, and always has our number. Count on everything they throw up going in (ya that Byrd guy will probably hit his 2nd three of the season, again, against us). Can't the Hawks withstand the onslaught? Dunno....
