Why Hawkeyes Will Have a Hard Time Making the NCAA Tournament





My favorite quote from the article was "Winning isn't easy, you have to learn how to win. The only way to learn is by losing and learning."


In other news, the only way to be a horrible sports writer is by being horrible and being a sports writer.
This "article" reads like a 6th grader wrote it. I seriously hope no one paid him for this.
 




A number of points in the article I agree with. Iowa does play a soft non conference schedule, that is a fact. Iowa will need to finish above .500 in the B1G in order to get an invite to the NCAA. This season will be a test for Fran and the basketball team as for the first time in a while there is excitement surrounding the program. But whether they make the NCAA or not this season will be a big step in the right direction for the program.
 








Do remember 9th grade composition class, where you have to write a persuasive paper with an introduction, a conclusion, and three supporting points for your argument? That is exactly what this reads like.
 


The author is right about the non-conference schedule being soft and that won't help us any. Also the fact that our opening stretch of games to start the conference is brutal.. I hope the team doesn't start 1-6 or something and the wheels fall off. But if Iowa wins a few of those games, it will be in good shape. And if the Big Ten is as good as it's supposed to be, Iowa will be fine if it does reasonably well in-conference and doesn't have too many bad losses.

Otherwise, it's a crock that fan excitement will hurt the team. Excitement is a good thing!

Besides, with the "learning how to win" argument - most of last year's team is back. Did they not already go through alot of these growing pains a year ago? I expect this team to be more mature than it was a year ago, even with a freshman PG. And NOT a lose a "Campbell" type of game at home this year.
 






I think the guy has some solid observations.

Like it or not, expectations do rachet up pressure. Last year, there was zero expectations on guys like Marble,White and McCabe,so it was pressure-free for them. Gatens took any of the pressure there was off of them. This year it will be different for those guys and that can change everything.
Clearly,this is much pressure on Gesell,and Woody as well. Gesell is expected to step right in and lead the team as a true frosh....that is a ton to put on the shoulders of single frosh out of South Sioux City,Neb.

As we see with our football fans, if the Hawks get upset by a Central Michigan type of bb opponent, the long knives come out very quickly. That will add to the pressure. If they lose a few early games,and then get spanked early in the Big Ten against favored teams, our fanbase can turn on them on a dime.

I see a very real possibility of a painful growing season,with Iowa struggling to make the NIT,but then profiting the following year with a nice run to the NCAA tourny.

The Big Ten is just too good to assume anything this year....add in a key injury and this could be a tough year for the Hawks.
 


It isn't as bad as everyone makes it sound. He is basically saying we aren't mentally tough enough yet. I would say since we return so many major contributors that we are pretty mentally tough after last year. The question becomes how mentally tough are our Freshman going to be. He puts emphasis on the wrong player/position. PG is far more vital to our Mental Toughness then Center. If MG is gripping that would spell trouble for us. If AW were to start gripping we could at-least go back to Basabe at 4 McCabe at 5. Not Ideal, but we've used it before.

That being said, the lighter OCC schedule should help gain confidence, which is something our young players need.
 






JHHawk said:
I think the guy has some solid observations.

Like it or not, expectations do rachet up pressure. Last year, there was zero expectations on guys like Marble,White and McCabe,so it was pressure-free for them. Gatens took any of the pressure there was off of them. This year it will be different for those guys and that can change everything.
Clearly,this is much pressure on Gesell,and Woody as well. Gesell is expected to step right in and lead the team as a true frosh....that is a ton to put on the shoulders of single frosh out of South Sioux City,Neb.

As we see with our football fans, if the Hawks get upset by a Central Michigan type of bb opponent, the long knives come out very quickly. That will add to the pressure. If they lose a few early games,and then get spanked early in the Big Ten against favored teams, our fanbase can turn on them on a dime.

I see a very real possibility of a painful growing season,with Iowa struggling to make the NIT,but then profiting the following year with a nice run to the NCAA tourny.

The Big Ten is just too good to assume anything this year....add in a key injury and this could be a tough year for the Hawks.
Click to expand...

I sure hope you are wrong and that the team exceeds expectations but some of your points could turn out to be valid. It will be interesting to watch Gesell's developement but from what I have seen of him he looks like a very fluid type player and much more so than Gatens did at this same stage. College however is a whole different animal but there have been plenty of great reviews about Gesell by people who know a lot more about basketball talent than I do.

I hate to end a post with the words "I do" as twenty-two years has proven that can be a very expensive commitment....... Lol. Honey, if your reading this just kidding, just kidding. When I do buy new furniture I always try to get the most comfortable sofa they have in the store no matter what it cost. ;)
 


JHHawk said:
I think the guy has some solid observations.


Clearly,this is much pressure on Gesell,and Woody as well. Gesell is expected to step right in and lead the team as a true frosh....that is a ton to put on the shoulders of single frosh out of South Sioux City,Neb.
Click to expand...

I don't know if Iowa fans posting here are old or don't pay attention to college basketball. To expect freshmen not to compete in college in 2012 is lame. The top freshmen only play one or two years before moving on to the NBA. They are playing kids themselves. 18-22 year olds! This isn't like a football lineman who need to bulk up. Look at Kentucky's team who won the national championship with a bunch of one and done freshmen.
 




greghammel said:
I don't know if Iowa fans posting here are old or don't pay attention to college basketball. To expect freshmen not to compete in college in 2012 is lame. The top freshmen only play one or two years before moving on to the NBA. They are playing kids themselves. 18-22 year olds! This isn't like a football lineman who need to bulk up. Look at Kentucky's team who won the national championship with a bunch of one and done freshmen.
Click to expand...

Not sure if trolling, or just doesn't understand basketball at all.
 


You must log in or register to reply here.


Latest posts

Share this page






Top