Ben is Responsible for Lasy 2 Losses

Max Rebo

All-Conference
Dec 31, 2022
843
2,297
93
Why must our fans be like this? It's astonishing, really.
Good question. Honestly, it’s making sports less fun.

It’s completely normal to be disappointed when your team loses. Fans care, and that’s part of what makes sports great. It’s also perfectly fair to ask questions, offer thoughtful commentary, and even criticize when it’s warranted. But the level of pure vitriol we see these days -- sometimes even after a win -- is just exhausting. Too often, the worst part of a loss isn’t the loss itself anymore. It’s logging onto the Internet and having to wade through the flood of absolute nonsense that follows.

Part of the problem is that a lot of people feel pressure to say the most dramatic or profound thing they can think of when they post. Instead of just reacting like a normal fan -- “That was a tough loss,” or “We’ve got to clean that up next week” -- everything has to be framed as a sweeping declaration about the program, the coach, the players, or the future of the universe. The hotter the take, the more attention it gets. So the incentive becomes escalation, not perspective.

And when that’s the environment, the conversation stops being about the game and starts becoming a contest to see who can be the loudest or most outraged. That’s not analysis, and it’s not fandom. It’s just noise.
 

Hawx224

All-Conference
Jun 30, 2025
436
1,773
93
Good question. Honestly, it’s making sports less fun.

It’s completely normal to be disappointed when your team loses. Fans care, and that’s part of what makes sports great. It’s also perfectly fair to ask questions, offer thoughtful commentary, and even criticize when it’s warranted. But the level of pure vitriol we see these days -- sometimes even after a win -- is just exhausting. Too often, the worst part of a loss isn’t the loss itself anymore. It’s logging onto the Internet and having to wade through the flood of absolute nonsense that follows.

Part of the problem is that a lot of people feel pressure to say the most dramatic or profound thing they can think of when they post. Instead of just reacting like a normal fan -- “That was a tough loss,” or “We’ve got to clean that up next week” -- everything has to be framed as a sweeping declaration about the program, the coach, the players, or the future of the universe. The hotter the take, the more attention it gets. So the incentive becomes escalation, not perspective.

And when that’s the environment, the conversation stops being about the game and starts becoming a contest to see who can be the loudest or most outraged. That’s not analysis, and it’s not fandom. It’s just noise.
A lot of fans need to learn to enjoy the individual games and not engage in season or multi-season long narratives about championship possibilities, state of the program, coaching, etc. Life is a lot more enjoyable without thinking too much about that stuff!
 

83Hawk

All-Conference
Jan 1, 2023
1,772
3,962
113
Good question. Honestly, it’s making sports less fun.

It’s completely normal to be disappointed when your team loses. Fans care, and that’s part of what makes sports great. It’s also perfectly fair to ask questions, offer thoughtful commentary, and even criticize when it’s warranted. But the level of pure vitriol we see these days -- sometimes even after a win -- is just exhausting. Too often, the worst part of a loss isn’t the loss itself anymore. It’s logging onto the Internet and having to wade through the flood of absolute nonsense that follows.

Part of the problem is that a lot of people feel pressure to say the most dramatic or profound thing they can think of when they post. Instead of just reacting like a normal fan -- “That was a tough loss,” or “We’ve got to clean that up next week” -- everything has to be framed as a sweeping declaration about the program, the coach, the players, or the future of the universe. The hotter the take, the more attention it gets. So the incentive becomes escalation, not perspective.

And when that’s the environment, the conversation stops being about the game and starts becoming a contest to see who can be the loudest or most outraged. That’s not analysis, and it’s not fandom. It’s just noise.
This board is no different than every other board for every other sports team....college or pro...despite what the "fan police" on here think/say. I'm not saying it's right, or justifying it in any way... that's just the way it is.

All forms of social media suffer this, particularly those that allow people to hide behind an anonymous username.
 

Slim45

All-Conference
Nov 30, 2019
685
2,239
93
Good question. Honestly, it’s making sports less fun.

