The first person to say...

[kicker22]

I said exactly the same thing. Why in hell didn't they milk the clock down and go to Basabe? Gatens is shooting such a poor % from three anyway but why would you shoot so quickly? Also, what was the thought process to have McCabe shoot the brick when they needed the three. Even as bad as May has played, I would have had him shoot it or even bring Stoermer off the bench. This was a crazy game and we should have one it going away.

I hope your not talking about the "brick" McCabe threw up at the end of overtime. For it to have been a brick implies that he'd of atleast hit rim or back board. I'm sure he'd of been happy with a brick considering he easily came up atleast a foot short of even drawing iron.

 

[ShadasRevenge]

I hope your not talking about the "brick" McCabe threw up at the end of overtime. For it to have been a brick implies that he'd of atleast hit rim or back board. I'm sure he'd of been happy with a brick considering he easily came up atleast a foot short of even drawing iron.

I think the possession in question took place with just under a minute to go in regulation when Gaten missed a wide open 3 very early in the shot clock.

 

[Herkeynerd]

Calling out players doesn't make them hit shots. This team has no pure shooters, no matter what anybody tells you about Gatens - he's not a pure shooter. The fact that Iowa has no shooters and is somehow in every game they've been playing lately is quite remarkable. They have a chance at the end of the game if some magic happens. Unfortunately, they just need a few more plays made throughout the course of the game that will put them over the top. That means getting a few more big time players, then this team will be really good. You can see it on the horizon, now to just get the players to make the difference. I'm disappointed too, but this team is competitive again, to me that is a huge difference from last year at this time. The wins will come eventually. But as fans, we'll have to wait a little bit.

 

[hawkubes]

I didn't get a chance to watch most of the game but I did see the final 9 minutes of the 2nd half and OT.

When the game was tied and not much time left in the 2nd half, why in the world is Gatens launching a 3 with barely any time run off the clock? Especially since we shot 2 for 17 from three land....wtf?!? We have the ball. The game is tied. The momentum is on our side. We're at home. Run some F'in time off the clock and keep doing what got us there....give it to Cartwright and let him create or give it to Basabe or Cole....

Gatens is quickly becoming the Glenn Worley of the 21st century.

I was extremely upset that the Hawks couldn't find a way to get the ball to Basabe. Michigan did not seem to have an answer for him (much like the Hawks didn't for Hardaway) but they just did not get the ball to him. That being said, I was not upset with Gatens taking that 3. The last thing this team needs is to be more timid. Gatens had a good look, and he has to take that shot. The problem is he can't seem to hit a clutch jumper. The game was lost because Basabe didn't get enough touches.

 

[HawkAttack]

I was calling out the players. Not the staff. And nobody is whining. What I'm saying is that it's time for this team to stop making the stupid mistakes it's been making. I agree that we are improving...but I am expecting much more from some of our players than we are seeing right now. They are definitely capable of more.

'I was calling out the players.'

For being out-manned yet competitive and showing improvement? Sounds like whining to me. Tomatoe/Tomatah I guess.
You were getting your internet tough guy on. I bet you 'called out' the Iowa football teams a lot in KF's first 2 years.

 

[hawkIhoops]

I said exactly the same thing. Why in hell didn't they milk the clock down and go to Basabe? Gatens is shooting such a poor % from three anyway but why would you shoot so quickly? Also, what was the thought process to have McCabe shoot the brick when they needed the three. Even as bad as May has played, I would have had him shoot it or even bring Stoermer off the bench. This was a crazy game and we should have one it going away.

I agree. The only answer I have come up with is that McCaffrey is either trying to get Gatens to step up or determine if he has the capacity to be a clutch shooter. Gatens is solid in the first half of games, but has faded in the second, especially late in games, all season. Maybe he is playing too much, etc., who knows, but I would rather see Cartwright, Basabe, Marble or even Stoermer take a late game shot at this point. Sounds crazy, but Stoermer has a quick release and could be the situational 3 guy most teams have. At this point we have nothing to lose.

 

[burky247]

Never mind that "calling out the players" actually sounds a whole lot worse, there isn't any way that anyone reading your first post would be able to figure that out.

If you're calling out the players for being happy with close losses, can you point one instance this season where any player has said something like that?

Apparently I didn't get the point across well enough in my original post). What I was trying to say was that it's ....

a. Time for the players to stop making some of the same mistakes they made during the Lick era. And I'm not necessarily talking about the physical part of their game. But the mental attitude they are showing. I still see a segment of this team that are playing scared. I watched the same thing happen for three years and it's easily identifiable.

b. While it's great to have fans interested in Iowa basketball again, I am tired of the moral victories and want to see this team execute like they are capable of.

