 Scott DochtermanI'm originally from Burlington, and I'm a 1997 Western Illinois University graduate. I've worked in Burlington, Muscatine, Fort Dodge and [...] |
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Iowa left out of NCAA tournament
Iowa Coach Fran McCaffery takes a moment before answering a question during the press conference following their quarterfinal round loss to the Michigan State Spartans in the Big Ten Conference basketball tournament Friday, March 15, 2013 at the United Center in Chicago. (Brian Ray/The Gazette-KCRG)
IOWA CITY — Iowa’s close losses and porous non-conference schedule cost the Hawkeyes a chance at the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2006.
The Hawkeyes (21-12) were left out the 68-team NCAA tournament field, which was announced Sunday afternoon. Later tonight Iowa will accept an NIT berth and likely open at home sometime early this week. ESPNU will air the NIT selection show at 8 p.m.
Iowa lost four Big Ten games in led in the final two minutes and dropped two others it had double-digit leads in the second half. Iowa finished 2-7 against Big Ten competition in games decided by four points or less.
“That’s the transition of this team from becoming a middle-of-the-road Big Ten to an elite program in this league and eventually in the country,” Iowa sophomore Aaron White said.
The Hawkeyes’ Ratings Performance Index (RPI) of 79 was 12 spots worse than any team to ever qualify for the NCAA tournament. RPI is based on your record, your opponents’ records and your opponents’ opponents’ records. Iowa scheduled five teams with an RPI worse than 300.
This will be Iowa’s seventh appearance in the NIT and second consecutive. The Hawkeyes were 1-1 last year, beating Dayton in the opener before losing at Oregon. Iowa’s all-time NIT record is 5-6.
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Hopefully, the Hawks can go deep in the NIT, maybe even make it to MSG.
8pm ESPNU, see ya there.
The comment of Aaron White above is spot on and represents the grace and maturity this young team has exhibited all season and benefitted greatly from in the second half of the season. Their selfless approach to the game is a great demonstration of leadership by all and the results show what can be accomplished. Looking forward to great things from this team and these young men! From my chair, Fran McCafferty is a resonant leader who brings out the best.
The NCAA tourney is another bad joke. Minnesota and Illinois? C’mon. That’s crazy. Body of work? What BS. Here’s Minny’s body of work: Last 16 games, half the season, the golden rodents are 5-11. Wow. Now if that doesn’t say big time, maybe this does: Minnesota is riding a 9-game losing streak away from its home court. Now that’s impressive. Oh, and then you throw in that Minny wasn’t even .500 in the Big Ten, lost its first game in the conf tourney, finished below Iowa in the league and lost by 21 to the Hawkeyes.
Oh, but Minny beat somebody back in December and January, you say. Well, isn’t that nice. So it’s not the body of work at all. It’s just win a couple early and play out the string and you are NCAA certified. What a freakin’ farce. It would be nice if The Gazette would highlight these ludicrous selections instead of making excuses for them.
And I won’t even bother with Illinois, except to sat they’re another NCAA fraud.