Temper your Disappointment

[JonDMiller]

Jon you have been a voice a reason in many threads, including this one, but you have to get off this "young team" nonsense. In college basketball 75% or more of teams are young. FR are expected to come in and be valuable players.

Ken Pomeroy ranks this, game experience. He has Iowa 309 out of 347 programs in the nation. There are only 13 high major programs with less experience, and even then its minuscule for a third of those.

 

[storminspank]

You make some valid points, but at some point, all this rationalization rings hollow. What happens next year when we see OSU, MSU and MI twice? No doubt the team is young, schedule has been tough, games have been close, but we have been relatively injury free except for Marble, nobody is ineligible etc., which is a luxury other teams haven't had. WI's starting PG out for season and they are playing a new group and they still maintain a level of success.

There will be high expectations next year. If Iowa is losing games like this next year, then Fran is on the hot seat.

 

[JonDMiller]

Obviously, but there are two huge areas where Iowa has been much better than anyone could have expected this year. Defense and rebounding, Jon's refusing to admit that they have been consistently better in both of these areas is because either a) he's stubborn of his prized preseason prediction or b) he doesn't have a lot of basketball knowledge.

or I just don't give a crap what you think

They are a better defensive team than last year. That said, Fran spoke all spring and summer and early fall about defense, about them being a much better defensive team this year. So I took him at his word and therefore expected them to be a better defensive team. See how this works?

 

[hawkfan33]

There will be high expectations next year. If Iowa is losing games like this next year, then Fran is on the hot seat.

You really believe this? Firing a coach in his 4th year, after he has clearly improved the program, over a string of close losses would be idiotic.

 

[1977Hawkeye]

You really believe this? Firing a coach in his 4th year, after he has clearly improved the program, over a string of close losses would be idiotic.

He said hot seat, not "fired", if next year mirrors this one. I think Fran gets 5 years minimum, no matter what.

 

[hawkfan33]

or I just don't give a crap what you think

They are a better defensive team than last year. That said, Fran spoke all spring and summer and early fall about defense, about them being a much better defensive team this year. So I took him at his word and therefore expected them to be a better defensive team. See how this works?

Sure ya did bud.

 

[storminspank]

Hmmmm....

So, because a team is meeting a pre-season, on-paper expectation, it's OK we're underachieving to the tune of four blown games?

Sorry, not buying it.

Where we should be, in Fran's 3rd year, is #4 - #5 in league play with a 5-8 NCAA bid.

To "accept" anything less is simply not palitible.

Iowa isn't underachieving, that's the entire point. Underachieving would mean you expected them to be at 18 wins right now and they are at 14. This is the entire point. Iowa isn't underachieving, they just aren't winning the close games (even the one they were expected to lose). But since Iowa could have won (read: not should have) people freak.

So Iowa, coming off 10 win and 11 win seasons should be looking at 5 seed in the NCAA just TWO YEARS LATER? Really.

What about Beilein? What about Crean? Their teams are the two top teams in the best conf in the land.

Indiana was 12-20 in their third year under Crean.
Michigan was 15-17 in their their year under Beilein.

Guess their fan bases expected 5 seeds?

Iowa was bare when Fran came in. Absolutely bare. The fact that Fran has this program competing with every single program (sans UM on the road) in the best conference in the land less than two years removed from an 11 win season is NOT underachieving, in fact, it's pretty remarkable.

So don't feed me this BS about underachieving, Seth. Iowa isn't underachieving. They are frustrating to watch. They are inconsistent. They can't close out games. They don't have a go-to guy. But 14 wins at this point into the season is not underachieving. If it is, you put unrealistic expectations for the program. What's next, are you going to say the Royals and Astros are underachieving if they don't make the playoffs?

Again, temper your disappointment. Step back. Not that hard to see what's going on in this program. There's a lot to be excited about, even after watching this team **** away wins at the end of games.

 

[Palpatine]

There will be high expectations next year. If Iowa is losing games like this next year, then Fran is on the hot seat.

The key to happiness is lowered expectations.

 

[BasketballMan]

JO did not have enough time to hit White once he caught the ball. White was open, but the announcers were talking about Gesell getting him the ball, not JO. Quit trying to lay blame at the feet of JO!

Brilliant. Face it. The kid jakked a 3 without seeing White WIDE OPEN UNDER THE HOOP. Not sure how that doesnt lay at the feet of JO.

 

[hawkfan33]

Iowa isn't underachieving, that's the entire point. Underachieving would mean you expected them to be at 18 wins right now and they are at 14. This is the entire point. Iowa isn't underachieving, they just aren't winning the close games (even the one they were expected to lose). But since Iowa could have won (read: not should have) people freak.

So Iowa, coming off 10 win and 11 win seasons should be looking at 5 seed in the NCAA just TWO YEARS LATER? Really.

What about Beilein? What about Crean? Their teams are the two top teams in the best conf in the land.

Indiana was 12-20 in their third year under Crean.
Michigan was 15-17 in their their year under Beilein.

Guess their fan bases expected 5 seeds?

Iowa was bare when Fran came in. Absolutely bare. The fact that Fran has this program competing with every single program (sans UM on the road) in the best conference in the land less than two years removed from an 11 win season is NOT underachieving, in fact, it's pretty remarkable.

So don't feed me this BS about underachieving, Seth. Iowa isn't underachieving. They are frustrating to watch. They are inconsistent. They can't close out games. They don't have a go-to guy. But 14 wins at this point into the season is not underachieving. If it is, you put unrealistic expectations for the program. What's next, are you going to say the Royals and Astros are underachieving if they don't make the playoffs?

