Expectations?

[hawkod]

Pressing?

 

[Kceasthawk@77]

FWIW-IU and Michigan State radio guys both pick Iowa 3rd in the BIG, as does Michigan writer at the Bucket Problem.

Big Ten 2026-2027 Preview: The Top Three + Postseason Awards Predictions + Mailbag Pod

Iowa, Michigan, and USC all look like top-ten teams. Which one is most likely to emerge with the Big Ten title?

thebucketproblem.beehiiv.com

FWIW-IU and Michigan State radio guys both pick Iowa 3rd in the BIG, as does Michigan writer at the Bucket Problem.

Big Ten 2026-2027 Preview: The Top Three + Postseason Awards Predictions + Mailbag Pod

Iowa, Michigan, and USC all look like top-ten teams. Which one is most likely to emerge with the Big Ten title?

thebucketproblem.beehiiv.com

Overall these guys are pretty knowledgeable. A lot better then national polls.

 

[o_AMAYS]

Overall these guys are pretty knowledgeable. A lot better then national polls.

I like the Michigan guy at The Bucket Problem. Love this Ava Heiden stat that he highlighted: "Iowa outscored opponents by 24.1 points per 100 possessions when Heiden was on the court in 2025-26 and were a dead even 0.0 when she was on the bench, per CBB Analytics."

 

[Jonesy5960]

I like the Michigan guy at The Bucket Problem. Love this Ava Heiden stat that he highlighted: "Iowa outscored opponents by 24.1 points per 100 possessions when Heiden was on the court in 2025-26 and were a dead even 0.0 when she was on the bench, per CBB Analytics."

That's why we need her on the floor instead of in foul trouble on the bench. She's the most dominant post in the country and she carried the team for much of last year. Getting 30 minutes per game from her will be critical to the team's success. Unbelievable that she was whistled for 4 or more fouls in 15 out of 37 games.

 

[KyleHuesmann]

That's why we need her on the floor instead of in foul trouble on the bench. She's the most dominant post in the country and she carried the team for much of last year. Getting 30 minutes per game from her will be critical to the team's success. Unbelievable that she was whistled for 4 or more fouls in 15 out of 37 games.

She’s kind of said that she doesn’t want to play 30+ minutes per game (average). Said at Big Ten media days that 25-30 is where she feels best because of the effort she gives to run the floor. That doesn’t mean she won’t play 32 or 34 in a game, but it won’t be every night.

 

[Kceasthawk@77]

She’s kind of said that she doesn’t want to play 30+ minutes per game (average). Said at Big Ten media days that 25-30 is where she feels best because of the effort she gives to run the floor. That doesn’t mean she won’t play 32 or 34 in a game, but it won’t be every night.

She’s kind of said that she doesn’t want to play 30+ minutes per game (average). Said at Big Ten media days that 25-30 is where she feels best because of the effort she gives to run the floor. That doesn’t mean she won’t play 32 or 34 in a game, but it won’t be every night.

I think Layla will be ready to give some decent minutes, and there will be teams we can go smaller and MW can play in the post for just a few minutes.

 

[Ohio Herky]

Oh boy, the board is acting like the sky is falling again. How about we give it five games before hitting the panic button and see what kind of season we're actually dealing with?

 

[Jonesy5960]

She’s kind of said that she doesn’t want to play 30+ minutes per game (average). Said at Big Ten media days that 25-30 is where she feels best because of the effort she gives to run the floor. That doesn’t mean she won’t play 32 or 34 in a game, but it won’t be every night.

I don't know that 30+ average is in the cards, but I think you want/need her closer to 30 than 25 in competitive games. Tired Ava is still better than anybody else Iowa has, but even more importantly, you don't want her minutes limited by foul trouble in tight games. The only 2 games Iowa lost where Ava had less than 4 fouls were vs UCLA and Uconn. They definitely don't lose that game vs ISU if Ava plays more than 18 minutes.

 

[Jonesy5960]

Oh boy, the board is acting like the sky is falling again. How about we give it five games before hitting the panic button and see what kind of season we're actually dealing with?

Weird take. I haven't heard anyone panicking.

 

[LloydBraun]

Losing a 17 point lead in 3 minutes, less than 3 minutes, is choking any way you slice it. Luckily, they pulled it out.

I knew you would not answer the question, but your post provides a good laugh! Interesting logic here: the 3-minute collapse is poor coaching but the other 42 minutes that led to the win was lucky.

It is awesome that you used a Big Ten road win against a top 15 team as your Exhibit A in this thread!

 

[Hawk14]

I can see Mckenna getting a decent amount of minutes at the 5 position, similar to Hannah. I hope Ava averages less than 30 minutes during the regular season so she is not worn down for post season action. Post players, like Ava, have more weight and stress on their body. I don’t know if anyone thinks much about the fact that they are the only players running baseline to baseline. In Iowa’s system that is a full sprint often. That’s a lot of wear and tear on the body. Hopefully Layla is able to pick up the extra minutes but there is a good possibility in my mind that McKenna will be needed some in the post.

 

[Hawkangler]

I hate that I am entering this conversation, but here I am.

My first year year of mbb seasons tickets, I watched the Miller six-pack go undefeated in the BIG10 and average 100+ points/game. He left. I let it go.

I watched games in Iowa's very first season under Lark Birdsong (best name ever). They weren't very good. I let it go.

I was there when Vivian Stringer violated the fire code with 22,157 in 1985. When she left and handing off to Angie Lee, the program wasn't good. I let it go.

Tom Davis's dismissal was handled badly. I let it go.

I didn't... appreciate Alford, Lickliter, or McCaffrey. I let it go.

When Lisa Bluder left coaching, I let it go.

To those who think that some decision in the past was a mistake, let it go.

We are here now. We can't change the past but we can appreciate the present. Live in the moment.

And let the past go.

DISCLAIMER: I often don't know what I am talking about. I feel right at home on this forum.

Unfortunately too many people live in the past. I'm always looking to the future with optimism. Looking forward instead of the rear view mirror is safer and a better way to not miss exciting events.

 

[Jonesy5960]

I can see Mckenna getting a decent amount of minutes at the 5 position, similar to Hannah. I hope Ava averages less than 30 minutes during the regular season so she is not worn down for post season action. Post players, like Ava, have more weight and stress on their body. I don’t know if anyone thinks much about the fact that they are the only players running baseline to baseline. In Iowa’s system that is a full sprint often. That’s a lot of wear and tear on the body. Hopefully Layla is able to pick up the extra minutes but there is a good possibility in my mind that McKenna will be needed some in the post.

Maybe? I don't know that McKenna has the body strength yet for minutes at the 5. Listening to Jan she has some work to get done there. I'd be really surprised if most of Ava's backup minutes don't go to Layla this year which would work out to around 10-12 minutes per game. She averaged 7.5 in conference play as a freshman last year. I hope she's ready to contribute.