Pregame: Illinois at Iowa, Sunday, January 20th, 12:00pm CT, BTN
- Status
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
I know we’re still 5-12, and it’s the dead of winter on a Sunday ... but if you’re able to go, please do! Not only is orange in Carver-Hawkeye a glorious tradition that drives Iowa fans crazy, this would be an epic confidence building win for our program. Let’s show that the Minny win wasn’t a total fluke! Since I’ll be there, I’m predicting with my heart:
Illinois 73
Iowa 71
Illinois 73
Iowa 71
BananaShampoo
Captain 'Paign
- Phoenix, AZ
A winning streak would be nice.
foby
- Bonnaroo Land
I wish Garza was out. He destroyed us last year.
ILL in IA
- Iowa City
Garza and Cook will be tough to handle. We will probably need to rotate all 3 of GB, DLR, and SK on Garza. Unfortunately, he is good from the foul line, so using up 15 fouls on him doesn't help us out here. Maybe keeping the ball in the post with Giorgi on offense can get Garza in foul trouble. We are going to need Kip to lock in on defense and try to do his best to say in front of Cook too.
Sounds like they're hopeful he'll be back. If he is I'm seeing a 78-71 win for the Hawkeyes. If he isn't back, then Illini pull it out 74-73.
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
Since the actual season (i.e., possibility of postseason play) is pretty much lost, I am rooting for us to 1) most importantly, keep improving and lay a foundation for a legitimately competitive team next year and 2) get some padding in some of our all-time series leads. 
After the Minny win, this is how we stand:
87-92 vs. Indiana
85-73 vs. Iowa
5-9 vs. Maryland
87-85 vs. Michigan
59-61 vs. Michigan State
123-67 vs. Minnesota
14-8 vs. Nebraska
134-42 vs. Northwestern
105-78 vs. Ohio State
28-17 vs. Penn State
87-101 vs. Purdue
6-1 vs. Rutgers
110-88 vs. Wisconsin
We are 29-52 all-time in Carver-Hawkeye Arena, but we are actually a fairly surprising 4-2 in Iowa City since the 2009-10 season. Let's get that W! Seriously, though ... this would really give me some much needed respectability around here after that 63-0 football loss!
After the Minny win, this is how we stand:87-92 vs. Indiana
85-73 vs. Iowa
5-9 vs. Maryland
87-85 vs. Michigan
59-61 vs. Michigan State
123-67 vs. Minnesota
14-8 vs. Nebraska
134-42 vs. Northwestern
105-78 vs. Ohio State
28-17 vs. Penn State
87-101 vs. Purdue
6-1 vs. Rutgers
110-88 vs. Wisconsin
We are 29-52 all-time in Carver-Hawkeye Arena, but we are actually a fairly surprising 4-2 in Iowa City since the 2009-10 season. Let's get that W! Seriously, though ... this would really give me some much needed respectability around here after that 63-0 football loss!
I’ll be there. Any food recommendations in Iowa City?
Shorts is one of the best burger places I've ever been. Hurts Donut is great if you like sugar, and big grove is cool too. Estellas is newish and good as is 30hop (right off the highway). I think Iowa City has some of the best food choices for a college town, though Ann Arbor is up there.
ILL in IA
- Iowa City
When are you coming into town/what hotel? I can try and recommend things close to where you are at.
If you are looking for something right before the game or after, Wig & Penn (great pizza) or The Vine are all walking distance to Carver and have parking for the game. Vine is always packed with a lot of Illini fans before the game. If you are looking for a good sitdown dinner coming in the night before or staying after the game, 30Hop is great food and beer selection (right off the exit off of 80 and close to several hotels pending where you are staying) or Big Grove Brewery is a great spot in Iowa City. Fighter of the Nightman might have a better list of Iowa City spots. I'm old with 3 young kids and avoid a lot of the Iowa City spots now (GET OFF MY LAWN)
ILL in IA
- Iowa City
I will be hearing about this loss for way to long. My wife has won my daughter over as a hawk fan. For a 6 year old she loves to talk smack. Out of the blue she still just shakes her head at me and says "63-0 really Dad?" Someone is working her way out of the will.
They draw a lot of fouls. We have a propensity to foul Likely decided at the free-throw line
Bohannon and Garth looked good against Penn State
With Cook at full strength they appear to strong for us, but it appears he may not be.
Bohannon and Garth looked good against Penn State
With Cook at full strength they appear to strong for us, but it appears he may not be.
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
As ILL in IA said, it depends where you are staying. The arena is in kind of an odd spot between downtown and Coralville? Hard to explain, LOL. Anyway, here are a few random suggestions:
- If you are staying in Coralville by the I-80 exit as many visitors do, there is a fairly new wood-fired pizza place in the Iowa River Landing area called Marquee that I really like. Great beer selection and good pizza. 30hop is a cool experience and pretty good food, too, but I am not quite as wild about it as others.
- If you are staying downtown, I would make your way over to Big Grove on Gilbert St. It doesn't look like it should fit in Iowa City (in a good way), really cool place. Pretty good food and great beer. Places for dinner downtown that aren't too fancy or expensive that I would recommend would be Pullman, St. Burch Tavern (kind of a weirder menu) or Basta (Italian). Plenty of other places, though! I encourage you to do your own research if dining out Saturday is going to be a thing for you (weather permitting).
- I have to agree with others that you should hit up Wig and Pen, but get the THIN crust pizza. Being from Illinois, you're going to be disappointed by most imitations of deep dish, but their thin crust pizza is amazing.
- For a pregame spot, The Vine is always good (and pretty close), and Stella is pretty close to the arena (and my house!) and good for an early lunch.
Hope you get to see a W!
Iowa, really pushes the ball. They scored over 200 points combined in 2 games against IL last year. They have some really good shooters who will shoot from anywhere at anytime. Give them any room and ball is going up. Good luck if rotations are slow. They also have good inside game with Garza and Cook. Tough game.
Joel Goodson
- respect my decision™
Katz (who I'm surprisingly warming to) made a comment in the postgame that Underwood hasn't lost the team. And, that given our results, a lot of coaches would have. Wholeheartedly agree.
As to the Squawks, Cook is an utter mismatch. Really hoping he's not close to 100%. Our guards and wings are going to have to blanket their shooters, as those guys are good. We can win this game, but we really have to execute.
As to the Squawks, Cook is an utter mismatch. Really hoping he's not close to 100%. Our guards and wings are going to have to blanket their shooters, as those guys are good. We can win this game, but we really have to execute.
Dare I say it...2 game win streak?
That is a big list though.
Joel Goodson
- respect my decision™
Opportunity knocks for Kane. We're going need a solid defensive performance from him. Not expecting miracles, but we can't let Garza feast.
My son is an Iowa grad, and his fiance and her family are big Hawkeye fans. A win would be sweet, but since we're expected to lose, it wouldn't be the end of the world.
In my crystal ball, I see a quick early lead, most of the game fairly tight, and us down 3 with two minutes to go. Beyond that, the future is fuzzy. we
In my crystal ball, I see a quick early lead, most of the game fairly tight, and us down 3 with two minutes to go. Beyond that, the future is fuzzy. we
What happens if we roll Iowa by 20 on the road?
ILL in IA
- Iowa City
I don't want to talk Garza into an unstoppable force, but he is a really tough matchup for Giorgi and Kane. He has the height to shoot over GB and I would guess he can back down Kane on the block. Adonis is going to have to step up.
- Status