Iowa basketball begins 2024-25 on ESPN’s bracketology bubble

The Iowa Hawkeyes have handled their business to start the 2024-25 men’s college basketball season.

Iowa dispatched of Texas A&M-Commerce (89-67), Southern (89-74) and South Dakota (96-77) to capture the Kenny Arnold Classic championship to begin its campaign.

Over the Hawkeyes’ three wins, senior forward Payton Sandfort has led the way with 16.3 points, 7.7 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game while shooting 45.9% from the floor and 43.5% from 3-point range.

Junior guard Josh Dix is averaging 15.7 points per game and shooting 54.8% from the field and 44.4% from beyond the arc after erupting for a team-high 23 points in the Hawkeyes’ win over South Dakota.

Though he missed Iowa’s win over South Dakota due to illness, sophomore forward Owen Freeman is off to a nice start to his season as well, averaging 15.0 points, 8.5 rebounds and 3.0 blocks per game.

Still, Iowa is looking to continue proving doubters wrong in the early going of this season. After a 19-15 (10-10 Big Ten) finish last year, the Hawkeyes saw their stretch of four straight NCAA Tournament berths snapped.

As a result, Iowa entered this year flying under the radar. The Hawkeyes were picked to finish 11th in the 18-team Big Ten preseason media poll.

That type of finish would have Iowa squarely on the NCAA Tournament bubble.

At least for now, ESPN is in line with that thinking for the Hawkeyes. Iowa is among ESPN’s “first four out” in its latest bracketology update.

Iowa joins San Diego State, UCF and fellow Big Ten member Wisconsin among ESPN’s first four out. USC is within ESPN’s “next four out.”

Below is a look at all of the Big Ten teams that ESPN currently has inside its latest bracketology along with their seedings.

Big Ten teams in latest ESPN bracketology

Iowa returns to action on Friday, Nov. 15 with a date against Washington State (3-0) in the John Deere Quad Cities Hoops Showdown in Moline, Ill. The Cougars own wins over Portland State (100-92), Bradley (91-74) and Idaho (90-67).

Tipoff is set…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/iowa-basketball-begins-2024-25-204549807.html

Author : Hawkeyes Wire

Publish date : 2024-11-13 20:45:00

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