Iowa basketball coach Todd Lickliter say this season is not hopeless. The Hawkeyes have lost three straight games and while it is clear this team has a number of shortcomings they need to continue to work to offset them.

Lickliter says if you’re not realistic you’ll have a tendency to be despondent. He says they need to be realistic about what they can do and at the same time maintain that they are in control of some of the things that happen, and do everything they can to overcome obstacles.

Lickliter says no matter what happens this season the Hawks will work hard every day to get better. Lickliter says he would hate to think that he would ever give up before the final bell. He says their signature is on the program and they will continue fighting.

Lickliter says while he appreciates the patience Iowa fans have shown he does not want that to become an excuse for accepting losses. He says you always want it faster, and he appreciates people saying they will be patient, but Lickliter says he doesn’t want acceptance of losing. Iowa hosts Louisiana-Monroe in the opening round of its own tournament on Friday night. Rice and Eastern Illinois meet in the other first round game.