Quality Wins

cibula11

Well-Known Member
If Iowa had a better record...or a few more non conference wins, we'd have some pretty impressive "quality wins". I know we have some bad losses too, but some of our wins have been more impressive than many of the teams that will make the tourney this year.
 


It is kind of pointless, but if we could have somehow squeaked out Nebraska and Penn State, we would be 16 and 11 right now and on the bubble.

Would, coulda, shoulda.....hey, at least we are excited about Iowa BB again. It feels good
 


Yeah I know it's all in the past...but it is just interesting that we have several quality wins and programs like ISU or others that will be on the bubble don't have the wins like we have.
 


Unfortunately it's about the bad losses... 4 BIG time all at home and include Clemsen, Campbell, Nebraska and even Purdue.

Without those and (every loss had some injury issues) Iowa would be 18-9 and 8-6 in the Big Ten and securely on an NCAA bubble assuming at least another 3 to 4 wins in the Big Ten season(s)
 


Enjoy the journey back folks. The goal this year is a winning record and some kind of postseason would be gravy. The real fun starts next year and beyond.
 


Enjoy the journey back folks. The goal this year is a winning record and some kind of postseason would be gravy. The real fun starts next year and beyond.

I'm not sure if next year we'll be a tournament team or not but I have a feeling Iowa will be really good in two years. A no doubt tourny team that finishes in the top third of the conference is my way too early prediction for two years from now :)
 


Yeah I know it's all in the past...but it is just interesting that we have several quality wins and programs like ISU or others that will be on the bubble don't have the wins like we have.

I completely agree with you, and it's why this is one of the most exciting .500 basketball seasons in Iowa history. Some of it is where we've been. But it's also the ceiling this team has right now.

This is a team that can beat any non-top10 team at home. And this is a team that can beat good teams on the road.

This team has bad losses, and it really underperforms at times. But this team can do things, impressive things, as well. This is a team that is worth getting excited about every game, .500 record be damned.
 


If Iowa had a better record...or a few more non conference wins, we'd have some pretty impressive "quality wins". I know we have some bad losses too, but some of our wins have been more impressive than many of the teams that will make the tourney this year.

I really like our shot at the NIT this season, just need to finish strong and give Matty Ice a tournament birth before he goes.
 


It's relative depending on which rating/scale you use, but here's what you see with Iowa.

Quality Wins (Top 60): FIVE
None in the non-conf. Best win was vs. 13-12 Boise State.
Five in the #1 conf in America: At Wisconsin, At Minnesota, Vs Michigan, Vs Minnesota, Vs Indiana

Bad Losses (100+ KenPom): THREE
Non-conf: Campbell. Clemson is getting off the "bad" list, they are above .500 and just beat Virginia recently. They are currently ranked higher than UNI on KenPom.
Conf: Vs. Nebraska, At Penn State

Iowa has only 1 loss to a team 150+ on KenPom.
Iowa has 5 wins over teams in the Top 60 in KenPom.
Iowa's records vs Top 75 in KenPom: 5-8
 
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This is an Iowa team that if everyone was healthy and playing at their best, with really great coaching and favorable matchup's could win the Big Ten Tournament title.

Unlike a few years ago they would NOT lose the first game and then find themselves in the Sweet Sixteen. Hope is eternal and a bleesin.

God bless Matt and the kids who came off the bench.. Andrew, Archie, Darius and Brandon...

who knows?
 


Unfortunately it's about the bad losses... 4 BIG time all at home and include Clemsen, Campbell, Nebraska and even Purdue.Without those and (every loss had some injury issues) Iowa would be 18-9 and 8-6 in the Big Ten and securely on an NCAA bubble assuming at least another 3 to 4 wins in the Big Ten season(s)

If the Hawks were 18-9 and 8-6 in the B1G, they would not be a bubble team, they would be in and there would really be no question about it.
The "what if" game stings this year, its just great to be semi-relevant again and I am going to continue to enjoy watching the improvement.
 


If the Hawks were 18-9 and 8-6 in the B1G, they would not be a bubble team, they would be in and there would really be no question about it.
The "what if" game stings this year, its just great to be semi-relevant again and I am going to continue to enjoy watching the improvement.

Agreed and it does sting.

I will watch too and Iowa is almost "relevant"

Yet maybe between Matt and Fran and "the bench", everyone is healthy and all in, a winning record, let alone a "championship" game by game is within reach.
 






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