When we looked at the Iowa schedule at the beginning of November, the odds of starting Big Ten play 1-8 looked high. Iowa started with games at Wisconsin, Minnesota, Indiana, Michigan State, and Purdue, and tough home dates with Ohio State and Michigan. Even with the improvement we expected, it took some wishful thinking to find a game where Iowa would be favored outside of a January 26 game against Nebraska.
Two weeks ago, Iowa was 2-1 in the conference after inexplicable wins at Wisconsin and Minnesota, but a pair of drubbings at the hands of Ohio State and Michigan State seemed to confirm our worst fears: We might have caught the Badgers and Gophers at the right time, but this team still looked a long way from the cream of the conference crop. It's why today's victory, a convincing wire-to-wire 16-point beatdown of #13 Michigan in which Iowa built a 10-point halftime lead and never looked close to relinquishing it, is so important. It does more than just stop the bleeding of last week; it gets the heart pumping again.
Though Iowa had four players in double digits, it's not difficult to identify the player of the game: It's Matt Gatens, again, working the mid-range game, effective from the outside, and looking like he's having fun for maybe the first time in his Iowa career. Gatens scored 19 on 5-10 shooting, made four key three-pointers, and threw in three rebounds and three steals. He was also instrumental in holding Michigan to just 8-31 shooting from beyond the arc. Devyn Marble added 13 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists, and has become a massive matchup concern even for teams running zone defenses. Melsahn Basabe had a quiet stat line (7 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists) but was key in holding Michigan's interior production to virtually nothing (Jordan Morgan and Evan Smotrycz finished with just 4 points combined on 1-7 shooting) and was extremely effective finding open cutters from the short corner, as the offense so desperately needed against Beilein's 1-3-1 defense. Zach McCabe (11 points, 7 boards, 3 assists) provided the initial spark before getting into foul trouble. And Aaron White (12 points, 5 rebounds in just 23 minutes) must really like coming off the bench, because there's no longer any other rationale for why he's sitting behind Basabe or Eric May.
It could be that Iowa caught Michigan at the right time, just as it looks they might have done against Wisconsin and Minnesota; the Wolverines were playing their third game this week and fourth in ten days, and had to use everything they had to get an overtime win over Northwestern on Wednesday night. That doesn't matter for now, though. Iowa has three Big Ten wins on January 15 for the first time since they won the conference title in 2005-06, and will escape the brutal first half of the conference season at no worse than 3-6 (and with a legitimate shot at 5-4). And for that, and for beating at top 15 team on a day where there was no reason to believe they could, it's Junior Senior time.
Move your feet and feel united. Go Hawks.
1 recs | 119 comments
Go Hawks, indeed.
SomeJerkPoster - January 14, 2012
What the hell just happened in Tallahassee?
UNC takes players off the court with 14 seconds left and starts the handshake line?
HawKCP - January 14, 2012
I dont even know what to call that
justsomehawkeyefan - January 14, 2012
Sour grapes.
The Mexican't - January 14, 2012
It was at the request of the FSU coach, according to the announcers.
To keep everyone safe during the court-rushing. Still very strange.
KilometersDavis - January 14, 2012
That's kind of the coach.
Player safety is the only argument against court storming that makes any sense. Getting the UNC kids off the court without any risk at all was a great idea.
The Mexican't - January 14, 2012
I agree.
But it would be very easy to come across as a jerk when making the request, especially after FSU left their starters in until there was a minute or two left.
KilometersDavis - January 14, 2012
Except there WAS reason to think they could win===if I may bragly brag
Most college teams, especially young ones, most of the time show a reverse reaction to being humbled or satisfied. You lose, you are more hungry to win and play well next time out. You win, you are thinking about accomplishment rather than preparation and don’t play as well. Just the way if often goes. 2 big servings of humble pie later, you are gonna see a supreme and focused effort Saturday.
Fran put another sheckle in the guys I got your back bank, plus has a couple practices to get em ready for the Wolverfuckerines. Good combination.
