Latest bracketology roundup for the Hawkeyes ahead of Selection Sunday
Alright Hawkeyes fans! The Big Ten tournament didn’t end the way we all wished it would. I seriously doubt any Iowa fan was hoping for a quick exit to 13th-seeded Ohio in Game One, even though that Buckeyes roster is currently set to face Purdue in the semifinals at the time of writing.
While we may be feeling collectively down, we’re not quite out there yet! There’s still an NCAA tournament to play people, and if that Big Ten tournament has taught us anything, it’s what your past work means NOTHING!
Anything can happen in the big dance, and no squad is safe from the dreaded excitement. It’s a great time for redemption on an even field for Iowa, a team still expected to make the tournament.
In preparation for Selection Sunday, here is a recap of all of the Bracketology projections for the Iowa Hawkeyes.
ESPN (Joe Lunardi)
Andrew Nelles / Tennessean.com / USA TODAY NETWORK
Joe Lunardi has Iowa in danger as a feared eighth seed in the Mid-West region who will face SEC contender Auburn. The Tigers were eliminated from their second-round matchup against Arkansas in the SEC tournament. They are led by forward Johni Broome with 14 points per game and 8.4 rebounds. If they got past Auburn, Kansas, the front runner, would be waiting for the Hawkeyes.
CBS Sports (Jerry Palm)
Credit: Andrew Nelles / Tennessean.com / USA TODAY NETWORK
Next Bracketology legend Jerry Palm for CBS Sports has the opposite for the Hawkeyes. They’re the ninth seed this time against Auburn in the West Region. Should they defeat the Tigers, they would have to face the leaders Houston.
Washington PostPatrick Stevens
Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Patrick Stevens seeded Iowa in the position of potential usurper in the South region as the ninth seed against Memphis. The Tigers, led by Penny Hardaway, are currently scheduled to face Tulane in the semifinals of the AAC tournament. Memphis has a dangerous scoring duo in Kendric Davis (21.8 PPG) and DeAndre Williams (17.6 PPG).
Should Iowa defeat Memphis, they would have a date with top seed Alabama.
USA Today (Paul Myerberg, Erick Smith and Eddie Timanus)
Chris Jones-USA TODAY Sports
USA Today’s trio of Myerberg, Smith and Timanus have the Hawkeyes back in the eighth seed. This time, Iowa would play Conference-USA powerhouse Florida Atlantic.
The Owls have a 30-3 record in the conference finals against UAB, a team they lost to earlier in the season. FAU plays team basketball with a deep rotation of players who can shoot. They also play tough defense and put up one of the best point differentials in the nation.
Should Iowa get past the Owls, they would face future Big Ten opponents UCLA.
Fox Sports (Mike DeCourcy)
Chris Jones-USA TODAY Sports
Fox Sports’ Mike DeCourcy actually has the same projection, the Hawkeyes taking on ninth-placed Florida Atlantic. They would have to face top-seed UCLA in this scenario as well.
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Story originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire