Analysis: Attention IU Fans, don't look ahead to Iowa

In defense of the 2012-13 team (and a little in defense of fans like myself), the situations are comparable, but distinguishable.

 

The 2012-13 team went into Illinois off their great win against Michigan and looking ahead to traveling to Ohio State, no doubt. It was the definition of a trap game. But, they were also playing an Illinois team who wasn’t ranked, but they weren’t bottomfeeders either. KenPom had them at 56th, but they had beaten a top-10 ranked OSU (an Elite Eight team) and a top-10 ranked Gonzaga earlier in the year. Ironically two teams who were knocked out of the tourney by that white-hot Witchita State team, but I digress. Illinois closed the second half of the Big Ten season going 6-3. Gonzaga entered the Tourney at 32-2 with Illinois as one of those losses.

 

They weren’t a great team, they weren’t top of the pack, but they were a tournament team. Losing to them was heartbreaking and I won’t forget watching the last shot go in on the easy lay-up, but it’s much more akin to losing to Michigan earlier this week.

 

Penn State is 148th in KenPom. Their best win is at 86th ranked Northwestern. They don’t have any other wins within the Top-100… or Top-140. Sure, maybe this is the game they get hot and turn their whole season around but… it sure does not look like it. They’re sick (don’t kiss any of the players) and injured and generally having a terrible terrible season. Iowa destroyed them without breaking a sweat and if we want a nice protected seed, we should be doing the same.

 

But, I get it, upsets happen every day and I was at the Penn State game two years ago and experienced the worst basketball feelings. So, I don’t want the players looking past this game, they have to stay focused and take each team as they are put in front of them.

 

As a fan though… there is only so much you can ask of me.

 

There are three ways this game can go: 1) We dominate and win by 30; 2) We struggle and barely squeak one out; 3) We lose.

 

None of those are fun options. Beating them like we should makes for nice basketball to watch, but eventually it’s just like playing another cupcake. Whether they call themselves Penn State or Austin Peay, watching a college team play against an intermural squad is not an experience anyone gets pumped about after the first 15 times.

 

Struggling means another game of nervousness, not knowing how the team will fare in future matchups, arguments about the players, nail-biting the whole time, anger at our defense, anger at our offense, generally just negative garbage but us all reassuring each other afterwards with a “Don’t care how we get the W, just glad we got it”.

 

Losing means all of the struggle and the pain of losing. The doubt and frustration with the team. Losing a game you should win easily is a horrible experience.

 

So, which option should we look forward to? Which option should we focus on so we don’t start looking at Iowa and saying “there is going to be a great game, I can’t wait to watch some real basketball”?

 

Don’t get me wrong, I love how the team is playing this year, I love everything they are doing, but this season has been a struggle in a lot of spoiled fan ways. It’s great watching the team win and play better together, but eventually you just want them to play someone. It’s the same feeling we all get towards the end of the non-con season. Like, finally, we will get to watch a basketball game instead of one dominant team beating up on some kids who don’t want to be there.

 

Michigan was a great appetizer, but I am anxious and hungry for the main course. I want the meat of the schedule. So, maybe the waiter put this Penn State salad in front of me and I’ll begrudgingly eat it, but there is little opportunity for enjoyment. I just want it off my plate so I can get chowing down.

 

Boy, I did not expect that to be so long. I sure hope I turned off my timer and didn’t bill someone for that… 

In defense of the 2012-13 team (and a little in defense of fans like myself), the situations are comparable, but distinguishable.

 

The 2012-13 team went into Illinois off their great win against Michigan and looking ahead to traveling to Ohio State, no doubt. It was the definition of a trap game. But, they were also playing an Illinois team who wasn’t ranked, but they weren’t bottomfeeders either. KenPom had them at 56th, but they had beaten a top-10 ranked OSU (an Elite Eight team) and a top-10 ranked Gonzaga earlier in the year. Ironically two teams who were knocked out of the tourney by that white-hot Witchita State team, but I digress. Illinois closed the second half of the Big Ten season going 6-3. Gonzaga entered the Tourney at 32-2 with Illinois as one of those losses.

 

They weren’t a great team, they weren’t top of the pack, but they were a tournament team. Losing to them was heartbreaking and I won’t forget watching the last shot go in on the easy lay-up, but it’s much more akin to losing to Michigan earlier this week.

