Yeah, man. Good to WHITE wash the world. 

Agreed. That's why I've liked Joe Toussaint starting. He brings a lot more than the "hard-nosed defensive PG that just manages the game for others to score." He tries to create for himself and others. It's also what makes Bohannon a good PG despite not being "traditional". 

I get it: This is a great offense, and you dno't want to mess it up. But you gotta take risks to be great. Make something happen.

Oh man. I feel like you missed something there. They are clearly friends, and he was clearly doing that to take fun digs at Hummel. I'm 99% confident that Hummel was moderately embarrassed and saying it so many times was the WHOLE POINT.

Eh? You're saying the mathematical formula is biased or something? Duke has a higher win percentage in all 3 of the first 3 quadrants.

Other than Ferentz's player scandals and putting kids in the hospital, you mean.

I think they're a definite lock for the tourney now, and rock solid chained up lock with one more win. I think that PSU game will be quite fun.

oh yeah. I think he did, too. I think a hook and hold flagrant is a great addition. I'm glad they've responded so well to that, unlike flopping. Definitely think it was, too.

Not sure. I think of dirty play as when you're intentionally trying to hurt someone. The dick for Wisconsin is one example. Grayson Allen another. I don' think a hook and hold is dirty. To me, it's not different than an offensive player trying to hook a guy with his elbow as he spins past him (something Garza does every play, especially keeping his elbows high). It's something that's borderline illegal and you're trying to force the ref to make the call, which they don't most of the time.

But we can also have different definitions of dirty.

Wait, 24 points on 15 shots is not dominating? Hummel is right. We've all become number to his greatness. I think that'd be a career night for about 90% of the B1G.

Brilliant work. It's so interesting to see how dominating Iowa was while at the same time beating 7 Top 25 teams. There's just such a vast difference between the best wrestlers and the next best. Iowa has had a some "best wrestlers" before, but they haven't had the depth in a long time. Just think how different this team would be with say Glynn and Happel wrestling instead of ADS and Lugo (pretending Happel would move up. 

Iowa is on the upswing being able to get the top top guys (guys who can compete for a Finals appearance if everything breaks right) throughout the entire lineup. They have the talent. They've shown it so far. They have the expectations. Now it's time to actually go out and prove it.

YAY! The Chinese government has essentially blocked all VPNs that you can watch Hulu and Netflix on, so I haven't been able to see anything for the past 8-9 days. Thank goodness this game is on ESPN and I can use my IPTV. 

I'd definitely be interested in reading articles about how Bag Men are bad for the players themselves - that is, outside of getting in trouble from the NCAA.

Luka also clearly initiates a ton of contact. He's a lot, lot stronger in the upper body and shoulders, and he leans into guys and shoulder bounces them off to get a little space. Bumping a guy off a couple of inches helps get that extra little space to negate his quickness, length, etc.

Not saying he's not getting fouled. Rather saying, technically, he's probably fouling guys, too, and I don't want most of them called. 

I don't know. I don't think they're a lock. 6 straight losses to end the season would leave them 18-14 and not looking pretty. 20 wins is sort of an arbitrary number, but 2 more wins in the last 6/7 (either 1-4 and then 1-1 or 2-3 and 0-1) would definitely make them a lock. 1, would probably put them in. 

That said, I don't know how often a team can lose its last 6 and even look good in the tourney. I'll be happy they made it if they get in at 18-14, but yeesh. 

I think Ohio State is the biggest game of the year right now. They've been 3-3 since January 31st. Winning back-to-back games, and over a Top 25 team would be huge. They're also home which A) helps their chances, and B) makes it more imperative they win. I hope they win this game. I have strong confidence they'll beat Purdue at home. Beat Ohio State, beat Purdue, and this will be wildly successful season in my book. (lose out, still successful based on the preseason but not quite as exciting). Anything over that (beating MSU/Illinois away, Top 10 Penn State at home, a BTT or NCAA win or two) and this is sort of a dream season. 

If Iowa wins 2 of their final 5 (Purdue? and knock off another team?), and everyone is healthy, I'll be happy going into the BTT. If they win 3 of 5, I'll be really happy. 4 or 5 out of 5 would be sort of a dream come true. It'd guarantee them 3rd place with a chance at 2nd. I'd take anything like that, obvs.

