Voice of the Hawkeyes Board

I didn't see the game as I'm traveling. Reading the game thread it sounded like we even had a substantial lead at one point. The close losses of this season would hopefully turn into wins in the coming years as the players gain experience and learn how to protect a lead, and how to close must-win games. Heartbreaking!

Yep, sad to watch. The refs seemed to have a "let 'em play" attitude up until the 8 minute mark in the second half, then started calling stuff they had ignored earlier....that gets in your head when things get close.
On the other hand, we had three bad trips down in the span where MSU got the lead...that didn't help...as two of the trips we simply turned the ball over. We're not all that good at crunch time when the stars come out on teams that have stars.

I'm not big on blaming refs, but it did seem they started making calls they weren't making earlier, as the game tightened up.

Of course, when we consider the Hawks had 5 turnovers in their last 12 possessions, that didn't help either....Clemmons had three and Marble had two.... we made only three shots (plus two free throws) in the last ten minutes....so there were a lot of moving parts to the end of the game...not just a few questionable calls by the refs.

It wasn't just the officiating that lost this game for the Hawks, but it definitely was a factor. It was classic Michigan State. Izzo's teams have always been allowed to reach in, body up, hand-check, etc., primarily because I believe the officials accept it as "physical aggressive defense," so his teams get the benefit of the doubt. Even on offense, there is a carry-over effect: Nix uses his off-hand to basically hook the defender or push him out of the way almost every time he touches the ball, yet no calls. Not one.

It has a domino effect. For instance, many are pointing out that Iowa had way too many turnovers, which it did, but what is not being discussed is that many of the turnovers were the result of the reaching in and wrist slapping by the State defenders during dribble-drives. The result is that the offensive player becomes frustrated and tentative each time down the floor and the momentum shifts. No doubt, though, that both Marble and Clemmons were sloppy with the ball at times, which we have seen several times over the season.

That said, I completely agree with Lao that McCabe had no business being in there at crunch time. Not only could he not defend their big guys, he was personally responsible for several of those uncontested drives to the basket due to his late rotation and lack of athleticism. Olaseni makes mistakes at times, but he should have been in there. McCabe played one of his worst games at the wrong time and was totally overmatched.

Unfortunately, I highly doubt we will see the NCAA. I agree with Fran that the committee should look at all those close losses to highly ranked opponents, but the bottom line is they don't. The future is very bright, but this season we will be NIT bound, and hopefully have learned from all those tough losses, and, in a strange twist of fate, we may be a better team the next couple of years because of them.

Basketball is a frail sport. It involves young players putting every inch of effort into every possession and every time on defense. You can't tell me the refs weren't huge in this game. Put yourself into that spot last night. Yes, there were mistakes and Iowa looked sloppy at points as usual. To continually have calls go against you is like taking body blows in a round of boxing. How many clean blocks and good defensive plays were called fouls in crunch time? Those are free points for MSU. How many loose balls were the result of pushes, bodies, or arm slaps that went against Iowa? Those are free possessions the other way. Yes, Iowa played like crap the last few minutes, but MSU played their worst game of the year. IZZO was mad at their play and said we outplayed them and deserved the win...YES, yes we did. Both teams played bad at times. IT was the refs that ensured MSU was in position to win it in the last few minutes. It was the agony of absolute terrible officiating that took this win away. Nothing more.

I can't stress more, the physical and emotional impact of having everything suddenly go against you. You go from being rewarded for extra hussle, rewarded for making the correct defensive move and blocking the ball to giving up foul points. Rewarded for being in position to make a rebound to losing it out of bounds or not getting it because you just got bodied out of the way, only to see you get the foul call for doing the same or less on the other side of the court. Simply Pathetic.

This team isn't perfect. It's young. It is however, just as good, if not better than a lot of teams that will make the dance.

Was at the United Center and had the misfortune of sitting near many 'Sparties'.
Glad to see Ohio State give them theirs, today.

HL, here's a youtube link of some of the calls against IA if you haven't had the chance to watch it yet: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LzCSy9jAxQ4&feature=youtu.be

What goes around comes around......