So how bad do Hawks beat Wisconsin on Sun?

[HawksMN]

It has been a struggle for Iowa to close out victories in games such as this one. There has to come a time for this team to "get over the hump". I have no doubts we will either be ahead late in this game or trail by just a few points. It comes down to somebody making clutch free throws and making a clutch shot for once. We have a knack for playing well in every game, then getting soft on defense allowing good teams to come back while we miss shots, free throws and commit silly turnovers. For this team to take the next step under Fran and prove we are back..we need to close out a game like this down the stretch for confidence. I'm assuming we will be at a point to take that step Sunday night..it's just a matter of can we make it happen. We will see

This is dead on.

 

[83Hawk]

Obviouly recent success vs Wisconsin does not necessarily mean that will continue. Iowa will need to hit a good percentage of their 3's, and knock down those free throws. Do that, play hard nosed defense, win the battle on the boards, play smart basketball...and there is no reason to think the Hawks can't come away with a victory.

And should they lose....well, the season isn't over.

 

[WindsorHawk]

It has been a struggle for Iowa to close out victories in games such as this one. There has to come a time for this team to "get over the hump". I have no doubts we will either be ahead late in this game or trail by just a few points. It comes down to somebody making clutch free throws and making a clutch shot for once. We have a knack for playing well in every game, then getting soft on defense allowing good teams to come back while we miss shots, free throws and commit silly turnovers. For this team to take the next step under Fran and prove we are back..we need to close out a game like this down the stretch for confidence. I'm assuming we will be at a point to take that step Sunday night..it's just a matter of can we make it happen. We will see

Last year it was a struggle. This year we are 2-2 (Xavier, Villanova, Notre Dame and Iowa State) which is already an improvement over last year. Last year was just a fluke IMO. Everything that could go wrong did go wrong. See below from just 2 years ago. Both games go down to the wire. Hawks sweep!

From SI: 12/31/11 - Freshman Aaron White scored 16 of his 18 points in the second half and fellow reserve Bryce Cartwright added 17 as the Hawkeyes stunned No. 11 Wisconsin 72-65...Wisconsin (12-3, 1-1), though, made one last surge.
Senior Jordan Taylor hit a 3-pointer and sophomore Ben Brust had a steal and layup that pulled the Badgers within 68-65 with 47 seconds to go.
The Hawkeyes worked the shot clock on their next possession and sophomore Roy Devyn Marble hit a jumper from the right of the lane with 21 seconds remaining, and Jared Berggren missed a 3 on the other end to seal Iowa's surprising victory.


2/23/2012 - Iowa defeats #15 Wisconsin 67-66 in Carver Hawkeye Arena to complete a season sweep of the Badgers since the 1994-1995 season, led by Matt Gatens with a career high 33 points. This game was also Iowa's second consecutive win over a Top 25 team.

 

[SonofaSailor]

I still think this team has issues, and they will be exposed against a very good Badgers team in the Kohl center...unless Iowa decides to make more than 1/2 free throws for once...then Iowa has a shot.

Iowa: 67
Badgers: 79

And it's never really that close.

 

[WindsorHawk]

I still think this team has issues, and they will be exposed against a very good Badgers team in the Kohl center...unless Iowa decides to make more than 1/2 free throws for once...then Iowa has a shot.

Iowa: 67
Badgers: 79

And it's never really that close.

This post is ridiculous. That's all.

 

[SonofaSailor]

This post is ridiculous. That's all.

What is ridiculous? That we would lose by 12, to a legit top 5 team...on the road...in one of the toughest venues in the conference?

 

[hawkfan33]

I still think this team has issues, and they will be exposed against a very good Badgers team in the Kohl center...unless Iowa decides to make more than 1/2 free throws for once...then Iowa has a shot.

Iowa: 67
Badgers: 79

And it's never really that close.

I have a feeling you're going to nail this prediction, just like you did with your Drake pick!

http://www.hawkeyenation.com/forum/basketball/62129-drake-big-4-classic-predictions.html#post1223877

 

[SnapBack]

What is ridiculous? That we would lose by 12, to a legit top 5 team...on the road...in one of the toughest venues in the conference?

The losing by 12 part isn't ridiculous, but this part is....

I still think this team has issues, and they will be exposed against a very good Badgers team in the Kohl center...unless Iowa decides to make more than 1/2 free throws for once...then Iowa has a shot.

Iowa is shooting 72% for the year, and without looking I'm very confident this has not happened and will not happen all season.

