Twlight Zone: Iowa is the big guy, MSU is the little guy, and Izzo is still a rat game thread

[hawks23]

Thoughts...

A W is a W. This is the definition of the BT this year. Deal with it.
Nunge kept us in the game for quite a while. Rebounds/defense.
Perkins and Ulis and Joe T were put in by Fran to change the whole pattern/dynamic ooof the game, and it worked. MSU couldn’t adjust to this change...brilliant move by Fran.
JBO came in And won the game with free throws.
Garza got mugged. He still dominated over all. That is what he does. Inexplicably, he has phantom fouls called on him.
Patrick Mac is possibly the most athletic player on this team. He will be a monster down the way.
Our young guys made some errors, but Fran, to his credit, continues to trust them. They struggle on D but are really athletic. The future.
News Flash...Iowa played a lot of good D, especially when they had to. We were in their face time and again but they still made 3’s and a lot of other contested shots.
MSU probably played one of their best games of the season, That is what teams often do when they play the big dogs.

Iowa has been and will continue to be a big dog.

Perkins, Joe T, Murray with Patrick on the wings of our zone is really athletic up top and long on the baselines. Joe T was doing a great job of talking last night in the zone. Perkins and Joe T were playing very hard. Fran gets some credit for sticking with them to bring us back.

Nunge was a big lift off the bench. Bench play was so impressive. Different team defensively. Effort was amped up for second unit. Starters earlier in the year seemed to come out fast. Been sluggish starts lately. Glad to beat a team that was hot shooting. Some of that has to do with our defense giving college players open looks.

Big 10 is tough this year. Maryland beat Purdue. Indiana took Illinois to OT. We are still in good shape. Enjoy every win this year. Enjoy the player of the year and how good he is.

The refs loved blowing whistles last night. 18 fouls in the first 12 minutes or something like that.

 

[InGoodCo]

I hope I'm wrong.

LOL, we're talking a game difference in predictions. You're 13-7 and I'm 14-6. If you are wrong Iowa is still what, a 2 seed, maybe a 3 depending on what they do in the BTT? So what I am saying is, wrong or right, we both have the same expectations for this team and they are both pretty high. The real difference between our views on this team is you revel in their misfortunes.

 

[HaydenHawk56]

LOL, we're talking a game difference in predictions. You're 13-7 and I'm 14-6. If you are wrong Iowa is still what, a 2 seed, maybe a 3 depending on what they do in the BTT? So what I am saying is, wrong or right, we both have the same expectations for this team and they are both pretty high. The real difference between our views on this team is you revel in their misfortunes.

How do you figure? I do think their hits and misses is comical though after so many years of letdowns. Sometimes a good laugh is the best medicine. I'm so ready to see them be a championship level team. I want to see them win the Big Ten Regular season. Then worry about the NCAAs. I don't think 13 or 14 wins is going to do it. And this is the best shot they have at this in a long time. But, they are teetering on blowing it. They need to win their next 7 games and then buckle down for the last 3 games.

 

[WindsorHawk]

How do you figure? I do think their hits and misses is comical though after so many years of letdowns. Sometimes a good laugh is the best medicine. I'm so ready to see them be a championship level team. I want to see them win the Big Ten Regular season. Then worry about the NCAAs. I don't think 13 or 14 wins is going to do it. And this is the best shot they have at this in a long time. But, they are teetering on blowing it. They need to win their next 7 games and then buckle down for the last 3 games.

It’s been awhile but I suspect it won’t be long before we have another chance. We’re 12 deep right now and they’re all good.

Note - Kris Murray is the 12th. From everything I’ve read he would play if there weren’t so many guys at his position.

 

[InGoodCo]

How do you figure? I do think their hits and misses is comical though after so many years of letdowns. Sometimes a good laugh is the best medicine. I'm so ready to see them be a championship level team. I want to see them win the Big Ten Regular season. Then worry about the NCAAs. I don't think 13 or 14 wins is going to do it. And this is the best shot they have at this in a long time. But, they are teetering on blowing it. They need to win their next 7 games and then buckle down for the last 3 games.

We are right in the thick of it and dude, go read everything you post, you are almost acting like you are WILLING them to lose. Cheering for it maybe. If you really wanted all those things, you'd be enjoying this season and team more because they are fucking right there, right in the position you want, for the first time in decades and all you wanna talk about is how the ships going down in flames. It's not.

