College Basketball 2013-2014

[bcl412]

Played kind of crappy tonight but Nebraska is good at uglying up a game. Pumped for the game vs Wisconsin on Sunday. Winning at Wisconsin would be a good way to show that Iowa can compete for the title.

[rawaction]

I think Dakich thinks some of his in games calls are stupid. He usually throws a fit when IU goes to zone (as he should because they suck at it). But he also tries extremely hard not to be an IU homer..especially late in the game.

 

And yeah, Vonleh is done. No reason for him to stay.

 

As good as Yogi was, he had 2 terrible turnovers trying to force passes to Perea, who should not be touching the ball late unless it's a tip in.

 

Those two passes were terrible but I felt like Noah should have been in the game at that point for both plays. Not excusing Yogi's bad decisions, just stating how frustrated I was that Noah wasn't on the court at that point. He left the court with his 4th foul just under the 4 minute mark and did not re-enter the game until 48 seconds left. That is too long to wait, imo.

 

Yeah, I would have never taken Vonleh out, unless it was to calm him down a little. Or start the offense/defense substitutions with him.

[sneakypower]

always nice to start off B1G play with a road win

[SpongeWorthy]

Wazzu scores 25 points against Arizona

[UMFan83]

always nice to start off B1G play with a road win

 

Especially with your best player missing the second half

[Exile on Waveland]

I don't say this in a critical way, but is there a reason that Iowa is projected so high that the slightly homerish POV can see them winning the conference? My (limited) understanding was that they would be improved and were a likely tournament team, and from a glance their performance to date looks to be about that, but not one of the top 4 teams in a really strong B1G. Is the drop off after MSU/OSU/Wiscy so severe that they win out for scheduling reasons or something? What am I missing?

 

Iowa is currently No. 15 in Pomeroy, so they're not exactly some deep darkhorse. They're very deep and thus well-positioned to survive both the micro (individual games) and macro (entire conference schedule) attrition that is the Big Ten season. Their depth also allows them versatility.

 

They finished 10-10 in Big Ten games last year, in an exceedingly strong league. That included a four-point loss to Indiana (No. 3), two three-point losses to Michigan State (No. 9), and a four-point, double overtime loss at Wisconsin (No. 13). I said last year that I thought they could be top-10 good this year; they've lost two tough games against very good teams so far (I figured with more experience they'd turn the tough losses into wins this year -- they haven't yet and some teams never move past the "losing close to top teams" phase). I don't think they'll win the league but I would not be surprised to see them finish second. I think they might be better than Ohio State as is.

[illiniguy]

I don't say this in a critical way, but is there a reason that Iowa is projected so high that the slightly homerish POV can see them winning the conference? My (limited) understanding was that they would be improved and were a likely tournament team, and from a glance their performance to date looks to be about that, but not one of the top 4 teams in a really strong B1G. Is the drop off after MSU/OSU/Wiscy so severe that they win out for scheduling reasons or something? What am I missing?

 

Iowa is currently No. 15 in Pomeroy, so they're not exactly some deep darkhorse. They're very deep and thus well-positioned to survive both the micro (individual games) and macro (entire conference schedule) attrition that is the Big Ten season. Their depth also allows them versatility.

 

They finished 10-10 in Big Ten games last year, in an exceedingly strong league. That included a four-point loss to Indiana (No. 3), two three-point losses to Michigan State (No. 9), and a four-point, double overtime loss at Wisconsin (No. 13). I said last year that I thought they could be top-10 good this year; they've lost two tough games against very good teams so far (I figured with more experience they'd turn the tough losses into wins this year -- they haven't yet and some teams never move past the "losing close to top teams" phase). I don't think they'll win the league but I would not be surprised to see them finish second. I think they might be better than Ohio State as is.

I really like them as a sweet sixteen type team, but I can't see them winning the conference. Still a very good team. I just think that Michigan State is winning the conference.

[Exile on Waveland]

I don't say this in a critical way, but is there a reason that Iowa is projected so high that the slightly homerish POV can see them winning the conference? My (limited) understanding was that they would be improved and were a likely tournament team, and from a glance their performance to date looks to be about that, but not one of the top 4 teams in a really strong B1G. Is the drop off after MSU/OSU/Wiscy so severe that they win out for scheduling reasons or something? What am I missing?