All in all, set up for a near perfect storm for an upset. I predict a win, which will put them at 3-3. A month ago Fran, you, me (and if honest the players), and everyone else would have gladly taken that record.
by Sky High King on Jan 11, 2012 2:46 PM PST replyactions
Sky High King - January 14, 2012
How are you posting from the future?
TwistConePlease - January 14, 2012
Run Marty
I don’t know how but they found me. Run Marty!
Captain America (aka Steve Rogers) - January 14, 2012 via mobile
this is gettin heavy Doc
hawktalker - January 14, 2012
Why are things so heavy in the future?
TwistConePlease - January 14, 2012
1.21 gigawatts!
Captain America (aka Steve Rogers) - January 14, 2012 via mobile
Oh no!
It’s the Libyans!
Jon Berg - January 14, 2012
OMG
Rec.
mikjones24 - January 14, 2012
I will gladly take 3-3 now.
It’s just nice to see an Iowa team beating other teams that are actually good in a sport other than wrestling.
Flakbait - January 14, 2012
Right.
Because it’s not like our football team beat any bowl teams this year.
WaterlooChazz - January 14, 2012
This is kinda true.
In statement only….The Michigan win was good. But jNW and and Purdue not so great. Both teams finished under .500, and Purdue beat a Western Michigan!! in their bowl game. jNW beat a team that got beat by every decent or better team they played *cept for Baylor and I think everyone is still scratching their heads about that game. For some reason people still use the bowl standard as something meaningful. Winning an arbitrary number of games that is set ridiculously low in order to fill the absurd number of bowl-bids is not an accomplishment.
David Starbuck Petersen - January 15, 2012
Didn't Northwestern lose their bowl game? Badly?
YouCanPutYourEddsInIt - January 15, 2012
I'm not saying jNW or Purdue were great wins,
but not horrible, either. And I think the Michigan win tends to look better as time goes on.
WaterlooChazz - January 15, 2012
great win
I was worried about the mental state of the team after the last two games. But obviously they’re fine
chitownhawkeye - January 14, 2012 via iPhone app
This:
It was great to beat Minnesota and Wisconsin, but I feel like this is an even better game performance-wise (although it was awesome that the other two wins were on the road). The Wisconsin and Minnesota games went back and forth – and the Minnesota game was really sloppy (for both teams at alternating times). Here, we looked like the better team start to finish. Love it – go Hawks! Definitely deserving of some junior senior.
TwistConePlease - January 14, 2012
Feels so good
to start off a Saturday with a convincing and fun Hawkeye victory – in any sport. It’s been a long time.
I love it, I love it, I love it.
Bucketochicken - January 14, 2012
So much awesomeness
Especially since I can rib the office Michigan fan with this AND the football win…
The Bird Cult - January 14, 2012
And in the Way-Way-Way-Way-WAY-Too-Early-To-Be-Talking-About-This department...
maybe Fran for B1G COY, maybe?
/no jinx
Bucketochicken - January 14, 2012
If we finish above .500 in league play, why the hell not?
Swarley - January 14, 2012
Hard to believe that many other teams will have a more shocking resume.
No doubt that he’s the front-runner at this point.
The Mexican't - January 14, 2012
Unless jNW
Actually makes the NCAA tourney this year, which might actually happen. Hahaha!!! Seriously, who am I kidding! Fran has it in the bag.
IowaPharmer - January 14, 2012
If so, we need a shop of him pooping out the trophy.
Smokin Herb Grigsby - January 14, 2012
no need to shop it
I’m pretty sure Fran could do it for real.
Captain America (aka Steve Rogers) - January 14, 2012 via mobile
Not the correct trophy, but, hey...
Dr. Hawk - January 14, 2012
see
I knew he could do it.
Captain America (aka Steve Rogers) - January 14, 2012 via mobile
We all knew that
that abomination of a trophy was shit out by somebody
chitownhawkeye - January 14, 2012
Imagine what that does to the white marble lion on it.
/shudders.
