Had the radio on and heard a bit of the DePaul game on 670. Zach Zaidman (PBP call) appears to be pretty damn enthusiastic about DePaul basketball...almost to the point where it can't possibly be good for his health.

Please tell me Kentucky flipped the switch. This team is so talented.

Please tell me Kentucky flipped the switch. This team is so talented.

The first half was frustrating as hell to watch. It was nice to see them pull away despite shooting under 20% from 3. That was ugly. Lyle finally showing up to play has been a nice boost and it looks like Mitchell can be a nice spark plug as well.

Holy s*** Kendrick Nunn

Holy s*** Kendrick Nunn

 

It's nice to see him healthy. He just didn't have his explosiveness last year coming off knee surgery.

Holy s*** Kendrick Nunn

The roster looks so damn promising next year with him and Hill being seniors.

 

Until half the team gets hurt again, of course.

Uh oh

This team goes way too long at times without Nunn or Hill getting shots or being involved in the offense. That is a sign of bad coaching.

This team goes way too long at times without Nunn or Hill getting shots or being involved in the offense. That is a sign of bad coaching.

Gotta get Maverick and Khalid those touches...

Gotta get Maverick and Khalid those touches...

 

It drives me nuts during stretches like that. As soon as the other team goes on a run like that you need to find your best players.

Why is Lewis taking the shot there? I'd rather see hill or nunn go iso.

It drives me nuts during stretches like that. As soon as the other team goes on a run like that you need to find your best players.

That stretch completely changed the complexion of the game. Mizzou had essentially given up.

Why is Lewis taking the shot there? I'd rather see hill or nunn go iso.

 

Groce gives his bad players too much freedom.

Sparty, woof

Sparty, woof

 

I can't believe they depend on Valentine so much.

Well, great win for Iowa. One of those NCAA resume wins, any time you beat the #1 team in the country and keep the margin at 10-15 for most of the game, that's a good thing.

 

3rd such victory in program history, and first since 1999 (remember Jacob Jaacks?) against UCONN when Alford was the coach and nothing was really expected of the team that rebuilding year. (Just saw in a story that 1993 against IND and 2005 against Illinois, so maybe there's a difference between AP-ranked and others, UPI, USA Today/CNN, etc.)

 

Yes, Valentine didn't play, but that will be overlooked when looking at NCAA tourney teams 3 months from now.

 

 

Uthoff had a pretty miserable shooting game (obviously Izzo focused the defense on him), 4/11 with 8 to's, but he did manage to block 6 shots. He's going to be the best NBA player from Iowa since Reggie Evans almost 15 years ago.

 

Gesell and Jok also played well (Iowa seems to go up or down with their fortunes)....and Nicholas Baer (hometown shout out) is really emerging as a surprising force for the Hawks.

 

After blowing a huge lead (yet again) vs. Iowa State, nice to finally hold a lead in a big game. Purdue on the road this weekend, the odds of winning that one are pretty miniscule...so very nice to start off 1-1 instead of 0-2.

 

 

 

Finally, two Iowa teams (vs. MSU, and UNI against UNC without Marcus Paige) have beaten #1 rated teams already this year. Guess Iowa State has to knock off KU at home for a 3rd. I'd have to check the schedule to see if Iowa gets Maryland at home, that would be another shot potentially.

Edited December 30, 201510 yr by caulfield12

Oklahoma begins Big 12 play hosting Iowa State on Saturday and going to Kansas on Monday. That's kind of fun.

Groce can't beat Beilein since 2012.

Groce can't beat Beilein since 2012.

 

That's a shame. ?

 

I doubt we'll ever see Donnal have a game like that again.

Still can't believe Groce didn't give Levert a f***ing phone call.

Still can't believe Groce didn't give Levert a f***ing phone call.

In his defense:

1) Levert was still signed with Ohio, it would be breaking the rules until he was released.

2) I don't believe there were any open scholarships at the time.

 

That said, what a freakin miss. Yea we have Hill but Levert is a monster.

Still can't believe Groce didn't give Levert a f***ing phone call.

 

Some will but a lot of coaches won't take a guy with them when they leave a school. Groce probably regrets that now though because I doubt his job is in jeopardy right now if he had Levert the last 4 years.

Saw SIU in person for the 2nd time tonight, starting to get excited about this team but we'll see how Saturday goes.

 

Going to Cats-Terps on Saturday, interested to see both those teams live.

I missed you Big 12 basketball.

Iowa was down 18-37 at Purdue near halftime and now has been leading by 6-7 points down the stretch largely due to a willowy walk-on freshman named Nicholas Baer.

 

By posting this, no Hawkeye bb jinx of blowing games at the end. It's eviscerated, lol.

 

 

 

Uthoff was shaky down the stretch shooting free throws but what a player...Jok and Gesell were off but still won, mostly due to Uhl and Baer picking up the slack.

 

Crazy college bb world when you blow a 20 point lead and 6 with 1:08 to go AT Iowa State and then beat the #1 team handily at home and come back from 19 down (37-20 at halftime) to roll a strong Purdue team at home.

 

Takes a bit of the sting out of the Rose debacle.

 

@marcmorehouse

@marcmorehouse it isn't like Cal. Isn't an agri state either. Cal has $55 billion in agri income - Iowa has $35 billion

But which state has more cows per capita??

Edited January 3, 201610 yr by caulfield12