Which team goes deeper in the tourney?

[Jonesy5960]

Men are currently ranked 25 and the women at 14. The net rankings are much closer with the women at 11 and the men at 12. Who's your best bet to make a deep tournament run this year?

Both teams have an excellent point guard leading them which is essential in the tournament. Both have a fair number of underclassmen getting heavy minutes so potential for additional growth is there.

I think the women have the sweet 16 as the floor and elite 8 as the ceiling this year. I think the men have the second round as the floor and the sweet 16 as a ceiling, so my vote is with the women on how deep they will go. What say you if you had to bet today?

 

[LetsGoHawks83]

Women will win this survey, but it's awesome to discuss the men making the 2nd round and even the S16. Lots of games to play, but the mens style of play instantly gives them a much better chance to make a run in the tournament than Fran's style.

 

[Scott559]

All about the matchups.

 

[Jonesy5960]

Women will win this survey, but it's awesome to discuss the men making the 2nd round and even the S16. Lots of games to play, but the mens style of play instantly gives them a much better chance to make a run in the tournament than Fran's style.

I agree. Interestingly, both of these teams rely on defense much moreso than in previous seasons when talented offensive players took center stage and defense was optional. Without a generational talent like Clark that's a recipe for failure in the tournament and was behind all of Fran's early exists in spite of possessing some excellent talent in Garza and the Murrays.

 

[The Big Z]

Also, can someone remind me, what seeds get home games? If we can get 2 home games at Carver then we should at a minimum make the sweet 16. After that it’s a crapshoot. The men have played such an easy schedule it’s really hard to tell. Once we start playing tough teams on a nightly basis for the most part we will see. I see us as a 6-7 seed probably, which means you’re favored in a game then play the 2-3 seed. Now if we surprise a bit and finish top 5 in the league, is that a top 4-5 seed as well? I’d say probably. So could have both programs in the sweet 16 conceivably.

 

[Jonesy5960]

Also, can someone remind me, what seeds get home games? If we can get 2 home games at Carver then we should at a minimum make the sweet 16. After that it’s a crapshoot. The men have played such an easy schedule it’s really hard to tell. Once we start playing tough teams on a nightly basis for the most part we will see. I see us as a 6-7 seed probably, which means you’re favored in a game then play the 2-3 seed. Now if we surprise a bit and finish top 5 in the league, is that a top 4-5 seed as well? I’d say probably. So could have both programs in the sweet 16 conceivably.

On the women's side top 4 seeds get the first 2 games at home. Everyone else is on the road.

On the men's side I think in general your odds of reaching the sweet 16 are statistically much higher as a 3, 4 seed because you're guaranteed to miss all of the top 3 seeds into the sweet 16. A 5 seed avoids the top 2 seeds into the sweet 16.

 

[Hawkfan_08*]

Yeah the home games are a huge deal. I think the men's team isn't quite there yet and bringing two teams into Carver would be massive.

I say they just both go on a huge run and win the natty. Would anyone oppose?

 

[DukeSlater]

As usual, it mostly depends on matchups, although less so for the men this year because of the way they play. But with a little luck, both teams could make the Elite Eight, and the men could go even further. But don't forget the luck factor. Iowa football had nothing but bad luck, and that kept them out of the CFP despite having the talent to make a run.

No matter what, both of Iowa's basketball teams are fun to watch and will win a lot of games. And even when they don't win, they always give a winning effort. What more can you ask?

 

[Jonesy5960]

As usual, it mostly depends on matchups, although less so for the men this year because of the way they play. But with a little luck, both teams could make the Elite Eight, and the men could go even further. But don't forget the luck factor. Iowa football had nothing but bad luck, and that kept them out of the CFP despite having the talent to make a run.

No matter what, both of Iowa's basketball teams are fun to watch and will win a lot of games. And even when they don't win, they always give a winning effort. What more can you ask?

Yup. Two 12-2 teams. I think the women have an advantage in that they are likely as a 4 or better seed to play their first 2 games at home. Carver will be a difficult venue for any visitors, making the road to the sweet 16 a lot more favorable.