Awesome, awesome news from ADS, Murin, and Mr. Pins. All my handwringing about their health was for naught. Go figure. Gotta enjoy my own advice: enjoy the ride (Spencer Lee style!)

I wish I could watch it!!!

ADS and Cassiopi being healthy is huge. And so soon, too. It tells me that health won't be an issue with them (barring something new, of course). If they are healthy (and everyone is), it's going to be hard not to be a favorite going into the tourneys.

Poop on China for slowing everyone's internet down when we're all stuck at home, and poop on hulu and netflix for increasing protocols to "detect" if we're using VPNs.

poop poop poop

Who said Wilcke's ceiling is 2-2? I think 2-2 is the most likely scenario for either of these wrestlers. I guess what I'd like to see from someone who takes chances is to supposedly have bad losses but also some interesting wins. I don't think he does. 

And for me, wrestling is a unique sport. Guys work their asses off and there is only so one player per weight. If Wilcke isn't in the team, then this "Iowa" wrestling team won't have a single Iowan in their starting lineup. A 5th year senior hasn't been outwrestled by a true freshman, and it's possible he won't get a chance to be a part of the team. In professional sports, I always like seeing younger guys with greater potential play. In college sports, especially when guys/gals won't be going on professionally, I prefer the older guys. Give them their due.

The worst case scenario for me is that Iowa wins by 30, Assad does nothing, and Wilcke doesn't get a last chance in the Black & Gold and contribute points to Iowa wrestling's resurgence. That'd be sad to me.

The decision isn't made yet, and simply burning the redshirt hurts Assad and the future of the Hawkeyes more than Wilcke if Wilcke gets the nod at the Tournaments, so it's not a problem yet. Pulling a redshirt when there's not an injury is a big deal. And for all we know, it might just have been a motivational ploy for Wilcke as much as giving Assad a chance. So far, Assad hasn't proven (to use your words) that he should be in the lineup over Wilcke. if he doesn't do that, I hope they give Wilcke the chance.

Why does it have to be "the sky is falling!" or "the sky is NOT falling"

Why can't it just be... a game?

depends on health. 133 and 141 are huge question marks for me right now. if iowa has to use substitutes, then there's a huge gap.

I'm both very concerned and not, depending on health. I have the same concerns of Iowa players faltering as anyone else, but if DeSanto, Murin, and Cassioppi are basically healthy, that won't matter. It would have to be a collapse of epic proportions to lose SO many points if everyone is healthy. 3 or 4 guys could vastly underperform and Iowa would still be the (slight) favorite. 

That said, if those 3 aren't healthy, well, there are 3 "underperformers" before you even start. That still leaves some room for faltering, and basically if Lee - Lugo - Young - Marinelli - Kemerer - Warner all perform simply to expectations, they're still the favorites. But you can't have flameouts after having 3 guys out or underperform due to injury. If those 3 are out or look bad at B1G, I'll be very anxious. But if you get some semis and finals appearances and they look healthy, I might be over confident.

Also, I don't like that they took Assad's redshirt. I don't think he's ready to "probably" contribute more points than Wilcke or Brands would have. He beat Venz and Jordan, but I didn't think he looked particularly good doing it. He competed against Caffey and Brooks just fine. Lost to Lujan might not too much. I have no worries about him being a fringe All-American - likely not - and being competitive, but I also think Wilcke could have done that, and I haven't seen anything from Assad that tells me he'll probably do better. 

Two reasons I'm not totally baffled by it: A) Brands and Brands obviously now far more than me, and B) it should more prepare him for next year. 

That said, I fullly expect a 2-2 NCAA tournament, and I think Wilcke, a senior from Iowa, could have done that, too.

As what Vanilla said... wow. So much good news. 

Those are HUGE pay raises!!! Holy cow.

Iowa is on the rise. Whooo!

Love the idea of the facilities. One person has committed $3million of the $10 million so far, so still a ways to go. I think the idea that the Hawkeye Wrestling Club uses it, too, is huge. Just like basketball players and football players and others choose a school often on where they think they can get the best chance to go pro, the top wrestlers are choosing the programs for the same. Sure, some are happy to go to not-as-good schools for full scholarships and all that, but the Lees, Kemerers, Teasdale, etc. want to make sure they have somewhere that will continue to push them post college. Hell, I wouldn't be surprised if that's a big reason that Lee and others don't need to take an olympic redshirt year when Michigan players do.

Hah! Yes!