Are The Hawkeyes In A Free Fall?

Oh boy. I don't like the looks of this. Iowa basketball, welcome to mediocrity. Remember that Sports Illustrated cover? Remember that #3 ranking? How 'bout that lead in the Big Ten race? Poof. Gone. Yesterday's news. A dismal 67-59 loss to the Wisconsin Badgers on Wednesday night (2/24) is the fourth straight bad showing for the Hawkeyes. They've lost three of those last four games, and their one victory during that stretch was a squeaker at home on Valentine's Day against a Minnesota team that had not won a Big Ten game. If Iowa basketball was the Dow Jones, they would've lost about 3,000 points since early February. It's been ugly.

A few weeks ago, the Hawks were riding high... as high as they've been in nearly 30 years. After a February 7th victory over Illinois, Iowa was in the driver's seat in the Big Ten race. They were 19-4 overall, and 10-1 in conference play. It was a beautiful thing. Could this team actually compete... dare I say... for a National Championship? Less than 3 weeks later, I have my doubts that they'll win another game this season. For those looking for relief, there's not another easy one on the Big Ten schedule.

The loss to Wisconsin Wednesday night was more of the same. Three players (Peter Jok, Anthony Clemmons and Jarrod Uthoff) accounted for 45 of Iowa's 59 points. Yes, the rest of the team scored 14. Fourteen!! The Hawks managed to open up a six point lead in the second half before Wisconsin started to take over. 25 second-half points isn't going to cut it. So much for that week off to rejuvenate. So much for good ol' home cooking at Carver-Hawkeye.

The Hawks are off to Columbus on Sunday afternoon to take on Ohio State. Tip-off is set for just after 3pm.

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