 

[JonnyGuido]

I have a feeling you're going to nail this prediction, just like you did with your Drake pick!

http://www.hawkeyenation.com/forum/basketball/62129-drake-big-4-classic-predictions.html#post1223877

As my 8 year old daughter would say, "Oh, you got burned." With that said, I'm a little worried about this one. The badger is upset with the hawk for several reasons: Uthoff, our recent success against them, and because we are awesome and they suck. Thus, this will be a hostile environment and they are playing really really well right now. We can beat them, but I'd say we have a 25% shot at it. I have a huge man crush on Franny though. Just love his demeanor and what he has done with our program.

 

[tjhawk08]

As my 8 year old daughter would say, "Oh, you got burned." With that said, I'm a little worried about this one. The badger is upset with the hawk for several reasons: Uthoff, our recent success against them, and because we are awesome and they suck. Thus, this will be a hostile environment and they are playing really really well right now. We can beat them, but I'd say we have a 25% shot at it. I have a huge man crush on Franny though. Just love his demeanor and what he has done with our program.

2nd this!! I have a huge man crush on Fran too, and it keeps growing with every win. A lot of fans on here are still finding things to complain about...I know we still need to make the NCAA tourney, but barring any major injuries to Marble and/or White this year, we will be dancing. It is awesome what Fran has done with the Iowa basketball program, how he has got it turned around very quickly from being in the cellar of the B1G when he took over. And he just has more of a winning mentality, more than Alford, and of course way more than Lickliter. He doesn't make excuses for losses (like Alford). Basically - Iowa basketball is ON THE RISE and moving upward.
Let's go get a win on Sunday night! HUGE opportunity to beat a team that I'd say is the team we have matched up best with more than any big ten team under Fran, and we get the chance to beat them at their place when they're ranked top 5. We all know that talent wise there's no way Wisc is a top 5 team. They are ranked there right now because of how they've started the season.
I was pleasantly surprised to see all the optimism on this thread of a lot of people prediciting a win...even some people saying by double digits. Going with a win, but in a close one.

Iowa 74
Wisc 70

 

[mmills88]

I'm quoting you because you make some valid points. Here are some counter points.

1 - Iowa is really good.
2 - Iowa doesn't seem to struggle in the Kohl Center under Fran.
3 - Uthoff is playing against the guy that made him pay for a year of college and is an a**.
4 - The Nebraska game should have gotten the guys attention and have them back in form.

Bonus point - Wisconsin is a donut team. They have a hole in the middle and can't match up with our inside guys.

Edit - Iowa had 2 extra days to prepare...definitely makes a difference IMO.

I hope your right. It will be very interesting to see how this chess match plays out. Sounds like all their players can shoot the 3. Which team does the adjusting? Very, very interesting....

 

[WindsorHawk]

I hope your right. It will be very interesting to see how this chess match plays out. Sounds like all their players can shoot the 3. Which team does the adjusting? Very, very interesting....

It will be an interesting chess match...like your choice of words. The good news is I think we can adjust and make Uthoff, White and Basabe our "bigs" if necessary. I don't think Wisconsin can adjust and make their 3 guard lineup taller.

 

[1hawkeye1]

Ooops... I still find it crazy so many predicting a win on the road at one of the toughest venue in college bball against a top 5 ranked team.

Agreed, what's with crazy people predicting a 10+ point win???

 

[1hawkeye1]

Whatever happens, hopefully the Hawks learned about quieting a crowd at isu and also about not wilting when they get raucous.

That crowd at the Kohl Center is going to be out of their minds. Poor Uthoff I hope he is ready for what he is going to hear. And see. And have thrown at him.

 

[MiniMoeHawk]

This post is ridiculous. That's all.

This post is ridiculous. Iowa could very well struggle to beat Wisconsin on the road. There has been plenty of missed FT opportunities (at home) so it is definitely a possibility. Granted there was a long layover and facing Nebraska probably doesn't require the same amount of mental focus.

Does Iowa have a chance to win? Sure....But they also have a chance of having a repeat performance as the Nebraska game.

 

[racerhawk]

Ready for us? Not with the Packer playoff game on at the same time. Crowd will be less than usual.

I think hawks can win by 10 up there. Iowa has Bo's number.

There aren't too many tickets available, but there are some. I scored some tix for $35 yesterday. I'll be there!

 

[racerhawk]

I fully expect a loss, but I'll be thrilled with a victory. It's fun to yell "go hawks" at the top of your lungs while walking through the councourse of the Kohl Center after a victory. It's like screaming at a funeral.