Hawkeye Tourney Talk and This Week's Power Rankings

JonDMiller

JonDMiller

Publisher/Founder
Let's lead off with some NCAA tournament chatter from a couple of talking heads on twitter:

Jerry Palm
https://twitter.com/jppalmCBS/status/303323089805139968

Seth Davis
https://twitter.com/SethDavisHoops/status/303247992549437440

Iowa's RPI was in the high 80's before their win against Minnesota. They moved into the high 70's right after the game and we'll see how they settle out early this week. Do the Hawkeyes have a serious shot to make the NCAA tournament?

I wouldn't call it 'serious' just yet. A shot? Yes but as Jerry Palm said, it's still in long shot status. Long shot, but the Hawkeyes have the schedule to get closer to the cut line. What is the cut line?

Here is a list of 'high' RPI's for teams who made the NCAA tournament as at large teams since 2005:

#67 USC (2011)
#64 Marquette (2011)
#63 Stanford (2007)
#63 NC State (2005)

2005 was the last time the RPI had an overhaul of any significance. There have been higher (or worse) RPI's in the dance prior to that, but go with the post 2005 angle here. Can Iowa get into this range if it wins four of its next five games? Yes it can and it could get into the high 50's.

This is just my opinion, but I'd wager on it; if Iowa goes 4-1 to end the regular season and wins their first game at the Big Ten tournament, they likely get into the NCAA Tournament. Do that and win their first two in the Big Ten tournament and we're in lock territory.

How likely is 4-1? Iowa has two games against Nebraska and home games against Purdue and Illinois. None of those teams has a winning record in the Big Ten. Nebraska is 3-10 and the Boilermakers are in the midst of a real dark finish to this year. Illinois is starting to tick back the other way and that game will be a challenge. Iowa also plays at Indiana and I give them next to no chance at a win there.

For now? Just keep winning. The game at Nebraska Thursday night will be a challenge and then Iowa hosts Purdue six days later before their game at Indiana. Lose the game at Nebraska and all of the NCAA talk evaporates.

Now, this week's Power Rankings:

1. Indiana: Hoosiers travel to take on the Spartans Tuesday. Oladipo tweaked an ankle against Purdue and is 'day to day'. Both the Spartans and Hoosiers are 11-2 in the league so this is a pretty big game.

2. Michigan State: They begin a brutal stretch; vs #1 in the nation, then at Ohio State and Michigan back to back before hosting Wisconsin.

3. Michigan: Wolverines starting to slide a little bit and beat Penn State at home by just eight points on Sunday.

4. Wisconsin: As much as I can't stand their style of play, they're winning and doing so without their best option at point guard.

5. Ohio State: Scoring less than 50 points in Madison doesn't make them unique...but it sure was ugly.

6. Illinois: From 2-7 to 7-7? Beat Penn State Thursday and that's five in a row.

7. Iowa: The Hawkeyes are one win away from being 7-7 themselves

8. Minnesota: They began the year 15-1 and have gone 3-7 since.

9. Purdue: They are 5-8 in the league and still play at Iowa and Wisconsin and host Michigan and Minnesota.

10. Northwestern
11. Nebraska
12. Penn State: I don't see them avoiding 0-18. They finish at Illinois, v Michigan, at Minnesota, at Northwestern and v Wisconsin
 




I will only meltdown if we win 5 out of the next 6 and don't get an invite. This meltdown would be directed solely at the Selection Committee. Anything less and I will accept the NIT and hope for a trip to MSG and some more home games for May along the way.
 


the only hype is here on the message boards. i come into contact with lots of hawk fans, many of whom are just pleased to see a good team on the floor with no NCAA expectations. did too many on here have unrealistic expectation coming into this year? absolutely. but they're right on pace with what most reasonable folks predicted. lots of folks, myself included, predicted right around 20 wins on the season and a 9-9 conference record. that looks very likely and is all you can control.
 




I had them at 12-6...beating MSU and Purdue which we lost. Those 2 games went down to the wire so I don't feel like my expectation/prediction was too out of line. I'm certainly not disappointed with the team or the season...regardless of how it ends.
 


BankrollSports.com has Iowa right now as a #2 seed in the NIT. That would get us at least 2 home games (assuming we win the first).

NIT might not be all bad for this young team......
 




Dang.

Just split those four excrutiating losses and now we're talking "where" not "if" we'd be seeded.
 


Penn State plays hard. I am rooting for them to get a W before season's end. Especially now that we've played them twice already.;)
 


Iowa is +1 in overall and Big Ten record right now from what I felt they'd do beginning of the year. I had them 9-9. It has been pretty amazing how 'predictable' their season has been, though. But at the same time, this team has been so close to having an out of this world season relative to expectation.
 


I find it very hard to believe that the 6th place B1G team will not get in, regardless of the tournament results.
 


JonDMiller said:
Let's lead off with some NCAA tournament chatter from a couple of talking heads on twitter:


4. Wisconsin: As much as I can't stand their style of play, they're winning and doing so without their best option at point guard.


