This loss should provide some focus

[hawkinn3]

Enough about us being as good as anybody or having a shot to go all the way, we need to worry about the next team in front of us. A big ten title is still very much in play but we can't afford very many games like that one going forward. The B1G is stacked this year and we need to bring it every game.

 

[NEIChawk]

There's a big log jam from 2 losses to 4 losses, so we do just that, take one game at a time, get some separation and keep moving forward

 

[2xer]

Thanks, I should have never looked ahead. Next time I will be more focused.

 

[SpiderRico]

Enough about us being as good as anybody or having a shot to go all the way, we need to worry about the next team in front of us. A big ten title is still very much in play but we can't afford very many games like that one going forward. The B1G is stacked this year and we need to bring it every game.

No offense, but I don't have to focus on jacksquat because I don't play a single minute in any of the games. That's the beauty of being a fan....I can look ahead to March and anticipate seedings, I can dream about B1G championships, Final Fours, etc.

So forgive me if I still continue to do that from this point forward.

Thanks!

 

[smbhawk1]

Enough about us being as good as anybody or having a shot to go all the way, we need to worry about the next team in front of us. A big ten title is still very much in play but we can't afford very many games like that one going forward. The B1G is stacked this year and we need to bring it every game.

This team does have the talent to win the Big Ten and the National Championship. If you thought they were going to go undefeated the rest of the way, you were living in a dream world. The got beat by a very good Michigan team at Michigan on a night when we did not play very well. We did not play good defense, and gave up way too many second chance points, and were still in the game until the end. This won't be the last game we lose either. The Big Ten champ will have 4-5 losses. This conference is brutal night in and night out, and extremely tough to win on the road. This team is fine. The sky is not falling, and we will be in the championship hunt.

 

[WindsorHawk]

This team does have the talent to win the Big Ten and the National Championship. If you thought they were going to go undefeated the rest of the way, you were living in a dream world. The got beat by a very good Michigan team at Michigan on a night when we did not play very well. We did not play good defense, and gave up way too many second chance points, and were still in the game until the end. This won't be the last game we lose either. The Big Ten champ will have 4-5 losses. This conference is brutal night in and night out, and extremely tough to win on the road. This team is fine. The sky is not falling, and we will be in the championship hunt.

I agree with all of this except the champ having 4-5 losses. I think it's 4 max...more likely 3.

 

[1977Hawkeye]

This team does have the talent to win the Big Ten and the National Championship. If you thought they were going to go undefeated the rest of the way, you were living in a dream world. The got beat by a very good Michigan team at Michigan on a night when we did not play very well. We did not play good defense, and gave up way too many second chance points, and were still in the game until the end. This won't be the last game we lose either. The Big Ten champ will have 4-5 losses. This conference is brutal night in and night out, and extremely tough to win on the road. This team is fine. The sky is not falling, and we will be in the championship hunt.

Exactly. Losing on the road to an undefeated conference opponent, in a game where we didn't play overly well and yet were still in it down to the end, hardly puts an end to the possibilities of having an excellent season and making a Final Four...

I looked at Iowa's remaining schedule earlier this week, and yes, there are a few more losses there, most likely. But I'd still be tickled with a 24-7 (13-5) type of year. With a Big Ten Tournament and NCAA Tournament to follow, this team could still win 28+ games. It's not going to be easy, but this team has the ability.

So no, I didn't slit my wrists after last night's game. Tons to play for yet.

 

[WindsorHawk]

I think we will probably be favored in every game the rest of the year other than at MSU. We probably have to win every game in which we're favored to get at least a piece of the regular season championship. I don't think we will lose at home but could lose at Minnesota...2nd most likely lost IMO. I still think we go 14-4 and get 2nd. I also think we will win the BTT. If we are 14-4 and BTT champs that's probably a 2 or 3 seed...at worst.

 

[eveningnewsteam]

Iowa isnt sneaking up on anyone. They need to be able to match the intensity that the opponent will bring to Iowa. I didnt think they came close to matching Michigan's intensity.

