It's seemingly unlikely that Iowa will be in the NCAA Tournament. How does the season finish?
Do we need to reset expectations?
- Thread starter HawkeyeGenius
- Start date
It's time for McCollum to step away. I appreciate everything he's done for the program but it's time for someone else to take it to the next level. At this point, Ben is just getting a paycheck.
No, he’s not. I would assume he is making fun of those who are whining already.
Your sarcasm meter at least triggered the right question
Play these last two games with no Hawkeyes sick or recovering from the flu and I bet they go at least 1-1 if not 2-0.
Are they still undermanned physically and talent-wise vs the top of the B1G, even fully healthy? Hell yes. But even sick and being cold as hell on the offensive end in both the last games, both games were right there for grabbing control of near the end and winning.
Let's see what they look like when the illness bug passes through and they get back into 'fighting shape'.
And healthy or sick or whatever, they aren't winning @ Purdue next. So not really fair to keep piling on that this team & coach aren't 'B1G-worthy' after the upcoming game. Just hope they can keep from getting woodshedded by 30+.
Are they still undermanned physically and talent-wise vs the top of the B1G, even fully healthy? Hell yes. But even sick and being cold as hell on the offensive end in both the last games, both games were right there for grabbing control of near the end and winning.
Let's see what they look like when the illness bug passes through and they get back into 'fighting shape'.
And healthy or sick or whatever, they aren't winning @ Purdue next. So not really fair to keep piling on that this team & coach aren't 'B1G-worthy' after the upcoming game. Just hope they can keep from getting woodshedded by 30+.
So we have two bad games in a row. We are ranked (albeit not next week) and play in one of, if not the toughest conferences in the nation.
This stuff will happen while we, and coach, adjusts to the league. You can't give up on these guys. Maybe instead of tearing them down we could just be supportive.
This team is still on pace to make the tournament. It's not like the women down 16 to an 0-5 team on the road.
This stuff will happen while we, and coach, adjusts to the league. You can't give up on these guys. Maybe instead of tearing them down we could just be supportive.
This team is still on pace to make the tournament. It's not like the women down 16 to an 0-5 team on the road.
I'm starting to doubt the MBB wins a road game and Q1 wins like slim too. Not going to make the tournament doing that.
This group has a very small margin of error and finishing .500 in conference would be a really good accomplishment.
My expectations were fight for an NcAA berth.. with this roster I thought Iowa could be a bubble team given BM coaching.
After next week that’s where they wil be and likely remain. Figuring out how to claw their way into the tourney.
After next week that’s where they wil be and likely remain. Figuring out how to claw their way into the tourney.
The bubble is absolutely terrible right now if it makes you feel better.
A few weeks ago I thought we were a shoe-in for the tournament. Now, I think it's a 50/50 shot at best.
I'd feel a lot better with a W at Minnesota or a few Q1 wins.
As would every person with the slightest involvement in the program and 100% of the fanbase.
I posted my predictions so right now my expectations aren’t that far off.
I think some people weigh over estimated this team after the Robert Morris game
We’re gonna finish in the middle of the league (hopefully). Basically just as we would’ve under Fran.
I think some people weigh over estimated this team after the Robert Morris game
We’re gonna finish in the middle of the league (hopefully). Basically just as we would’ve under Fran.
I agree with you about a lot of stuff usually .....
But based off last season, no way Iowa finishes mid-pack this season with "Pockets" still on the sidelines. Wouldn't be dead last, but I'm guessing they would have been in serious danger again of not qualifying for the BTT.
We’ll never know what would have happened with the team rosters and transfers but this feels like a normal Iowa team to me. Obviously The play on the court is a lot different but I’m talking results.
Agreed we'll never know, but McCaffery seemed ready to be done at Iowa by all appearances. Would that have continued into this season? Seems likely, but again we'll never know.
He seemed to only show up to games last season because he was getting paid for it. He spent more time gathering pocket lint under his fingernails then he did actually even trying to look interested on being the sidelines.
Considering everyone but Koch left from last year and we had a new coach coming and bringing players from Drake, I had zero expectations of an NCAA bid. It's going to take 2 or 3 years for the rebuild to take effect.
We’re making the tournament.
That would be nice but the OP was asking if we need to reset expectations and I for one did not have any expectations of making the tournament in year 1.
I don't think any Hawks would get serious PT for Illinois. They have a true freshman that would be the best player at Iowa.
