okeefe4prez
Well-Known Member
Look proles, I wasn't gonna post tonight because I didn't want JD to ban me, but I've calmed down.
Anyway, Iowa won because tonight, for the first time in seven years, I actually cared about Iowa basketball in March. Even on that fateful afternoon where Northwestern State sank that last second shot the last time I cared in March, I almost felt it before it came. Hell, the voice of reason that filled my bracket out had Iowa losing in the second round.
But think about tonight:
- We were coming off 22 hours rest
- We were matched up against a very athletic and talented team that has had the benefit of the greasiness of the Heathcote/Izzo regime for decades
- We got jobbed by the officials catering to that Izzo regime (6 fouls in the second half - are you effin' kidding me?)
- Northwestern cheapshotted the hell out of us, White looked hurt and Gesell was banged up
- We have a three point "sharpshooter" who has been anything but this season
And despite all that, we controlled most of that game and were, oh I don't know, a missed no-call on a Basabe dunk and a shot clock violation turned into two points on MSU's end away from winning. We displayed a level of athleticism, depth, fundamental basketball (save for the mistakes of youth) and teamwork that hasn't been in Iowa City in a LONG time. We are young and it showed in the closing minutes.
But what that game gave me is something I haven't had in a really long time. It gave me hope. Not expectations, just hope. With the one and done crap, the superstars like Zeller and Burke have a really short shelf life and I think Fran has found a crew of really good ballplayers, but none who look like dudes who will bail for the NBA. We're never going to land the Jabari Parkers or Anthony Davis's of the world, but in that game this evening, you saw steady contributions from each class of Fran's recruits and that degree of continuity is going to be absolutely essential to this program.
We also won because the level of meltdown on this board is nearing levels of the 2010 Arizona football game - when you hit that level meltdown, you know the fans care. So I know I'm not the only one back in the saddle here. And don't get me wrong, I'm a die hard Hawk fan, but I'm not a masochist, which is why for roughly 15 years I have tried to turn off my care-meter come March. But from what I saw out of this ballclub tonight, we're going to have something to care about in March for as long as we keep Fran around. Not to sound like some doosh Cubs fan, but here's to next year.
GO HAWKS
Anyway, Iowa won because tonight, for the first time in seven years, I actually cared about Iowa basketball in March. Even on that fateful afternoon where Northwestern State sank that last second shot the last time I cared in March, I almost felt it before it came. Hell, the voice of reason that filled my bracket out had Iowa losing in the second round.
But think about tonight:
- We were coming off 22 hours rest
- We were matched up against a very athletic and talented team that has had the benefit of the greasiness of the Heathcote/Izzo regime for decades
- We got jobbed by the officials catering to that Izzo regime (6 fouls in the second half - are you effin' kidding me?)
- Northwestern cheapshotted the hell out of us, White looked hurt and Gesell was banged up
- We have a three point "sharpshooter" who has been anything but this season
And despite all that, we controlled most of that game and were, oh I don't know, a missed no-call on a Basabe dunk and a shot clock violation turned into two points on MSU's end away from winning. We displayed a level of athleticism, depth, fundamental basketball (save for the mistakes of youth) and teamwork that hasn't been in Iowa City in a LONG time. We are young and it showed in the closing minutes.
But what that game gave me is something I haven't had in a really long time. It gave me hope. Not expectations, just hope. With the one and done crap, the superstars like Zeller and Burke have a really short shelf life and I think Fran has found a crew of really good ballplayers, but none who look like dudes who will bail for the NBA. We're never going to land the Jabari Parkers or Anthony Davis's of the world, but in that game this evening, you saw steady contributions from each class of Fran's recruits and that degree of continuity is going to be absolutely essential to this program.
We also won because the level of meltdown on this board is nearing levels of the 2010 Arizona football game - when you hit that level meltdown, you know the fans care. So I know I'm not the only one back in the saddle here. And don't get me wrong, I'm a die hard Hawk fan, but I'm not a masochist, which is why for roughly 15 years I have tried to turn off my care-meter come March. But from what I saw out of this ballclub tonight, we're going to have something to care about in March for as long as we keep Fran around. Not to sound like some doosh Cubs fan, but here's to next year.
GO HAWKS