 

[WindsorHawk]

Iowa isnt sneaking up on anyone. They need to be able to match the intensity that the opponent will bring to Iowa. I didnt think they came close to matching Michigan's intensity.

I'm not arguing your point. However, I am willing to bet that Michigan's intensity will not match Iowa's in the rematch in Carver. Home court/crowd helps tremendously with intensity.

 

[SteveGarvey]

I think we will probably be favored in every game the rest of the year other than at MSU. We probably have to win every game in which we're favored to get at least a piece of the regular season championship. I don't think we will lose at home but could lose at Minnesota...2nd most likely lost IMO. I still think we go 14-4 and get 2nd. I also think we will win the BTT. If we are 14-4 and BTT champs that's probably a 2 or 3 seed...at worst.

I think we're looking at 11-7 or 12-6 at best. There are going to be a few more road losses and maybe a loss at home. That gets us a 4 or 5 seed and I think we'd have all taken that before the season started.

 

[tm3308]

I think we will probably be favored in every game the rest of the year other than at MSU. We probably have to win every game in which we're favored to get at least a piece of the regular season championship. I don't think we will lose at home but could lose at Minnesota...2nd most likely lost IMO. I still think we go 14-4 and get 2nd. I also think we will win the BTT. If we are 14-4 and BTT champs that's probably a 2 or 3 seed...at worst.

@Minnesota might depend on Andre Hollins. He might battle with that ankle for awhile. If he can't go or is noticeably limited by it, I'm not sure they'll be able to keep up their high level of play consistently. I was very impressed with how they adjusted on the fly when he went down just 14 seconds into the game, though. I think they might have found the right fit with Pitino.

 

[tm3308]

I think we're looking at 11-7 or 12-6 at best. There are going to be a few more road losses and maybe a loss at home. That gets us a 4 or 5 seed and I think we'd have all taken that before the season started.

No way do I see 6 or 7 losses as a best-case scenario. I don't necessarily see 16-2, either, but 14-4/15-3 is still a reasonable possibility (especially 14-4).

Being generous, the only remaining games we SHOULD lose are MSU, @MSU and @Minnesota. With Payne limited/out, I think the only lock out of those three is @MSU. There's always a chance for a loss against one of the lower-tier teams, but the one I'd be most worried about (Nebraska) isn't on our road slate this year. Penn State hasn't lived up to my expectations this year, and I'm not scared of Purdue at all. Winning in Champaign isn't easy, but that team doesn't scare me much, either. They look pretty similar to most Illinois teams. Indiana is the only other road game I'm worried about; they've got talent.

 

[SpiderRico]

No way do I see 6 or 7 losses as a best-case scenario. I don't necessarily see 16-2, either, but 14-4/15-3 is still a reasonable possibility (especially 14-4).

Being generous, the only remaining games we SHOULD lose are MSU, @MSU and @Minnesota. With Payne limited/out, I think the only lock out of those three is @MSU. There's always a chance for a loss against one of the lower-tier teams, but the one I'd be most worried about (Nebraska) isn't on our road slate this year. Penn State hasn't lived up to my expectations this year, and I'm not scared of Purdue at all. Winning in Champaign isn't easy, but that team doesn't scare me much, either. They look pretty similar to most Illinois teams. Indiana is the only other road game I'm worried about; they've got talent.

A lot of our future success on the road against the middle of the road B1G teams (Indiana, Illinois, Minnesota, Purdue) the rest of the year will depend on the degree of momentum we carry there. For example, if we happen to beat MSU at home, I feel much better going into Champaign the following game. Or if we happen to go 4-1 or 5-0 with our next five games (@NW, MSU, @ILL, OSU, Mich), then I feel pretty good about our roadies @PSU and @IU.

But if we hit a little slump, like OSU or Wisky, I could see some of those road games like Illinois, Purdue, Minnesota, etc go against us.

The next 6 game stretch will really tell us where we're at in terms of chances to win the conference. All of the "tough" games are at home and the 3 roadies (@NW, @Ill and @PSU) are definitely winnable.