 

[Hawkfnntn]

Glad we got that W. That was a must have.

JW is so frustrating. If he has delusions of grandeur of being an NBA player he's gonna want to really look at how he's been playing. He's just not able to get in the flow for any amount of time. His shot selection and decision making has been rough to watch. Tends to dribble too much for him when he's trying to force things. I think he's a better defender then what he's been doing lately I wonder if his offensive struggles are affecting that. I dunno but I really wish this Jeckle and Hyde routine of his would level out. If our studs woudl play up to their potential we'd be damn tough to beat.

 

[WindsorHawk]

We are right in the thick of it and dude, go read everything you post, you are almost acting like you are WILLING them to lose. Cheering for it maybe. If you really wanted all those things, you'd be enjoying this season and team more because they are fucking right there, right in the position you want, for the first time in decades and all you wanna talk about is how the ships going down in flames. It's not.

I’ll try to help you make your point. These are HF56’s threads...game thread doesn’t count and he was just trying to cover his backside with Hawks stay in Top 10.

Iowa’s Defensive Problems
Does Iowa get to 20 wins before BTT
Bye bye Top 10 ranking
Iowa drops to #7 in AP poll
Besides wrestling...Iowa...nice things?

 

[InGoodCo]

I’ll try to help you make your point. These are HF56’s threads...game thread doesn’t count and he was just trying to cover his backside with Hawks stay in Top 10.

Iowa’s Defensive Problems
Does Iowa get to 20 wins before BTT
Bye bye Top 10 ranking
Iowa drops to #7 in AP poll
Besides wrestling...Iowa...nice things?

exactly, if he's an Iowa fan, he's the worst one I know personally.

 

[WindsorHawk]

Glad we got that W. That was a must have.

JW is so frustrating. If he has delusions of grandeur of being an NBA player he's gonna want to really look at how he's been playing. He's just not able to get in the flow for any amount of time. His shot selection and decision making has been rough to watch. Tends to dribble too much for him when he's trying to force things. I think he's a better defender then what he's been doing lately I wonder if his offensive struggles are affecting that. I dunno but I really wish this Jeckle and Hyde routine of his would level out. If our studs woudl play up to their potential we'd be damn tough to beat.

During the Indiana vs. Illinois broadcast last night they were discussing NBA prospects in the Big 10. The top 5 were on the screen and Luka was 3rd. When asked about other prospects JW was the 1st or 2nd guy mentioned.

I don’t disagree with your post. And the way they had guys ranked...think Garza was #50...JW isn’t getting drafted. But he’s 100% on their radar.

Side Note - Dakich said he just loves to watch Garza play college basketball. He knows he will never be an NBA All Star but just wants to enjoy watching a great college basketball player. And the other announcer promised not to say 1 negative thing all season if Luka came back next year. It was fun to listen to the entire conversation.

 

[PCHawk]

How do you figure? I do think their hits and misses is comical though after so many years of letdowns. Sometimes a good laugh is the best medicine. I'm so ready to see them be a championship level team. I want to see them win the Big Ten Regular season. Then worry about the NCAAs. I don't think 13 or 14 wins is going to do it. And this is the best shot they have at this in a long time. But, they are teetering on blowing it. They need to win their next 7 games and then buckle down for the last 3 games.

I would say they had a better shot in '15 by quite a bit. Honestly, this isn't an overly great shot when you think about it. The conference is as tough as it's been in a long time and our top two toughest competitors have considerably easier schedules than us. I would say it's our best team in a long time, but not our best shot in a long time.

 

[atomicblue224]

I never forget this game Jan 12, 2008, the game between Iowa and MSU, Fran is never going back to that style! Thanks, Fran, whatever he's doing is doing the right thing!

​

 

[HaydenHawk56]

We are right in the thick of it and dude, go read everything you post, you are almost acting like you are WILLING them to lose. Cheering for it maybe. If you really wanted all those things, you'd be enjoying this season and team more because they are fucking right there, right in the position you want, for the first time in decades and all you wanna talk about is how the ships going down in flames. It's not.

If I'm willing them to lose, then they got bigger problems. LOL

 

[atomicblue224]

If I'm willing them to lose, then they got bigger problems. LOL

Bingo, Always stays positive.

 

[Hawkfnntn]

During the Indiana vs. Illinois broadcast last night they were discussing NBA prospects in the Big 10. The top 5 were on the screen and Luka was 3rd. When asked about other prospects JW was the 1st or 2nd guy mentioned.

