What to Predict When You're Predicting: Iowa Hawkeyes
Looking very Stirtzy
How's the first-round matchup look?
Kind of...: Winnable. But Clemson is no slouch. Brad Brownell is a good tactical coach, but these two ranked 333 and 357 in tempo, so it will be painful to watch.
BoilerUp89: Ugliest game of the tournament.
AlmaOtter: Just noting that a literal, actual meteor hit Ohio earlier this week. Maybe now? And here?
How's the overall draw?
Kind of...: I guess if you are a 9-seed, Florida is the 1-seed you'd choose. But I don't expect Iowa to be around real long.
BoilerUp89: This Iowa team is limited so I don't think the draw is particularly important for them. Hawkeyes should be happy they made the Big Dance in year 1 and that the program is headed in the right direction.
AlmaOtter: 8/9 seeds are lambs for slaughter. A win and a not terribly embarrassing showing is good enough for the first season of the new regime.
What's the best case for this team?
Kind of...: Bennett Stirtz goes out of his mind, and Iowa upsets Florida? Honestly, beating Clemson probably is the best case. The talent just isn't there to beat the Gators.
BoilerUp89: Beat Clemson.
What's the worst that could happen?
Kind of...: A late turnover vs. Clemson causes Ben McCollum to have an aneurysm?
BoilerUp89: Clemson punks Iowa and wins by 25? Not sure there are enough possessions for this but that would be a shocking result.
Are there any fun storylines, weird esoterica, or strange historical sidebars to add here?
Kind of...: 1979 was the first year the NCAA truly seeded the NCAA tournament. That was the year of the Magic vs. Bird Sparty/Indiana State title game. Aside from a gimmicky Magic comeback, neither has played an NBA game in well over 30 years. I saw all of this to properly set the punchline:
Iowa has not won a share of a regular-season Big Ten title since 1979.
They were a very good program in the 80s. They had seven different NCAA exits that decade that could be characterized as something on the spectrum of "really tough luck" to "heartbreaking. And then, once Tom Davis ran out of George Raveling's recruits once BJ Armstrong and Roy Marble headed to the pros in 1989, it's been a lot of mediocrity. 12-16 in the NCAA tournament since 1990. ONE appearance in the Sweet 16. Bleh.
Honestly, the most fun historical piece involving Iowa goes back to the 1970 regional they shared with Notre Dame, Kentucky, and Jacksonville. In six games, a team exceeded 100 points nine times. It was bonkers.
Lastly, Iowa made the Final Four in their first two appearances: 1955 and 1956. Thus, they're never been sub .500 in terms of their all-time NCAA record. However, they've lost their last three games and sit precariously at 31-31 all-time at this point.
