What's the Expectations for These Hawkeyes?

Where does Iowa stand and what should final expectations be for the remainder of the season? Though Iowa started rough, they have gained some traction and are looking at finishing out a successful season. They have one of the weirdest resumés in college basketball with losing the biggest upset in history to eastern Illinois, but they also have wins against seven of the top eight in the Big Ten. The Hawks have also lost four games against the five worst teams in the Big Ten. With such an odd record what is going on at Iowa? Kris Murray has easily been the best player on the team, but when Murray lacks the team tends to lose. The team has not won a single conference game when Murray has scored less than fifteen points. He seems to be the team's unchallenged leader and the focal point of their offense. He averages six points more than the next-best player Rebraca. The biggest spot Iowa is missing is defense. The Hawks have the worst defense in the Big Ten and they rank 271st in division one basketball. So defense needs to be worked on especially going into the high-pressure moments of both the Big Ten tournament and NCAA tournament. So what should results should we expect to end the season before going into tournament play? Iowa is favored on Saturday against Michigan State and should be favored against Nebraska at home. Both of these games are winnable though Michigan State has proven that they can shine when under pressure. They will be a tough team to stop though the Hawks have nearly beaten them once already. Indiana on the hand will be heavily favored at home and it should be. The Hawks will need to perform great defense to stop Trayce Jackson-Davis as he is one of the best scorers in the nation. Indiana has proven to be a tough opponent, especially at home where they have lost only one game. Overall, Iowa has overcome early season disappointment and has now become a worthy tournament team with good potential going into tournament play. The team will need to stay healthy and focus on defense. They should finish with at least two more wins to end a fairly successful season. ReplyForward