Anthony Tucker is still out and apparently has a ways to go before regaining playing status.

I mean I’ve always said that any day the Hawks play is better than one that they don’t. But with the rather impotent playof Todd Lickliter’s squad this year, I have approached more and more games with less and less anticipation. In fact, it has been really easy to miss portions or all of a game and not really think twice about it….something that would have been unthinkable a few years ago.

But the fact is that although this team is still not good, they have won a couple of games of late and they have done so with smarter, scrappier, and more consistent play. Last night withstanding, they have begun to find ways to win rather than find ways to lose. The win over Tennesse State saw them come from behind to take the game in the last minute. They held off a late charge against Penn State as the Lions closed to within two. And Iowa never let Indiana back in the game late even though they were on the road.

It is true that none of these wins were over good basketball teams. But earlier this season it seemed plausible that Iowa may not be able to beat any teams from any power conference let alone the Big Ten.

Aaron Fuller is starting to play the way we had all hoped he would. Eric May has been a shot-blocking/althletic surprise. Cully Payne is showing guts and toughness. And Matt Gatens…well, who wouldn’t root for that kid?

In short, I found myself excited yesterday about sitting down to watch the Hawks and #20 Ohio State last night. And, despite the loss, I wasn’t disappointed. Iowa controlled much of the game. They were not just “hanging” with the Buckeyes. They were “playing” with the Buckeyes. They were making things happen.

We all know that Ohio State is much more talented so it was not surprising that they took over down the stretch. But the Hawks looked to me to be a squad that is not nearly as far off as we may have thought early in the year.

To stop short of analyzing the whole team right now, I’ll just leave it today at this; There is more talent there than we gave them credit for. It is young. It is inconsistent and it is not yet what the rest of the Big Ten has. But it is there and it does create hope.

Perhaps most importantly, hope creates anticipation and makes it all fun.  Anyone who says that they can’t stand to watch any more is taking it all wayyyyy too seriously.  Its supposed to be fun for us as fans…let it be that way for now. Don’t worry about championships or tournaments. Watch each game for what it is….an individual game. Enjoy it for that day/night only and move on. If we all approach it that way, and the Hawks keep playing better and better….we’ll all see that the fun is back.