JonDMiller
Publisher/Founder
Hawkeyes Hoop Season Feeling Like 1995 - Hawkeye NationHawkeye Nation
I was 23 going on 24 during January and February of 1995. That meant I was pretty much ruled by emotion and one of the things I didn't deal with well was the Iowa Hawkeyes losing basketball games.
I especially didn't deal well with Iowa losing one-point or one-possession games and I flew off the handle when Iowa lost four games by one-point over a 21 day stretch in January of 1995.
Which is why I have been writing as of late that this Iowa basketball season reminds me of the 1995 season.
The 1995 'streak' began on January 7th in East Lansing as the 14th ranked Spartans beat #22 Iowa 69-68. Iowa led by 16 with nine minutes left and despite leading by just one with less than 30 seconds to play, Andre Woolridge was fouled and was headed to the free throw line for two shots, this after Kenyon Murray had missed the front end of a one and one on Iowa's previous possession. Woolridge missed them both (theme warning) and Michigan State would hit the game winner as time expired. I was so ticked off I threw the TV remote up against the wall. That's not a good idea, as it shattered. What made it worse was that I was living at a friend's house and it was his parent's remote. I went to Walmart and bought a universal remote to replace it.
On January 11, Iowa lost 83-82 at Michigan in Double OT. Woolridge had an attempt at a game winner but the ball never made it to the hoop. The officials conferred and actually put more time back on the clock, but Chris Kingsbury's shot missed the mark. That led to throwing the remote down on the floor of the patio. That was worse than the first because I actually had to think...I got off the couch, walked outside, then threw the remote down. So I went and bought them another remote the next day.
On January 14th, Iowa once again led late in the game but had a chance to win in the waning seconds. It was tied with just under 14 seconds to play and Woolridge got the ball. He was called for traveling with just under four seconds to play. The game was still tied and Purdue threw an inbounds pass near mid court and Ryan Bowen was called for the foul on a steal attempt. You know what happened then; shattered remote #3. Purdue made one free throw and Woolridge missed a half court heave and Iowa lost it's third straight game by one point...this one in Carver Hawkeye, 84-83. I replaced the remote yet again. My friend's parents are only aware of the first instance where I replaced their remote. They really don't need to know about the other two.
That's seven days, three losses by one-point and three shattered remotes. All of those things happened and none was pleasant.
Iowa gave us all a break from the insanity with a pair of back to back double-digit wins but then it was back on the hamster wheel on January 28th at Minnesota. Woolridge had put the Hawkeyes ahead with 14 seconds to play at 54-53, but the Gophers hit a shot with just under four seconds to play and Woolridge's half court shot was wide of the mark. One-point loss number four. I did not shatter the remote this time, but not because I had learned any lesson. No, I was at my parent's house watching this game and dad controlled the remote at the time. He didn't throw it, but I could tell that he wanted to.
It was just that kind of season for Iowa, which ended in the NIT. It sure feels that this year's Iowa season is a bit like that 1994-1995 season and if I had to wager right now I'd say the Hawkeyes wind up in the NIT, too.
Iowa has seven losses in Big Ten play, five of those losses by four points or less and four of those losses by one-possession or less. Iowa had a chance to win the game at Purdue at the end of regulation but Devyn Marble's shot was wide of the mark. Iowa had a chance to beat Wisconsin at the end of regulation but Josh Oglesby's three rattled in and out. Iowa had a chance to beat Minnesota at the end of regulation Mike Gesell turned the ball over. They had Michigan State in an early hole but lost by three. They were down 24 in the second half to Ohio State, pulled to within four with under a minute left and missed two free throws that could have cut the lead to a single possession. Michigan is the only team that has beaten them handily since November.
It's frustrating and no fun to watch 'your team' lose this way. I remember those feelings from 1995 and as I watch Iowa go through this now, I recall those 1995 winter moments and realize there is nothing new under the sun. That was the second of two straight years where Iowa didn't make the NCAA tournament, which was a rarity back then. That team finished 19-11 in the regular season and 9-9 in league, sort of where this year's Iowa team seems to be heading. But the next year saw Iowa finish in 3rd place and then in 2nd place the year after that behind a Minnesota team who would later vacate that championship due to NCAA violations.
I am hopeful that this year's Iowa team is learning a lot of lessons that will either pay dividends later this season or for next year, or both; Iowa loses just one player from this team, Eric May.
The 1994-1995 Iowa season ended with a trip to the NIT quarterfinals. Iowa won its first two games and then lost to Penn State. That game was played in Iowa City and fittingly the Nittany Lions won the game on a late three-point shot. Even more fittingly for that season, Andre Woolridge's attempt at a game winner was wide of the mark.
