[ABEHONEST]

Yes, Iowa had 1 stater banged up, so he went scoreless in 13 minutes. The other guard [hotshot] Bohannon got stuffed with his normal solid 3-shooting, an 0 for 9 showing. He was shooting about 40% per game.
This exposes a glaring weakness, team wise. They are not good on defense and not deep with consistent, reliable offensive scorers from outside. Why? They seem a bit slow getting open and are not physically strong enough to fight through tougher/stronger defenders.

Losing one starter seemed to cripple this team way too much. An Achilles Heel?
So, my confidence in Iowa early on, just fizzled out and I now see them not even landing even at #2 in the Big Ten.
* In other words, I am done and so should you be.

Only one thing might save them?
Get a stronger lineup away from those 3 guard-type players. Start big Nunge, a 6-11 1/2 little used, fundamentally sound, player.

You hear me McCAFFERY?

[Justin3587]

It's one loss.

[ABEHONEST]

It's one loss.

Yes, a major blow to this team, too. At home!
Michigan, Wisconsin, Purdue and Illinois will take a look and probably see the weakness we all should have seen.
On the road will not be kind either.

[Mackballs]

Abe, honestly, they were never a threat.

[stake1]

I think it comes down to Mccaffrey. He has never won the big 10.
Looks like another third place finish this year

[jjgold]

Basically two or three teams college basketball nobody else even has a remote chance

[pinnacle420]

Big 10 is murders row this year bro!!! Every game home or away is brutal!!!

[MinnesotaFats]

Gophers!

[Ghenghis Kahn]

It's one loss.

LOL Don't mind him, this guy just started watching NCAA hoops this year

[Ghenghis Kahn]

Gophers!

If the tourney was held in Minny, they'd win the championship. Anywhere else, they lose in the 1st round

[ABEHONEST]

If the tourney was held in Minny, they'd win the championship. Anywhere else, they lose in the 1st round

Well, the tourney goes to Indy for the Final Four. Sweet Sixteen, too?

But all 68 will fight on Indiana territory, correct? Or, maybe only 64 when the 68 is trimmed?
I see some agreed with me on Iowa. But 1 or 2 said weren't going anywhere anyway, something like that?
Then they are smarter than the pollsters.
Who was about to move Iowa up to #3 had they not exposed themselves to be a bit flawed on...defense is it?

This loss will not be forgotten for years and also the possible losing stigma, too.
Can they crawl back into being a real threat to make the Final Four?
My odds say no.

[flyingillini]

Illini are better than Iowa.

[ABEHONEST]

Illini are better than Iowa.

Possibly? I was on Illinois early on, but only after they blew a couple teams away.
Then, they started slipping badly. So, I am lost trying to predict how they will play the next 12 games but I have them for large odds to go deep in the tourney, so I definitely am pulling for them.
But they need to find some playing cohesion and string a few wins together.

[flyingillini]

Possibly? I was on Illinois early on, but only after they blew a couple teams away.
Then, they started slipping badly. So, I am lost trying to predict how they will play the next 12 games but I have them for large odds to go deep in the tourney, so I definitely am pulling for them.
But they need to find some playing cohesion and string a few wins together.

They should be a different team in the tournament. They have 3 guys going in the draft. They will be prepared.

[lonegambler23]

Yes, a major blow to this team, too. At home!
Michigan, Wisconsin, Purdue and Illinois will take a look and probably see the weakness we all should have seen.
On the road will not be kind either.

theres no fans calm down lameabe

[KRIT]

They’re really good but I think they’re flawed in a couple ways. For one, they rely a lot on three point shooting. Can they win if they have an off night? The other is that they aren’t a good defensive team.

Zags are clearly the best team. Then Baylor. After that there are a lot of teams. Iowa is fun but think they will be on upset alert if the matchup isn’t what they want. I personally really like Houston, Nova and Michigan. Those teams are much more physical and play much better defense.

[kyhawk]

I am a long time Hawkeye fan. I even had tickets to the Fieldhouse. A final four run would be great .

Without Bohannon Hawks go nowhere. I he would have hit just one three when the Hawks were up big it could have been a blowout.

It's Gonzagas year , though/
F

[Orbison]

how they respond over their next 2-3 games will tell us a lot more about their chances

[johnnyvegas13]

Abe, honestly, they were never a threat.

This

[Cross]

Thanks for the write up Abe. So now I know to put big money on Iowa the rest of the year. Keep posting brother!

[ABEHONEST]

Thanks for the write up Abe. So now I know to put big money on Iowa the rest of the year. Keep posting brother!

Good luck with your money riding on loyalty.
If Mac would consider a lineup change--I said this early on--and steer away from 3 guards starting every frick'in game, maybe, I can be sold again on the Hawks again?
I doubt it but I will wait and see after about 6 more Big games.

[Orbison]

Iowa just lost Nunge for the rest of the year

[RM Logic]

Michigan seems to have joined the Zags and Baylor as the elite 3 teams. Other than those 3 a couple of sleeper teams -FSU and West Virginia are 2 very athletic teams that can score and on a given night can beat anyone. But they dont shoot free throws well and are prone to low IQ basketball.

[Jayvegas420]

Abe, honestly, they were never a threat.

[hehfest]

Illini are better than Iowa.

That dude in the middle for Illini named Cockroach or whatever, Cockfire?, shit I forgot. He's a force to be reckoned with. Shit you not. Bullshit you not. Gives them a legit chance in tourney to make a run anyway. Not sold on Michigan as others are.

[lonegambler23]

abe rising in his RV

[cincinnatikid513]

gonzaga already won the title

[carolinakid]

^^^^^^^ i dont think so, the very weak teams they play almost every time out , will catch up to them imo.

[stake1]

They sure look like a good fade in March