 

Iowa is currently No. 15 in Pomeroy, so they're not exactly some deep darkhorse. They're very deep and thus well-positioned to survive both the micro (individual games) and macro (entire conference schedule) attrition that is the Big Ten season. Their depth also allows them versatility.

 

They finished 10-10 in Big Ten games last year, in an exceedingly strong league. That included a four-point loss to Indiana (No. 3), two three-point losses to Michigan State (No. 9), and a four-point, double overtime loss at Wisconsin (No. 13). I said last year that I thought they could be top-10 good this year; they've lost two tough games against very good teams so far (I figured with more experience they'd turn the tough losses into wins this year -- they haven't yet and some teams never move past the "losing close to top teams" phase). I don't think they'll win the league but I would not be surprised to see them finish second. I think they might be better than Ohio State as is.

I really like them as a sweet sixteen type team, but I can't see them winning the conference. Still a very good team. I just think that Michigan State is winning the conference.

 

Agreed.

[illiniguy]

How long is Fran locked in at Iowa? I wonder if he views that as a final destination type job? He has done a great job of fixing that program, I have to think other schools would love to have him.

[UMFan83]

I don't say this in a critical way, but is there a reason that Iowa is projected so high that the slightly homerish POV can see them winning the conference? My (limited) understanding was that they would be improved and were a likely tournament team, and from a glance their performance to date looks to be about that, but not one of the top 4 teams in a really strong B1G. Is the drop off after MSU/OSU/Wiscy so severe that they win out for scheduling reasons or something? What am I missing?

 

Iowa is currently No. 15 in Pomeroy, so they're not exactly some deep darkhorse. They're very deep and thus well-positioned to survive both the micro (individual games) and macro (entire conference schedule) attrition that is the Big Ten season. Their depth also allows them versatility.

 

They finished 10-10 in Big Ten games last year, in an exceedingly strong league. That included a four-point loss to Indiana (No. 3), two three-point losses to Michigan State (No. 9), and a four-point, double overtime loss at Wisconsin (No. 13). I said last year that I thought they could be top-10 good this year; they've lost two tough games against very good teams so far (I figured with more experience they'd turn the tough losses into wins this year -- they haven't yet and some teams never move past the "losing close to top teams" phase). I don't think they'll win the league but I would not be surprised to see them finish second. I think they might be better than Ohio State as is.

I really like them as a sweet sixteen type team, but I can't see them winning the conference. Still a very good team. I just think that Michigan State is winning the conference.

 

I feel like every few years a team that might not be the best in the conference strongly competes or wins the regular season conference. Michigan 2 years ago is a good example. Just have to protect home court, win the winnable road games, and steal 1-2 tough road games and hope that there isn't a team that goes like 16-2 or something.

[XZero771679666304]

I see Iowa finishing 3rd or 4th, but there's enough there that if I were an Iowa fan, I could talk myself into believing that they could win the conference without feeling like a total homer.

 

I think that the upcoming game at Wisconsin will be telling. I think they'll lose by a fair margin, but if they win, or keep it really close, that bodes well.

[Exile on Waveland]

I see Iowa finishing 3rd or 4th, but there's enough there that if I were an Iowa fan, I could talk myself into believing that they could win the conference without feeling like a total homer.

 

Right. I think they finish third or fourth. But if you're the third or fourth best team in a conference -- at least one that does not include some juggernaut at the top -- then you have some chance to win the conference.

[illiniguy]

I see Iowa finishing 3rd or 4th, but there's enough there that if I were an Iowa fan, I could talk myself into believing that they could win the conference without feeling like a total homer.

 

Right. I think they finish third or fourth. But if you're the third or fourth best team in a conference -- at least one that does not include some juggernaut at the top -- then you have some chance to win the conference.

I think Michigan State is a juggernaut. Greta point guard(Appling), another great wing(Harris or Dawson), and a great post player(Payne).

[Exile on Waveland]

I see Iowa finishing 3rd or 4th, but there's enough there that if I were an Iowa fan, I could talk myself into believing that they could win the conference without feeling like a total homer.

 

Right. I think they finish third or fourth. But if you're the third or fourth best team in a conference -- at least one that does not include some juggernaut at the top -- then you have some chance to win the conference.

I think Michigan State is a juggernaut. Greta point guard(Appling), another great wing(Harris or Dawson), and a great post player(Payne).

