Iowa

[GoChips20]

Think there’s enough fan interest and media splash around Iowa for a thread.

They had an uneven first year under Jan Jensen but still got a signature win over a healthy USC, made the tournament as a 6-seed, and played their best basketball toward the end of the year riding an improved defense to counter a less potent offense after the Clark era.

Recruiting has really picked up for them with two major players from California. Iowa has historically been very good in player development as well.

If healthy, UCLA should march to the conference title, but a top-five finish for Iowa is a good goal.

 

[ISUnorth]

What's the buzz on Iowa PG Chit-Chat Wright? Will she be back for Cy-Hawk game at Iowa State on Wednesday? All I see is "day-to-day, not practicing" which doesn't sound great.

No longer able to peek into the Iowa board after Rivals got gobbled up.

 

[visitingcock]

They, like all Big Ten teams, kick off their regular season this weekend (against Rutgers). However , they have two huge non-conference games left and the national spotlight will be on them the next two weeks.

First , they face instate rivals , 10th ranked Iowa State, on Wednesday in front of what will certainly be a packed crowd. Ten days later they will face number 1 UConn.

 

[visitingcock]

Why don’t we have more Hawkeyes on this board? There are lots of them,

BTW Iowa sold out season tickets again. They are joined by the Gamecocks and, first timer, VaTech. UConn?? Anybody else?

 

[ISUnorth]

Why don’t we have more Hawkeyes on this board? There are lots of them,

BTW Iowa sold out season tickets again. They are joined by the Gamecocks and, first timer, VaTech. UConn?? Anybody else?

I get that this is an east coast centric "general forum" but there are so few open forums like this that I'd expect more Big Ten fans. Maybe a lot of the Hawks are like Cyclone fans, mostly just a fan of their own team. Trying to generate chat with my fellow Cyclones on ISU forums about any player or team that is not ISU is sort of fruitless. Same holds true for the dead Big 12 thread here. Other than a couple of AZ area fans it's me going all Billy Idol and Dancing With Myself. No TCU or Baylor peeps weighing in. At least the Big Ten thread is active. 🙁

 

[GamecockFam]

I get that this is an east coast centric "general forum" but there are so few open forums like this that I'd expect more Big Ten fans. Maybe a lot of the Hawks are like Cyclone fans, mostly just a fan of their own team. Trying to generate chat with my fellow Cyclones on ISU forums about any player or team that is not ISU is sort of fruitless. Same holds true for the dead Big 12 thread here. Other than a couple of AZ area fans it's me going all Billy Idol and Dancing With Myself. No TCU or Baylor peeps weighing in. At least the Big Ten thread is active. 🙁

This honestly makes sense. I think there are so many Gamecock fans here because we don't really have spaces for talking about our women's teams on Gamecock forums. It's mostly talk about football/baseball/men's basketball and any topic about our women's sports typically devolves into hating on Coach Staley's political opinions or complaining about dollars spent on our women's sports taking away from our men's sports being competitive. Anyways, that is basically what drove me to the Boneyard general forum. If Iowa forums have good support systems for discussing Iowa women's sports, then I doubt many are looking outside that ecosystem.

 

[Bigboote]

I'm having a friend who's an Iowa grad over for the the UConn game in a couple of weeks. He kinda got on the bandwagon as a result of Caitlinmania, but he's become a dedicated fan, as it should be. I'll give him a couple of homebrews, so he'll go home happy despite the shellacking his team will be on the receiving end of.

 

[visitingcock]

This honestly makes sense. I think there are so many Gamecock fans here because we don't really have spaces for talking about our women's teams on Gamecock forums. It's mostly talk about football/baseball/men's basketball and any topic about our women's sports typically devolves into hating on Coach Staley's political opinions or complaining about dollars spent on our women's sports taking away from our men's sports being competitive. Anyways, that is basically what drove me to the Boneyard general forum. If Iowa forums have good support systems for discussing Iowa women's sports, then I doubt many are looking outside that ecosystem.

Agreed. Plus the General political devisiveness that is ruining families has ruined the gamecock boards that I used to enjoy so much. That’s why I love this board’s no politics rule.

 

[LwrcasefaN]

I'm having a friend who's an Iowa grad over the the UConn game in a couple of weeks. He kinda got on the bandwagon as a result of Caitlinmania, but he's become a dedicated fan, as it should be. I'll give him a couple of homebrews, so he'll go home happy despite the shellacking his team will be on the receiving end of.

