JonDMiller
Publisher/Founder
After two wins last week, the Iowa Hawkeyes are moving up in the rankings and the eyes of the college basketball nation.
Some may say that rankings don't matter as much in basketball as they do in football and I think they can make a good argument. The trump card for that side of things is 'basketball has a tournament'. That's true.
However, I think rankings DO matter for a program like Iowa's; the Hawkeyes are trying to reassert themselves as being relevant and beyond, as they were from the late 1970's through the Tom Davis era.
The higher you are ranked, the more you are written about and discussed. The more you are written about and discussed, the more kids are going to see your program in a positive light and perhaps give you a look on the recruiting trails. The more looks you get, the 'more better' players you are going to get.
Hey, I'd take an Elite 8 run over being ranked 10 spots too low in the rankings, but if you can stay in the Top 15 discussions all year long, that is invaluable promotion for a program like Iowa's. So that's why I think the ratings matter and the good news for Iowa? They're now inside the Top 15.
Iowa jumped six spots to rank 14th in the AP Poll, just ahead of Kansas (15th) and just behind Kentucky (13th). This is the highest Iowa has been rated since the 2005-2006 Hawkeyes were rated 12th at one point that year. Most everything that happens for the good was last accomplished in that season, by the way. With the exception of Iowa’s last win over a Top 5 team; that happened in 2001….or at least that was the streak before beating then #3 Ohio State.
Speaking of the Buckeyes, they lost two games last week yet stay ranked ahead of Iowa in the AP Poll (11th) and Coaches Poll (9th). The Hawkeyes ranked 16th in the coaches poll, moving up seven spots there. Iowa was the biggest gainer in that poll this week.
Iowa jumped up to 18th in the RPI ratings, too. The RPI is still a factor in helping the NCAA selection committee seed their tournament. The Hawkeyes are likely in Top Four seed territory as of right now, and Joe Lunardi of ESPN tweeted on Sunday night after Iowa’s win that the Hawkeyes likely jump up two lines after that win; Iowa was a six seed in his projections last week. Iowa is ranked 13th inESPN’s BPI and they have them as a projected 4-seed.
Jerry Palm of CBS does that outfit’s bracketology and he has Iowa as a 3 seed in his projection this week, moving up from a six seed last week. Las Vegas Oddsmakers might be the best sources for rankings, as they have no rooting bias and are more informed than computers. This one has Iowa 8th.
You can see several computer rankings at this convenient link, but Ken Pomeroy has Iowa ranked 5th, Jeff Sagarin has Iowa rated 4th and something called TimeTravelSports.com has Iowa rated 2nd.
This is truly shaping up as a back to the future year for Iowa basketball.
Some may say that rankings don't matter as much in basketball as they do in football and I think they can make a good argument. The trump card for that side of things is 'basketball has a tournament'. That's true.
However, I think rankings DO matter for a program like Iowa's; the Hawkeyes are trying to reassert themselves as being relevant and beyond, as they were from the late 1970's through the Tom Davis era.
The higher you are ranked, the more you are written about and discussed. The more you are written about and discussed, the more kids are going to see your program in a positive light and perhaps give you a look on the recruiting trails. The more looks you get, the 'more better' players you are going to get.
Hey, I'd take an Elite 8 run over being ranked 10 spots too low in the rankings, but if you can stay in the Top 15 discussions all year long, that is invaluable promotion for a program like Iowa's. So that's why I think the ratings matter and the good news for Iowa? They're now inside the Top 15.
Iowa jumped six spots to rank 14th in the AP Poll, just ahead of Kansas (15th) and just behind Kentucky (13th). This is the highest Iowa has been rated since the 2005-2006 Hawkeyes were rated 12th at one point that year. Most everything that happens for the good was last accomplished in that season, by the way. With the exception of Iowa’s last win over a Top 5 team; that happened in 2001….or at least that was the streak before beating then #3 Ohio State.
Speaking of the Buckeyes, they lost two games last week yet stay ranked ahead of Iowa in the AP Poll (11th) and Coaches Poll (9th). The Hawkeyes ranked 16th in the coaches poll, moving up seven spots there. Iowa was the biggest gainer in that poll this week.
Iowa jumped up to 18th in the RPI ratings, too. The RPI is still a factor in helping the NCAA selection committee seed their tournament. The Hawkeyes are likely in Top Four seed territory as of right now, and Joe Lunardi of ESPN tweeted on Sunday night after Iowa’s win that the Hawkeyes likely jump up two lines after that win; Iowa was a six seed in his projections last week. Iowa is ranked 13th inESPN’s BPI and they have them as a projected 4-seed.
Jerry Palm of CBS does that outfit’s bracketology and he has Iowa as a 3 seed in his projection this week, moving up from a six seed last week. Las Vegas Oddsmakers might be the best sources for rankings, as they have no rooting bias and are more informed than computers. This one has Iowa 8th.
You can see several computer rankings at this convenient link, but Ken Pomeroy has Iowa ranked 5th, Jeff Sagarin has Iowa rated 4th and something called TimeTravelSports.com has Iowa rated 2nd.
This is truly shaping up as a back to the future year for Iowa basketball.
Last edited:
