IUWBB @ Iowa - 2/21/22 @ 8:00 ET on BTN

[LamarCheeks 21,708]

How was that not a foul on Clark. ... They got Berger on the exact same thing about 5 minutes ago. 

[Class of '66 Old Fart 89,039]

Iowa gettin' a little home cookin' late in the game.

[LamarCheeks 21,708]

Just now, Class of '66 Old Fart said:

Iowa gettin' a little home cookin' late in the game.

Definitely. ... Who knows if it would've made a difference, but getting Clark out of the game would've been big. 

[Todd41 740]

Just now, LamarCheeks said:

Definitely. ... Who knows if it would've made a difference, but getting Clark out of the game would've been big. 

The officials will not allow her to foul out. 

[LamarCheeks 21,708]

They showed that lob again to Czinano where she shoved Holmes in the back -- honks me off all over again. 

Was pretty damn obvious. 

[JerryYeagley23 5,127]

Ran out of fouls and bigs there. Good effort on the road. We need Mack to find a rythym in the next few weeks. Looking like a three seed at best. Need to get the guards some rest somehow and figure out how to integrate Mack back into the offense. 

[Class of '66 Old Fart 89,039]

We just couldn't pull it out.  Iowa wins 88-82.

We had no answer for Iowa's offense in either game we played.

[LamarCheeks 21,708]

Sadly, I think this team is running on fumes. 

I see us losing at Maryland, being a one and one in the B1G tourney, then a one and done in the NCAAs. 

We have no depth and our top players have just been playing too many minutes. Talent-wise, I definitely think we're among the best in the country. But circumstances are working against us. 

 

[JerryYeagley23 5,127]

22 minutes ago, LamarCheeks said:

Sadly, I think this team is running on fumes. 

I see us losing at Maryland, being a one and one in the B1G tourney, then a one and done in the NCAAs. 

We have no depth and our top players have just been playing too many minutes. Talent-wise, I definitely think we're among the best in the country. But circumstances are working against us. 

 

We’re too talented and have too much veteran leadership to be one and done in the big dance. I agree, they look burnt. Four games in 8 days will do that to anybody, especially with how thin we are. But they’re still playing well, just tired. I think we can beat MD, but don’t expect us to. Honestly, an early exit in the B1G tourney might not be the end of the world. Give us a solid week to rest before hopefully hosting a couple tourney games in B-town as a 3/4 seed. Still have a lot of confidence in this group. Just some tough luck with injuries and how the schedule played out due to COVID. 

[Class of '66 Old Fart 89,039]

I hate saying this, but getting beat in the first game of the B1G tourney might not be that bad.  Give the team more time to get rested for the Big Dance plus put less strain on Mackenzie's recovery.

[LamarCheeks 21,708]

9 hours ago, JerryYeagley23 said:

We’re too talented and have too much veteran leadership to be one and done in the big dance. I agree, they look burnt. Four games in 8 days will do that to anybody, especially with how thin we are. But they’re still playing well, just tired. I think we can beat MD, but don’t expect us to. Honestly, an early exit in the B1G tourney might not be the end of the world. Give us a solid week to rest before hopefully hosting a couple tourney games in B-town as a 3/4 seed. Still have a lot of confidence in this group. Just some tough luck with injuries and how the schedule played out due to COVID. 

I think I probably used one and done incorrectly.

What I meant was I could see us winning a game in the B1G tourney before exiting, then winning one game in the NCAAs before exiting. To me, this team looks exhausted -- and no doubt five games in 10 days didn't help. But I think a full season of having very little depth and our top players having so many minutes under their belts will take its toll in these next couple weeks -- as it already has in these past few games.

[Todd41 740]

31 minutes ago, LamarCheeks said:

I think I probably used one and done incorrectly.

What I meant was I could see us winning a game in the B1G tourney before exiting, then winning one game in the NCAAs before exiting. To me, this team looks exhausted -- and no doubt five games in 10 days didn't help. But I think a full season of having very little depth and our top players having so many minutes under their belts will take its toll in these next couple weeks -- as it already has in these past few games.

Counting Purdue on the 6th, we have played 7 games in 15 days. With days off between games of 2-2-1-2-1-1. Our losses have all come off of the 1 day breaks.  We went 2-1 at home and 1-2 on the road during this stretch.  

This is a tough enough stretch for any team, college or pro.

[TheWatShot 15,345]

6 games in 12 days is literally a third of our conference schedule in less than 2 weeks. Shoutout to Covid for wrecking our Big Ten title hopes. 

[Aaron 4,390]

13 hours ago, LamarCheeks said:

Sadly, I think this team is running on fumes. 

I see us losing at Maryland, being a one and one in the B1G tourney, then a one and done in the NCAAs. 

We have no depth and our top players have just been playing too many minutes. Talent-wise, I definitely think we're among the best in the country. But circumstances are working against us. 

 

Yeah they are not going to be one and done in Big Ten or NCAA Tournament.

If they lose to Maryland, they will be in the 5-12 game of the Big Ten Tournament and if you have seen the bottom of the Big Ten there is zero chance they lose that game. They have beaten all the bottom teams in the Big Ten by at least 20 points even without Mac. That is at least one win. Now whether they can beat Iowa or Maryland Friday is a much bigger question.

