Big Game Tomorrow!

DunderMifflinHk · 02-08-2012, 08:34 AM

We need to keep the momentum going to make a post season tournament. Even if it's one of smaller tournaments it's nice to be in contention to play in March. If we can beat Northwestern and Penn State again it will set us up nicely for last 5 regular season games sitting at 15-11 (7-6). Then we have Indiana and Wisconsin at home, Illinois and Nebraska at home and finishing with Northwestern.

What final record do we need for the NIT?

H8IAST8 · 02-08-2012, 08:50 AM

after the 14 auto bids that leaves 18 at large. I think 18 wins in the toughest conference gets them in. so we need 5 more wins (including BTT)

DunderMifflinHk · 02-08-2012, 09:40 AM

So I did some simple possible predictions and this is what I came up with for the standings if we won our next 2 games going into our Sunday game with Indiana.

1) OSU 11-3 (23-4)
2) Mich 10-4 (20-7)
3) MSU 9-4 (20-6)
4) Wisc 8-5 (19-7)
5) Ind 8-6 (20-6)
6) Iowa 7-6 (15-11)
7) Illini 7-7 (18-9)
8) Purdue 6-7 (16-10)
9) Minn 5-9 (17-10)
10) NW 5-9 (15-11)
11) Neb 4-10 (12-13)
12) PSU 2-12 (10-17)

Our OOC losses are really killing us. We beat Clemson and Campbell and possibly catch UNI or ISU and were sitting at 18-9.

Section136 · 02-08-2012, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DunderMifflinHk

Our OOC losses are really killing us. We beat Clemson and Campbell and possibly catch UNI or ISU and were sitting at 18-9.

I would say that just beating Clemson and Campbell would have made a huge difference. Home losses kill you in the non-con, especially against teams like Campbell and Clemson. Road losses arent quite as big of a deal.

If the Hawks were 15-9 (5-6) instead of 13-11 (5-6) there would be legitimate bubble talk right now.

truehawk · 02-08-2012, 10:12 AM

The part that kills me is that I don't think this team in February would lose those games now. The OOC Iowa and the B1G Iowa are two different teams.

EddyP · 02-08-2012, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Section136

I would say that just beating Clemson and Campbell would have made a huge difference. Home losses kill you in the non-con, especially against teams like Campbell and Clemson. Road losses arent quite as big of a deal.

If the Hawks were 15-9 (5-6) instead of 13-11 (5-6) there would be legitimate bubble talk right now.

After looking at their schedule I don't think that Clemson loss is that bad. They've had some close losses and they actually beat Florida State by 20(who beat UNC and Duke).

MisterLucky · 02-08-2012, 10:33 AM

Yeah, but it 's still a home loss to a mediocre team. Winning at Northwestern for a change would be a big step in the right direction, but if we were to look back on our predictions at the beginning of the year, I don't think there were many sane fans who predicted a finish much higher than 7-8 in the Big Ten and there were a lot of "experts," both here and professionally picking us for last.

ssckelley · 02-08-2012, 11:18 AM

It is a huge game tomorrow as Northwestern is ranked 37th in the RPI. A win by Iowa on their home court would be huge step in the right direction to have any hope for the NIT.

I believe Iowa needs at least 18 wins to be considered a contender for an NIT bid.

JHHawk · 02-08-2012, 11:21 AM

They are all big games now. NW is so close to a NCAA tourny bid this year. They have a one point loss and 2 two point losses in the league. Win those and they are 7-3 and solidly in the tourny. They are much better than their league record.

They are really tough in that bandbox of a gym,with a strong student following sitting right on top of the opposing team. Which is why they handled MSU pretty easily,and blew a lead to lose to the Illini by one point.

Iowa will have to play their absolute best ,and hope NW has somewhat of an off shooting nite to get this one. They have 5 guys who shoot over 37% from the arc,including 3 of the top 10 in the league ....all over 42%. Iowa has one guy over 37%...Zach. If they get hot, we could get blown outta the gym.

TritonHawkeye · 02-08-2012, 12:22 PM

17 wins and we are in. Opening game against the Lobo's!

1977Hawkeye · 02-08-2012, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TritonHawkeye

17 wins and we are in. Opening game against the Lobo's!

I can only imagine the smack between Hawkeye & Lobo fans over that one.. I'd love it!

RocknRollface · 02-08-2012, 03:24 PM

Can somone explain why the nit is harder to get into now? I tried to do some quick searches and came up with nothing.

auto bids? when did this happen and why?

theboat · 02-08-2012, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RocknRollface

Can somone explain why the nit is harder to get into now? I tried to do some quick searches and came up with nothing.

auto bids? when did this happen and why?

I know that teams in lower conferences that win regular season but not the tourney get an auto bid if they don't get in the NCAA. Beyond, that I don't know.

ssckelley · 02-08-2012, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RocknRollface

Can somone explain why the nit is harder to get into now? I tried to do some quick searches and came up with nothing.

auto bids? when did this happen and why?

The tournament is only 32 teams and automatically gives a bid to any team that wins their regular season conference title but does not win their conference tournament.