New Expectations

I watched a total of about 2 minutes of the game yesterday, which makes me totally unqualified to write any kind of opinion about how they looked...but in that two minute span...White missed a point blank layup....and Augustana came down, threw it right into the paint and the guy hit a hook shot....

So, despite being unqualified to draw any conclusions from that game...I'll go ahead and say, based on what I saw...god we suck. Will we win a game all year? :)
 
Getting to the Dance is the next step in the resurgence of Iowa basketball. Now, if we get to the tourney and only last a round ... well ... disappointing ... but I think a learning lesson for the players and the staff to build on for next season.

My two cents, this team makes it to at least the second round ... All I know is it just feels good to be excited about Iowa basketball once again.
 
Sweet 16 would tie for the best season in my life as an Iowa basketball fan so I will absolutely not be expecting that.
 
greenrocket said:
I think the problem we're having is that between the extra time in the NIT last year, the europe trip and the fact that we didn't really lose anyone people were expecting a better performance. It's not like this team has never played together...THAT's why we're worried. Because what I saw reminded me of last year so much it hurts. Team that can't shoot from outside, relies on free-throw shooting to stay in it and plays salty defense. Except even the defense was suspect.

/rant.
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Play the exact same as last year and just don't choke at the end and this is a really, really good team. Even without improved three point shooting.
 
greenrocket said:
I think the problem we're having is that between the extra time in the NIT last year, the europe trip and the fact that we didn't really lose anyone people were expecting a better performance. It's not like this team has never played together...THAT's why we're worried. Because what I saw reminded me of last year so much it hurts. Team that can't shoot from outside, relies on free-throw shooting to stay in it and plays salty defense. Except even the defense was suspect.

/rant.
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We used 19 different lineups before subbing out yesterday. What you saw was hardly what you can expect to see come January.
 
SonofaSailor said:
I was pretty realistic in my expectations, figured an NCAA tourney berth would be enough to label this year a success. But then I read some of Jon's latest stuff...as well as the Pearl tweets...and etc...I've upped my threshold...I think an elite eight appearance would be considered a "good" year, but Sweet 16 for sure. I have been convinced this team has enough talent they SHOULD make a deep run in the NCAA tournament come March.
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So let's see if I have this right. A team that hasn't made the NCAA tournament since 2006 and won an actual NCAA game since 2001 "should" make a deep run in the NCAA tournament? Now we sound like Kansas or Michigan State fans, except they actually have recent hsitory to make claims like that.

This Iowa team has a nice roster. It's strengths are that there are a lot of tall guys, and 10-11 guys who appear to be legitimate B1G players. But Iowa still lacks the elite-level talent that the top tier teams have. Will having a large number of experienced, good-but-not-great players, be enough to push Iowa to a great season and deep March run? Possibly. But there's no way you can look at this Iowa team and say it would be disappointing season if they made the NCAA tournament and won only one game once it got there.
 
tm3308 said:
We used 19 different lineups before subbing out yesterday. What you saw was hardly what you can expect to see come January.
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Good to see at least one other person isn't ready to jump headfirst into the ravine with the jagged rocks...
 
sportstalent said:
Good to see at least one other person isn't ready to jump headfirst into the ravine with the jagged rocks...
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I haven't actually read too many posts. Is this actually a thing people are doing? If so, I may ban myself from this board.
 
sportstalent said:
To everyone already questioning this team: go away please.

It is an exhibition, not one time when I watched that game, I didn't see Marble even look like he was going to remotely force anything. He was simply a facilitator, I didn't watch the whole thing, but a good portion of it.

Is the football season that terrible that you have to bring the ignorance over to this board.

Temper your expectations, the rotation is by no means set and the two new guys looked a little out of sorts, but Iowa still have some very good players. I liked what I saw out of Woodbury today, I saw no hesitation when he had the ball and he is still one of the best passers on the team.
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Adam looks more poised......

I liked what I saw. The various combinations are going to drive the opponents crazy.....

:rolleyes:
 
Preseason ranking.... 29th.