 

[Jonesy5960]

Yeah the home games are a huge deal. I think the men's team isn't quite there yet and bringing two teams into Carver would be massive.

I say they just both go on a huge run and win the natty. Would anyone oppose?

 

[The Big Z]

Yup. Two 12-2 teams. I think the women have an advantage in that they are likely as a 4 or better seed to play their first 2 games at home. Carver will be a difficult venue for any visitors, making the road to the sweet 16 a lot more favorable.

Clearly.

 

[Jonesy5960]

This is getting spooky now.
Both teams are now 12-2
Both teams are now ranked 13th in their respective net rankings
What are the odds of this?

 

[QChawks]

I’m having second thoughts now

 

[The Big Z]

I’m having second thoughts now

I still think if we get 2 games at home in the tournament we make the sweet 16. But keeping Ava out of foul trouble every single game is a struggle. She’s got to be smarter on the defensive end. Her and ChitChat are the keys to this team.

 

[Franisdaman]

Hopefully the Iowa women can hold on to a top 4 seed, host the 1st & 2nd round games in Iowa City and get back to the Sweet 16.

If they do that, they then likely face a #1 seed (UConn/Texas/South Carolina/UCLA) next.

Gulp.

From this morning:

Women's Bracketology: South Carolina debuts as No. 1 overall seed for 2026-27

With the additions of Jordan Lee and Oliviyah Edwards, the Gamecocks top our first look at next season's NCAA tournament.

www.espn.com

 

[Jonesy5960]

Hopefully the Iowa women can hold on to a top 4 seed, host the 1st & 2nd round games in Iowa City and get back to the Sweet 16.

If they do that, they then likely face a #1 seed (UConn/Texas/South Carolina/UCLA) next.

Gulp.

From this morning:

Women's Bracketology: South Carolina debuts as No. 1 overall seed for 2026-27

With the additions of Jordan Lee and Oliviyah Edwards, the Gamecocks top our first look at next season's NCAA tournament.

www.espn.com

I'm still sticking with my original projection for the women. Sweet 16 or Elite 8

 

[The Big Z]

I'm still sticking with my original projection for the women. Sweet 16 or Elite 8

View attachment 1140620

Can’t see us getting to the elite 8 through a 4 seed. We would be blown out by any of the top 4 seeds. But certainly a sweet 16.

 

[Jonesy5960]

Can’t see us getting to the elite 8 through a 4 seed. We would be blown out by any of the top 4 seeds. But certainly a sweet 16.

C'mon Z. That's just stinkin' thinkin'. Hoping for a 3 seed and avoiding those nasty top seeds.

 

[IowaCityLit]

I actually think the men if they get in are more equipped to go further.

The women are too young and just not nearly athletic enough at this point. IMO.

 

[Jonesy5960]

I actually think the men if they get in are more equipped to go further.

The women are too young and just not nearly athletic enough at this point. IMO.

Care to place a small wager there tough guy?

 

[IowaCityLit]

Care to place a small wager there tough guy?

Um sure. Nothing tough about what I said. Try not to be so fragile.

 

[Jonesy5960]

Um sure. Nothing tough about what I said. Try not to be so fragile.

I'm just fvcking with you. $50?

 

[o_AMAYS]

Tonight and Sunday will start to tell us a lot about Iowa’s ceiling and tournament-seeding prospects. Iowa was lucky that its scuffling last week was against 2 bottom-end teams.

 

[Jonesy5960]

Tonight and Sunday will start to tell us a lot about Iowa’s ceiling and tournament-seeding prospects. Iowa was lucky that its scuffling last week was against 2 bottom-end teams.

Iowa struggled offensively, shooting terribly with too many turnovers in those 2 games. There is no debating that. However it's worth noting that Iowa held both opponents to less than 60 points on 36% FG shooting on their home courts.

Tonight will be a very good test against an Oregon team sitting at #23 in the current Net Rankings and coming off a win at USC and a last minute loss to an excellent MSU team.