The losses have hurt, but I feel a good run coming. Four of the losses are against #’s 3,4, 5, and 13 in KenPom…3 of them in brutal road environments. Analytics still like us at #20 in KenPom. I don’t think the flu running through the team can be ignored. That being said, we need this win at Indiana.
Still Feeling Positive
- Thread starter sktk17
- Start date
We really need a 3 to 5 game win streak for confidence building.
Last night give me hope again. They played much better and would probably have beaten minny and Illinois playing like that. I think the illness took a lot out of them. Get a few more pieces and I think Ben will get them to the top.
Yeah who fills Stirtz shoes?
Could be ugly next year without a match for him. Real ugly.
If rumors of donors willingness to step up are true, I think a big pitch for pg and a rim protector with the rest returning pieces could have hawks in position to compete for top tier in BIG and sweet sixteen next season.
Just 2 targeted additions could complete this team.
It will be what it will be,.. For Ben it's all about how he is able to recruit after his Drake transfers fade off into the sunset.
I think the key word there is Drake. With that said, the guys he brought with him are hanging in there pretty darn well so far in the Big Ten IMO. They played two top 5 teams to the wire, on the road. That's pretty good, without a true center to boot.
I think it's just a natural step up for him as far as recruiting and who he can go after now that he's leading a Big Ten program. I don't know that he's any kind of savior, but his track record clearly shows he's got an eye for talent at the level he was at and obviously Coached them up pretty successfully.
He's in a bigger pond, and can attract bigger fish, and until proven otherwise I think he will. His journey is just getting started. Fingers crossed.
Frankly, Stirtz has been an overall disappointment. So far he hasn't been able to take over at crunch time and lead this team to victory. He makes some dumb mistakes. He forces some shots, especially at critical late-game moments. He's good, but he's far from irreplaceable. As others have noted, Iowa has played very well when he's been on the bench with foul trouble. Stirtz really needs to step up the rest of the way, but no matter what, Iowa will be just fine next season without Stirtz. IMHO, of course.
Yeah, I think the "Whatever will we do next year without Stirtz?" question might be a little overblown. This team has looked pretty good at times with Stirtz on the bench with foul trouble, etc. I leave it to Ben, but just hit the portal and go shopping. We'll see what he finds, but Ben already stated that his priorities for next year are a PG and more size. He knows what he needs.
Any ideas what total compensation was at for this year and what it'll change to next year?
Yes, but you were probably one the was Ok with Dix and his step back jump shot. Garbage For Creighton he's averaging 12.2 and .337 from 3, not great for a senior.
Indiana football is not a re-build, it's a brand new purchase,... Ben will be fine.
Sure, you want to win them all. But I'm far from disappointed in this team.
As the OP said, 12-5 with 4 losses to ranked teams - 3 of those on the road. Pretty good for a new coach with a team assembled from scratch (yes, I know a bunch of them are from Drake). Hard to feel too good about winning at IU, which would be 4 in a row, but lots of winnable games coming up.
I think this team is already better than last year's, The future looks pretty good.
The fans wanted a reboot and we got one.
As the OP said, 12-5 with 4 losses to ranked teams - 3 of those on the road. Pretty good for a new coach with a team assembled from scratch (yes, I know a bunch of them are from Drake). Hard to feel too good about winning at IU, which would be 4 in a row, but lots of winnable games coming up.
I think this team is already better than last year's, The future looks pretty good.
The fans wanted a reboot and we got one.
