Illinois-Iowa

Not sure how they're a lock. Someone explain to me how this team is anything more than a 10-11 seed if they even make the tournament. Their best wins are Michigan and an Ohio St team that isn't all that great. The worst teams in the league - Northwestern, Purdue, Illinois, Penn St and Minnesota - account for six of their nine Big 10 wins.

Agreed. If they don't snag a couple conference tourney wins then they'll be sweating next Sunday out. All it takes is a few mid major conference tourney upsets to put it in motion.
 
They are down to, lose Thursday and probably get bounced, win and probably in.

Lock my azz.


At least Baylor won't be around to pick on them if they go nitpicking again.
 
Down the stretch, Iowa is really staking a claim that they want to make a run at a tournament championship. After the loss to Baylor in the final game last year they deserve another shot at the title.
 
They are down to, lose Thursday and probably get bounced, win and probably in.

Lock my azz.


At least Baylor won't be around to pick on them if they go nitpicking again.

I'm not sure that only one win does much to help their case. A win over a bottom feeder like Penn State, Northwestern or Purdue isn't going to convince anyone. A second win over a team in the top half of the conference would put them solidly in.
 
This is a great way to start my day. Couldn't stay awake for the 2nd half, and I loathe Daylight Savings Time.

Hawkeye tears go really well with breakfast!

What is their RPI for real? ESPN thinks their rpi is 39, but rpi forecast thinks it is 46.
 
Every year there are about 4 teams in the country with Iowa's resume. Usually about 2-3 make it in, because that's all there's room for. The other 1-2 get hosed.
 
I'm not sure that only one win does much to help their case. A win over a bottom feeder like Penn State, Northwestern or Purdue isn't going to convince anyone. A second win over a team in the top half of the conference would put them solidly in.

It's more about avoiding another terrible loss against Purdue than getting a quality win. They're in right now, not by much, but they're in. And yes the bubble is that bad right now.
 
Can someone please explain to me how that is a top 25 team?
Short answer. They're not.
Here's some food for thought, for the last two months, Iowa is below .500. Two entire months of losing more than they win to close out the regular season. Fran really did a number on that team. He turned them into victims, or at least that's how they see themselves. They have talent, but have been held back by the man calling the shots.
 
Short answer. They're not.
Here's some food for thought, for the last two months, Iowa is below .500. Two entire months of losing more than they win to close out the regular season. Fran really did a number on that team. He turned them into victims, or at least that's how they see themselves. They have talent, but have been held back by the man calling the shots.

Yeah. A team takes on the personality of their head coach, and that's been especially true in Iowa City. When things get tough, Fran goes to pieces and his players follow suit.
 
It's more about avoiding another terrible loss against Purdue than getting a quality win. They're in right now, not by much, but they're in. And yes the bubble is that bad right now.

I agree, but until we have all the mid to low-major conf. championships in it's hard to gauge just how bad the bubble will be. Just takes a few upsets to make things interesting.
 
Same record as last year. And last year's Hawk team deserved an invite more than this group. Last year if I am not mistaken, they won 4 of their last 5. This group doesn't deserve a bid unless they can win two........TWO in the conference tourney. West Virginia is a better candidate. They just beat KU, beat us, beat OU and have the same conference record as Iowa in a tougher conference. All the pre-season love should not be the reason a team gets a bid. Somewhere along the line they have to earn it. And this Hawkeye team has not.

I they don't win their next game. Not even the NIT would want them!
 
The hype that has carried Iowa this year is really unprecedented. How in hell are they still top 25 (they better not be today)!! They must have the worst resume of any top 25 team by a LONG way. Same record as last year and last year they are NIT and this year a NCAA lock?? Please. If they weren't so hyped going in they would be right where they should be which is waiting for that coveted NIT invite. Fran could learn a lot from Fred on mismatches. While Fred looks to exploit them, Fran is teeing them up for the other teams. Marble isn't perfect, but he should NEVER leave the floor except for maybe a minute or less before a TV time out. White could be great...if he was aggressive. He is best right now just playing rebounds above the rim. No real threat to create. Gessell has a good handle and is quick but man, is there anyone more choke prone? Olesane is underutilized. McCabe hurts them 2x as much as helps. Woodbury would be absolutely terrible if he wasn't 7 foot. At 7 foot he is merely not good. If we were dropping that many games to bad teams at home I would be sick.
 
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It's that time of the year again. We'll be hearing stories about how a deep NIT run is better than an NCAA first round exit.
 
NIT will still take them because they will be given a home game and Iowa fans will still go to it. They'd rather have filled seats than empty seats in the NIT tourney.
You are right. Their rich fans buy them better bowl games and other invites they do not deserve.
 

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