1. Michigan State (17-3, 7-1): The Spartans have started 5-0 in conference road games. Kalin Lucas has paced Michigan State, totaling 44 points combined in consecutive road wins over Ohio State and Iowa.
2. Purdue (16-4, 5-2): Purdue jumps Illinois this week as the Boilers have won five in a row, including three on the road. Their win in Madison was particularly impressive even if the Badgers are struggling. Almost no one wins at the Kohl Center.
3. Minnesota (18-3, 6-3): Tubby's club continues to improve their resume for tourney time. The 59-36 drubbing of the Illini adds to their quality wins. They held Illinois to its lowest point output in 24 years.
4. Illinois (17-4, 5-3): Illinois has continued their trend of dominating at home but suffered their third straight road loss since beating Purdue Dec. 30. Despite the blowout loss at the Barn, the Illini still may end up as the conference's second best team.
5. Ohio State (14-5, 4-4): Evan Turner's having a terrific season, averaging 15.9 points and 7.0 rebounds. The Buckeyes have several key non-conference wins, and it's hard to fault any of their conference losses (@Minn, @MSU, @Ill, MSU). Thus, their resume is solid to this point.
6. Michigan (14-7, 4-5): The Wolverines have lost four of five but remain in this spot because they have a better overall profile than Penn State. Michigan lost the first battle 73-58 in Happy Valley but will likely even the series when the teams meet in Ann Arbor Feb. 5.
7. Penn State (16-5, 5-3): Ed DeChellis' Lions are winners of three in a row and have been talked about as one of the surprises of the conference. However, they have mostly just won the games they're supposed to win. They now enter a brutal stretch with three of four on the road (@MSU, @Mich, WI, @ PU).
8. Wisconsin (12-8, 3-5): The Badgers continue to surprise -- in a bad way. They've lost five games in a row and need to right the ship soon. Luckily for Bo Ryan and company, Wisconsin enters the day with the 31st-ranked RPI having played the second toughest schedule in the nation. If they can get to 9-9 in the Big Ten they'll be in good shape for the NCAAs.
9. Northwestern (11-7, 3-5): Kevin Coble's 'Cats boast an astoundingly high no. 51 RPI. They actually have a case for being ranked higher than Penn State and Wisconsin. Northwestern owns three victories over RPI top 25 teams in Minnesota, Michigan State, and Florida State.
10. Iowa (12-9, 2-6): The Hawkeyes are actually pretty good for a tenth-place team. They continue to improve and should've beaten Penn State on the road. Had Cyrus Tate been healthy, Iowa may have a couple more wins. They simply do not have the depth to overcome a significant injury.
11. Indiana (5-14, 0-7): The Hoosiers limp into February losers of their last 10 games. That first Big Ten win is coming though. Tom Crean's too good of a coach not to get somebody. Look out Iowa on Feb. 4.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Roll Call
"CALLING ALL STUDENTS....IT'S GAME TIME," read Hawkeyesports.com's home page Saturday, practically pleading with UI students.
Attendance at Iowa basketball games is, if you haven't noticed, well, rather pathetic. It's gotten to the point where Athletic Director Gary Barta even holds press conferences for no other reason than to let Hawkeye fans know that Iowa still has a men's basketball team. Yeah, they've got uniforms and everything, as Jake Taylor from Major League would say.
From Carver-Hawkeye Arena's opening in 1983 until 1997, Iowa home games averaged at least 14,500 fans. From 2000-2002 Steve Alford's Hawkeyes drew over 15,000 each season. But since then, attendance has plummeted. The average attendance dropped to 10,761 last season before falling below the 10,000 mark so far this season. The troubling trend has led Barta and the Iowa athletic department to scramble for answers and ways to bring fans back.
On Thursday all UI students will be admitted for free into Iowa's tilt versus ninth-ranked Michigan State. That's great for students, but what about everybody else? The general public still must pay $22 to get into the game. That's too much at time when people, as Barta put it, have gotten used to not going and face a tough economic climate.
The most obvious and best solution, however, is for Todd Lickliter and company to field a better team on the court. Winning sells, period. Fans flock to fill Kinnick Stadium because they've seen consistently competitive teams for the better part of the last 30 years. The same was true for Carver throughout most of its history.
The Hawks are 42-41 over the last two-and-a-half seasons with few marquee victories. The program stands as low as it has been in a real long time. The fate of Iowa basketball attendance rests on bringing back winning basketball. If Lickliter delivers NCAA Tournaments, fans will come -- and it won't matter if Iowa continues to play at a snail speed.
