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Iowa Basketball: 2018-19 season preview for the Hawkeyes

By Adam Childs

NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 28: Tyler Cook #5 of the Iowa Hawkeyes works against Greg Eboigbodin #11 of the Illinois Fighting Illini in the second half during the Big Ten Basketball Tournament at Madison Square Garden on February 28, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 28: Tyler Cook #5 of the Iowa Hawkeyes works against Greg Eboigbodin #11 of the Illinois Fighting Illini in the second half during the Big Ten Basketball Tournament at Madison Square Garden on February 28, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 20: Head coach Fran McCaffery of the Iowa Hawkeyes reacts in the first half against the Villanova Wildcats during the second round of the 2016 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Barclays Center on March 20, 2016 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 20: Head coach Fran McCaffery of the Iowa Hawkeyes reacts in the first half against the Villanova Wildcats during the second round of the 2016 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Barclays Center on March 20, 2016 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

Season Outlook

Not a lot went right for the Hawkeyes last year but in a down year, they did find guys that could fill up the box score. McCaffery and Iowa return their top nine-point scorers from last year and they look to use that experience to take a leap forward in the Big Ten.

The big early season test for the Hawkeyes in New York should give us an indication of how good this team could be. There is no doubt they can score but will they decide to guard anybody this year. As much as they score, if they can not figure it out on the defensive end they will end up at the bottom of the Big Ten again.

Everyone is talking about Nebraska, Indiana, and Wisconsin climbing in the Big Ten but there is not much being said about the Hawkeyes. This will be a true test to see if McCaffery is the right coach for Iowa. He has the talent but can he get them back to the tournament. No one is confusing them for conference favorites but this is easily a team that could finish top five in the Big Ten. They have enough talent to get them there.

Next. Preseason Big Ten Rankings for 2018-19. dark

How successful they are this season will come down to how committed the Hawkeyes will be on the defensive side of the ball. If they can even remotely stop teams this year they should have a good year. Expect Iowa to play well and get in the top half of the Big Ten and be on the fringe of an at-large bid for the NCAA tournament and save McCaffery’s job at least for one more year.

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