Re: Iowa MBB now a projected #1 seed
I really don't think Iowa or Iowa State will make it out of the first weekend of the tournament, unfortunately. Iowa is 4-6 is games decided by 10 points or less. Two of those wins were against Drake and Minnesota. The other two were @Purdue and in OT against bubblicious Florida State.
I give Iowa credit for not having very many close games and beating some very good teams handily. It's why they are ranked where they are and they deserve it. However, if I'm an Iowa fan I'm pretty nervous come March because this team hasn't really proven they can consistently win a close game, which is how you advance in the tournament usually.
Iowa State is in a similar boat. We're 8-8 in games decided by 10 points or less. Some of that speaks to the strength of and parity within the Big 12, and some of that speaks to our inability to put games completely away. We have one loss to a non-tournament team (UNI) and and 4 wins of 10 points or less against bubble or non-tournament teams (Cincy, Tech, Okie State, and TCU).
I really don't think Iowa or Iowa State will make it out of the first weekend of the tournament, unfortunately. Iowa is 4-6 is games decided by 10 points or less. Two of those wins were against Drake and Minnesota. The other two were @Purdue and in OT against bubblicious Florida State.
I give Iowa credit for not having very many close games and beating some very good teams handily. It's why they are ranked where they are and they deserve it. However, if I'm an Iowa fan I'm pretty nervous come March because this team hasn't really proven they can consistently win a close game, which is how you advance in the tournament usually.
Iowa State is in a similar boat. We're 8-8 in games decided by 10 points or less. Some of that speaks to the strength of and parity within the Big 12, and some of that speaks to our inability to put games completely away. We have one loss to a non-tournament team (UNI) and and 4 wins of 10 points or less against bubble or non-tournament teams (Cincy, Tech, Okie State, and TCU).