Attendance at Iowa basketball games is, if you haven't noticed, well, rather pathetic. It's gotten to the point where Athletic Director Gary Barta even holds press conferences for no other reason than to let Hawkeye fans know that Iowa still has a men's basketball team. Yeah, they've got uniforms and everything, as Jake Taylor from Major League would say.
From Carver-Hawkeye Arena's opening in 1983 until 1997, Iowa home games averaged at least 14,500 fans. From 2000-2002 Steve Alford's Hawkeyes drew over 15,000 each season. But since then, attendance has plummeted. The average attendance dropped to 10,761 last season before falling below the 10,000 mark so far this season. The troubling trend has led Barta and the Iowa athletic department to scramble for answers and ways to bring fans back.
On Thursday all UI students will be admitted for free into Iowa's tilt versus ninth-ranked Michigan State. That's great for students, but what about everybody else? The general public still must pay $22 to get into the game. That's too much at time when people, as Barta put it, have gotten used to not going and face a tough economic climate.
The most obvious and best solution, however, is for Todd Lickliter and company to field a better team on the court. Winning sells, period. Fans flock to fill Kinnick Stadium because they've seen consistently competitive teams for the better part of the last 30 years. The same was true for Carver throughout most of its history.
The Hawks are 42-41 over the last two-and-a-half seasons with few marquee victories. The program stands as low as it has been in a real long time. The fate of Iowa basketball attendance rests on bringing back winning basketball. If Lickliter delivers NCAA Tournaments, fans will come -- and it won't matter if Iowa continues to play at a snail speed.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Week in Review
The Hawks nearly pulled off a pair of victories in what could have been one heck of a week. On Wednesday Iowa knocked off the Badgers with a stellar overtime performance, winning 73-69. Saturday Iowa dominated Penn State for the majority of the game before stumbling down the stretch and blowing a 14-point second half lead.
The Wisconsin game was another example of how even Carver is a tough place to come away with a win. Iowa played a clean game taking care of the ball (only 9 turnovers) and shooting 46.5 percent from the field. It was an impressive turnaround from mistake prone blowout losses at Michigan and at Purdue in their two prior games.
David Palmer came up big for the second consecutive game, checking in with 21 points and seven rebounds. He showed that he clearly deserved to be on the court earlier in the season, regardless of what Todd Lickliter says. (Does anyone realize Palmer played 9.7 minutes per game as a freshman for the 2005-06 Seton Hall team that appeared in the NCAA Tournament?) He’s shown the ability to score in the post and not just sit beyond the arc, ready to fire a three. Palmer’s now averaging 15.3 points and 7.7 rebounds in three games since joining the starting lineup. It’s the type of production the likes of Jarryd Cole and Andrew Brommer have failed to come anywhere near.
Iowa then went to Penn State Saturday where they played remarkably well for 35 minutes (Iowa led 54-44 at the 5:00 mark). From there it all unraveled as the Hawks turned it over numerous times and couldn’t come up with a big play down the stretch.
On a positive note, Jake Kelly played well for a second consecutive game, scoring 19 points on 7-of-10 shooting and bottling up Penn State sophomore guard Talor Battle for much of the game. Freshman Aaron Fuller played 36 minutes and put in a career-high 16 points. Ultimately, Battle and senior Jamelle Cornley took over in crunch time.
Again, a long drought plagued Lickliter’s crew. They went scoreless the final 2:40 when they desperately needed a bucket to stave off the Lions’ furious rally. The Hawks are looking for a leader to step up. Matt Gatens should be that guy even if he is only a freshman. He took just five shots the entire game, however. It’s time for the Hawks to realize that the ball needs to be in his hands when the game’s on the line.
This Week: Jan. 29 vs. Michigan State (16-3, 6-1); Feb. 1 @ Illinois (16-3, 4-2)
The Hawks play a pair of ranked teams this week in Michigan State and Illinois. If Iowa can win either game it will be cause for celebration. The Spartans and the Illini at the moment appear to be the top two teams in the conference. Playing competitively would be another step in the right direction.
Predictions:
Michigan State 68, Iowa 56
Illinois 63, Iowa 49
The Wisconsin game was another example of how even Carver is a tough place to come away with a win. Iowa played a clean game taking care of the ball (only 9 turnovers) and shooting 46.5 percent from the field. It was an impressive turnaround from mistake prone blowout losses at Michigan and at Purdue in their two prior games.
David Palmer came up big for the second consecutive game, checking in with 21 points and seven rebounds. He showed that he clearly deserved to be on the court earlier in the season, regardless of what Todd Lickliter says. (Does anyone realize Palmer played 9.7 minutes per game as a freshman for the 2005-06 Seton Hall team that appeared in the NCAA Tournament?) He’s shown the ability to score in the post and not just sit beyond the arc, ready to fire a three. Palmer’s now averaging 15.3 points and 7.7 rebounds in three games since joining the starting lineup. It’s the type of production the likes of Jarryd Cole and Andrew Brommer have failed to come anywhere near.