 

I thought before the season they were in the Big Ten. And they still could be, but I don't think they've lived up to that just yet. I am with you, though, that I would be pretty surprised if a team other than Michigan State won the league.

 

Looking forward to the IU-Michigan State game Saturday; certainly could be ugly, but Assembly Hall can make things difficult on superior opponents (yes, yes, homer officiating, blah blah).

[illiniguy]

I see Iowa finishing 3rd or 4th, but there's enough there that if I were an Iowa fan, I could talk myself into believing that they could win the conference without feeling like a total homer.

 

Right. I think they finish third or fourth. But if you're the third or fourth best team in a conference -- at least one that does not include some juggernaut at the top -- then you have some chance to win the conference.

I think Michigan State is a juggernaut. Greta point guard(Appling), another great wing(Harris or Dawson), and a great post player(Payne).

 

I thought before the season they were in the Big Ten. And they still could be, but I don't think they've lived up to that just yet. I am with you, though, that I would be pretty surprised if a team other than Michigan State won the league.

 

Looking forward to the IU-Michigan State game Saturday; certainly could be ugly, but Assembly Hall can make things difficult on superior opponents (yes, yes, homer officiating, blah blah).

You guys really need that one. The Big Ten schedulers did you no favors early on this year. If Michigan State gets that one that's pretty big, like you said there won't be a lot of teams come into the fake Assembly Hall and win.

[Exile on Waveland]

I see Iowa finishing 3rd or 4th, but there's enough there that if I were an Iowa fan, I could talk myself into believing that they could win the conference without feeling like a total homer.

 

Right. I think they finish third or fourth. But if you're the third or fourth best team in a conference -- at least one that does not include some juggernaut at the top -- then you have some chance to win the conference.

I think Michigan State is a juggernaut. Greta point guard(Appling), another great wing(Harris or Dawson), and a great post player(Payne).

 

I thought before the season they were in the Big Ten. And they still could be, but I don't think they've lived up to that just yet. I am with you, though, that I would be pretty surprised if a team other than Michigan State won the league.

 

Looking forward to the IU-Michigan State game Saturday; certainly could be ugly, but Assembly Hall can make things difficult on superior opponents (yes, yes, homer officiating, blah blah).

You guys really need that one. The Big Ten schedulers did you no favors early on this year. If Michigan State gets that one that's pretty big, like you said there won't be a lot of teams come into the fake Assembly Hall and win.

 

Yeah. Not the best way to start the league for such a young team:

 

at Illinois

Michigan State

at Penn State

Wisconsin

 

I'm thinking 8-10 (isn't that was Sosa said earlier?). Hoping for a couple more wins than that, which, depending on who they come against, should be enough for a tournament bid. Overall, the schedule is a bit fortunate: don't play at Ohio State or at Iowa. Not sure how much I trust this team to win any road game, but there are definitely a few that are potentially winnable (Pomeroy has them favored in four -- which I would bite your hand off for a 4-5 road mark).

 

And, yeah, would be a big (even if nationally under-appreciated) win for Michigan State. IU should still do well at home, and I'd be surprised if they don't get at least one big scalp.

[hawkeyecub]

You guys pretty much nailed it regarding Iowa in those posts.

 

Wisconsin's schedule is so beneficial though, they would be my favorite.

[mul21]

So apparently the old chicken wing play is legal on offense now. Interesting.

 

Also looks like UI and Penn State aren't in danger of duplicating their record low scoring output from a few years ago anymore.

[bukie]

Odd quirk, Indiana has yet to beat anyone in the Pomeroy top 100.

[bukie]

Good read from Pomeroy as to a better way to qualify quality wins: http://kenpom.com/blog/index.php/weblog/entry/fairness_in_quality_wins

[mul21]

Well, the B10 refs have certainly disregarded the new rules enforcement stuff.

[UMFan83]

Odd quirk, Indiana has yet to beat anyone in the Pomeroy top 100.

 

Yes....quirk...

[SouthSideRyan]

OMG THAT TIE

[Exile on Waveland]

Odd quirk, Indiana has yet to beat anyone in the Pomeroy top 100.

 

It's neither odd nor a quirk. IU isn't good and Crean mainly schedules garbage teams (so few chances for quality wins pre-conference).

 

Althought Stony Brook has been Pomeroy top-100 this year...

[bukie]

Illinois' largest win over PSU since 2005.