I love how every week that your Wisconsin take comes with some type of qualifier: "I can't stand their style of play but.." "I think they will come back down to earth but.."

Wisconsin is clearly in your head more than any other BIG Ten team. Love it.

Penn State isn't going to go winless, they are on the verge of beating somebody. We are their last game on Senior Day in State College. I'm just hoping it's not us but they are going to get somebody one of these days.
Click to expand...
 


activebadger said:
JonDMiller said:
Let's lead off with some NCAA tournament chatter from a couple of talking heads on twitter:


4. Wisconsin: As much as I can't stand their style of play, they're winning and doing so without their best option at point guard.


I love how every week that your Wisconsin take comes with some type of qualifier: "I can't stand their style of play but.." "I think they will come back down to earth but.."

Wisconsin is clearly in your head more than any other BIG Ten team. Love it.

Penn State isn't going to go winless, they are on the verge of beating somebody. We are their last game on Senior Day in State College. I'm just hoping it's not us but they are going to get somebody one of these days.
Click to expand...

Love how you still feel the urge to post here. Everyone here dislikes you and Connie. Go hold hands and jump off a cliff.
Click to expand...
 


JonDMiller said:
Let's lead off with some NCAA tournament chatter from a couple of talking heads on twitter:


4. Wisconsin: As much as I can't stand their style of play, they're winning and doing so without their best option at point guard.


I love how every week that your Wisconsin take comes with some type of qualifier: "I can't stand their style of play but.." "I think they will come back down to earth but.."

Wisconsin is clearly in your head more than any other BIG Ten team. Love it.

Penn State isn't going to go winless, they are on the verge of beating somebody. We are their last game on Senior Day in State College. I'm just hoping it's not us but they are going to get somebody one of these days.
Click to expand...


1- Learn how to use teh quote function. It isnt hard.

2- Why are you still hanging around here? Go away unless Iowa and Wisky meet up in the BTT.
 


theboat said:
I find it very hard to believe that the 6th place B1G team will not get in, regardless of the tournament results.
Click to expand...

Selection committee members aren't going to look at where you fall in the conference AT ALL. If Iowa wins 10 games, 7 of those would have come against (NW, Neb, PSU and Purdue). Almost all of your non-conference wins came against really bad teams save for Iowa State who is fringe Top 50. You also haven't beaten anyone of significance away from Carver. Winning at Wisconsin would have alleviated much of those things. Mike DeCourcy said pretty much the same thing last night and Jerry Palm agreed with him. Fran should have scheduled a little better in the non-conference, that was a really weak schedule.

Bottom line is if you go 10-8 and win one game in the BTT then you are about a 60% chance. 10-8 and 2 games in the BTT and I'd think you'd be a lock. That Illinois game is a straight on "must win" game.
 


activebadger said:
Bottom line is if you go 10-8 and win one game in the BTT then you are about a 60% chance. 10-8 and 2 games in the BTT and I'd think you'd be a lock. That Illinois game is a straight on "must win" game.
Click to expand...

There are people all over this board saying this exact thing. Why do you need to come here and repeat it?
 


Section136 said:
There are people all over this board saying this exact thing. Why do you need to come here and repeat it?
Click to expand...

He has nothing better to do, no life and all other Vadger fans can't stand him either. He is probably banned from all the Connie sites like Herby was at all the Iowa sites.
 


I pretty much look at it this way: If Iowa slips up against Nebraska this week (or at home against Nebby or Purdue), that will pretty much sink their NCAA hopes and I would agree that Iowa doesn't deserve a bid in that scenario. You have to beat teams like Nebby and this year's edition of the Boilermakers if you're a tournament team.

If Iowa can take care of the "should win" games, and can split with Illinois/Indiana, then I really like their chances at a bid, provided they don't lay an egg against PSU or whatever low seed they play in the first round of the BTT.

However, I would feel much better if Iowa could go 10-8 AND make it to the BTT semi's. 10-8 with a quarterfinal loss, and it will be Pepto time come selection Sunday. Anything less than THAT, and I'd be betting on NIT. Seems pretty simple at this point.
 


activebadger said:
Selection committee members aren't going to look at where you fall in the conference AT ALL. If Iowa wins 10 games, 7 of those would have come against (NW, Neb, PSU and Purdue). Almost all of your non-conference wins came against really bad teams save for Iowa State who is fringe Top 50. You also haven't beaten anyone of significance away from Carver. Winning at Wisconsin would have alleviated much of those things. Mike DeCourcy said pretty much the same thing last night and Jerry Palm agreed with him. Fran should have scheduled a little better in the non-conference, that was a really weak schedule.

Bottom line is if you go 10-8 and win one game in the BTT then you are about a 60% chance. 10-8 and 2 games in the BTT and I'd think you'd be a lock. That Illinois game is a straight on "must win" game.
Click to expand...

you are just mad that it takes miracle bounces for Bo to beat Fran.
 


You must log in or register to reply here.


Latest posts

Share this page






Top