Iowa then went to Penn State Saturday where they played remarkably well for 35 minutes (Iowa led 54-44 at the 5:00 mark). From there it all unraveled as the Hawks turned it over numerous times and couldn’t come up with a big play down the stretch.
On a positive note, Jake Kelly played well for a second consecutive game, scoring 19 points on 7-of-10 shooting and bottling up Penn State sophomore guard Talor Battle for much of the game. Freshman Aaron Fuller played 36 minutes and put in a career-high 16 points. Ultimately, Battle and senior Jamelle Cornley took over in crunch time.
Again, a long drought plagued Lickliter’s crew. They went scoreless the final 2:40 when they desperately needed a bucket to stave off the Lions’ furious rally. The Hawks are looking for a leader to step up. Matt Gatens should be that guy even if he is only a freshman. He took just five shots the entire game, however. It’s time for the Hawks to realize that the ball needs to be in his hands when the game’s on the line.
This Week: Jan. 29 vs. Michigan State (16-3, 6-1); Feb. 1 @ Illinois (16-3, 4-2)
The Hawks play a pair of ranked teams this week in Michigan State and Illinois. If Iowa can win either game it will be cause for celebration. The Spartans and the Illini at the moment appear to be the top two teams in the conference. Playing competitively would be another step in the right direction.
Predictions:
Michigan State 68, Iowa 56
Illinois 63, Iowa 49
Friday, January 23, 2009
Big Ten Power Rankings
Here's the first installment of my Big Ten Power Rankings. Michigan State remains no. 1 -- they still have the best league record and the most talented roster. The Hawks debut at no. 10 where they may stay all year. The rest of the Big Ten simply has Iowa outmanned. The league is as deep and athletic as its been in some time.
1. Michigan State (15-3, 5-1): The Spartans’ surprising home loss to Northwestern raises some questions, but Tom Izzo’s club has proven they’re the Big Ten’s best with wins over Texas, Minneosta, Kansas and Illinois. Plus, they boast the best talent in the league.
2. Illinois (16-3, 4-2): The Illini improved as much as any team in the conference since last season. Four Illinois players average 11 points or more on a balanced team. Wins over Missouri, and Purdue in Mackey Arena, will look good come tournament time.
3. Purdue (15-4, 4-2): Matt Painter’s Boilers were an early season disappointment but have turned it around of late, winning four straight. The victory at Minnesota was huge. As was getting Robbie Hummel and Chris Kramer healthy.
4. Minnesota (16-3, 4-3): Ultra quick point guard Al Nolen leads a deep and talented Gophers squad. This may not be a top 25 team but the wins over Louisville and over Wisconsin in Madison show what they are capable of. Tubby has the program rising.
5. Ohio State (13-4, 3-3): The Buckeyes are yet another borderline top 25 Big Ten team. They have the talent to beat almost anyone on a given night but are susceptible to laying an occasional egg (see their games against West Virginia and Illinois). B.J. Mullens’ continued progression is scary for the rest of the league.
6. Michigan (13-6, 3-4): John Belein’s Wolverines were the talk of the Big Ten with early victories over UCLA and Duke, but they’ve found themselves in a funk. They’ve lost three straight by an average of more than 12 points per game. Even so, this is an NCAA Tournament team with a star in Manny Harris.
7. Wisconsin (12-6, 3-3): Marcus Landry and Trevon Hughes have formed a solid core for a decent Bo Ryan team. After winning 61 games the last two seasons, however, the Badgers were bound for a reality check. Not to worry Wisky fans, Bo will have this team competing for league titles (again) in the near future.
8. Penn State (15-5, 4-3): The Nittany Lions' appearance here speaks to the great depth of the league. This team has three really good players in Talor Battle, Jamelle Cornley and Stanley Pringle. Their lack of depth keeps them for being ranked higher, and their soft out-of-conference schedule likely will keep them out of the NCAA Tournament.
9. Northwestern (10-6, 2-4): Where did that come from? Seriously, how the heck did the ‘Cats take out the Spartans in East Lansing? The home win over Minnesota was mildly surprising, but walking away from Michigan State victorious sent shockwaves throughout the league. It’s still difficult to imagine more than six or seven conference victories despite the presence of, little-known but super productive, Kevin Coble.
10. Iowa (12-7, 2-4): Matt Gatens continues to star as one of the conference’s premier freshman. The rest of the young Hawkeyes have struggled mightily against Big Ten foes, save for the thrilling overtime victory over Wisconsin. Point guard Jeff Peterson is averaging 4.5 turnovers per game in Big Ten play.
