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Post by Norm "racerhawk" Parker on Nov 6, 2008 21:14:46 GMT -6
After that buzzkill in Champaign, I started thinking about basketball. I know that they are in the 2nd year of a new system, but how do y'all think they'll do?
Having said that, I like football a lot better than basketball. It's just so damn hard to watch football lately (the last couple of years).
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Post by NotMyKid on Nov 7, 2008 9:01:20 GMT -6
I would guess a few games over .500 overall and right around .500 in the Big Ten.
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Post by NOTTHOR on Nov 7, 2008 9:05:35 GMT -6
Spank is the basketball expert. Without Alford at the helm, I expect the program to continue to flounder. If we could get him back, I'd say we'd probably be around a 4 or 5 seed and we would have a pretty good chance to beat Drake this year.
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Post by mattahawk on Nov 7, 2008 11:48:36 GMT -6
I think we will go .500 this year and be a game or two under .500 in conference. It all depends on how well the team meshes and if he gets the right people on the floor. Injuries won't help us either.
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Post by MoHawk on Nov 7, 2008 12:47:14 GMT -6
I'm no basketball expert like Spank, but if this team gels right away, and the injury bug stays away, I could see it being on the bubble come tournament time with an NIT bid secure.
That said, I think a more realistic goal is to get back to the NIT, then shoot for the NCAA next year. We'll have Cole for an entire year, plus The Virus this year, and from the sounds of it, our shooters are going to be much better.
If Peterson can just hang on to the ball and not turn it over, we'll be a pretty tough team to beat.
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Post by NotMyKid on Nov 7, 2008 14:05:07 GMT -6
If Peterson can just hang on to the ball and not turn it over, we'll be a pretty tough team to beat. Agreed, but he might not even be playing that much.
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Post by NOTTHOR on Nov 7, 2008 14:07:19 GMT -6
If we are heavily relaint on Peterson, we're in for a long season.
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Post by MoHawk on Nov 7, 2008 16:43:46 GMT -6
If Peterson can just hang on to the ball and not turn it over, we'll be a pretty tough team to beat. Agreed, but he might not even be playing that much. That's a very good point.
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Post by hawkeyedug on Nov 7, 2008 17:06:27 GMT -6
.500 for the season and two to four short of .500 in conference are probably pretty realistic expectations. The team is super young, so development is what to look for. Should be a fun year to watch.
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Post by MoHawk on Nov 7, 2008 17:09:40 GMT -6
Agreed Doug. Youth is key, but if we play well, and gel early on, I think we can expect more than that from this team.
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Post by Norm "racerhawk" Parker on Nov 7, 2008 20:06:08 GMT -6
.500 for the season and two to four short of .500 in conference are probably pretty realistic expectations. The team is super young, so development is what to look for. Should be a fun year to watch. I'm also hoping they're fun to watch. Even if they're a .500 team, and compete hard, I can live with that this year. Watching Alford made me homicidal/suicidal. Mostly homicidal, though.
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Post by Justhawks17 on Nov 9, 2008 10:26:22 GMT -6
Jeff needs to really improve for Iowa. He started to as the season got down the end. We really need him to be able to take control of the offense. Tate, Kelly, Gatens, Peterson, and Cole will be the starting 5 and I think that is a good starting 5. Led by Cy downlow. I hope tate can stay, get better, at the caliber he played during the Big Ten Season last year. That is one guy that has really benifited from Lickliters system. There will be ups and downs because this team has alot of underclassman and young. 4 of the 5 starters are sophmores and freshman. I think we can win around 20 games and an NIT bid.
GO HAWKEYES!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Post by NOTTHOR on Nov 9, 2008 21:21:27 GMT -6
This team will make a lot of the "experts" look stupid. We'll be young, but we'll surprise some people.
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Post by Stukat on Nov 12, 2008 8:25:44 GMT -6
I am always an optimist when it comes to preseason rankings for the hawks but I think we will do well. I am predicting a 3 place finish in the Big Ten, and a ticket to the dance.
In my opinion we have a much improved team already, with Lick's style of basketball and this team (of hopefully) smart players, I feel that there is no team on our schedule we cant beat on a given night.