I don’t disagree with your post. And the way they had guys ranked...think Garza was #50...JW isn’t getting drafted. But he’s 100% on their radar.

Side Note - Dakich said he just loves to watch Garza play college basketball. He knows he will never be an NBA All Star but just wants to enjoy watching a great college basketball player. And the other announcer promised not to say 1 negative thing all season if Luka came back next year. It was fun to listen to the entire conversation.

Wish I'd have seen some of that game but I'd flipped off TV after our game. I guesss that's why it's so frustrating with JW is because he's capable. He's talented. He's just inconsistent and when he's not playing well it's rough. How many teams can have their starting backcourt and SF not produce very much at all and still put up 80 plus pts and win?

 

[InGoodCo]

If I'm willing them to lose, then they got bigger problems. LOL

How would you have an affect on the team? You wanting Iowa to lose so badly has no bearing on the outcome of Iowa basketball games, it's just annoying AF for us Iowa fans. I know it's a down year for the Cyclones but hey, spring football is right around the corner and you guys should be pretty good again.

 

[HaydenHawk56]

How would you have an affect on the team? You wanting Iowa to lose so badly has no bearing on the outcome of Iowa basketball games, it's just annoying AF for us Iowa fans. I know it's a down year for the Cyclones but hey, spring football is right around the corner and you guys should be pretty good again.

Seriously......the Clowns.....come on you know better than that. No freaking way would I ever associate with that program.....or any other program you want to throw out there other than Iowa.

 

[HaydenHawk56]

I’ll try to help you make your point. These are HF56’s threads...game thread doesn’t count and he was just trying to cover his backside with Hawks stay in Top 10.

Iowa’s Defensive Problems
Does Iowa get to 20 wins before BTT
Bye bye Top 10 ranking
Iowa drops to #7 in AP poll
Besides wrestling...Iowa...nice things?

All pretty valid topics considering the time and dates.

 

[InGoodCo]

Seriously......the Clowns.....come on you know better than that. No freaking way would I ever associate with that program.

you're not great at associating with the Hawks either. I'm all for being negative on this team, but literally, that's the only narrative you are driving on this board. Again, Iowa goes on a streak here, you'll shut up pretty quick and I think that's all any of us can hope for.

 

[HaydenHawk56]

you're not great at associating with the Hawks either. I'm all for being negative on this team, but literally, that's the only narrative you are driving on this board. Again, Iowa goes on a streak here, you'll shut up pretty quick and I think that's all any of us can hope for.

I will be right here to praise them. I think you will find I have had very strong praise for Garza and KM in particular. This is likely Fran's best team......the stakes are high.....I'm going to call it for it is worth...I'm not sugar coating it. At times Iowa has looked like a Final Four 4 team.....other times they have been plagued with the same type of problems we have seen out of most Fran teams.

I will be just as critical of my team as I will praise them. It is time for Fran and his bunch to shit or get off the pot. If they can break the glass ceiling this year, imagine what that can do for our program.

But, I'm not going to call the grass green when it is white. They need to play up to their ranking and earn it down the stretch run. If Fran can't get it done this year, then will he ever get it done?

The Big Ten is so tough excuse (and the Big Ten is tough) only works so much. The Big Ten is tough almost every year.

I think in the next 7 games, they should go 7-0. Really they should. I'm just not sure they will....and they really need to if they want to win this thing.

 

[Grady]

I get a kick out of Iowa fans who constantly complain about the refs and about how unlucky the Hawks are. I would just like to point out how last night the refs decided to call the game very closely, and how dramatically that helped the Hawks. Also, I felt Iowa was very 'lucky' on 2 specific plays which raise rules issues that I have questions about:
1) late in the game the ball bounced off the top of the backboard on a 3 pt shot, came down and landed in Garza's hands for an easy putback layup. I thought the top of the backboard was considered out-of-bounds. Is it or isn't it?
2) also late in the game, an Iowa shot got wedged between the rim and the backboard and didn't move for at least 1 full second in real time. I waited for the refs to stop play and award an alternate possession, but they didn't, an Iowa player jumped up and freed the ball, which led to an Iowa tip-in. I've never seen that allowed in many decades of watching college bball. Why wasn't that play blown dead when the ball became lodged?
These plays resulted in 4 Iowa pts that proved pivotal.
I'll hang up and listen.