Again, temper your disappointment. Step back. Not that hard to see what's going on in this program. There's a lot to be excited about, even after watching this team **** away wins at the end of games.

Well Michigan did advance to the second round of the tourament in Beilein's second year so yes the Michigan fan base probably did expect a 5 seed the following year.

 

[JonDMiller]

Sure ya did bud.

This aint my first rodeo on this topic. I fully understand that some folks are incapable of believing others of the type of critical thinking they themselves are incapable of. It's OK, won't be the last dalliance down this avenue.

 

[GoHawks24]

Iowa isn't underachieving, that's the entire point. Underachieving would mean you expected them to be at 18 wins right now and they are at 14. This is the entire point. Iowa isn't underachieving, they just aren't winning the close games (even the one they were expected to lose). But since Iowa could have won (read: not should have) people freak.

So Iowa, coming off 10 win and 11 win seasons should be looking at 5 seed in the NCAA just TWO YEARS LATER? Really.

What about Beilein? What about Crean? Their teams are the two top teams in the best conf in the land.

Indiana was 12-20 in their third year under Crean.
Michigan was 15-17 in their their year under Beilein.

Guess their fan bases expected 5 seeds?

Iowa was bare when Fran came in. Absolutely bare. The fact that Fran has this program competing with every single program (sans UM on the road) in the best conference in the land less than two years removed from an 11 win season is NOT underachieving, in fact, it's pretty remarkable.

So don't feed me this BS about underachieving, Seth. Iowa isn't underachieving. They are frustrating to watch. They are inconsistent. They can't close out games. They don't have a go-to guy. But 14 wins at this point into the season is not underachieving. If it is, you put unrealistic expectations for the program. What's next, are you going to say the Royals and Astros are underachieving if they don't make the playoffs?

Again, temper your disappointment. Step back. Not that hard to see what's going on in this program. There's a lot to be excited about, even after watching this team **** away wins at the end of games.

THANK YOU, Spank! Very well put.

 

[hawkfan33]

This aint my first rodeo on this topic. I fully understand that some folks are incapable of believing others of the type of critical thinking they themselves are incapable of. It's OK, won't be the last dalliance down this avenue.

So you take Fran at his word that our defense will make a giant leap from 180th in the country to 22nd in the nation, despite losing our best perimeter defender. You take Fran at his word that we will go from getting slaughtered on the boards, to holding our own against Mich St and Minnesota on the glass.

So I assume you also took Fran at his word regarding Josh's shooting, and Marble's play making ability? And with all that, having a borderline top 20 nationally ranked defense, having the greatest shooter Fran has ever coached, having a potential NBA player ready to make a leap to All B10 type preformer, you still came to your same prediction that we would go 9-9 in the B10?

Sorry Jon, not buying it.

 

[BasketballMan]

So you take Fran at his word that our defense will make a giant leap from 180th in the country to 22nd in the nation, despite losing our best perimeter defender. You take Fran at his word that we will go from getting slaughtered on the boards, to holding our own against Mich St and Minnesota on the glass.

So I assume you also took Fran at his word regarding Josh's shooting, and Marble's play making ability? And with all that, having a borderline top 20 nationally ranked defense, having the greatest shooter Fran has ever coached, having a potential NBA player ready to make a leap to All B10 type preformer, you still came to your same prediction that we would go 9-9 in the B10?

Sorry Jon, not buying it.

Tell him hawkfan33. Tell him!

 

[storminspank]

My two biggest issues/ head scratchers with last two games are:

Substituting Marble late in both game. Marble was non-existent in both games. On top of that he had been sitting for an extended period of time. Not sure why you put him in.

I amazes me that we continue to run our offense around Ogelsby. The majority of our possessions have been trying to get him shots. We have better scorers on this team than Ogelsby, and so far he has proven he cant shoot the ball. 23 games is not just a slump anymore.

Valid concerns, for sure.

 

[storminspank]

Iowa isn't these close games because of youth or inconsistency. Don't bring that weak sauce..

If they were consistent on offense (making shots, not turning it over, making FTs), they win these close games.
So, yeah, I'm blaming Iowa's inconsistency on the offensive end of the ball and their small defensive lapse as well.

 

[Xerxes]

Ken Pomeroy ranks this, game experience. He has Iowa 309 out of 347 programs in the nation. There are only 13 high major programs with less experience, and even then its minuscule for a third of those.

Good counter, wasn't aware of that ranking. Considering White and Marble were full time starters last year (RDM played a lot as a FR too). McCabe & May have been playing a lot of the last 3 years, starting many games. Basabe has played a lot the last two, even Josh O had a few starts last year.

Basically Iowa has 5 guys with a ton of playing time under their belts prior to this year and JO played a decent amount last year. There must be a lot of teams out there that have very experienced players.

 

[storminspank]

100% agree. Who give 2 sh*ts about pre-season predictions.

It's not about preseason predictions so much as what you expected out the team.
If you thought Iowa was winning 25 games this season then you're setting yourself up for disappointment.

 

[storminspank]

You really believe this? Firing a coach in his 4th year, after he has clearly improved the program, over a string of close losses would be idiotic.

No, not fired, but the seat is warm. He'll get 5 yrs minimum. Not many ADs get a chance to hire 3 basketball coaches.

 

[storminspank]

The key to happiness is lowered expectations.

No. Not lowered. Realistic.
Big difference.