Koch, Stirtz and AF going 6-23 from 3 (26%) sure didn't help.
Koch, Stirtz and AF going 6-23 from 3 (26%) sure didn't help.
Illinois is a very good team. I was concerned Iowa would get boat raced in the 1st half after that start. Hawks dug deep, battled back and gave themselves a chance. Get healthy, get the energy back and let’s go. The Big Ten is a meat grinder and there’s a lot of basketball left to play.
Iowa is new patched together team. Making the NCAA would be a minor miracle. Ben needs to hit the portal and recruiting trail.
Not me. My expectations were 1) play sound team basketball, 2) compete, and 3) try to stay on the good side of the bubble. So far so good.
I have been saying this for many years now (excluding a few outliers like Luka and the Brothers Murray). Their program is just on a whole another level - unfortunately they have a good coach who is not going anywhere. Even though we were equals back in the late 80’s, I don’t envision our program ever reaching to their heights.
Having said that, I do think Ben can take us to the Final Four if the stars align for us - à la Loyola a few years back. Going back even further - maybe also like a Butler type of program/tourney run.
The lack of rebounding was always viewed as a weakness in conference play.
Agree 100%.
He doesn't have B1G caliber players yet.
You could easily make the argument that Koch isn't a B1G level player.
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I like everything about this team, even though they are undermanned they work their @$$ off defensively, offensively, and on the boards. Coach McCollum is a breath of fresh air, he's informative, he explains how he goes about coaching, and he's passionate about the game, and he wants the students to come along along for the ride, students our former coach never became engaged with. OK, so maybe some of us may have been a little overzealous, but it's all good. Iowa hit a home run with the hire of Ben McCollum and no matter how this season turns out, let's see how the season pans out before we give up on this team, I truly believe better days are ahead of us. Go Hawks!
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I believe they changed the BTT format again so that all 18 teams will make the conference tournament.
No bubble with that one.
What expectations reset? I don't undestand how someone's expecations were anything other than this a transition year. I mean we've only lost one game we "should be" winning. Maybe pipe dreams came back to reality a bit, but it shouldn't be anything other than that.
Mine were pretty low anyway.
Drake is in its first season of B1G mens basketball. It's going to take some time to acclimate
Brilliant!
We Hawks ain’t gonna take it no more! Our new AD is known as “no extensions!
I thought a few weeks ago that this was a lock as a second round team. I don't really feel that way anymore. I thought they figured out the offense after MSU, but I was wrong. Feels more like a bubble situation today. The team is 0-3 on the road today, having lost to MSU, Minnesota, and ISU. Their next 2 are at Purdue and at Indiana. Tough to see them winning either one of those which puts them at 2-5 in the B1G and 0-5 on the road.. I think that makes USC at home in a few weeks along with the rest of the home games against other bubble and below teams pretty much a must win for making the tournament.
I called it after the Minny loss and still stand by it…we needed to bounce back at home vs Illi or the season was going to go off the rails.
Sorry to say I see no dancing.
Hope I'm wrong and you can all call me out on it in 30 days, if not sooner.
Sorry to say I see no dancing.
Hope I'm wrong and you can all call me out on it in 30 days, if not sooner.
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I've been feeling out this season trying to figure out what my expectations for this team should be in the first place. Still am.
They started out winning the first 6 or 7 games.. felt pretty good. Then the MSU loss knocked that down a bit. Then, pushing ISU down to the wire in Ames made me feel pretty optimistic again. These last two games.. Have let some air out of the balloon. But OK, the team has been under the weather. How good can they be, really? Still trying to figure that one out. The lack of size is an issue - but I'm hoping Ben's coaching can bring these guys together enough to overcome that and get an NCAA bid.
I still think they can and probably will make the tournament, though I wouldn't bet my life on it. Need to grab a few quad 1 wins at some point. I don't think they can go 0-fer and get in.
They started out winning the first 6 or 7 games.. felt pretty good. Then the MSU loss knocked that down a bit. Then, pushing ISU down to the wire in Ames made me feel pretty optimistic again. These last two games.. Have let some air out of the balloon. But OK, the team has been under the weather. How good can they be, really? Still trying to figure that one out. The lack of size is an issue - but I'm hoping Ben's coaching can bring these guys together enough to overcome that and get an NCAA bid.
I still think they can and probably will make the tournament, though I wouldn't bet my life on it. Need to grab a few quad 1 wins at some point. I don't think they can go 0-fer and get in.