WaterlooChazz - January 14, 2012
That looks
Very painful.
mikjones24 - January 14, 2012
If they finish in the top 3
Tom Crean will likely take the award home. Yes, IU should be very good this year, but the splash which that type of record makes after being down for a while would be enough to trump a (potentially) more deserving Fran.
Kyle McCann't - January 14, 2012
reality bites
But yes I concur
Captain America (aka Steve Rogers) - January 14, 2012 via mobile
Metacafe, sir?
My Youtube sensibilities are offended.
hkobb7 - January 14, 2012
Screw anything 'meta'
We keep it realz, yo.
Brock Sampson - January 14, 2012
Every Junior Senior video got pulled, apparently.
I’m not too cool for Youtube.
Patrick Vint - January 14, 2012
But why is Junior Senior too cool for Youtube?
therealCatnuts - January 15, 2012
Or perhaps Youtube is too cool for JuniorSen-- ahahahaha
Like Junior Senior isn’t the coolest thing in the world.
hkobb7 - January 16, 2012
i'm a hipster doofus
But I still use the youtube
Captain America (aka Steve Rogers) - January 14, 2012 via mobile
God I love this song.
Smokin Herb Grigsby - January 14, 2012
Also, this.
Don’t stop, DON’T STOP! Don’t stop the beat!
hkobb7 - January 14, 2012
The Big Ten conference play is a complete mess right now.
MN beats #8 IU a couple days ago, we beat MI today, and jNW is about to finish off MSU as I type this. One of IU or OSU will have 3 conference losses already after tomorrow. (currently) Unranked ILL is on top of the conference. It will be very interesting to see how this all plays out.
rupertj - January 14, 2012
this big ten season
Is getting crazy party rockers.
Captain America (aka Steve Rogers) - January 14, 2012 via mobile
As in
everyday we’re shufflin’?
Eyeheartfreedumb - January 14, 2012
stop reading my mind
Damned jedi mind tricks
Captain America (aka Steve Rogers) - January 14, 2012 via mobile
Front page headline at ESPN: IOWA DOMINATES NO. 13 MICHIGAN
That’s pretty great.
The Mexican't - January 14, 2012
That plus the Wiscy upset and the chair-slamming . . .
when’s the last time Iowa bball had three front page stories in one month for something other than player defections?
KilometersDavis - January 14, 2012
Nice win by the Hawks
Good to see them play so well when it would have been easy to fold after the previous two devastating losses. Is it me or even when we’re up by 16, I’m still thinking we’ll blow it with 2 minutes to go? Shell shock from the football season? Either way, I love watching Iowa hoops again.
IowaPharmer - January 14, 2012
it has nothing to do with football. everything to do with basketball
rupertj - January 14, 2012
cause we are a
wrestling, football…bball school!!chuck longs mom - January 14, 2012
This
Weird to see, “a convincing wire-to-wire 16-point beatdown” in the recap, but upon reflection I realized it was true. But during the game I was a nervous wreck throughout. Years of conditioning, I suppose.
Mike Brownlee - January 16, 2012
way to bury the lead
Marble got a reach around
josephacampbell - January 14, 2012
My eldest son kept asking
“why do you keep scaring me!?!” every time I’d let out a whoop after a big play. I have a feeling I’ll be keeping him on his toes all season long. Exactly the type of game this team needed right now.
Kyle McCann't - January 14, 2012
Great - Fun, F' Michigan Win, glad i got a chance to watch!
My 6 year old has never seen a Hawkeye basketball victory ‘till today…iI know t is just bad luck, but i’d say the last 16 Hawk-Hoops games i’ve watched on TV have all been losses.
DaaCF - January 14, 2012
I love watching this team.
Easily my favorite BB team to watch since the ‘05-’06 season, and even then I felt a little bad about cheering for [REDACTED], so really, probably Dr. Tom’s last season.
StewMonkey13 - January 14, 2012
If you're like me (or most people) you
convinced yourself you were cheering for Horner, Brunner, Thomas, Hansen, etc. That team was damn good, but even I had a hard time cheering for them because of Alford.
