To make an NCAA tourney run, what would we have to do?

[torbee]

Lets face it. There are 4 top tier teams in the B1G and everybody else is a toss up when it comes to the Big Dance.

We have 8 games to go in the conference schedule. What does Iowa have to do to get serious consideration for the Big Dance? Would we need to win 6 of 8 (gets us to 19-12, 11-7)? Or 7 of 8 (gets us to 20-11, 12-6)? Then of course we can't be a one and done in the BTT.

I know. I am dreaming. But what if?

Look, right now we are in 6th in the B1G. Like I said above, there are a lot of average teams in the B1G this year.

 

[BirdistheWord]

I feel like 11-7 in the B1G is the best case scenario (realize 12-6 is possible). 9-9 would be fairly realistic, though we do seem to be starting to trend upward? Including the BTT, I feel we would need to get to 20 wins to have a shot. I would also say that the "Mix" of some of our remaining wins would need to include a win over MD or WI.

 

[ChiHawk1985]

Travel back in time and start the season over. That's about the only way.

 

[iahawkeyes17]

Purdue and who? ISU is now sitting at 51.

With such a young team I'd be fine for NIT this year setting up another run for NCAA next season.

Speaking of isu. I was shocked before yesterday's game lundardi at espn has them at a 7 seed. I was thinking they'd be a bubble team. After loss now 13-8 with game at Kansas this weekend. No great wins vs any top 25 team. Only 4 Ws vs rpi top 100. How funny would it be to see this team with 5 senior starters miss the tourney.

 

[33hawkfan]

With such a young team I'd be fine for NIT this year setting up another run for NCAA next season.

Speaking of isu. I was shocked before yesterday's game lundardi at espn has them at a 7 seed. I was thinking they'd be a bubble team. After loss now 13-8 with game at Kansas this weekend. No great wins vs any top 25 team. Only 4 Ws vs rpi top 100. How funny would it be to see this team with 5 senior starters miss the tourney.

I've said since we beat them that I don't think they make the tournament. They just aren't very good. I can't see them winning more than nine games in the B12 and they did nothing out of conference.

 

[Franisdaman]

Its kinda crazy to me that ESPN on Feb 2 still has 8 B1G teams making the Big Dance. What am I missing? 3 of those 8, however, are in the dreaded 8/9 first round match up, and only Wisky and Maryland project as possible Sweet 16 teams.

Iowa has 5 games left against these 8 teams; will be fun to see how we stack up.

ESPN's current (as of Feb 2) "Bracketology:"

Seed/Team:
4 Wisconsin
5 Maryland
6 Purdue
7 Northwestern
8 Michigan State
9 Minnesota
9 Indiana
10 Michigan

check it all out here: http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/bracketology

 

[thirteenandtwo]

its kinda crazy that ESPN on Feb 2 still has 8 B1G teams making the Big Dance.

Seed/Team:
4 Wisconsin
5 Maryland
6 Purdue
7 Norhtwestern
8 Michigan State
9 Minnesota
9 Indiana
10 Michigan

check it all out here: http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/bracketology

Iowa is making the "Big Dance"
I guarantee it.

 

[Franisdaman]

Iowa is making the "Big Dance"
I guarantee it.

agreed.

 

[lonewolf52]

How the heck is Michigan in????

 

[DavenportHawk8]

How the heck is Michigan in????

Their non-conf was pretty good and they won some games in NYC that helped pay off.

If Iowa had not played Del state and played a MVC type school, their RPI would be higher. But they did and it sucks. Iowa is around 100 in RPI. If UNI & ISU can win some games down the stretch that will help Iowa's RPI. Also need Purdue to go on a roll and get into the top 10 if possible. That would help Iowa's RPI.

And lets face it, we have to win at least 1 or 2 more road games to even have a shot.

 

[FairfIowafan1984]

Let's beat Nebraska first i think they are a better team then their record indicates, also think Iowas record does too since they figured out what defense was since the Iowa state game.

I was just hoping for an NIT invite before the season started I'm just happy the freshman are better than expected. A deep NIT run might be better for this team in the long run anyways.

 

[FairfIowafan1984]

Also saw the ESPN RPI is finally in the top 100 at 93. What's the RPI the NCAA uses? I know it's not ESPNs.

Can't wait until they fix the RPI teams have figured out how to fool the system.

