JonDMiller
Publisher/Founder
FAST STARTS: Should Iowa get past Villanova, it will have a chance at equalling it's best start since the 2000-2001 team began the year 9-0. Here are Iowa's best winning streaks to start a season dating back to Iowa's Final Four season in 1979-1980:
1986-1987: 18-0
1988-1989: 13-0
1992-1993: 10-0
2000-2001: 9-0
1979-1980: 9-0
2013-2014: 7-0
1989-1990: 7-0
Pomeroy now has Iowa going 12-6 in the Big Ten, 23-8 overall. It's still early and while his numbers are not an end all-be all, I am fascinated by how accurate his prognosticating can be over the course of a year.
COMEBACK: It has been a good week of comebacks for Iowa fans. First there was the 21-7 comeback against Michigan on the gridiron when Iowa was down -4 in turnovers at one point and had missed one field goal and botched another. Iowa's win probability at the half was probably less than 10%. The comeback against Xavier was also a big one.
Per Ken Pomeroy's analytics, Iowa had a 6.2% win probability when it trailed Xavier 55-42, with 10:59 remaining in the second half. The fact that Iowa won the game is remarkable, as is how they won it. They did so by shooting under 34% from the floor, under 27% from the three-point line and under 70% from the free throw line. That's not going to happen too often.
RATINGS: More from Pomeroy, as Iowa find itself rated 7th in his ratings as of Saturday, November 30th. Iowa's defensive numbers are pretty impressive thus far and the type of performance we saw in their first five games has translated over to their two decent opponents in Atlantis. Iowa remains #1 in the nation in eFG% defense and #2 in 3FG% defense. Villanova is going to pose a challenge for Iowa on the offensive end as they will guard like Michigan State and Ohio State can. They play a three-guard lineup and if Fran McCaffery keeps insisting on playing Aaron White at the three position, this is a game where they have to make them pay.
1986-1987: 18-0
1988-1989: 13-0
1992-1993: 10-0
2000-2001: 9-0
1979-1980: 9-0
2013-2014: 7-0
1989-1990: 7-0
Pomeroy now has Iowa going 12-6 in the Big Ten, 23-8 overall. It's still early and while his numbers are not an end all-be all, I am fascinated by how accurate his prognosticating can be over the course of a year.
COMEBACK: It has been a good week of comebacks for Iowa fans. First there was the 21-7 comeback against Michigan on the gridiron when Iowa was down -4 in turnovers at one point and had missed one field goal and botched another. Iowa's win probability at the half was probably less than 10%. The comeback against Xavier was also a big one.
Per Ken Pomeroy's analytics, Iowa had a 6.2% win probability when it trailed Xavier 55-42, with 10:59 remaining in the second half. The fact that Iowa won the game is remarkable, as is how they won it. They did so by shooting under 34% from the floor, under 27% from the three-point line and under 70% from the free throw line. That's not going to happen too often.
RATINGS: More from Pomeroy, as Iowa find itself rated 7th in his ratings as of Saturday, November 30th. Iowa's defensive numbers are pretty impressive thus far and the type of performance we saw in their first five games has translated over to their two decent opponents in Atlantis. Iowa remains #1 in the nation in eFG% defense and #2 in 3FG% defense. Villanova is going to pose a challenge for Iowa on the offensive end as they will guard like Michigan State and Ohio State can. They play a three-guard lineup and if Fran McCaffery keeps insisting on playing Aaron White at the three position, this is a game where they have to make them pay.
