Big Four Classic Press Release

[ISUChippewa]

yep, did you watch it? I'm not saying they were light years better, but UNI beats just about any team in college basketball with the calls they got that day. I can't remember the last time I thought the officiating decided an ISU/Iowa basketball game in my life, probably never. The in state games in Cedar Falls seem to have poor officiating in UNI's favor more often than not.

Yes, I watched the game thanks to ESPN's Full Court package I had last season. Iowa got off to a great start; the aforementioned 10 point lead. UNI got it together and came back. The officiating wasn't great; Fran went apesh!t, got T'd up, UNI made their free throws off the technicals, Iowa imploded. Game over.

There was a 30-point swing during the game, from UNI being down 10 to winning by 20. Now, one can say the officiating was bad, it certainly wasn't great. But to argue that Iowa was the better team that night is just plain silly.

Marc Hansen wrote a number of years ago in a column about Iowa and ISU fans and the relationship between them and the characteristics of each fan base. When describing ISU fans he wrote that we are the "greatest conspricacy theorists in college sports". Fans like you, or at least how you present yourself in this thread, give great credence to that opinion.

 

[Rural]

Yes, I watched the game thanks to ESPN's Full Court package I had last season. Iowa got off to a great start; the aforementioned 10 point lead. UNI got it together and came back. The officiating wasn't great; Fran went apesh!t, got T'd up, UNI made their free throws off the technicals, Iowa imploded. Game over.

There was a 30-point swing during the game, from UNI being down 10 to winning by 20. Now, one can say the officiating was bad, it certainly wasn't great. But to argue that Iowa was the better team that night is just plain silly.

Marc Hansen wrote a number of years ago in a column about Iowa and ISU fans and the relationship between them and the characteristics of each fan base. When describing ISU fans he wrote that we are the "greatest conspiracy theorists in college sports". Fans like you, or at least how you present yourself in this thread, give great credence to that opinion.

That took place over 30 plus minutes of actual game-time.
The in-over-his-head hothead that coaches Iowa reached Defcon 5 and Iowa, their fans,and sympathizers on here swirled down the drain.

 

[bwhite]

This was what ISU and Iowa needed to do. They shouldn't be going to UNI or Drake to play a game. Now they can try and schedule a game or two with another BCS level school.

I agree this is a good move for ISU and Iowa, but I would prefer to eliminate the UNI/Drake games altogether. Wins against UNI/Drake don't count for much but the losses are huge.

 

[ubuntuCAT]

In my opinion this arrangement is worse for all 4 schools financially, competitively, and from a fans perspective. All 4 are losing one of there best non-conference home games and true away games (and only a bus ride away). I think it was nice for all 4 fan bases to have a chance to see their team play in any of the 4 cities (Des Moines, Ames, Iowa City, Cedar Falls) every other year.

If an event was going to be done in Des Moines, make it a true tournament or round-robin. That could be a huge event in the state since there would be a champion. I realize UNI/Drake would have to do some creative scheduling since they are in the same conference. Maybe they would just accept playing each other 3, possibly 4 times a year.

 

[HFCS]

In my opinion this arrangement is worse for all 4 schools financially, competitively, and from a fans perspective. All 4 are losing one of there best non-conference home games and true away games (and only a bus ride away). I think it was nice for all 4 fan bases to have a chance to see their team play in any of the 4 cities (Des Moines, Ames, Iowa City, Cedar Falls) every other year.

If an event was going to be done in Des Moines, make it a true tournament or round-robin. That could be a huge event in the state since there would be a champion. I realize UNI/Drake would have to do some creative scheduling since they are in the same conference. Maybe they would just accept playing each other 3, possibly 4 times a year.

From this negative perspective at least it affects ISU the least of the 4.

If it really just means an extra game nobody cares about, ISU fans easily turn out in the greatest number for the Arkansas Pine Bluffs of the world. Think of Iowa/Drake/UNI replacing one of these games with a no name team, that's a bigger loss for them with smaller fan bases or a fan base that's clearly bandwagon for basketball.

I don't like the true round robin all at WF because I like ISU/Iowa rotating like the football series and Drake/UNI have their MVC games anyway, but I don't get why it couldn't be an awesome two day event with ISU/Iowa playing both UNI/Drake. Try that for four years and if it's not a hit then schedule however it may be.

ISU/Drake definitely makes more sense to just be played at WF every year as opposed to ongoing home and away. The majority of both fan bases are close to any of the 3 possible venues already, it sounds snotty but it's truthfully very kind to Drake to play them at WF in their home city vs. Hilton or nothing.

 

[DMICyclone]

What about the students? They can't afford to pay $25 - or more - for their tickets!

OH MY GOD! THE HORROR!