*****Iowa vs Illinois NCAAT Game Thread*****

Nov 29, 2021
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I didn’t expect to get this attached to a team in the NIL/portal era like I did. I figured when guys have been here since their freshman year, they would just feel more like true Hawkeyes to me. But I love this team and I’ll never forget them. Hopefully the ones with eligibility are here until it’s used up.

Bennett Stirtz is one I’m really going to miss—not just for his play, but the way he carries himself. You don’t see too many guys, or gals for that matter, with that kind of humility and quiet confidence anymore. Wish we could have him for at least another year. He exemplifies everything it means to be a Hawkeye. Forever grateful for this team, and thankful Bennett chose to be a Hawkeye for his one year in D1.
 

HawksRule73

All-Conference
Jun 26, 2025
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No Alvaro was a massive mistake
Completely disagree. It wasn’t a good matchup for AF on the defensive end and when it was obvious we were getting bad Al on the offensive end, Ben had no choice but to play Howard more…at least he was making a better effort on the defensive end.

But hey, no regrets from me….just total gratitude to Ben and this team for the ride they took us on the last week and a half!
 

Hawk48

All-Conference
Jun 10, 2005
1,021
1,553
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Yeah. You probably give up some on defense and rebounding by playing him over Banks or Manyawu but the lift in offense would have been worth it. Banks was 1-8 from the field and Manyawu was really bad on offense.
Problem I have with Banks and Manyawu are they are very inconsistent, soft around the rim, and make bad decisions
 
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Feb 25, 2008
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If an Elite 8 appearance as a 9 seed with 4 of the 5 starters that wouldn't likely start on any upper half B1G team doesn't turn heads, nothing will. NIL is important but not everything!
That's just it. Kids are either gonna continue to buy into stereotypes the adults and coaches in their lives feed to them about Iowa.........or this tournament run will open their eyes.

It's up to the highly impressionable, easily influenced, gullible as f*** high school recruits.

We're not gonna build our entire roster going forward each and every year around mid-major transfers.
 
Nov 29, 2021
278
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Completely disagree. It wasn’t a good matchup for AF on the defensive end and when it was obvious we were getting bad Al on the offensive end, Ben had no choice but to play Howard more…at least he was making a better effort on the defensive end.

But hey, no regrets from me….just total gratitude to Ben and this team for the ride they took us on the last week and a half!
I agree with you on most of this, but the last 5 minutes I thought he should have given Al another shot after the tournament he’s had when we were in desperate need of points.
 

Hawklove

Senior
Jul 11, 2018
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Problem I have with Banks and Manyawu are they are very inconsistent, soft around the rim, and make bad decisions
I bet you we get blocked more than most teams - very soft around the rim. But hey, this turned out to be a fabulous season. Good for Ben and the crew - Stirtz was fantastic - he’ll be remembered as one of the top 3 to 5 Iowa PG’s of all time
 

MAKhawks

All-Conference
Nov 3, 2001
1,416
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TKR just got called for a foul which was the exact thing ILL did all game. Not called once.
 

Rambler Hawk

All-Conference
Oct 10, 2001
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I'm not gonna rant about officiating any more, but that sequence where Tate takes the ball to the rim and is HIT by all 3 ILL guys that jump up with him, no whistles ..... and then they call a little reach/tap foul on Iowa 15-20 seconds later on an ILL drive to the rim of the same situation, only 1v1.

Fugging infuriating!!!
You are 100% correct….👍
 

ajdl

Senior
Jul 27, 2017
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Completely disagree. It wasn’t a good matchup for AF on the defensive end and when it was obvious we were getting bad Al on the offensive end, Ben had no choice but to play Howard more…at least he was making a better effort on the defensive end.

But hey, no regrets from me….just total gratitude to Ben and this team for the ride they took us on the last week and a half!
59 points. Needed someone to score
 

HawkBall23

All-American
Oct 6, 2001
4,560
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Iowa only had a 2-pt lead at the time, but wish I had the science fiction ability to see possible future outcomes from a static point in time.

Speaking of the 7-8+ minute delay caused by the horn malfunction.

Do things stay the same if it didn't happen? Change a little?? A lot???


I know, I know. Both teams affected.

Who knows, maybe it kept Illinois from turning the game into a woodshed.