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.