CarolinaHawk - January 14, 2012
i remember
Exactly where I was when Iowa was last in the sweet sixteen. Good times.
Captain America (aka Steve Rogers) - January 14, 2012 via mobile
I remember
Exactly where I was when Iowa was upset by a 14 seed
ManziBall - January 14, 2012
Letting out a blood curdling scream whilst burying my head in the carpet, drunk on St. Patty day's Guinness?
YouCanPutYourEddsInIt - January 14, 2012
Me too.
WaterlooChazz - January 14, 2012
Fuck BWW.
Eyeheartfreedumb - January 14, 2012
sadly
I remember that as well
Captain America (aka Steve Rogers) - January 14, 2012 via mobile
I actually slammed a chair much like Fran @ MSU
Premonition.
Luke Recker No-Look Pass - January 15, 2012
Me too.
WaterlooChazz - January 14, 2012
I was 14
On vacation with my family at Disney World. My son is now closer to the age I was than I currently am.
Not Marv Cook - January 15, 2012 via Android app
I really really REALLY hope Iowa pays Fran a shitload of money to keep him here
justsomehawkeyefan - January 14, 2012
#thingsweoncesaidaboutKirkFerentz
mikjones24 - January 14, 2012
Boo.
WaterlooChazz - January 14, 2012
sort of off topic but...
Between, Ferentz, Lickliter(grrr), Fran, Brands, & Bluder, Iowa has got to be shelling out more than most for their coaching staffs. Anyone comment on this or have any hard data?
Captain America (aka Steve Rogers) - January 14, 2012 via mobile
How about we wait until he actually takes Iowa to the NCAA Tourney before we start worrying about him going anywhere?
RossWB - January 14, 2012
he's leaving?
:)
Captain America (aka Steve Rogers) - January 14, 2012 via mobile
you heard it here first!!!!!!!!
The Bacon Explosion - January 15, 2012
not related at all to this thread
but still awesome:
theflagshopisoutofstock - January 14, 2012
pimp hand strong
Captain America (aka Steve Rogers) - January 14, 2012 via mobile
I saw a T-shirt very similar to that
about 7 years ago. Being worn to an Iowa game. I thought it was in poor taste.
WaterlooChazz - January 14, 2012
what a pleasant way
to spend the day
the hawks doing their thing
and Mrs OhioHawk and I are taking the grandkids
to watch Indy tOSU manana
I will be the guy in roy m in 328
the only thing i am not above is the roofline
i will be easy to spot
money says i will be the only one in attendance in my
STAND BY YOUR FRAN shirt
Go Hawks
OhioHawk - January 14, 2012
And my Niners won.
WaterlooChazz - January 14, 2012
couldn't quite place it. earlier..but
Aaron White reminds me a ton of Ryan Bowen…
DaaCF - January 14, 2012
Maybe also Chris Street?
WaterlooChazz - January 14, 2012
Or maybe what Troy Skinner would have been like if Troy Skinner hadn't been so small.
Eyeheartfreedumb - January 14, 2012
now
You’re just picking on gingers. Carry on.
Captain America (aka Steve Rogers) - January 14, 2012 via mobile
now that would be fantastic
My heart still hurts to remember hearing about Street’s accident. Words aren’t really adequate.
HawkeyeGirleye - January 14, 2012 via iPhone app
No, they aren't
That was one of my worse days as a student. You feel invincible at that age. Sports people are doubly invincible. To say it shook me would be an understatement. I couldn’t process his death for a long time.
chitownhawkeye - January 14, 2012
the last game I remember him in
was vs Duke, 2nd Round ‘92 NCAAs. Even tho we lost (badly), it’s a wonderful memory of the way he played the game.
I want my kids to find something they love & want to excel at with passion like that.
HawkeyeGirleye - January 15, 2012 via iPhone app
I love the way he defended the inbound
ALL OUT
BentNotBroken - January 15, 2012
in my memories
that is how he did absolutely everything. The way he played with the Duke fans when he fouled out- if BHGP had been around back then there would’ve been a post dedicated to just that.
