JAKE KELLY: #1 All-Time Freshman 3-pt Shooter in Iowa History

Jake Kelly stands #1 in the All-Time Iowa Freshman Record Book in regards to 3 pt %

3-Point Field Goal Percentage (1 att/game)*
1. .434 (30-69) JAKE KELLY, 2007-08
2. .396 (19-48) Ryan Luehrsmann, 1996-97
3. .381 (16-42) Jess Settles, 1993-94
4. .373 (47-126) Brody Boyd, 2000-01
5. .359 (14-39) Kevin Smith, 1990-91
6. .321 (44-137) Chris Kingsbury, 1993-94

I am looking forward to 3 more seasons with Jake in the Old Gold and Black.

Men's BB: Iowa Hawkeyes vs. Michigan Wolverines - Rubber Match in the Big Ten Tournament

VS.

GAME INFO: Thu., March 13th, 2008 - 11:05 A.M. CST - Conseco Fieldhouse; Indianapolis, IN
IOWA: 13-18 (6-12); RPI: 184 / Michigan: 9-21 (5-13); RPI: 181

TV COVERAGE: Big Ten Network - DirecTV (Ch. 206) / DISH Network (Ch. 140) - Wayne Larrivee and Shon Morris will call the action.
OFFICIAL GAME NOTES - VIEW HERE
LINE - Iowa is a 1.5 point favorite at the neutral site; 112.5 is the over/under.

Three weeks ago Michigan was the team "nobody wanted to face in the Big Ten Tournament" per the boys at the Big Ten Network studios. Since that analysis, Michigan has lost 4 out of 5 (including 3 in a row). Losses were to Northwestern at home, at Minnesota, at Penn State, and Purdue at home.

Iowa can't puff its check out, however, as the Hawks have lost 6 out of their last 8, with the only wins coming against Northwestern.

But, hell, scrap all that junk. This is the Big Ten Tournament, at one point almost renamed the Steve Alford Tournament, Iowa has done well in this tournament. They'd need to win 4 in 4 days to have any sort of postseason hopes. It's been done before... by Iowa. Let's not fool ourselves, though, this team doesn't look anything like the team that gave Steve Alford his infamous extension with Iowa. There's no Recker. There's no Evans. And that run in the tournament was done in the United Center, not the Conseco Fieldhouse. Yeah, but besides Illinois, Iowa is the team that has had the most success in the Big Ten Tournament. What does this all mean? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. Coach Lickliter says, "We're planning on winning it," in regards to the Big Ten Tournament. Why not? I believe him. It starts with Michigan.

KEYS TO THE GAME:
1.) Somehow, someway get more than one player "on" during a game. Freeman, Kelly, Tate, Johnson, Gorney all have had great games during the season. I have a had time remembering when 2 or more of them did it in the same game. I'd like to see that.
2.) Extend the defense. Don't let DeShaun Sims and Anthony friggin' Wright hit treys on you all night. Pressure D on Manny Harris, as well. Iowa hasn't played good D in awhile, hence the losses.
3.) Hit the gaps, find the open man, work the clock on offense. And for God sakes, when Tate is posting up down low, get him the damn ball.
4.) Control the tempo.
5.) Attitude goes a long way with this team. The Hawks need the right one today.

PREDICTION:
Iowa - 64
Michigan - 59

MEN'S BB: 2008 Big Ten Tournament Prediction

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IOWA beats Michigan
PENN ST beats Illinois
MINNESOTA beats Northwestern

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IOWA beats Wisconsin
OHIO STATE beats Michigan State
PURDUE beats Penn State
INDIANA beats Minnesota

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OHIO STATE beats Iowa
INDIANA beats Purdue

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OHIO STATE over Indiana

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MEN'S BB: A Look at the 2008 NCAA Tournament and My Bubble Team Analysis

