It just wouldn't be Christmas without a Christmas tree. It wouldn't be New Year's Eve without dropping the ball at Times Square......and it wouldn't be Hawkeye sports without a rash of injuries.

You thought it was good times during football watching our athletes drop like flies at a Raid convention. Yeah, we had both point guards, Freeman (foot) and Peterson (finger) hurt for a while but, "When are the injuries really going to start piling up," you wondered. Well wonder no more. Injury season has arrived.

During the SE Louisiana game Jarryd Cole came down from a monster dunk and went to the floor clutching his knee. Big Ten network commentators remarked that he may have pulled a hamstring. But we true Hawkeye fans knew that it was time for a season ending injury and by golly we got it. Word out this morning from Iowa City is that our one inside force, freshman sensation Jarryd Cole is done for the year, having blown out his acl.

If you've seen David Palmer play, then you know how devastating this injury really is. Rebounding and interior play was not our strong point to begin with. Now it may just be non-existent. Now even more of the burden will be shifting to Peterson, Freeman, and Justin Johnson. High school teams can be guard dominating, but a D1 college team can never survive with no inside presence what so ever.

Hawkeye nation knew that this would be a tough rebuilding year. It's going to be that and then some. But I really think we will be back in a couple of years. We have some bright spots. Jeff Peterson obviously is a great point guard. He sees the floor extremely well for a freshman. But to me the biggest surprise is Jake Kelly. I really like the way he can create off the dribble.

No, it isn't going to be a banner year for Hawkeye basketball. But with a new coach, it takes time to build the foundation needed for success. Take advantage of it by getting to Carver-Hawkeye arena for a game or two. Tickets can be had easily. They may not be so easy to get in a few years. We can only hope.

Go Hawks!