Aw…aint you nice. Big Boote and Bigger Heart. 🤣

 

[cancontent]

I'm having a friend who's an Iowa grad over the the UConn game in a couple of weeks. He kinda got on the bandwagon as a result of Caitlinmania, but he's become a dedicated fan, as it should be. I'll give him a couple of homebrews, so he'll go home happy despite the shellacking his team will be on the receiving end of.

Sharing is caring, especially when home brewed craft beverages are involved in my opinion. 😉 👍

 

[Surly1]

Besides watching UConn religiously, I am an Iowa fan, starting with the Samantha Logic era. Really like the improvement in Ava Heiden and Addie Deal & Journey Houston are going to be a handful together for a few years to come.

Illinois has 4 starters who are either freshman or sophs, and they got a nice pickup in Maddie Webber They remind a little of Michigan. While it looks like the SEC is the conference to beat, I think the Big Ten has a couple of programs that can make some noise come tourney time.

I'd be remiss not to mention the one player I'd love to see in a UConn uniform is Tessa Johnson. She's had a relatively quiet start to the season, but looked more herself against Louisville.

 

[ISUnorth]

And Chit-Chat Wright is back for the roadie at Rutgers. Iowa all over Rutgers with a million points in the paint early. Leading 33-12 with 3 minutes till the half.

Bunch of Hawk guards channeling C. Clark and throwing TD dimes to posts running the court. Big rival but gotta say it's some pretty basketball.

 

[KnightBridgeAZ]

I get that this is an east coast centric "general forum" but there are so few open forums like this that I'd expect more Big Ten fans. Maybe a lot of the Hawks are like Cyclone fans, mostly just a fan of their own team. Trying to generate chat with my fellow Cyclones on ISU forums about any player or team that is not ISU is sort of fruitless. Same holds true for the dead Big 12 thread here. Other than a couple of AZ area fans it's me going all Billy Idol and Dancing With Myself. No TCU or Baylor peeps weighing in. At least the Big Ten thread is active. 🙁

Actually, I am a general women's basketball fan, with season tickets (and hence a rooting interest) in Arizona. Before moving west it was Rutgers and we followed them more closely before Vivian retired. It was as a Rutgers fan as I first came to the Boneyard back several iterations ago, when Fishy was still doing regular recaps on the men's side and he had his first child - at least that's how I date it. I would think north of 20 years, but could be wrong.

I watch parts of most TV games, all of some. I rarely invoke streaming services, although I have them. I can't follow everyone in detail, so I aim for staying up on WBB in a general way. Many of the threads are just too time consuming to try and plow through.

As to your comments regarding fans of specific programs, there are a lot of them. I know it isn't WBB but I can illustrate - Rutgers had gotten decent in Volleyball and actually had a fan club (all very briefly, somewhere around 2000 maybe) and my wife offered to bring a video of the last year's Final Four highlights and the consensus was "why would we want to see that?". Not volleyball fans, just Rutgers fans. It carries over to WBB.

And finally, as to Iowa and Iowa State - I know they are both having excellent seasons. I know Audi Crooks and Jada Williams. I recognize the names of Iowa players when I hear them. I'm a coach person, know Jenson has done very well following Lisa Bluder and of course Iowa State has Bill Fennelly. We (Rutgers) came to Ames in the NCAA's in 1998 (we were there) and beat Iowa State to advance in the NCAA's. Place was packed, early in his career. He was not happy. Vivian was.

 

[ISUnorth]

Good news for Iowa.

 

[Bjbod]

I've been a big fan of the Boneyard for probably 5 years now. I don't post as much now as I did a few years ago because I don't like to see a lot of talk without some knowledge behind the commentary. Being from the Des Moines area I got to see Caitlin regularly beginning in her 9th grade year, and felt I had firsthand insight to share as she went thru her collegiate career. Still follow them closely and get to 4 or 5 games yearly. I do visit this site almost daily even though we have two good Iowa forums for WBB. You all know how annoying each team's fan(atical) base can be, and as others have pointed out, the general civility and objectivity here are most attractive.

 

[DefenseBB]

I know tonight's game is at ISU and both fan bases are very good supporters so I will be curious to see how this plays out. My company's HQ is in Cedar Rapids so I work with a LOT of Hawkeye fans so usually I enjoy rooting against them just for the banter. Tonight I will be rooting for Iowa but do think the game favors ISU.

I was fortunate enough to be on a call with Jan Jensen a few years ago and really enjoyed chatting with her. I had mentioned I was a UConn season ticket holder and she was unbelievably effusive about both Geno and CD and all the dialogues her and Lisa Bluder had with them over the years. Go Hawks....

