Irrelevant/Hypothetical Question of the Day

[cockyhawkfan]

I normally don't pose questions like this. But just for the hell of it...

Let's say the Hawks win the NIT. Do they finish the season ranked in the Top 25? Sure there are a lot of undetermined factors. But strictly looking at overall record, that would put the Hawks at 26-12 for the season. And 12-4 in their final 16 games I believe? I personally don't believe they would be just looking through last years final poll.

I believe Stanford won the NIT last year and wasn't ranked to end the season. Nor were they given any votes in the preseason poll this year. I would think if we win the NIT we might receive some votes going into the preseason next year, but not enough to get into the Top 25.

 

[HawkeyeMHA]

Sure wouldn't hurt. I bet we would get some votes for next year.

 

[1977Hawkeye]

I remember the 1994-95 Iowa team winning a couple games in the NIT (unranked at the time, not sure about the final polls) and were ranked somewhere around 10th nationally, give or take, pre-season the following year. I guess it depends on what a team has coming back. I wouldn't be too surprised to see Iowa a ranked team in the first poll next year given that we were competetive this year and lose only 1 scholarship player.

 

[WindsorHawk]

I suspect we would be ranked in the preseason.

 

[uihawk82]

Three more wins and ranking services will have us very high. I mean for Fran and the Hawks to win the NIT in year 3 if it happens is just amazing.

I liked Coach Lansing saying the Hawks are an NCAA caliber team and should have been in the Ncaa tourney. Nice thoughts and pub.

 

[HawkinGoferLand]

probably pre-season ranked for next year considering we return everyone sans May and add Jok, Uthoff and Meyer and sport a 26-11 record (9-9) and finished 12-4

 

[ssckelley]

No way Iowa gets ranked this season, the problem with playing in the NIT is you are playing teams that are also not ranked. So there are not many wins that you can get in the NIT that justify ranking Iowa, although playing Kentucky in the finals would have been nice.

Next season regardless of how Iowa does in the NIT I think Iowa will get a few votes in both polls. Pretty much everybody views Iowa as an up and coming team.

 

[BJHawkstrong]

Three more wins and ranking services will have us very high. I mean for Fran and the Hawks to win the NIT in year 3 if it happens is just amazing.

I liked Coach Lansing saying the Hawks are an NCAA caliber team and should have been in the Ncaa tourney. Nice thoughts and pub.

You're correct and on top of that, I think Izzo, Crean, Painter, Miles, Groce, Carmody, and even Tubby all said at one point that Iowa was a NCAA caliber team who had some tough close losses. I know some of that is fluff and respect from fellow coaches but I also don't think they would specifically mention the NCAA tourney unless they truely felt that way. Opposing coaches know how dangerous we were this year and they also know how good we can be next year. I'm not sure about this year's final ranking but it would not surprise me if the Hawks were ranked in the preseason top 25. They will be a trendy up and comer pick by many pundits next year.

 

[BJHawkstrong]

probably pre-season ranked for next year considering we return everyone sans May and add Jok, Uthoff and Meyer and sport a 26-11 record (9-9) and finished 12-4

I like your optimism regarding the final record.

 

[hawkdrummer1]

If there are rankings at year-end, they're a formality. The NCAA tourney is your final rankings. You never hear "they were ranked #12 in last year's final poll". You do hear "they made the Sweet 16" or "They made the NCAA tourney but lost in the opening round"

But...if we win the NIT, we'll get votes in the preseason poll this fall.

 

[hawkfan33]

No, we wouldn't be ranked this year and we shouldn't be. But if we make it to NYC I do think we begin next year in the top 25, if for no other reason than sportswriters are lazy and an Iowa team in the top 25 in KenPom returning all 5 starters presents an easy narrative for them to sell.

 

[jacknicholson]

You're correct and on top of that, I think Izzo, Crean, Painter, Miles, Groce, Carmody, and even Tubby all said at one point that Iowa was a NCAA caliber team who had some tough close losses. I know some of that is fluff and respect from fellow coaches but I also don't think they would specifically mention the NCAA tourney unless they truely felt that way. Opposing coaches know how dangerous we were this year and they also know how good we can be next year. I'm not sure about this year's final ranking but it would not surprise me if the Hawks were ranked in the preseason top 25. They will be a trendy up and comer pick by many pundits next year.

Very nice post, BJ.....