I mean, I wouldn't really miss AF at this point.
*****Illinois vs Iowa Game Thread*****
- Thread starter QChawks
- Start date
The lack of urgency/ intensity from Stirtz is unusual for a team captain. He sometimes plays to an apparent comfort/casual level which disregards the game situation IMO. Doesn’t need to go spastic but show some intensity. Quickly down three buckets, the next possession looked like a practice pace. Overall, the team needs to have better focus at tip-off.
Haven't read the thread, but I assume some fans are panicking.
Iowa will finish somewhere between 13-7 and 11-9 in the B1G, and be in the NCAA tournament.
Iowa will finish somewhere between 13-7 and 11-9 in the B1G, and be in the NCAA tournament.
Hawks likely in the midst of an 0-4 stretch. 
DEFINITELY an 0-3 one.
Depends on if/when they can shake off the illness and recover from it when time comes to play @ IU.
DEFINITELY an 0-3 one.
Depends on if/when they can shake off the illness and recover from it when time comes to play @ IU.
Except Payton hit the big three when the game was on the line to force overtime.
He threw up so many, agreed he did hit one every now again.
IMHO he played selfish, ragged on his teammates at times, and played subpar defense. Stirz is still adjusting to BT play and I am hopeful he will come around…
Hawks can't afford to lose any winnable game at this point if they want to get to the tournament. That Minnesota game will probably hang around for the rest of the season. This Illinois game, despite them being the better team, was still winnable because it was at home.
These last two games were just like with McCaffery's teams, letting the opposition build a big bulge in the first half and then wasting tons of energy clawing back into the game but falling short.
Nah we're winning the national championship. You can see it in the players' faces.
In a year or so, I think we will be pretty good. What I mean is that we're going to lose a few seniors, but the young guys we have will get a lot better with Ben coaching them. And, Ben has said he will look very closely at the HS level to bring someone in. Not sure if he will go to the portal or not, but he'll figure it out. He's good at developing players. This is a year of assessment for him IMHO, and I'm confident that he will address our needs. I have much hope.
Absolutely agree. Ben is still navigating the BIG system as well as rebuilding our program. He's smart, a true competitor, and he'll get this all figured out.
This loss compounds the crappiness of the MN loss
You'll notice AF does that every time he makes a bad play. He looks at the bench and then points at the player who didn't catch his poor pass, (like not my fault). He does that several times every game. I'm starting to think there was something to Stirtz's comments after the game last week when he said when things are going well things weren't good between the players, or something to that effect.
A loss like losing to Illinois, even at home, is survivable.
A loss like losing to Minnesota, even at The Barn, will probably prove to be not.
That Gopher game decision is probably the difference between being an 8 thru 10 seed and either one of the last 4 in or off to the NIT instead.
A loss like losing to Minnesota, even at The Barn, will probably prove to be not.
That Gopher game decision is probably the difference between being an 8 thru 10 seed and either one of the last 4 in or off to the NIT instead.
Agreed, I'm hopeful and time will ultimately tell.
My underlying, 40+ year Hawkeye fan pessimism shows thru every now and then.
Haha
Surprised he had that many but Folgueiras would have had at least 12+ boards if had played hard and hustled the whole time he was on the court, like he was supposed to.
Agreed, but I wish Combs was able to shoot more as he only had 3 shots. But, there's only so many shots to go around.
Iowa’s talent is nothing exceptional to the B10 this season. You’ll have a better more realistic view but for me I thought from back in November, a “.500” B10 would be a solid start. I think that is realistic. We all knew UIowa would struggle against bigger/taller teams. (There are 3-4 more if thise coming up.) Staying healthy is crucial.
Michigan is good but they definitely at doable. I don’t think you have to fear the “known” with this team as much as you have to fear the unknown.Just wait until we play Michigan…it will be men vs boys…
13-7 is a total pipe dream. They already have 3 losses and the 4th is likely in a few days. Hoping for .500, but it's going to be a struggle to get there.
Correct, 15 games to go and we’re 2-3. @purdue and IU, underdogs in both. No chance against Purdue, 5-7 pt dog against IU. So looking at 2-5. Rutgers and USC at home, wins, 4-5. @Oregon and Washington. Neither team great, but will be underdogs. Let’s say we get 1. 5-6. Northwestern at home, win, 6-6. @Maryland, slight underdog winnable game but say we lose to go 6-7. Purdue and Nebraska at home. Can we get 1? 7-8. @Wiscy. Slight dog again. 7-9. OSU home win 8-9. @psu winnable but again slight dog. Let’s say 9-9. Michigan home and at Nebraska. Underdogs in both. Not going to be easy unless we keep improving.