Iowa finished 26-9, won 11 of their final 13 and the big ten tournament last year and wound up with a 5 seed due to their usual weak ass non conference schedule. Wasn't the only factor (record vs. ranked teams was not great) but it certainly didn't help. Iowa plays not as many cupcakes teams where you have no idea what part of the country they are from. I see this as a positive, better competition means you figure out what you are good and what you are bad at early on before conference play.