Now lets turn to the NCAA Tournament. In this scenario they would be on the fringe of hosting as a 4 seed and if not a 5 seed. Once again you would be playing a mid-,major and if you have seen IU play these teams that is a relatively easy win as either a 4 or 5 seed. The Women's Tournament does not see that many mid-major upsets in these 5-12, 4-13 games like on the Men's side. Now second round in a 4-5 game will probably matter if team has the home court.

Even a quarterfinal Big Ten Tourney exit and a second round NCAA exit is vastly disappointing and not much better than your scenario, but if it is evaluated calmly and rationally this is the floor and not your one and done scenarios.

Now with some rest between the Big Ten and NCAA Tournament games each weekend this teams ceiling is still a Big Ten Tournament Championship and Final Four if Mac can get healthy. She looked a lot better last night and made some of her signature post moves for layups but other times her knee wouldn't let her do it. We still need her to get even better, but if she can improve each game as she has she should close to 100% by NCAA Tourney for deep run. 

To me success is getting to Saturday of Big Ten Tournament and at least second weekend of NCAA Tournament and hosting games first two rounds. To do this you need to either beat Maryland or win Friday of Big Ten Tournament probably.        

[Aaron 4,390]

54 minutes ago, TheWatShot said:

6 games in 12 days is literally a third of our conference schedule in less than 2 weeks. Shoutout to Covid for wrecking our Big Ten title hopes. 

That and Mac's injury. If one or the other does not happen team has great chance at title. A very unfortunate double-whammy.

Now get Mac healthy salvage a good run in Big Ten and NCAA Tournament. 

[LamarCheeks 21,708]

1 minute ago, Aaron said:

Yeah they are not going to be one and done in Big Ten or NCAA Tournament.

If they lose to Maryland, they will be in the 5-12 game of the Big Ten Tournament and if you have seen the bottom of the Big Ten there is zero chance they lose that game. They have beaten all the bottom teams in the Big Ten by at least 20 points even without Mac. That is at least one win. Now whether they can beat Iowa or Maryland Friday is a much bigger question.

Now lets turn to the NCAA Tournament. In this scenario they would be on the fringe of hosting as a 4 seed and if not a 5 seed. Once again you would be playing a mid-,major and if you have seen IU play these teams that is a relatively easy win as either a 4 or 5 seed. The Women's Tournament does not see that many mid-major upsets in these 5-12, 4-13 games like on the Men's side. Now second round in a 4-5 game will probably matter if team has the home court.

Even a quarterfinal Big Ten Tourney exit and a second round NCAA exit is vastly disappointing and not much better than your scenario, but if it is evaluated calmly and rationally this is the floor and not your one and done scenarios.

Now with some rest between the Big Ten and NCAA Tournament games each weekend this teams ceiling is still a Big Ten Tournament Championship and Final Four if Mac can get healthy. She looked a lot better last night and made some of her signature post moves for layups but other times her knee wouldn't let her do it. We still need her to get even better, but if she can improve each game as she has she should close to 100% by NCAA Tourney for deep run. 

To me success is getting to Saturday of Big Ten Tournament and at least second weekend of NCAA Tournament and hosting games first two rounds. To do this you need to either beat Maryland or win Friday of Big Ten Tournament probably.        

As I posted later, I used the phrase one and done incorrectly. 

I meant that I could see us winning one game each in the B1G and NCAA tourneys and being done after that. 

[Aaron 4,390]

3 hours ago, LamarCheeks said:

I think I probably used one and done incorrectly.

What I meant was I could see us winning a game in the B1G tourney before exiting, then winning one game in the NCAAs before exiting. To me, this team looks exhausted -- and no doubt five games in 10 days didn't help. But I think a full season of having very little depth and our top players having so many minutes under their belts will take its toll in these next couple weeks -- as it already has in these past few games.

Yes this is possible as I wrote above. Hope for better, but you used the term one-and-done, which is inaccurate for teams floor.

[Aaron 4,390]

1 minute ago, LamarCheeks said:

As I posted later, I used the phrase one and done incorrectly. 

I meant that I could see us winning one game each in the B1G and NCAA tourneys and being done after that. 

Definitely possible but hopefully better. The phrase two-and-out (which is commonly used for postseason) would apply much better for the worst case scenario for this team. Not one-and-done. 

[LamarCheeks 21,708]

Just now, Aaron said:

Definitely possible but hopefully better. The phrase two-and-out (which is commonly used for postseason) would apply much better for the worst case scenario for this team. Not one-and-done. 

Yes. I said that I misused the phrase one-and-done. I've said it three or four GD times now. 

[Aaron 4,390]

5 hours ago, Class of '66 Old Fart said:

I hate saying this, but getting beat in the first game of the B1G tourney might not be that bad.  Give the team more time to get rested for the Big Dance plus put less strain on Mackenzie's recovery.

Depends if they have beaten Maryland. If so I would agree and then you still have your top four seed for NCAA's even if you go out Friday after double bye.

However, if Maryland wins then you may need to make a run to Saturday to hold onto a hosting spot in NCAA Tournament and win two games (with first being a gimme) to host. In that case an early Big Ten Tournament exit would not be good. Would  much rather have one extra day less rest and be playing NCAA games at home than go out early and travel for first couple rounds of NCAA Tournament.