Feeling less confident about NCAA tournament hopes

[imported_blkngldFRO]

The OOC schedule is very cupcake. I think tonight will be the only true test. I think we'll get exposed a little, but it will be a good learning experience and Fran will have the boys bounce back.

I think VT was a very good test for our point garud D. In that game they did not meet the challenge. Since that game Fran has made changes to the line-up. Let's hope they do much better facing another solid PG.

With that said tonight is important not just for the win, but to see if the "studs"/upperclassmen can step it up in crunch time. Last year’s big wins Gatens was the man that pushed the team forward. More than Gatens cold blooded three point Iowa is missing his leadership! We need that leader to emerge tonight. Correct me if I’m wrong, but I have yet to see anyone really step into this role

[NottiBoy]

I think VT was a very good test for our point garud D. In that game they did not meet the challenge. Since that game Fran has made changes to the line-up. Let's hope they do much better facing another solid PG.

With that said tonight is important not just for the win, but to see if the "studs"/upperclassmen can step it up in crunch time. Last year’s big wins Gatens was the man that pushed the team forward. More than Gatens cold blooded three point Iowa is missing his leadership! We need that leader to emerge tonight. Correct me if I’m wrong, but I have yet to see anyone really step into this role

Corey Lucious? BIG LAUGH!

[1hawkeye1]

I think 18 wins gets us in. BoneG is BRUTAL this year.

Quit saying BoneG. I guess we all know who's alt you are now.

[jozzer]

Corey Lucious? BIG LAUGH!

Your spelling, bigger laugh!

[HawkeyeRyno]

Really? Last I checked V Tech is ranked or just outside of the top 25 and Witchita State was ranked something like #2 (right behind Gonzaga) of all mid-majors. Not quite sure how you throw those two teams into the "cupcake" discussion.

A win (or loss) against Iowa State will be good. They could seriously be a challenger in the Big 12 for a title with Kansas. Big 12 is weak. But ISU can take advantage - talented, experienced, depth and well coached - to do very well in the Big 12 this season. So it will help Iowa either way but oblivious a win would be better.

[NottiBoy]

Your spelling, bigger laugh!

Your being a jerk.

[imported_blkngldFRO]

Corey Lucious? BIG LAUGH!

He is a solid PG I didn't say he was All Big 12, but at 9 ppg I would call it solid. It won't be the best PG that Iowa faces all year, but won't be the worst.

[NottiBoy]

e is a solid PG I didn't say he was All Big 12, but at 9 ppg I would call it solid. It won't be the best PG that Iowa faces all year, but won't be the worst.

Terrible ball handler, he's a turnover machine. And have you seen his FG%? He only scores because he takes so many dumb shots and eventually some of them have to fall. Very selfish PG, I saw this even at MSU.

[redhawk55]

Marble is adjusting to this role nicely.. it will take a couple more games to polish this, as it takes some time to go from being a role player to the team leader.
leader on the team at 31.3 mpg
14.4 ppg up from 11.5 ppg
shooting 39 of 80 from 2 for just under 50%, last year for the season he was 117 of 263 for 44.4%
3 PT shooting 10-26 for 38.5 %, last season 22 of 56 for 39.3%. he is well on his way to being better than he was last year,
FT shooting 22-29 for 75% compared to 102 of 141 for 72.3%
the season is still just 25% completed, and Iowa still has 24 more games to play. 5 in OOC play
White and Marble are going to lead this team, together, nothing says one player has to be the leader.
as for the SR leadership that is coming from May, the little things he does., does not show up on the stat sheet. it comes from what he does in practice and how he handles himself on the court

[BrueCrew3]

This team is starting to come together. The move of Marble to the 3 and White to the 4 will bring dividends down the road. Having MG and AC on the court at the same time will be a good thing. Having 2 big men will be tremendous help at the 5.

Do I think they'll make the Dance? I'm still on the fence and it would be a year ahead of what I thought would be the schedule. But if they don't, the experience they are gaining this year sets up for a pretty good 2013-14 season.

Steady improvement is what I'm looking for and the Hawks are showing it.

GO HAWKS!!!

[bcl20]

I feel the exact same about our tourney hopes.

[MisterLucky]

Marble is adjusting to this role nicely.. it will take a couple more games to polish this, as it takes some time to go from being a role player to the team leader.
leader on the team at 31.3 mpg
14.4 ppg up from 11.5 ppg
shooting 39 of 80 from 2 for just under 50%, last year for the season he was 117 of 263 for 44.4%
3 PT shooting 10-26 for 38.5 %, last season 22 of 56 for 39.3%. he is well on his way to being better than he was last year,
FT shooting 22-29 for 75% compared to 102 of 141 for 72.3%
the season is still just 25% completed, and Iowa still has 24 more games to play. 5 in OOC play
White and Marble are going to lead this team, together, nothing says one player has to be the leader.
as for the SR leadership that is coming from May, the little things he does., does not show up on the stat sheet. it comes from what he does in practice and how he handles himself on the court

Solid post from herby.

[DenchyDave]

Not even due to our team but due to the strength of the conference.

As of this morning's daily RPI on ESPN, we'll play 17 top 100 RPI teams. That is a tough road to 19-20 total wins. It is a double edged sword as we'll have every chance to prove our worth. Our OOC SOS isn't as bad as people expected, Western Kentucky is 7-2. GW isn't horrible. UNI/ISU are formidable, VT/WSU are undefeated.

I hope I'm wrong and we can continue to improve and find 9 conference wins.

I think tonight's game will tell a lot for the season.

Thoughts?

[imported_blkngldFRO]

Marble is adjusting to this role nicely.. it will take a couple more games to polish this, as it takes some time to go from being a role player to the team leader.
leader on the team at 31.3 mpg
14.4 ppg up from 11.5 ppg
shooting 39 of 80 from 2 for just under 50%, last year for the season he was 117 of 263 for 44.4%
3 PT shooting 10-26 for 38.5 %, last season 22 of 56 for 39.3%. he is well on his way to being better than he was last year,
FT shooting 22-29 for 75% compared to 102 of 141 for 72.3%
the season is still just 25% completed, and Iowa still has 24 more games to play. 5 in OOC play
White and Marble are going to lead this team, together, nothing says one player has to be the leader.
as for the SR leadership that is coming from May, the little things he does., does not show up on the stat sheet. it comes from what he does in practice and how he handles himself on the court

Great post and agree 100%. I just think that the passion and leader ship needs to show up in more than just the stat sheet to win tonight’s game.

[hawkforlife9]

Because we're in BIG... it helps us. We can probably go dancing with 16 or 17 wins. Media loves the BIG.