STORMINSPANK'S BRACKETOLOGY

Updated Look at Bubble Teams for 2008 and Projecting the NCAA Tourney Field

TEAMS THAT I THINK ARE LOCKS/AUTOBIDS (parenthesis contain total number of bids for the conference; the first number is the locks and the second number is the total bids the conference will get as of right now)

LOCKS

NUMBER ONE SEEDS: TENNESSEE, NORTH CAROLINA, MEMPHIS, DUKE

Am East (1/1) - UMBC/Hartford
ACC (3/4) - UNC, Duke, Clemson
A. Sun (1/1) - BELMONT
A-10 (1/2) - Xavier
Big East (7/8) - Georgetown, Louisville, Notre Dame, UCONN, Marquette, West Virginia, Pittsburgh
Big Sky (1/1) - CONF WINNER
Big South (1/1) - WINTHROP
Big Ten (4/5) - Wisconsin, Purdue, Indiana, Michigan State
Big 12 (5/6) - Kansas, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas State, Baylor
Big West (1/1) - CONF WINNER
CAA (1/1) - GEORGE MASON
CUSA (1/1) - Memphis
Horizon (1/1) - Butler
Ivy (1/1) - CORNELL
MAAC (1/1) - SIENNA
MAC (1/1) - CONF WINNER
MEAC (1/1) - CONF WINNER
MVC (1/2) - DRAKE
MWC (2/2) - UNLV, BYU
NEC (1/1) - CONF WINNER
OVC (1/1) - AUSTIN PEAY
Patriot (1/1) - CONF WINNER
Pac-10 (4/6) - UCLA, Washington St., Stanford, USC
SEC (3/5) - Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Mississippi State
Southern (1/1) - DAVIDSON
Southland (1/1) - CONF WINNER
Summit (1/1) - CONF WINNER
SWAC (1/1) - CONF WINNER
Sun Belt (1/2) - CONF WINNER
WCC (2/3) - SAN DIEGO, Gonzaga
WAC (1/1) - CONF WINNER

CAP/BOLD TEAMS WON THEIR CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT

BUBBLE TEAMS

So here's who I have on the Bubble...

12 spots are up for grabs

Those teams IN are noted with an asterisk (*).

BUBBLE TEAMS BY CONFERENCE:

ACC:
Miami *
Maryland
Virginia Tech
Florida State

A10:
UMass *
Dayton
Temple
St. Joe's
Rhode Island

BIG EAST:
Syracuse *
Villanova

BIG TEN:
Ohio State *

BIG XII:
Texas A&M *
Texas Tech

CAA:
VCU

C-USA:
UAB
Houston

HORIZON:
Cleveland State

MVC:
Illinois State *
Creighton
S. Illinois

MWC:
New Mexico

PAC-10:
Arizona *
Arizona State
Oregon *

SEC:
Arkansas*
Kentucky *
Mississippi
Florida

SUN BELT:
South Alabama *
Western Kentucky

WCC:
St. Mary's *

WAC:
Utah State
Nevada

RANKING OF BUBBLE TEAMS:

