So Iowa has started 5-0 with 2 wins against MSU and a win at Purdue. I think it's fair to say this is much better than anyone expected. I initially thought we would be 10-8 or 11-7 in conference play. I now thing 14-4 is actually realistic, but if I had to put money on it, I would say 13-5 and a 4 or 5 seed in the Dance.
New Conference Win Predictions
- Thread starter DJL
- Start date
WindsorHawk
Well-Known Member
I was at 12-6 last March...obviously. Like most Hawk fans I want to temper my expectations. But if I were looking at any other team in the Big 10 and they had done what we have done through the 1st 5 games I would say 16-2. If we beat Purdue Sunday we are a virtual lock for no worse than 9-1 after 10...losing at Maryland. If we are 10-0 then 18-0 is attainable. Today I will say 15-3 but I honestly think 16-2 if we stay healthy. Our bench gets better day by day.
Edit - I will be surprised by anything lower than a 3 seed. Right now Maryland is a 1, Iowa a 2 and MSU a 3 IMO.
Edit - I will be surprised by anything lower than a 3 seed. Right now Maryland is a 1, Iowa a 2 and MSU a 3 IMO.
That is optimistic, but it is a long season and it's easy to drop a game or two on the road that we aren't expected to. I think this is a very good team, but I'm trying to be as realistic as possible.
WindsorHawk
Well-Known Member
1977Hawkeye
Well-Known Member
*IF* Iowa sustains their level of play all year long, I'll say 15-3, which I think would put us at 24-6 heading into the BTT. Probable 2-3 seed in the dance.
-A split with Purdue/MD (most likely losing @MD)
-A split @ILL/@IND (@ILL always seems like a tricky game for us, no matter how good either team is)
-Loss @Michigan
If Iowa stumbles.. Well, don't wanna go there, but 12-6 seems like about the floor.
-A split with Purdue/MD (most likely losing @MD)
-A split @ILL/@IND (@ILL always seems like a tricky game for us, no matter how good either team is)
-Loss @Michigan
If Iowa stumbles.. Well, don't wanna go there, but 12-6 seems like about the floor.
Fair point. But the early losses have me skeptical. Like I said, I believe this is a very good team and I think they are much different than they were earlier in the year, but I still think they will lose a game or two that they shouldn't. Most teams do.
1977Hawkeye
Well-Known Member
I agree with both these points. Many teams are much better in Jan/Feb than in November, yet nobody brings their A game every single game and can drop one they weren't expecting. The @ILL and @IND type games concern me. I'm not looking past the Boilers later this week, either. Just because we won on their court is no guarantee Iowa wins in Carver (although I like our odds). Gotta bring it every night.
Predicting 5 conference loses with the schedule we have left and with the teams we've already beat isn't very realistic at all. It's very possible it could happen. But it's not realistic to predict at this point. 3-4 loses is realistic and most likely. I would say the odds of having 2 loses is about the same as the odds of having 5 loses.
WindsorHawk
Well-Known Member
mopkins
King Kong
Iowa has a tougher schedule the rest of the way than Indiana does. I see Iowa losing 3-5 Big Ten games and Indiana losing 2-4 games. Indiana will probably be favored in every game they play until they go @Michigan on Feb 2nd. They just haven't seemed to miss a beat yet without Blackmon. Hopefully that changes soon.
atomicblue224
Well-Known Member
Tiptontiger
Well-Known Member
We are very hot right now. If we can play this way night in and night out then yes I agree with you. I just expect they we are going to have some tough nights. And that's ok. I honestly believe there is no reason why we couldn't be at least an Elight 8 team the way we are playing right now. After reading everyone's posts maybe I am being a little pessimistic. Maybe I should predict 3 losses instead of 5
I'm just glad they aren't any better than they are or the rest of the conference wouldn't even have a chance.
atomicblue224
Well-Known Member
We all know that Tommy"Cream his pants" when looking at hard schedule and he feel sorry for his team and changed schedule to "Cream Puff schedule". Right,Guys?
Last edited:
HawkAssassin
Well-Known Member
Indiana and Maryland will start losing games when they go up against teams who make them pay for turning the ball over frequently and wasting possessions.
There are too many teams in the B1G who either can't score or have no offensive structure.
There are too many teams in the B1G who either can't score or have no offensive structure.
bcl20
Well-Known Member
I'm not sure Illinois actually runs an offense. How the hell did they beat Purdue?
