Iowa played the Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks in the first round of the Hawkeye Challenge. My first question was why would they play the team that appeared to be the second best team in the tournament. As the home team you always set it up so that you can play in the finals. And every year since 1985 that was the case. Not only had Iowa played in the finals, but they had won it. In fact, they were 49-1 all time in the tournament.
However, the Warhawks coached by the 2007 Sun Belt Coach of the Year, Orlando Early, battled from a 14 point second half deficit to beat Iowa in overtime. In the championship game they routed the Rice Owls… Tornament MVP is a player that has flown under the radar, but will not be there very much longer. Tony Hooper was by far and away the best player over the two days. He not only scored, but made every big shot his team needed. Keep an eye on Hooper and the Warhawks.
Summit League takes a bite out of the Big Timers. Centenary knocked off Texas Tech on Saturday and IUPUI beat a very good UMASS team. Coupled with an earlier win b y South Dakota State over Northern Iowa and it looks like this could be the best the league has been from top to bottom.