 

Penn State is 148th in KenPom. Their best win is at 86th ranked Northwestern. They don’t have any other wins within the Top-100… or Top-140. Sure, maybe this is the game they get hot and turn their whole season around but… it sure does not look like it. They’re sick (don’t kiss any of the players) and injured and generally having a terrible terrible season. Iowa destroyed them without breaking a sweat and if we want a nice protected seed, we should be doing the same.

 

But, I get it, upsets happen every day and I was at the Penn State game two years ago and experienced the worst basketball feelings. So, I don’t want the players looking past this game, they have to stay focused and take each team as they are put in front of them.

 

As a fan though… there is only so much you can ask of me.

 

There are three ways this game can go: 1) We dominate and win by 30; 2) We struggle and barely squeak one out; 3) We lose.

 

None of those are fun options. Beating them like we should makes for nice basketball to watch, but eventually it’s just like playing another cupcake. Whether they call themselves Penn State or Austin Peay, watching a college team play against an intermural squad is not an experience anyone gets pumped about after the first 15 times.

 

Struggling means another game of nervousness, not knowing how the team will fare in future matchups, arguments about the players, nail-biting the whole time, anger at our defense, anger at our offense, generally just negative garbage but us all reassuring each other afterwards with a “Don’t care how we get the W, just glad we got it”.

 

Losing means all of the struggle and the pain of losing. The doubt and frustration with the team. Losing a game you should win easily is a horrible experience.

 

So, which option should we look forward to? Which option should we focus on so we don’t start looking at Iowa and saying “there is going to be a great game, I can’t wait to watch some real basketball”?

 

Don’t get me wrong, I love how the team is playing this year, I love everything they are doing, but this season has been a struggle in a lot of spoiled fan ways. It’s great watching the team win and play better together, but eventually you just want them to play someone. It’s the same feeling we all get towards the end of the non-con season. Like, finally, we will get to watch a basketball game instead of one dominant team beating up on some kids who don’t want to be there.

 

Michigan was a great appetizer, but I am anxious and hungry for the main course. I want the meat of the schedule. So, maybe the waiter put this Penn State salad in front of me and I’ll begrudgingly eat it, but there is little opportunity for enjoyment. I just want it off my plate so I can get chowing down.

 

Boy, I did not expect that to be so long. I sure hope I turned off my timer and didn’t bill someone for that… 

 

I like your Penn State salad comment. As you say, hopefully it is something that is digested very quickly before we get to the meat.

I like your Penn State salad comment. As you say, hopefully it is something that is digested very quickly before we get to the meat.

And it's not from Chipotle!!

This is such an obvious trap game that I think even the players will get it. O, and that Illinois game still gives me heart burn.  Just a total collapse in the last 5 min.

One thing I've noticed about the Big Ten this year as compared to a few years recently is that it's just not as good top to bottom as it has been. I know that's a Mr. Obvious point by the way. But there are some teams at the bottom of the pack that you just have to beat. The interesting thing tough is that I would include Illinois in that group and somehow that team beat Purdue and that still makes no sense at all to me.

One thing I've noticed about the Big Ten this year as compared to a few years recently is that it's just not as good top to bottom as it has been. I know that's a Mr. Obvious point by the way. But there are some teams at the bottom of the pack that you just have to beat. The interesting thing tough is that I would include Illinois in that group and somehow that team beat Purdue and that still makes no sense at all to me.

The thing about Illinois is they have a couple guys that are legitimate B1G players (Hill and Nunn) and can go off on any night with not much - but some - help, but they just can't really put it together for whatever reason. My guess is Groce because I think he's a joke, but that's a different story. The Minnesota, Rutgers, and maybe PSU (I haven't watched them) group really just have no talent.

The thing about Illinois is they have a couple guys that are legitimate B1G players (Hill and Nunn) and can go off on any night with not much - but some - help, but they just can't really put it together for whatever reason. My guess is Groce because I think he's a joke, but that's a different story. The Minnesota, Rutgers, and maybe PSU (I haven't watched them) group really just have no talent.

 

And yet IU had two competitive games with Minnesota. Sometimes you scratch your head.

And yet IU had two competitive games with Minnesota. Sometimes you scratch your head.

Lol true. When basketball is supposed to make sense, it never makes sense.

IndyHutch -- your article was spot on in terms of how the Hoosiers needed to address the business at hand.  It appeared IU didn't have its head totally in the game with 15 turnovers and 36% shooting.

Jim