It’s completely normal to be disappointed when your team loses. Fans care, and that’s part of what makes sports great. It’s also perfectly fair to ask questions, offer thoughtful commentary, and even criticize when it’s warranted. But the level of pure vitriol we see these days -- sometimes even after a win -- is just exhausting. Too often, the worst part of a loss isn’t the loss itself anymore. It’s logging onto the Internet and having to wade through the flood of absolute nonsense that follows.

Part of the problem is that a lot of people feel pressure to say the most dramatic or profound thing they can think of when they post. Instead of just reacting like a normal fan -- “That was a tough loss,” or “We’ve got to clean that up next week” -- everything has to be framed as a sweeping declaration about the program, the coach, the players, or the future of the universe. The hotter the take, the more attention it gets. So the incentive becomes escalation, not perspective.

And when that’s the environment, the conversation stops being about the game and starts becoming a contest to see who can be the loudest or most outraged. That’s not analysis, and it’s not fandom. It’s just noise.
Excited Bill Murray GIF by MOODMAN
 
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doughuddl2_rivals

All-Conference
Sep 5, 2009
1,270
1,839
113
33% of this boards posts are by Clone/Husker trolls...
Not sure what the percentage is on here but when I scroll through X topics on the Hawkeyes I laugh at the number of those fan groups that post their snark on Hawkeye posts.

Easy to spot them with their bio or pic. Must be their inferiority complex they have when matched up against the Hawkeyes. 😆
 
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Max Rebo

All-Conference
Dec 31, 2022
843
2,297
93
This board is no different than every other board for every other sports team....college or pro...despite what the "fan police" on here think/say. I'm not saying it's right, or justifying it in any way... that's just the way it is.

All forms of social media suffer this, particularly those that allow people to hide behind an anonymous username.
You are exactly right, and I didn't intend to imply otherwise.

However, I do think it's getting worse.
 

ComradeKirk

All-Conference
Jan 12, 2026
512
1,413
93
You are exactly right, and I didn't intend to imply otherwise.

However, I do think it's getting worse.
The (continued) rise of shock value for attention, combined with existing anonymity, makes the internet unbearable at times. I find myself checking out of the internet for reasonably long stretches as a result. Probably healthy in the long run tho.
 

ComradeKirk

All-Conference
Jan 12, 2026
512
1,413
93
All this criticism of Ben and the players, yet no mention of another incompetent officiating job? Well, I'll fix that.

With about 10 minutes to play, Iowa had 11 fouls, Michigan had 3. When their 7-3 guy smashed a throw off the glass to beat the shot clock, he clearly traveled, shuffled his feet, looked like the baby giraffe that he is. But NO call?! What the hell . . . even Settles timidly admitted it was a travel, fearful of sounding like an Iowa homer. No call there is plain incompetence, and it cost Iowa two points in a game they lost by three.

How about the one foul on Stirtz, a total phantom call. And twice Howard was called for a foul for having the audacity to be in perfect guarding position and getting run over by a Michigan player. And then there was the call against Banks down in the lane when the Michigan guy had him in a hold that would make Tom Brands envious. Banks tries to escape the take-down assault and, yes, Banks is called for a foul. You can see the official staring at that battle the entire time, and he waits and waits and waits and then makes that call against Iowa.

If Iowa makes ONE more shot and Michigan misses ONE more shot, Iowa wins. If Banks doesn't have the ball knocked off his knee in the closing seconds, Iowa has a great chance to win. If Stirtz three-pointer that circled the rim several times and spun out stays in, Iowa is at least in OT.

So sure, as in any game, there were many things Iowa could have done better to get the win. But let's not let the freakin' officials off the hook. They played as big a role in the outcome as anyone.

Iowa played a fantastic game against a team that has superior talent, great coaching, and tremendous size, a team that has lost two games all season and is #3 in the country. Iowa did everything but win. One more correct call, one more good bounce, and Iowa has one of the greatest upsets in recent memory. So damn close . . . hell yes it hurts.
Agreed.

