Iowa basketball: 2019-20 season preview for the Hawkeyes
By Jacob Shames
Schedule
Iowa’s slate is pretty typical for a middle-of-the-pack high-major: start off simple before heading someplace warm to play in one of the 376 Thanksgiving tournaments, then dig into the meat of the schedule. Maybe there’s a cupcake or three to feast on in December, but after November, there’s not much of a break.
The Hawkeyes should have no trouble in their first five games, all of which are at home. DePaul is ranked 76th in KenPom, so Iowa will have to play actual basketball to sit at 5-0 heading into the Continental Tire Las Vegas Invitational. Texas Tech, their first-round opponent there should still be formidable under Chris Beard despite losing so many players from a season ago, and Creighton and San Diego State on the other side of the bracket will be solid as well.
Iowa plays Syracuse as part of the Big Ten/ACC Challenge after that, and while the Orange scored just 34 points in their season opener against Virginia and lost Tyus Battle, Oshae Brissett and Frank Howard, the Carrier Dome isn’t exactly an easy environment. Same goes for Iowa State at the Hilton Coliseum on Dec. 12 for the Cy-Hawk trophy. To close out the non-conference slate, the Hawkeyes take on Cincinnati in Chicago and Kennesaw State at home.
The Hawkeyes didn’t get terribly lucky with their Big Ten slate. They’ll have to play Michigan State, Maryland, Purdue, Michigan and Illinois all on the road — five of the conference’s top six teams.
KenPom’s predictions: 18-12 overall and 10-10 in conference play — the same conference record as last year, which might be a tad optimistic.