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ESPN: "This 2021-2022 Iowa Team might have Final Four Potential"

Franisdaman

HR King
Nov 3, 2012
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Women's college basketball's Way-Too-Early Top 25:​

1. UConn
2. South Carolina
3. Stanford
4. Baylor

5. Maryland
Brenda Frese remade her roster last offseason due to transfers and graduations, and turned it into a Sweet 16 run and AP Coach of the Year honors. Katie Benzan and Chloe Bibby, who each came to College Park as grad transfers, both announced they're coming back, which boosted the Terps a spot. With Benzan's 3-point shooting and Bibby's versatility, plus point guard Ashley Owusu, wing Diamond Miller and forward Angel Reese, Frese will continue to have a dynamic offense. Despite some great regular seasons, the Terrapins haven't been beyond the Sweet 16 since reaching the Final Four in 2015. How quickly Maryland can get over the disappointment of this year's loss to Texas in the regional semifinals might be the keys to ending that streak.

6. Louisville

7. Indiana
The Hoosiers weren't as high in these rankings until Ali Patberg's announcement that she will return for one more season in Bloomington. That means the core of Patberg, Grace Berger, Mackenzie Holmes and Aleksa Gulbe that led Indiana to an Elite Eight run and a second-place Big Ten finish -- the most successful season in program history -- will try it again. Patberg, who began her career with two seasons at Notre Dame, will be entering her seventh year in college next fall.

8. NC State

9. IOWA
The Hawkeyes started a freshman, three sophomores and a junior this season, and if everyone stays will return 97% of their point production. Caitlin Clark is the star, but coach Lisa Bluder has the pieces around her set up nicely, too, and another top-25 recruiting class on the way. Addison O'Grady might give Bluder another post player to go alongside Monika Czinano, who led the nation in field goal percentage this season. If Iowa can find a rim protector in the transfer portal to solidify the defense, this team might have Final Four potential.

10. Oregon

Others
11. Michigan
12. Iowa State
13. Ohio State
21. Michigan State

 
So they don't think we're going to the final four.

They don't even say we have final four potential.

They say we might have final four potential.

And we only might have final four potential if we get a rim protector from the transfer portal.

That's not high praise.
 
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So they don't think we're going to the final four.

They don't even say we have final four potential.

They say we might have final four potential.

And we only might have final four potential if we get a rim protector from the transfer portal.

That's not high praise.
We will have a very solid team that will be extremely fun to watch. They deserve 10000 per game for next three years
 

Women's college basketball's Way-Too-Early Top 25:​

1. UConn
2. South Carolina
3. Stanford
4. Baylor

5. Maryland
Brenda Frese remade her roster last offseason due to transfers and graduations, and turned it into a Sweet 16 run and AP Coach of the Year honors. Katie Benzan and Chloe Bibby, who each came to College Park as grad transfers, both announced they're coming back, which boosted the Terps a spot. With Benzan's 3-point shooting and Bibby's versatility, plus point guard Ashley Owusu, wing Diamond Miller and forward Angel Reese, Frese will continue to have a dynamic offense. Despite some great regular seasons, the Terrapins haven't been beyond the Sweet 16 since reaching the Final Four in 2015. How quickly Maryland can get over the disappointment of this year's loss to Texas in the regional semifinals might be the keys to ending that streak.

6. Louisville

7. Indiana
The Hoosiers weren't as high in these rankings until Ali Patberg's announcement that she will return for one more season in Bloomington. That means the core of Patberg, Grace Berger, Mackenzie Holmes and Aleksa Gulbe that led Indiana to an Elite Eight run and a second-place Big Ten finish -- the most successful season in program history -- will try it again. Patberg, who began her career with two seasons at Notre Dame, will be entering her seventh year in college next fall.

8. NC State

9. IOWA
The Hawkeyes started a freshman, three sophomores and a junior this season, and if everyone stays will return 97% of their point production. Caitlin Clark is the star, but coach Lisa Bluder has the pieces around her set up nicely, too, and another top-25 recruiting class on the way. Addison O'Grady might give Bluder another post player to go alongside Monika Czinano, who led the nation in field goal percentage this season. If Iowa can find a rim protector in the transfer portal to solidify the defense, this team might have Final Four potential.

10. Oregon

Others
11. Michigan
12. Iowa State
13. Ohio State
21. Michigan State

And I believe this was before Kylie Feuerbach transferred in, right?
 
If Iowa can find a rim protector in the transfer portal to solidify the defense, this team might have Final Four potential.
That is a critical piece and a BIG "if" They need tp vastly improve rebounding. No way they sniff a Big Ten title or Final4 unless that happens.
 
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So they don't think we're going to the final four.

They don't even say we have final four potential.

They say we might have final four potential.

And we only might have final four potential if we get a rim protector from the transfer portal.

That's not high praise.

Yeah ranking Iowa 9th is all doom and gloom. Where do these people come from?
 
So they don't think we're going to the final four.

They don't even say we have final four potential.

They say we might have final four potential.

And we only might have final four potential if we get a rim protector from the transfer portal.

That's not high praise.
Seriously?

9th in the country and possible a player away from being in the hunt for a Natty - not high praise?
 
So they don't think we're going to the final four.

They don't even say we have final four potential.

They say we might have final four potential.

And we only might have final four potential if we get a rim protector from the transfer portal.

That's not high praise.
Well it is higher praise then what ESPN has given Iowa in the past. Although the Hawkeyes return 97% of their minutes from a relatively young team, they do not benefit [from the extra year of eligibility], the same way as teams (like Maryland) who have experienced seniors who would otherwise be graduating but choose to return. Those teams are also returning much more (maybe 90-100%) of their relatively veteran team. Given the Hawkeyes’ post-season success this past season (and in general the last four years), ninth in the nation seems appropriate to me. That would translate into regional semifinal matchup against the lowest #2 seed, making a regional final appearance more possible. Finally ESPN shares my optimism.
 
Damn guys, you're misinterpreting what I wrote.

Just making fun of the article for ranking us 9th and yet listing what feels like a billion little qualifiers about our final four candidacy.
 
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