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Post by lpcalihawk on Nov 12, 2008 9:04:56 GMT -6
This team will make a lot of the "experts" look stupid. We'll be young, but we'll surprise some people. Agreed. The style of basketball is what is going to win us games. Now that Cole, Kelly, Peterson, Taint all have a year with Lickliter, I see a much improved offense. I look forward to a definite NIT with maybe a good run in the BT tourney.
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Post by isu is shit on Nov 12, 2008 14:32:17 GMT -6
The whole Big 10 is pretty weak this year. Iowa won't win the conference by any means, but I be they'll finish in the top half of the conference.
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Post by 101 on Nov 12, 2008 15:50:48 GMT -6
I don't have a good feel for this team yet, but I have my B10 weekend pack of tickets in hand so we'll see how it goes. The whole Big 10 is pretty weak this year. Iowa won't win the conference by any means, but I be they'll finish in the top half of the conference.
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Post by Saggitariutt Jefferspin (ith) on Nov 12, 2008 15:59:54 GMT -6
I just don't see us finishing in the top half of the conference. Lickliter is a system coach, and I think it will take a few years for him to get players to fit his system.
Prove me wrong, though. I miss having a good BB team.
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Post by twinegarden on Nov 12, 2008 16:50:26 GMT -6
I just don't see us finishing in the top half of the conference. Lickliter is a system coach, and I think it will take a few years for him to get players to fit his system. Prove me wrong, though. I miss having a good BB team. When would you say was the last time we had a GOOD team? Just curious. The Recker/Evans team could have been good but didn't live up to their expectations.
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Post by NOTTHOR on Nov 12, 2008 17:12:53 GMT -6
I just don't see us finishing in the top half of the conference. Lickliter is a system coach, and I think it will take a few years for him to get players to fit his system. Prove me wrong, though. I miss having a good BB team. When would you say was the last time we had a GOOD team? Just curious. The Recker/Evans team could have been good but didn't live up to their expectations. The Wade Lookingbill era produced our last good team.
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Post by Saggitariutt Jefferspin (ith) on Nov 12, 2008 17:13:29 GMT -6
Horner / Brunner senior year was pretty good. Had a 3 seed but pissed it down our leg.
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Post by idrinkthereforeiam on Nov 17, 2008 12:40:07 GMT -6
We are going to surprise some teams this year. We are still a year away from the NCAA tourney. NIT is very much in sight. This incoming class is SEVERELY underrated. Gatens, Tucker, Fuller as froshes are legit Big Ten players.
As far as Peterson goes, we have healthy alternatives. Jermain Davis can handle PG responsibilies without any problems, and Tucker has been practicing at the 1 quite a bit. I am not worried about the PG issues.
The main concern is our inside game. With Cole not 100% yet (don't fool yourself, he hasn't played BB in a long, long time) and Brommer not Big Ten ready yet, Iowa can't afford injuries our fouling out. We don't even know what we are getting with Palmer either. So until Cole get game ready, we have to rely on Tate in middle and play 4 smalls... which means a lot of 3 balls being launched.
I like this team a lot. They play excellent team ball.
Right around 20 wins this year. NIT. 8 to 10 Big Ten wins.
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Post by Saggitariutt Jefferspin (ith) on Nov 17, 2008 16:16:06 GMT -6
Thanks Spank, always enjoy your perspective. Pretty much agree with what you've written. I really, really like the player Tate turned into. I think he's going to be beast this year.
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Post by hawkeyedug on Nov 17, 2008 16:50:13 GMT -6
I don't buy the story that Cole isn't 100%. He should be by now. I tore my ACL and played basketball again 9 months later. Cole has been playing for a while too. He was playing pickup ball at the Fieldhouse this summer along with Palmer. Also I saw the entire team playing a pickup game late summer/early fall.
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Post by idrinkthereforeiam on Nov 17, 2008 18:01:54 GMT -6
I don't buy the story that Cole isn't 100%. He should be by now. I tore my ACL and played basketball again 9 months later. Cole has been playing for a while too. He was playing pickup ball at the Fieldhouse this summer along with Palmer. Also I saw the entire team playing a pickup game late summer/early fall. His injury is 100%, I just don't see him in game shape. Even Lick mentioned this last presser. Everyone else has been playing nonstop since the season ended, Cole didn't have that privilege. He is a little behind. I don't expect him full, game strength, until BT play.
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