I thought the first half was officiated as fairly as you could hope. The second half had a ~10 minute stretch where it legitimately felt like 8 v 5. In spite that, the guys fought to the bitter end with chances to win or force OT.

As a fan, ofc I would've liked better execution, but I won't fault a single players effort. Each of the guys left it all out there and that's all I ask. Sometimes you just get beat by the odds on favorite to win the natty. It sucks, but it happens.
 
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ComradeKirk

All-Conference
Jan 12, 2026
512
1,413
93
Just a honest opinion.
Outside of miracles, I'm not sure what you're expecting from his recruiting; brother hasn't been here a calendar year yet. Not saying BMCs an ace recruiter, but it's also an unknown enough quantity I'm not sure that there can be any real concerns. If the next two portals are duds, and the 28 class has a bunch of whiffs? Then yeah, I'm right there with you.
 
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herkhatescy2

All-Conference
Dec 2, 2024
2,180
3,040
113
I think Ben is nite and day better than Fran, just concerned about his recruiting or lack of. So far his lack of getting guards is concerning. If Iowa is rumored to have a larger NIL PROVE IT!! So far recruits say they love Ben, they visit then they move on. A pattern that continues.
You are a complete fugging idiot. Why don't you go back to your Cyclone board. He hasn't had a full year yet to recruit a guard and had to piece together a team in very short time. GTFO
 
Mar 4, 2021
172
310
63
Excited Lets Go GIF
The foundation is being laid and if you can't see it, then honestly you don't know s h ! t about basketball. Ben will win here and he will win big. FFS some of you so called fans are insufferable. I think this season has been a resounding success considering you are doing a hard reset on the program. Take a step off the ledge haters.

the cupboard is bare next year. Ben can’t recruit.
 

The Big Z

All-Conference
Jan 5, 2023
2,123
4,091
113
the cupboard is bare next year. Ben can’t recruit.
I mean honestly we have no idea whether he can recruit. We know he can coach, but we also know NIL is an important factor and we also play one of the slowest tempos in the entire country. I think Folgueras will continue to grow and get better. I’m still not sold on Jirak as ever being athletic enough to play solid minutes in this league. We have a huge hole at pt guard obviously next year and we need athleticism. We have some skill in the front court but not sure we’re athletic enough. We will for sure find out! Go Hawks.
 

Bearhawk0530

Senior
Mar 13, 2010
170
512
93
We have overachieved this year given the overall talent on the roster. Ben has done a great job. We have a great PG, so this is the best shot Iowa has had at a sweet 16 in a long time. We are going to fight and be a tough out.
 

LetsGoHawks83

All-American
Mar 20, 2015
3,615
7,254
113
Coach McCollum is our guy. He pours his heart into this team. Fran poured his heart into embarrassing himself over officiating.

I was ready for Fran to be done and maybe he got complacent his last year or two. But I think he also poured his heart into his team. Players loved him.

Hopefully time heals any hard feelings and he can return for games like Dr. Tom has.

Excited for the future with Ben
 

Ozzie89

All-Conference
Dec 14, 2006
102,901
4,300
113
I was ready for Fran to be done and maybe he got complacent his last year or two. But I think he also poured his heart into his team. Players loved him.

Hopefully time heals any hard feelings and he can return for games like Dr. Tom has.

Excited for the future with Ben

I have no hard feelings toward Fran. Won a lot of games and gave us some great moments. His style drove most crazy (lack of defending), but he had a good run here. It just ran its course. Connor’s a grade A, petty dbag though
 
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PinkShizzle

All-Conference
Jul 9, 2025
2,200
4,954
113
Absolute truth. I've been to a lot of forums for other programs to see how their online fans react to difficult losses, and I haven't yet seen a fanbase that melts down harder and more consistently than Iowa's. Bottom line.
I don't ever post on their board, but I enjoy going to Nebraska's board to watch the carnage after a football loss. They are every bit the same as Iowa as far as meltdowns go.

It's a solid pick-me-up if you're in need of entertainment.
 
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