Busting Brackets
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Big Ten Basketball: 2021 power rankings heading into conference tournament

By Ryan Kay

Ohio State Buckeyes guard Duane Washington Jr. (4) is guarded by Michigan Wolverines forward Isaiah Livers (2) during Sunday's NCAA Division I Big Ten conference basketball game at Value City Arena in Columbus, Ohio, on February 21, 2021.Ceb Osu Mbk Mich Bjp 17
Ohio State Buckeyes guard Duane Washington Jr. (4) is guarded by Michigan Wolverines forward Isaiah Livers (2) during Sunday's NCAA Division I Big Ten conference basketball game at Value City Arena in Columbus, Ohio, on February 21, 2021.Ceb Osu Mbk Mich Bjp 17 /
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Big Ten Basketball Iowa Hawkeyes Luka Garza Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
Big Ten Basketball Iowa Hawkeyes Luka Garza Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports /

18-7. . Hawkeyes . 3. team. 483.

Wins

*North Carolina Central
*Southern
*Western Illinois
*North Carolina
*Iowa State
*Northern Illinois
*Purdue
*Northwestern (twice)
*Rutgers (twice)
*@Maryland
*Minnesota
*Michigan State (twice)
*@Wisconsin
*Penn State
*@Ohio State

Losses

*Gonzaga (neutral site)
*@Minnesota
*Indiana (twice)
*Ohio State
*@Michigan
*@Illinois

Net ranking: 6

KenPom ranking: 5

AP ranking: 5

Reasons for Hope: Their ability to win on the road. The Hawkeyes have won at Ohio State, Wisconsin, Maryland, and Michigan State. They play well on their home court as they only have two losses at home this season. Their offense especially at the beginning of the season and statistically is one of the best in the Big Ten. The Hawkeyes put up on 88 on the road against Michigan State, 96 at Northwestern, 89 on the road against Maryland, and 93 against North Carolina. They also have scored over 100 points three times and over 93 points eight times as well.

Reasons to be Pessimistic: The Hawkeyes don’t have much to be pessimistic about but if there is something that may be concerning moving forward is the inability to win close games away from home. Besides the games in which Iowa lost by 11 on a neutral court to Gonzaga and Michigan by 22, the Hawkeyes have lost some close games on the road. They lost to Indiana by only two points, lost to Minnesota in overtime, and lost by only five points to Illinois. Iowa should be okay moving forward as they will play on neutral courts for both the Big Ten and NCAA tournaments.

Brief Overview of the Season

The Hawkeyes brought back this season the Big Ten Player of the Year favorite Luka Garza as well as Joe Wieskamp, CJ Fredrick, Patrick McCaffery, and Jordan Bohannon this season and all for the most part are playing pretty well overall this season. The biggest pleasant surprise this season has been the play of sophomore Jack Nunge who is the Hawkeyes fifth-leading scorer this season. Unfortunately, Nunge is now out with a season-ending injury. Iowa has depth this season and even with some injuries, the Hawkeyes are playing well this season.

Iowa overall has been able to win a lot of games and play very well this season and Garza and Wieskamp have both really stepped up their game this season as they are the Hawkeye’s two top scorers. Garza is in contention to be the national player of the year and at a minimum will be a 1st team Big Ten selection at the end of the season.

The Hawkeyes if they can win three more games can get a No. 2 seed in the NCAA tournament. Time will tell and having Iowa ranked third in these rankings shows you the depth of the Big Ten.

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