HawkeyeGirleye - January 15, 2012 via iPhone app
Totally off topic
Whether or not Brian Ferentz is responsible, watching New England use the tight end position is awesome. The talent of those guys plus Brady, plus the play calling is fun to watch.
chitownhawkeye - January 14, 2012
If you liked that,
I hope you caught the SF vs NO game earlier today. New Orleans’s Jimmy Graham (2 TDs, 103 yards receiving) and SF’s Vernon Davis (180 yards, 2 TDs) went off.
WaterlooChazz - January 14, 2012
it was like someone declared Sat
NFL TE day. Seriously, 4 TEs for 3 teams were otherworldly.
HawkeyeGirleye - January 15, 2012 via iPhone app
I know this isn't really the best place for it, but:
http://hawkcentral.com/2012/01/14/former-iowa-running-back-mccall-is-transferring-to-southern-illinois/
I wish him luck, except for the annual SIU vs UNI game.
WaterlooChazz - January 14, 2012
Isn't Jewel Hampton at SIU?
therealCatnuts - January 15, 2012
Going pro
clay-born to party - January 15, 2012
Wow. Just google'd that.
Good luck to Jewel, hope he catches on somewhere. There’s always room for young legs in the NFL if he can convince teams his ACL problems are behind him.
therealCatnuts - January 15, 2012
What a great sports day, from my perspective
Iowa gets a solid roundball win over # 13 Michigan
The 49ers win in dramatic fashion
Tebowism runs into the pro football equivalent of a Saw movie @ NE
And I had a fantastic 10 mile run after being sick with a bad head cold all week
The Bird Cult - January 14, 2012
Ahh, one of the new found pleasures of fatherhood...
..not having a fucking clue of what’s going on. Nothing like trying to comfort a baby at 3 am and stumble upon BHGP and a victory over Michigan. Wha? I exclaimed “Fuck yeah Junoir Senior time!” only to be scolded by the misses for brutish language. I like the “fuck yeahs!” vs the “what the fucks?!” (see hawkeye rb history).
Bird Cult, glad to hear you got a run in. I’m envious.
LoganSq2DBQ - January 15, 2012
Ahhhh...the new father blackout
I remember it well. Mine was in the summer, so I didn’t miss much Hawkeye Sports, but I did lose a summer of fishing. Totally worth it though.
Getting workouts in is hard as a new parent because When you have time, you will probably be sleeping. Someday you might have a running partner! I have a couple of XC ski buddies now. Skied 30k on Friday.
IowaPharmer - January 15, 2012
Congrats on the baby, and
Believe me, the SO bitches and moans about “all the time you’re spending running” even when I point out that at 50 my own father was chair bound with heart issues and 3 years away from his 2nd quad bypass and permanent disability. I figure the 7-10 hours a week I invest in exercise is minor compared to not being able to do anything because your ticker was abused by food and sloth. :)
Spin bike, treadmill, or buy a bike trainer if you’ve got a bike – there are ways to squeeze in fitness if you’ve got a baby… I did it for a few years while both of mine were little :)
The Bird Cult - January 15, 2012
This is turning from incredible to credible
The Hawks are looking like they’re genuinely a .500 team in the B10, which appears to be the best conference in the country in both top teams and depth. This is quite a stunning event to be 3-3 at this point. I’m truly just stunned and happy, and sort of at a loss for words.