If we were to assume this is accurate.... making the NCAA tourney and winning the first round to make the round of 32 would be reasonable expectations.
 
bcl20 said:
I haven't actually read too many posts. Is this actually a thing people are doing? If so, I may ban myself from this board.
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I am amazed at what people say after an EXHIBITION game...it is for funsies...nothing is set and people are applled at how Iowa played...
 
Auggie is a pretty solid program and no worse than the many of the non-conf opponents the Hawks played last season. They were a perfect exhibition matchup that offered a challenge while playing off some rust.

If the Hawks can basically go through the motions (many guys were), play around with a ridiculous amount of personnel combos, get Darius Stokes, Kyle Meyer and Okey Ukah in the game, at the same time, for more than just a few seconds to run out the clock, shoot terrible from 3 and still win by 22 in a game with very little flow ... yeah, expectations still intact.
 
bcl20 said:
Play the exact same as last year and just don't choke at the end and this is a really, really good team. Even without improved three point shooting.
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Truth. Iowa let a lot of games get away late last year. Just finish the deal and that was easily an NCAA team.

It also would help to not have some of those lucky 3's that always seem to go in against us with time running out.. Our luck has to improve at some point.

Sure hope we shoot better, though. We don't have to lead the league in 3 point shooting or anything - just serviceable outside shooting would be a huge help.
 
STILLBUSTER said:
Auggie is a pretty solid program and no worse than the many of the non-conf opponents the Hawks played last season. They were a perfect exhibition matchup that offered a challenge while playing off some rust.

If the Hawks can basically go through the motions (many guys were), play around with a ridiculous amount of personnel combos, get Darius Stokes, Kyle Meyer and Okey Ukah in the game, at the same time, for more than just a few seconds to run out the clock, shoot terrible from 3 and still win by 22 in a game with very little flow ... yeah, expectations still intact.
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Yes, auggie is a solid program, but let's not forget they are a division 3 program with zero scholarship players. To say they are "no worse than the many non conference opponents Iowa played last year," is absolutely ridiculous and ignorant. A low D1 basketball program is far superior to the top end D3 schools. Not one kid on that auggie roster even sniffed a D1 scholarship. Beating them by 22 is not something to be ok with, and even Fran said they outplayed us. We played poorly against highly inferior competition. But we aren't the first or last good basketball team to do that. Can't wait for Friday!
 
Wow, that is some serious optimism by the OP. Hard to take much away from an exhibition game against a D III school and more than a few guys seemed disinterested. No Clemmons, who is the one guy I really wanted to see on the court based on his PTL success. I think it comes down to whether or not the team shoots better from 3and if another scorer emerges to take heat off Marble or be there when he is off.
 
tednugentfan said:
Wow, that is some serious optimism by the OP. Hard to take much away from an exhibition game against a D III school and more than a few guys seemed disinterested. No Clemmons, who is the one guy I really wanted to see on the court based on his PTL success. I think it comes down to whether or not the team shoots better from 3and if another scorer emerges to take heat off Marble or be there when he is off.
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I think we have 3 guys average double digit scoring in Marble, White, and Gesell. Then on any given night one of the following can be in double digits as well (McCabe, Woody, Olaseni, Basabe, Uthoff, or Jok). I am not saying any of those guys average double digits, but they are certainly capable any given night, and Fran can ride the hot hand at the time.
 
My expectations are the same. 20-22 wins. NCAA bid and 1st round 'W'.

This 'could be top ten', 'could be final four contender', is nothing more than talking heads taking a shot that a good team can become really good so they can look like geniuses.

Iowa is a 'safe' bet to make them look like geniuses. Iowa was on the bubble last year. Iowa lost a few close games that they could have won. Iowa is in a major conference. If they pick a team from a mid-major then anyone can say they were just taking a wild shot. Iowa is not a wild full-court shot.

Iowa is high reward/low risk for the talking heads to pick Iowa as a "surprise" team. If Iowa doesn't then they can always say, "Well, I said they were good but could be...."

* * *

Iowa must shoot the 3 better than last year. Even just an avg shooting percentage and things will work out. If not, a good team that struggles to win. -Capt. Obvious
 
My expectations are 25 wins and NCAA tournament berth at the minimum. BIG is still strong but not as ridiculously good as last year. We return basically everyone.
 
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