I was 23 going on 24 during January and February of 1995. That meant I was pretty much ruled by emotion and one of the things I didn't deal with well was the Iowa Hawkeyes losing basketball games.
I especially didn't deal well with Iowa losing one-point or one-possession games and I flew off the handle when Iowa lost four games by one-point over a 21 day stretch in January of 1995.
Which is why I have been writing as of late that this Iowa basketball season reminds me of the 1995 season.
The 1995 'streak' began on January 7th in East Lansing as the 14th ranked Spartans beat #22 Iowa 69-68. Iowa led by 16 with nine minutes left and despite leading by just one with less than 30 seconds to play, Andre Woolridge was fouled and was headed to the free throw line for two shots, this after Kenyon Murray had missed the front end of a one and one on Iowa's previous possession. Woolridge missed them both (theme warning) and Michigan State would hit the game winner as time expired. I was so ticked off I threw the TV remote up against the wall. That's not a good idea, as it shattered. What made it worse was that I was living at a friend's house and it was his parent's remote. I went to Walmart and bought a universal remote to replace it.
On January 11, Iowa lost 83-82 at Michigan in Double OT. Woolridge had an attempt at a game winner but the ball never made it to the hoop. The officials conferred and actually put more time back on the clock, but Chris Kingsbury's shot missed the mark. That led to throwing the remote down on the floor of the patio. That was worse than the first because I actually had to think...I got off the couch, walked outside, then threw the remote down. So I went and bought them another remote the next day.
On January 14th, Iowa once again led late in the game but had a chance to win in the waning seconds. It was tied with just under 14 seconds to play and Woolridge got the ball. He was called for traveling with just under four seconds to play. The game was still tied and Purdue threw an inbounds pass near mid court and Ryan Bowen was called for the foul on a steal attempt. You know what happened then; shattered remote #3. Purdue made one free throw and Woolridge missed a half court heave and Iowa lost it's third straight game by one point...this one in Carver Hawkeye, 84-83. I replaced the remote yet again. My friend's parents are only aware of the first instance where I replaced their remote. They really don't need to know about the other two.
That's seven days, three losses by one-point and three shattered remotes. All of those things happened and none was pleasant.
Iowa gave us all a break from the insanity with a pair of back to back double-digit wins but then it was back on the hamster wheel on January 28th at Minnesota. Woolridge had put the Hawkeyes ahead with 14 seconds to play at 54-53, but the Gophers hit a shot with just under four seconds to play and Woolridge's half court shot was wide of the mark. One-point loss number four. I did not shatter the remote this time, but not because I had learned any lesson. No, I was at my parent's house watching this game and dad controlled the remote at the time. He didn't throw it, but I could tell that he wanted to.
It was just that kind of season for Iowa, which ended in the NIT. It sure feels that this year's Iowa season is a bit like that 1994-1995 season and if I had to wager right now I'd say the Hawkeyes wind up in the NIT, too.
Iowa has seven losses in Big Ten play, five of those losses by four points or less and four of those losses by one-possession or less. Iowa had a chance to win the game at Purdue at the end of regulation but Devyn Marble's shot was wide of the mark. Iowa had a chance to beat Wisconsin at the end of regulation but Josh Oglesby's three rattled in and out. Iowa had a chance to beat Minnesota at the end of regulation Mike Gesell turned the ball over. They had Michigan State in an early hole but lost by three. They were down 24 in the second half to Ohio State, pulled to within four with under a minute left and missed two free throws that could have cut the lead to a single possession. Michigan is the only team that has beaten them handily since November.
It's frustrating and no fun to watch 'your team' lose this way. I remember those feelings from 1995 and as I watch Iowa go through this now, I recall those 1995 winter moments and realize there is nothing new under the sun. That was the second of two straight years where Iowa didn't make the NCAA tournament, which was a rarity back then. That team finished 19-11 in the regular season and 9-9 in league, sort of where this year's Iowa team seems to be heading. But the next year saw Iowa finish in 3rd place and then in 2nd place the year after that behind a Minnesota team who would later vacate that championship due to NCAA violations.
I am hopeful that this year's Iowa team is learning a lot of lessons that will either pay dividends later this season or for next year, or both; Iowa loses just one player from this team, Eric May.
The 1994-1995 Iowa season ended with a trip to the NIT quarterfinals. Iowa won its first two games and then lost to Penn State. That game was played in Iowa City and fittingly the Nittany Lions won the game on a late three-point shot. Even more fittingly for that season, Andre Woolridge's attempt at a game winner was wide of the mark.