Now, the more I think of this point, and the more I see the Marys on here having little kittens because I'm being too tough on people, the more I think I am probably wrong on this point. I suppose it's better to have expectations lower so the fanbase doesn't meltdown constantly. Especially in a rebuilding year. But, for me, I think this team is getting to the point where they should be able to start closing out some games.

 

[burky247]

'I was calling out the players.'

For being out-manned yet competitive and showing improvement? Sounds like whining to me. Tomatoe/Tomatah I guess.
You were getting your internet tough guy on. I bet you 'called out' the Iowa football teams a lot in KF's first 2 years.

You take message boards way to seriously HAttack. Obviously my "punch in the face" comment was nothing more than a joke.

And you don't need to lecture me about the "team showing improvement". I have been a season ticket holder for the last six years so I know this team is improving. And yes, unlike others, I'm not content with them just staying close with teams and being happy with moral victories. I want to see closing games like I feel they are capable of. By no means does that mean we should be expected to win every game. But we need to stop playing scared and learn how to close out games.

 

[ForeverHawk]

You take message boards way to seriously HAttack. Obviously my "punch in the face" comment was nothing more than a joke.

And you don't need to lecture me about the "team showing improvement". I have been a season ticket holder for the last six years so I know this team is improving. And yes, unlike others, I'm not content with them just staying close with teams and being happy with moral victories. I want to see closing games like I feel they are capable of. By no means does that mean we should be expected to win every game. But we need to stop playing scared and learn how to close out games.

You do realize that they may not learn how to close out games and win until next year right? I think most of us going into this season wanted to see improvement, even if it meant not winning any more games compared to last year, especially with how good the conference was. I think we can agree this team has shown tremendous improvement this year. I think with a few extra players and the addition of Cully, this team should be significantly better next season. With the conference losing a ton of seniors, I could see Iowa finishing over .500 in the conference next season!

 

[SteveGarvey]

that it feels good to be mad about a loss again is getting punched in the face.

This was a terrible loss and there is no excuse for it. It's time for this team to grow some balls and start playing to win...rather than ******* down their leg with the game on the line.

It is mid February. Freshman are no longer freshman at this juncture. The crowds have returned to Carver. And the system has been implemented. There is no room for moral victories within this program.

Yeah, well my dad can beat up your dad.

I have a feeling the players are going to learn from these failures in the next few years and things will break our way for a change.

Agreed though. Moral victories don't cut it any more.

 

[cockyhawkfan]

I agree. "Get mad again" has gone it's course.

I agree it's frustrating to lose close games. But I didn't expect anything else. I actually think they're out performing my expectations. So it makes it a little easier to swallow.

I don't agree that we should expect more at this point in the season. Really, we have two legitimate starters on our team. I don't think Gaten's is one of them. Just not consistent enough throughout his career. He's also missed a few clutch free throws in last couple losses.

I agree with the poster who said the biggest reason we lost was not enough touches for Basabe. This is the truth. It would have at least provided us our best odds of points in one way or another.

The biggest frustration for me was the 2-17 from behind the arc. JEBUS! Make just 20% of those and we win that one.

 

[Iowafarmgirl]

I'm amazed that we are even in these games. I predicted, at most, 4 Big 10 wins before this season, and I am pleased with how close we have come to prove me wrong.

If anyone has a problem with us losing close games, that is just a function of unrealistic expectations. Yeah, there's nothing wrong with expecting the team to win every game, but there's also nothing wrong with me personally expecting Joel McHale to sweep me away and travel the world in a luxury yacht. The problem is when you start lashing out when your unrealistic expectations don't come to fruition.

 

[HawkAttack]

You take message boards way to seriously HAttack. Obviously my "punch in the face" comment was nothing more than a joke.

And you don't need to lecture me about the "team showing improvement". I have been a season ticket holder for the last six years so I know this team is improving. And yes, unlike others, I'm not content with them just staying close with teams and being happy with moral victories. I want to see closing games like I feel they are capable of. By no means does that mean we should be expected to win every game. But we need to stop playing scared and learn how to close out games.

I take what people post on message boards at face value unless they are obviously kidding around. If you don't want people calling YOU out for being an internet tough guy then don't post like one.

 

[CoSpringsHawk]

I agree with the posters who put this loss on the lack of getting the ball to Basabe. But I will add that the turnovers really took us out of many, many scoring chances. You're not going to win a lot of games with the assist/turnover ratio we had in this game. I don't blame the coaches or the players. It's a function of having experience playing at this level. Unfortunately, we don't have a lot this year and the results show. I am with the crowd that looks for much improvement next year. I am not surprised we are losing these games to be honest. I am encouraged at the improvement shown and how it bodes for the future.