Ole Miss...

[Palmerhawk]

I know I'm jumping ahead to next week with the home game vs Chicago St looming on Thursday but that matchup vs Ole Miss looks to be our 1st as an underdog.
ESPN predictor gives us a 30%chance of winning.
Then we play Utah or Grand canyon St the next nite. They look beatable.

If we lose to Ole Miss, ISU,and MSU but get MD at home , I would call it a good start going into 2026.

I thought it was interesting that Ben openly talked of needing to win by big margins due to net ranking system ...more honesty than most coaches.

The Ole Miss game is kind of big. Get that one and we could have only ISU and MSU as good losses.
That Ben...seems to know what he's doing from all angles so far.

 

[Smigamorski]

I don't expect Iowa to be a bubble team so winning or losing this one does not really matter in the grand scheme of things.

 

[QChawks]

Ole Miss is 5-0 after a scare last night at home against Austin Peay. Like Iowa they haven't played a tough schedule.

They beat Memphis at home 83-77 (Quad 2 win) and the rest are Quad 4 wins.

Iowa has a Quad 2 win over Xavier and Quad 3 over Rober Morris.

Ole Miss did lose badly at home to St Mary's (EXH)

Seems like a rather good matchup to me.

 

[HawkBall23]

30% chance, on a neutral court - when they'll be going into that game at 5-0 and scoring ~80/85 ppg (& surrendering ~65/66 ppg) as well as having a victory margin of ~20 ppg average in all those games??

yikes, that's kinda disrespectful

 

[The Big Z]

I think we will see a much smaller bench in this game. He’s been trying to work in the Freshmen in these games more and more but when I watch they are clearly way way behind defensively. Ole Miss will be obviously the most athletic team we’ve played. Expect Banks to get more minutes again and we will need Koch or Howard hopefully to start stepping up their games a bit for more minutes from those positions.

 

[HawkInDenver]

Seems like a toss up to me. Neither team is currently in the top 25, we will likely both be undefeated, and its a neutral court.
I'm curious to see how many fans of each team make the journey to Palm Springs.
I'm going!

 

[oldxbbc]

I think we will see a much smaller bench in this game. He’s been trying to work in the Freshmen in these games more and more but when I watch they are clearly way way behind defensively. Ole Miss will be obviously the most athletic team we’ve played. Expect Banks to get more minutes again and we will need Koch or Howard hopefully to start stepping up their games a bit for more minutes from those positions.

Agree and hope Koch starts to step up as you mentioned.

 

[The Big Z]

I also find it interesting that we’re off to a great start, extremely efficient on the offensive end, possibly the best pt guard in the country and ready to play an SEC team but people would rather talk about Pryce Sandfort. We are not a basketball school.

 

[Jonesy5960]

We are not a basketball school.

Yes we are. We are a women's basketball school.

 

[DukeSlater]

Seems like a toss up to me. Neither team is currently in the top 25, we will likely both be undefeated, and its a neutral court.
I'm curious to see how many fans of each team make the journey to Palm Springs.
I'm going!

I thought about going, but I just checked the ticket prices. A six-hour drive, tix, motel . . . decided to pass and take advantage of TV. But I'll be surprised if Iowa loses in Palm Springs. Maybe I'm too optimistic, but I just think McCollom is not gonna let this team lose to anybody anywhere near their talent level. And I agree the rotation may be more limited, but I also think Ben won't hesitate to go to the bench if somebody isn't getting it done. I also believe the bench is capable. I think the depth is real. I guess we'll start finding out soon.

 

[TampaHawkFan]

I don't expect Iowa to be a bubble team so winning or losing this one does not really matter in the grand scheme of things.

I'm glad our coach doesn't have this mindset.

 

[The Big Z]

I'm glad our coach doesn't have this mindset.

Yep, that makes no sense.

 

[HAWKNESS]

Yes schedule gets real very quickly after tonight.

Of next 5 3-2 would be goal in my mind but think 2-3 is more likely. @ Michigan state and @ Iowa state seem like long shots but other 3 Ole miss, Utah/Grand Canyon, and MD are winnable.

 

[Smigamorski]

I'm glad our coach doesn't have this mindset.

In terms of making the tournament a win or loss here does not matter.

 

[Palmerhawk]

Yes schedule gets real very quickly after tonight.

Of next 5 3-2 would be goal in my mind but think 2-3 is more likely. @ Michigan state and @ Iowa state seem like long shots but other 3 Ole miss, Utah/Grand Canyon, and MD are winnable.

Saw that MD escaped vs a cupcake last nite in OT by hitting a 3 at buzzer to force OT.
They had a guard with 41 that hit 8 of 10 from the arc.
I am considering that a must win at carver.
Sick of starting 0-2 in BIG every December.

 

[The Big Z]

Saw that MD escaped vs a cupcake last nite in OT by hitting a 3 at buzzer to force OT.
They had a guard with 41 that hit 8 of 10 from the arc.
I am considering that a must win at carver.
Sick of starting 0-2 in BIG every December.

Maryland is down this year as well. Got punked pretty hard by G Town this year. Now maybe they’re better than they’ve been in the past but that’s a game we won’t lose.

 

[Jonesy5960]

I also find it interesting that we’re off to a great start, extremely efficient on the offensive end, possibly the best pt guard in the country and ready to play an SEC team but people would rather talk about Pryce Sandfort. We are not a basketball school.

What about Pryce Sandfort?

 

[The Big Z]

What about Pryce Sandfort?

Well I’ve heard he’s at Nebraska! Go Pryce!

 

[Gus is dead]

What I like is that Ben and the players are talking like they are excited about the upgrade in competition and looking forward to the challenge.

Competitors want to compete. That I think is what separates this years team from last. Seems like they were always trying not to lose.