Go Hawks, go Fran, go players. We’re enjoying this ride, thanks for the fun of it so far.
therealCatnuts - January 15, 2012
With all the losses
I’m starting to wonder how good the B1G really is. Then again, look at UNC.
mikjones24 - January 15, 2012
/signed tWWL
Eyeheartfreedumb - January 15, 2012
Losses within the conference do zero to disprove it's the best conference
therealCatnuts - January 15, 2012
"...since they won the conference [TOURNAMENT] title in 2005-06
I hate to be that guy, but this is a real sticking point with me and will continue to be until Iowa wins a regular season title again in men’s basketball. This is not directed specifically at PV, but more a general FYI, as a lot of folks on here may not have even been conscious Hawkeye fans in the years prior to the Big 10 tourney. I know that calling the Alford tournament titles “Big 10 championships” is usually just shorthand, but it persistently irks me. Our last share of a regular season Big 10 men’s basketball title was in 1979 and our last outright regular season Big 10 men’s basketball title was in 1970! I think referring to the Alford B10 tourney championships as “conference titles” diminishes the accomplishment of our greatest historical teams like the fab-5 years and 1970. ‘05-’06, while a good team/season by 1990’s/2000’s standards, doesn’t even belong in the same conversation as the other teams mentioned.
kingsbury_from_deep - January 15, 2012
is it that big of deal?
Would you rather finish the regular season ranked #1 overall with a 1-seed in the NCAA tourney but lose in the elite eight, or would you rather finish top twenty going into the NCAA tourny but win the whole thing?
Winning an end-of-year tournament (conference or NCAA) is quite a rush. I think that’s what sticks in most people’s memories.
I know what you’re saying though. I’d have a tough time picking between finishing #2 in the conference but winning the B1G tourney (Why hello Brunner/Horner/Haluska!) vs winning the B1G regular season but losing in the championship game. Maybe would help if they would win the damn regular season in my lifetime so I could get an honest feel for it.
malachi constant - January 15, 2012
We really should have been champs the year that Minnesota cheated its way to the championship.
SomeJerkPoster - January 16, 2012
I find interesting that most o us thought the non-con would have gone better.
Exchange wins over Wisconsin, Minnesota and Michigan for losses to Creighton, Campbell and Iowa St? I’m good with this.
tyger1147 - January 15, 2012
Probably gonna depend
on if we finish .500 in the conference, or not.
If we finish .500 in the Big Ten, then I can’t complain.
If we don’t, then going sub-500 in the Big Ten, and having those losses, really won’t help an NIT bid. I’d guess we’d still get a look from the CIT or the CBI.
WaterlooChazz - January 15, 2012
expectations
I was thinking this team would have accomplished something if it had a .500 overall record. If they make it to any postseason i’ll be pleasantly surprised. FRAN-kly, I hope the team expects to make the postseason. They should be believing.
Captain America (aka Steve Rogers) - January 15, 2012 via mobile
But...
Michigan kind of sucked…how are they the 13th ranked team in the nation?
I know I should never question a bball win at this point, but seriously, Michigan looked dead. Burke and Hardaway looked good, but their inside game was terrible. Remember how Michigan St. always puts in some try-hard white guys against us at the end of games when they are up by 40? It looked like that, but all day.
I mean …Hawks #1 WOOOOOOOOOO!’
I’ll give the hawks credit for a decisive victory, but this does not mean all our troubles are behind us.
TangerinePony - January 16, 2012
We can only beat teams that suck?
How about they’re a good team and we found a way to soundly beat them.
therealCatnuts - January 16, 2012
Also
I missed the Franny Freak Out that led to this victory. But it must have happened because that is what inspires wins and “changes the culture of Iowa basketball.” Much like the atomic bomb changed the culture of Hiroshima.
-full of hate today because I have to work on MLK Day.
TangerinePony - January 16, 2012
How many people actually get MLK day off?
I don’t think I’ve ever gotten MLK day off.
StewMonkey13 - January 16, 2012
Not since I was in school.
BStylin Hawkye - January 16, 2012
I heard 30% of the workforce earlier today
So, postal workers, bank employees & everyone in education? Would’ve thought that’d be a higher number.
HawkeyeGirleye - January 16, 2012
Don't forget most non-emergency government workers.
WaterlooChazz - January 16, 2012
Also, I want Cesar Chavez day off
And apparently, I was wrong about a Franny Freak Out. He did kick a table during the Michigan game.
TangerinePony - January 17, 2012
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