HAWK TALK

March 2015

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133 What I liked most about the box score for the Nebraska game were the Hawkeyes' shooting percentages: 50 percent (field goals), 50 percent (3-pointers), 84.6 percent (free throws). You win a lot of games with numbers like those. e United Center in Chicago or Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. To-mato, tah-mato. My preference? I'm partial to the Windy City. e United Center isn't as intimate as the Fieldhouse, but — as they say — Big Ten, Big Stage. Don't look now, but the UI has a pair of nationally ranked gymnastics teams to go along to basketball teams that are eyeing NCAA postseason tournament action, a wrestling team that will be well-represented in St. Louis when the national championship in that sport takes center stage, and our first Big Ten champion in women's swimming in 14 years: HERE. Toss in what looks like some potential representation at the men's and women's indoor track and field, and swimming and diving championships, and you have quite a winter season shaping up for the black and gold. Senior point guard Samantha Logic is probably a lock for MVP for Bluder's Bunch….but I dare suggest that a strong argument could be made for a number of Hawkeyes for that honor. Let's see what happens in next month or so. One of my favorite programs is the Kid Captain activity we have staged with the UI Children's Hospital for the last six football seasons. Season No. 7 is just around the corner and the UI Children's Hospital is accepting nominations. To learn more click HERE. Go Hawks! H ere we sit ready to turn the page to one of the most exciting months of the year if you're a fan of the Hawkeyes. So let's take stock: Brands' squad appears poised to be in the mix for both Big Ten and NCAA titles, and, while there's plenty of regular season games yet to be played, it appears Lisa's and Fran's are capable of making deep runs in both of their postseason tournaments. Let's not forget that the UI will be proud host for both the Big Ten and NCAA men's swimming and diving championships. Yes, Hawkeye fans, hold on to your hats. It could be a fun month of madness. Speaking of March, if you listen to the experts, there's no reason for Big Ten men's basketball teams to make the trip to the Windy City next month — Wisconsin is your 2015 Big Ten Tournament champion. Make no mistake, the Badgers are good, very good, but the ball has a funny way of bouncing in March, so I say let's play the games. Ditto for the national tournament, which many are ready to hand today to Kentucky. Again, the Wildcats are very, very good. But weren't they a No. 1 seed in the National Invitation Tournament two years ago when they were beaten in the first round by Robert Morris? If you missed this — HERE — it's worth a quick review because, as you are no doubt aware, at the University of Iowa, we live by the mantra, "Win. Graduate. Do it Right." is is another great example of a Hawkeye "Doing it right." Congratulations, Lisa. For more examples of Hawkeyes "Winning, Graduating, and Doing it Right," click HERE. A staff member suggested the other day that Iowa's 21-2 run at the end of the first half of its game at Nebraska in late February was the best basketball the Hawkeyes' have played under Fran McCaffery. Who am I to debate that observation? A 21-2 run in an opponents' gym that was filled beyond capacity is one way to take control of a basketball game. I'm all for a repeat when the Hawkeyes travel to Penn State and Indiana later this month.

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