I agreed with Jon Miller’s latest Big 10 Power Rankings, which had Iowa as the 7th best Big 10 team behind the six currently ranked (Top 25) Big 10 Teams of Indiana, Michigan, Ohio State, Illinois, Minnesota & Michigan State.
If Iowa holds serve and beats every team they play in the Big 10 that is currently ranked below them, they would finish with an overall Big 10 record of 9-9. This 9-9 record even concedes a loss at WIS, which is historically a very tough place to win, but with the loss of their PG and the way that the Badgers have been playing, I think the Hawks have a solid shot of getting another win in the Kohl Center this year.
The 9-9 Big 10 record would include the following wins and losses:
Home Wins: WIS, PSU, NW, PUR & NEB
Road Wins: at NW, at PUR, at PSU, at NEB
Home Losses: IND, MSU, MINN & ILL
Road Losses: at MICH, at OSU, at MINN, at WIS & at IND
If Iowa does finish with a Big 10 record of 9-9, that would put them at 20-11 overall heading into the Big 10 Tournament. There would not be any bad losses included on the resume, but the best wins on the resume would be over Iowa State, UNI and Wisconsin at home. Even with the Big 10 being the strongest conference in the nation this year, I still think the Hawks would have to win at least 1 and probably 2 in the Big 10 Tournament to lock down a NCAA Tourney bid in this scenario.
I do think that the Hawks can solidify a NCAA tourney birth and remove themselves from being a bubble team if they are able to win the games mentioned above and mix in 2 additional upset wins from the other Big 10 projected losses.
I think the road games at Michigan, Ohio State, Minnesota and Indiana are probable losses. That leaves the following 5 critical swing games: Indiana at home, Michigan State at home, at Wisconsin, Minnesota at home and Illinois at home. Judging by how these teams are playing right now, I would give Iowa at least a 50% chance of beating MSU and MINN at home. If the Hawks could get these 2 wins against ranked opponents and finish with a Big 10 record of 11-7, they would finish with an overall record of 22-9 heading into the Big 10 tourney, and pretty much have locked up a NCAA Tourney bid regardless of how they do in the Big 10 Tourney.
No matter how the rest of the season pans out, as a fan it is really nice to be this enthused and invested in the basketball team. The Hawks have quality depth, loads of young talent and have their fanbase excited about the direction of the team. The Hawks are not BACK yet, but I am definitely MAD again, and if the Hawks can upset the Hoosiers on New Year’s Eve to start the Big 10 Season, I will be downright hysterical.
If Iowa holds serve and beats every team they play in the Big 10 that is currently ranked below them, they would finish with an overall Big 10 record of 9-9. This 9-9 record even concedes a loss at WIS, which is historically a very tough place to win, but with the loss of their PG and the way that the Badgers have been playing, I think the Hawks have a solid shot of getting another win in the Kohl Center this year.
The 9-9 Big 10 record would include the following wins and losses:
Home Wins: WIS, PSU, NW, PUR & NEB
Road Wins: at NW, at PUR, at PSU, at NEB
Home Losses: IND, MSU, MINN & ILL
Road Losses: at MICH, at OSU, at MINN, at WIS & at IND
If Iowa does finish with a Big 10 record of 9-9, that would put them at 20-11 overall heading into the Big 10 Tournament. There would not be any bad losses included on the resume, but the best wins on the resume would be over Iowa State, UNI and Wisconsin at home. Even with the Big 10 being the strongest conference in the nation this year, I still think the Hawks would have to win at least 1 and probably 2 in the Big 10 Tournament to lock down a NCAA Tourney bid in this scenario.
I do think that the Hawks can solidify a NCAA tourney birth and remove themselves from being a bubble team if they are able to win the games mentioned above and mix in 2 additional upset wins from the other Big 10 projected losses.
I think the road games at Michigan, Ohio State, Minnesota and Indiana are probable losses. That leaves the following 5 critical swing games: Indiana at home, Michigan State at home, at Wisconsin, Minnesota at home and Illinois at home. Judging by how these teams are playing right now, I would give Iowa at least a 50% chance of beating MSU and MINN at home. If the Hawks could get these 2 wins against ranked opponents and finish with a Big 10 record of 11-7, they would finish with an overall record of 22-9 heading into the Big 10 tourney, and pretty much have locked up a NCAA Tourney bid regardless of how they do in the Big 10 Tourney.
No matter how the rest of the season pans out, as a fan it is really nice to be this enthused and invested in the basketball team. The Hawks have quality depth, loads of young talent and have their fanbase excited about the direction of the team. The Hawks are not BACK yet, but I am definitely MAD again, and if the Hawks can upset the Hoosiers on New Year’s Eve to start the Big 10 Season, I will be downright hysterical.