 

[DavenportHawk8]

Also saw the ESPN RPI is finally in the top 100 at 93. What's the RPI the NCAA uses? I know it's not ESPNs.

Can't wait until they fix the RPI teams have figured out how to fool the system.

I think they use KenPom, RealtimeRPI and other sites. Basically if Iowa is around 100 that's okay. They have to win every home game left and sneak out 1-2 games on the road. IF they can do that, their RPI #'s won't matter. They will be a strong case to get in.

I mean some of the RPI is a joke. There are teams with records 8-13 that are in the 60's which makes no sense.

 

[HeRKeYHoPeFuL]

I do think we need one more marquee win to go with 21/22 total wins. That would be against Wisconsin, Maryland, Purdue or Northwestern (yes, they'll count... I'm really hoping Collins replaces K at Duke soon so that the natural order is restored). I guess if we played tough against those teams in any remaining games and swept everyone else (which would include 4-0 vs Minn, MSU, Ind, Ill and likely one more in the BTT against that group) we could sneak in as a 10/11 seed.

 

[FairfIowafan1984]

I think they use KenPom, RealtimeRPI and other sites. Basically if Iowa is around 100 that's okay. They have to win every home game left and sneak out 1-2 games on the road. IF they can do that, their RPI #'s won't matter. They will be a strong case to get in.

I mean some of the RPI is a joke. There are teams with records 8-13 that are in the 60's which makes no sense.

I couldn't figure out how Minnesota was top 10 for awhile their nonconferance didn't have many good or great teams they just didn't play any 300 RPI teams which I do not think should make your RPI go down as much as it does.

Next season they are fixing the RPI which i feel they should have done a few seasons ago. I know kenpom is one of the guys that they said will be helping fix it.

 

[anon_bb9wlf9kj42py]

How the heck is Michigan in????

The bubble this year is horrible. There will be some teams that make it that will be absolutely head scratching. ISU is probably comfortably in at 9-9 in the Big 12 with a 17-13 record. Let that sink in.

 

[anon_bb9wlf9kj42py]

I couldn't figure out how Minnesota was top 10 for awhile their nonconferance didn't have many good or great teams they just didn't play any 300 RPI teams which I do not think should make your RPI go down as much as it does.

Next season they are fixing the RPI which i feel they should have done a few seasons ago. I know kenpom is one of the guys that they said will be helping fix it.

There was actually a fairly large conference this year with Pomeroy, Sagarin, the guy who does ESPN's BPI, etc. with the NCAA and it sounds like they will be doing some sort of composite ranking starting next year.

 

[DanL53]

Here is today's Big Ten RPI's according to ESPN:

http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/bpi/_/sort/rpirank/dir/asc/view/overview/group/7

I have to believe if Iowa gets the job done against Nebraska, #57, then the away game against Minnesota, #23 becomes very important.

It is still unlikely that we put together the kind of run we need. But that's what sports are about, accomplishing the unlikely.

It's fair to say we hold an invite in OUR hands. And I'll be very impressed with the job our guys have done, coaches on down, if with six games to go in the regular season we are talking bubble and maybe better even before the BTT.

As I've posted before. There is a likelihood that we may, for the first time since Gesell and Woody were freshmen, be saying, "Next Year" to the Big Dance. If so, it's so, but it won't diminish my view of the potential, nah, the certainty, that the best Iowa Basketball in a long time is coming.

 

[thewop]

20 wins + two wins in BTT minimum

Our bad loss to Nebraska-Omaha is killing our RPI though. It's going to be very tough

I think this. 12-6 + 2 BTT wins should do it (22 wins). That requires a 7-1 B1G finish...

 

[SotaHawk87]

If this team can get a buy in BTT I could see them get hot and win the dang thing!

 

[Franisdaman]

Its kinda crazy to me that ESPN on Feb 2 still has 8 B1G teams making the Big Dance. What am I missing? 3 of those 8, however, are in the dreaded 8/9 first round match up, and only Wisky and Maryland project as possible Sweet 16 teams.

Iowa has 5 games left against these 8 teams; will be fun to see how we stack up.

ESPN's current (as of Feb 2) "Bracketology:"

Seed/Team:
4 Wisconsin
5 Maryland
6 Purdue
7 Northwestern
8 Michigan State
9 Minnesota
9 Indiana
10 Michigan

check it all out here: http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/bracketology

Michigan's bubble might have just burst after losing today to Ohio State at home