11. Indiana (5-12, 0-5): It’s ugly in Bloomington. But it’s hardly surprising. Tom Crean inherited a roster basically devoid of any basketball talent. The Hoosiers will make a large leap in year two of the Crean era. Next season they welcome the no. 7 rated recruiting class in the nation, according to rivals.com.
1. Michigan State (15-3, 5-1): The Spartans’ surprising home loss to Northwestern raises some questions, but Tom Izzo’s club has proven they’re the Big Ten’s best with wins over Texas, Minneosta, Kansas and Illinois. Plus, they boast the best talent in the league.
2. Illinois (16-3, 4-2): The Illini improved as much as any team in the conference since last season. Four Illinois players average 11 points or more on a balanced team. Wins over Missouri, and Purdue in Mackey Arena, will look good come tournament time.
3. Purdue (15-4, 4-2): Matt Painter’s Boilers were an early season disappointment but have turned it around of late, winning four straight. The victory at Minnesota was huge. As was getting Robbie Hummel and Chris Kramer healthy.
4. Minnesota (16-3, 4-3): Ultra quick point guard Al Nolen leads a deep and talented Gophers squad. This may not be a top 25 team but the wins over Louisville and over Wisconsin in Madison show what they are capable of. Tubby has the program rising.
5. Ohio State (13-4, 3-3): The Buckeyes are yet another borderline top 25 Big Ten team. They have the talent to beat almost anyone on a given night but are susceptible to laying an occasional egg (see their games against West Virginia and Illinois). B.J. Mullens’ continued progression is scary for the rest of the league.
6. Michigan (13-6, 3-4): John Belein’s Wolverines were the talk of the Big Ten with early victories over UCLA and Duke, but they’ve found themselves in a funk. They’ve lost three straight by an average of more than 12 points per game. Even so, this is an NCAA Tournament team with a star in Manny Harris.
7. Wisconsin (12-6, 3-3): Marcus Landry and Trevon Hughes have formed a solid core for a decent Bo Ryan team. After winning 61 games the last two seasons, however, the Badgers were bound for a reality check. Not to worry Wisky fans, Bo will have this team competing for league titles (again) in the near future.
8. Penn State (15-5, 4-3): The Nittany Lions' appearance here speaks to the great depth of the league. This team has three really good players in Talor Battle, Jamelle Cornley and Stanley Pringle. Their lack of depth keeps them for being ranked higher, and their soft out-of-conference schedule likely will keep them out of the NCAA Tournament.
9. Northwestern (10-6, 2-4): Where did that come from? Seriously, how the heck did the ‘Cats take out the Spartans in East Lansing? The home win over Minnesota was mildly surprising, but walking away from Michigan State victorious sent shockwaves throughout the league. It’s still difficult to imagine more than six or seven conference victories despite the presence of, little-known but super productive, Kevin Coble.
10. Iowa (12-7, 2-4): Matt Gatens continues to star as one of the conference’s premier freshman. The rest of the young Hawkeyes have struggled mightily against Big Ten foes, save for the thrilling overtime victory over Wisconsin. Point guard Jeff Peterson is averaging 4.5 turnovers per game in Big Ten play.
11. Indiana (5-12, 0-5): It’s ugly in Bloomington. But it’s hardly surprising. Tom Crean inherited a roster basically devoid of any basketball talent. The Hoosiers will make a large leap in year two of the Crean era. Next season they welcome the no. 7 rated recruiting class in the nation, according to rivals.com.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Welcome
Welcome to Iowa basketball. You've come to the right place for everything Hawkeye hoops. This blog will contain analysis of game action, interesting tidbits, the latest recruiting information and a lot more.
In addition, I'll post my Big Ten power rankings every week showing you where the Hawks stand among their conference foes. Look for the first installment of these rankings here tomorrow. (Unfortunately for Hawkeye fans, Iowa won't rank very high).
So, join me throughout the season and follow Iowa basketball closer than ever. Don't just get the score. Come here for the breakdown of what really happened, and what Todd Lickliter was actually thinking. (Shouldn't David Palmer have been playing earlier in the season)? Get your in-depth Hawkeye basketball coverage here with three to five updates per week.
In addition, I'll post my Big Ten power rankings every week showing you where the Hawks stand among their conference foes. Look for the first installment of these rankings here tomorrow. (Unfortunately for Hawkeye fans, Iowa won't rank very high).
So, join me throughout the season and follow Iowa basketball closer than ever. Don't just get the score. Come here for the breakdown of what really happened, and what Todd Lickliter was actually thinking. (Shouldn't David Palmer have been playing earlier in the season)? Get your in-depth Hawkeye basketball coverage here with three to five updates per week.
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