 

[ISUnorth]

I've been a big fan of the Boneyard for probably 5 years now. I don't post as much now as I did a few years ago because I don't like to see a lot of talk without some knowledge behind the commentary. Being from the Des Moines area I got to see Caitlin regularly beginning in her 9th grade year, and felt I had firsthand insight to share as she went thru her collegiate career. Still follow them closely and get to 4 or 5 games yearly. I do visit this site almost daily even though we have two good Iowa forums for WBB. You all know how annoying each team's fan(atical) base can be, and as others have pointed out, the general civility and objectivity here are most attractive.

Since Rivals got gobbled up by On3 I can't see the postings anymore. Is there another Iowa forum that's as active as the old Rivals one was?

 

[Blakeon18]

Wednesday night: 7:00 Iowa at Iowa State on espn.
Should be a fascinating game....ISU undefeated ranked 10,,,Iowa undefeated
ranked #11...very much worth watching.

Biggest question: how will Iowa try to deal with ISU center Audi Crooks. Crooks
has some incredible numbers like:

47 points in a game....ISU record.
43 points in 20 minutes of playing time
40 points in 19 minutes.

Offensive skills are way considerable...maybe 6'2"...wide body....does not
run particularly well.

Iowa defense has to focus on limiting Crooks...but how? one on one [doubtful]
Double her from different angles....triple her on occasion?

 

[cancontent]

Wednesday night: 7:00 Iowa at Iowa State on espn.
Should be a fascinating game....ISU undefeated ranked 10,,,Iowa undefeated
ranked #11...very much worth watching.

Biggest question: how will Iowa try to deal with ISU center Audi Crooks. Crooks
has some incredible numbers like:

47 points in a game....ISU record.
43 points in 20 minutes of playing time
40 points in 19 minutes.

Offensive skills are way considerable...maybe 6'2"...wide body....does not
run particularly well.

Iowa defense has to focus on limiting Crooks...but how? one on one [doubtful]
Double her from different angles....triple her on occasion?

One could counter and ask how will ISU handle Heiden? She's likely one of the more athletic forward/posts Crooks has faced at this point of the season. It's going to be a fun match up either way.

 

[BigTenGuy]

. . . Tonight I will be rooting for Iowa but do think the game favors ISU.

Agree game favors ISU. Lucy had her shortcomings, but she could stabilize a game for Iowa on the perimeter. Iowa’s perimeter players will be massively challenged by the environment tonight. And for all the matchup problems Crooks raises, Brown may be even more of a mismatch for Iowa.

 

[Bjbod]

Since Rivals got gobbled up by On3 I can't see the postings anymore. Is there another Iowa forum that's as active as the old Rivals one was?

HawkeyeInsider - Iowa Hawkeyes Football Recruiting

Stay up to date with all the Iowa Hawkeyes sports news, recruiting, transfers, and more at 247Sports.com

247sports.com

Always several WBB threads active. Not sure how much content is available without subscribing. I believe it's about $100/year; currently there's a 50% special. A few times/year you'll see 75% off.

 

[Bjbod]

Agree game favors ISU. Lucy had her shortcomings, but she could stabilize a game for Iowa on the perimeter. Iowa’s perimeter players will be massively challenged by the environment tonight. And for all the matchup problems Crooks raises, Brown may be even more of a mismatch for Iowa.

Currently the line is ISU -4.5, which seems about right. I think the home court and the fact that Iowa State has more experience pushes them over the top. If Iowa can pressure their 3's and limit their offensive rebounds they have a chance. Steulke and Heiden can both beat Crooks down the floor which leaves Brown to try to ward off fast break conversions; a few fouls on Addy will make it interesting.

 

[Bjbod]

Wow! What a fun 1st quarter; both teams playing well. Crooks has improved from last year.

 

[GamecockFam]

I have to say that this is the most enthusiastic I've been about this rivalry game since the Clark/Joens matchup where Ashley's dad became a meme. 2022 or 2023?

 

[Blakeon18]

Iowa State wins 74-69...fun game to watch. Tied at half....ISU got a double digit led after 3rd quarter...Iowa made a late push but ISU held on.

Crooks had 30 points 10 boards. I don't get this at all...She was played one on one for virtually
the entire game. Iowa coach rotated several players to guard her BUT it always led to one on one.
Did it work...obviously not. What was her thinking?

Idle facts: Crooks lead the nation in scoring...around 27 a game. She is second in field goal
percentage....around 72%. Double Yikes!!