Ranking of the Bubble Teams (As of 3/11/2008)
Rank	Team	Overall	Conf	RPI	SOS	L10	Top 50 Record
1	Miami *	20-9	8-8	27	33	6-4	3-3
2	Kentucky *	18-11	12-4	48	12	8-2	4-7
3	Arkansas*	20-10	9-7	42	40	5-5	4-5
4	UMass *	21-9	10-6	40	66	7-3	2-2
5	Arizona *	17-13	8-10	29	2	3-7	5-7
6	Texas A&M *	21-9	8-8	47	57	5-5	4-6
7	Ohio State *	19-12	10-8	49	21	4-6	3-9
8	Oregon *	18-12	9-9	53	30	6-4	4-8
9	Illinois State *	23-9	13-5	35	69	8-2	0-5
10	Syracuse *	19-12	9-9	46	7	5-5	2-8
11	St. Mary's *	24-6	12-2	38	137	7-3	2-3
12	South Alabama *	24-6	16-2	37	127	8-2	3-2
13	Villanova	19-11	9-9	56	56	6-4	4-6
14	Dayton	20-9	8-8	34	41	5-5	4-5
15	Arizona State	19-11	9-9	76	77	5-5	5-6
16	Western Kentucky	24-6	16-2	44	150	9-1	0-4
17	Mississippi	21-9	7-9	43	61	5-5	5-4
18	Creighton	20-10	10-8	51	72	6-4	0-6
19	UAB	22-9	12-4	50	93	7-3	1-2
20	S. Illinois	17-14	11-7	62	13	6-4	4-6
21	Florida	21-10	8-8	65	87	3-7	2-8
22	St. Joe's	18-11	9-7	55	59	4-6	3-4
23	New Mexico	24-7	11-5	52	151	8-2	1-4
24	VCU	24-7	15-3	54	155	8-2	0-2
25	Temple	18-12	11-5	60	43	7-3	2-3
26	Virginia Tech	18-12	9-7	57	46	6-4	0-6
27	Florida State	18-13	7-9	64	20	5-5	4-5
28	Texas Tech	15-14	7-9	59	3	4-6	4-9
29	Maryland	18-13	8-8	69	17	5-5	1-5
30	Rhode Island	21-10	7-9	67	105	3-7	3-4
31	Cleveland State	19-11	12-6	71	97	7-3	1-5
32	Houston	22-8	11-5	66	141	6-4	1-5
33	Utah State	22-9	12-4	72	175	7-3	0-1
34	Nevada	19-10	12-4	77	138	5-5	0-2

Championship Week will undoubtedly change this list and the dozen Bubble Teams.

I have a hard time putting St. Mary's, S. Alabama, W. Kentucky, et al. into the tournament as at-large bids. I think they might get the Missouri St/Air Force treatment of 2007. Good win totals, good RPI, but conference killed them. Yet somehow last year Stanford got in with an 18-12 record, 65 RPI, 32 SOS, and going 4-6 their last 10. One thing is for sure, the selection committee is consistently inconsistent when it comes down to the last 2 or 3 teams getting into the Dance. I wouldn't doubt that S. Alabama falls off the bubble at some point and time; I have a VERY hard time putting 3 WCC teams in the tournament, as well. That will probably change, too. I think either Syracuse or Villanova gets in, I can't see 9 Big East teams getting in.

Updates will happen throughout the week. Final picks set on Sunday.

MEN'S BB: March Madness: Bubble Watch 2008 - A look back at years past

Over the past three years (and the original reason I set up this blog) I have made my predictions on who gets in and who stays home on Selection Sunday. During Championship Week, I usually unveil who I think is in/out. Before I start this year's predictions, I thought I'd look back at the past predictions.

2007 - 63 out of 65 teams correctly picked. (96.9%, .979 overall)
2006 - 63 out of 65 teams correctly picked. (96.9%, .985 overall)
2005 - 65 out of 65 teams correctly picked. (100%, 1.000 overall)

2008 picks to be released sometime today.

MEN'S BB RECRUITING: Royce White Has Been Dismissed from DeLaSalle

Royce White (photo courtesy of Scout.com)

I would expect Lickliter to pull the scholarship offer.

With the transfer rules in Minnesota, his prep basketball career in the state of Minnesota is most likely over. However, rumors are now flying that both Williams and White might go the prep school route.

Other sites confirming the dismissal:
Down with Goldy: Royce White Kicked Out of DeLaSalle!
Twin Cities Boys Hoops: My thoughts on Royce White's dismissal from DeLaSalle
Star Trib: DeLaSalle, White part ways

Men's BB: Iowa Hawkeyes vs. Northwestern (Take Two)

VS.