ISU strength of schedule before this game...308th in the country....yikes again!
ISU has some nice guards...they look legit for a run in The Dance.
Iowa comes to NYC to play UConn in about a week....Chit-Chat Wright is a good guard...she
will be a fun match-up with our KK...she is very quick with a good handle. That game is
Saturday December 20 at one...on Fox.

 

[Jalan2121]

I admittedly a Uconn fan. Last night I watched the Iowa ISU game. Here are my thoughts about what I observed.
1. Iowa was Very sloppy. Way too many unforced errors and silly fouls.The box score shows 9 turnovers, I don’t know what game they were watching? Way more than that committed.
2. ISU has basically 3 players who shoot. An occasional jumper or layup from the rest of the team.
3. Both teams are static on offense. Little team movement. Mostly a two man game.
Iowa’s point guard lots of unproductive ball handling . She dribbles too much. Played into iSU’z game plan. Except for last 6 min of the game when the had a big run but too late.
4. Pace of play for most of the game was surprisingly slow.
5. ISU weak defensively. Crooks can’t run , slow footed, can’t jump. Relies on her bulk. Referees swallowed their 3 second whistles as she parks herself inside.
6. Why Iowa coach stuck with man to man defense mystified me. Clog the lane make ISU beat you from outside. Crooks got too many rebounds because Iowa only had one person on the defensive boards.
6. Big win for ISU. Iowa needs to tighten their play up big time. More off the ball movement.
Overall not an impressive night for either team dispute what stats may say.

 

[cancontent]

I admittedly a Uconn fan. Last night I watched the Iowa ISU game. Here are my thoughts about what I observed.
1. Iowa was Very sloppy. Way too many unforced errors and silly fouls.The box score shows 9 turnovers, I don’t know what game they were watching? Way more than that committed.
2. ISU has basically 3 players who shoot. An occasional jumper or layup from the rest of the team.
3. Both teams are static on offense. Little team movement. Mostly a two man game.
Iowa’s point guard lots of unproductive ball handling . She dribbles too much. Played into iSU’z game plan. Except for last 6 min of the game when the had a big run but too late.
4. Pace of play for most of the game was surprisingly slow.
5. ISU weak defensively. Crooks can’t run , slow footed, can’t jump. Relies on her bulk. Referees swallowed their 3 second whistles as she parks herself inside.
6. Why Iowa coach stuck with man to man defense mystified me. Clog the lane make ISU beat you from outside. Crooks got too many rebounds because Iowa only had one person on the defensive boards.
6. Big win for ISU. Iowa needs to tighten their play up big time. More off the ball movement.
Overall not an impressive night for either team dispute what stats may say.

If you're referring to Chit-Chat Wright, I'm not sure how she's the only guard that's being highlighted with respect to Iowa's backcourt play. She had 13 points in the first half, which helped keep Iowa in the game at the half. McCabe and Feuerbach also had their challenges against ISU, including the last few plays in the game when they were down by 3.

 

[DefenseBB]

I echo what @Jalan2121 has posted-why didn't Jensen front Audi with a guard and force other players to beat her? Both of the PGs are portal pickups as I noted with Wright from Georgia Tech and Williams from Arizona. Not quite sure either of these teams are truly top 10 worthy but maybe as I do think the top 6 teams are way ahead of the other 350 teams. Those top 6 are UConn, Texas, SC, LSU, UCLA and Michigan.

Oklahoma and TCU are the next tier, then a blanket over the next 10 (Kentucky, UNC, ISU, Ole Miss, USC, Vandy, Tenn, tOSU, MD, Baylor, Louisville and yes, even Duke!).

The rest of the teams all have glaring weaknesses that make their top 25 voting curious. I am looking at you Iowa, ND, Nebraska, Ok State, NC State, Mich State and Washington.

 

[ISUnorth]

Question for Hawk fans. Addie Deal seems to be having trouble getting minutes, not something I expected from a #18 ranked recruit. Is she struggling or are the other guards just beating her out?

 

[Bigboote]

3. Both teams are static on offense. Little team movement.
4. Pace of play for most of the game was surprisingly slow.
5. ISU weak defensively. Crooks can’t run , slow footed, can’t jump. Relies on her bulk. Referees swallowed their 3 second whistles as she parks herself inside.

I noticed all these, too. I was thinking as I was watching that UConn will eat Iowa up next weekend if they don't speed up and start moving the ball.

I also thought the refs swallowed their whistle with respect to offensive fouls -- Crooks got into the lane by manhandling Iowa's bigs. Boy she's good at putting the ball in the basket once she has it, though.