GAME INFO: Tues., Mar. 4th, 2008 - 8:05 CST - Welsh-Ryan Arena; Evanston, IL
IOWA: 12-18 (5-12); RPI: 184 / Northwestern: 7-19 (1-15); RPI: 200

TV COVERAGE: Big Ten Network - DirecTV (Ch. 220) / DISH Network (Ch. 439) - Mel Proctor and Jimmy Jackson will call the action.
OFFICIAL GAME NOTES - VIEW HERE
LINE - 1-15 in conference Northwestern is a 1.5 favorite at home / 115 is the over and under

By all intents and purposes Iowa should have lost this game in Carver last time out. They escaped in one of the ugliest games I have watched in a long time. A looooong time.

I really don't want to get into the keys of the game, analysis, etc... The bottom line is whether or not this team cares enough to show up. They've regressed as of late and you can strategize all you want, but if you don't have the killer instinct, you aren't going to get it done. This team doesn't have the talent to have an off-night.

I want to pick Iowa in this game, but I just haven't seen the right thing for a while.

PREDICTION:
Iowa - 47
Northwestern - 52

Prove me wrong, Hawks.

MEN'S BB: The Scholarship Situation Facing Lickliter

A lot of rumors flying around the Hawkeye Universe in regards to who is losing a scholarship, who is going to be asked to leave, who is going to leave on their own, etc... How many scholarships does Iowa have to give? Are they going to go after one, possibly two, JUCO bigs to fill out the roster? What's the coaching staff thinking?

Here are my assumptions at this point and time... I am not saying they are right or wrong, just what I think. Clearly this year was not ideal in regards to personnel (talent and/or numbers). Lickliter wants to have 15 on his team like most programs.

2008-09

Scholarship:
Freeman, SR
Tate, SR
Davis, JR
Palmer, JR *
Kelly, SO
Peterson, SO
Cole, SO
Tucker, FR
Gatens, FR
Fuller, FR
Brommer, FR

Walk-ons:
Lickliter, FR
Bohall, JR

Departures:
Johnson, Gorney, Looby, Angle**

* This scholarship could open up
** Graduates in four years and doesn't play in his fifth year.

At this point, I see there being 1, probably 2 scholarship left for a big and a wing with the possibility of 1 more depending on Palmer's status. As of right now, I'd say he is going to be in an Iowa uniform next year (that can change).

SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE: One to three available. If Iowa can sign the right guys, they will make moves accordingly to make room.


2009-10

Scholarship:
Davis, SR
Palmer, SR *
Kelly, JR
Peterson, JR
Cole, JR
Tucker, SO
Gatens, SO
Fuller, SO
Brommer, SO
Cougill, FR

Walk-ons:
Lickliter, SO **
Bohall, SR

Departures:
Freeman, Tate

* This scholarship could open up
** This may go from walk on to scholarship

Again, this depends on Palmer's status, but Iowa has at least 2 to work with.

SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE: At least two, maybe three available.

MEN'S BB: Mesa High's Aaron Fuller Commits to the Hawkeyes

On the front page of Van Coleman's website, he is reporting that Aaron Fuller has committed to the Iowa Hawkeyes.

Aaron Fuller has decided to be a Hawkeye!

March 4, 2008
Aaron Fuller is headed to the Big Ten...
By Van Coleman van@hoopmasters.com

Todd Lickliter and his Iowa staff have received a commitment from fast rising Arizona combo forward Aaron Fuller...

Reports were that Aaron really enjoyed his visit at Iowa this past weekend. Other Iowa recruiting sites are confirming the commitment. Hawkeyenation had been discussing Fuller for a while now.

Terrific get for Lickliter and the Hawkeyes. Fuller is very much under the radar.

Here a few links on Fuller...

Fuller Sets School Record in Win - January 15, 2008
Aaron Fuller broke the school record with his for single game high with 46 points and he also grabbed 16 rebounds.
Season Recap


Fuller, Mesa get best of Pinnacle


Mesa's Fuller brushes aside lack of interest from colleges


Mesa boys hoops heating up


ESPN Aaron Fuller | Power Forward

MEN'S BB: Iowa Hawkeyes vs. Illinois Fighting Illini

Enroute to Iowa City, no game notes for this one.

PREDICTION:

Iowa - 65
Illinois - 62