Three Iowa Teams - NCAA Seedings

This year, three Iowa teams will be heading to the NCAA tournament. This is only the second time this has ever happened.  Iowa, Iowa State, and UNI all finished in the top three in their conference, with Iowa tying for third.  The three teams had a combined conference record of 40-14.  I am going to make my predictions on how they will be seeded in the NCAA tournament.  

University of Northern Iowa

Last Sunday, the eleventh ranked UNI Panthers clinched the MVC tournament.  With that win, they are guaranteed a place in the big dance.  It is their 9th time making it into the NCAA tourney.  Being ranked eleventh and winning the conference title, I think they will earn a four seed.  The experts think they deserve a four seed or better.  Some are saying a three seed, but their conference is not as strong as the Big 12 or Big 10.  With their record of 30-3 and their wins against Iowa and Wichita State, I think they deserve a four seed.

Iowa State University
On Saturday, March 14, Iowa State beat the Kansas Jayhawks to win the Big 12 Tournament.  Iowa State has been getting better every game they play but have struggled to come out strong at the beginning of the game.  Luckily, they are the comeback kids - the last five games, they have been down by ten or more and have come back to win. Joe Lunardi thinks Iowa State should be a three seed, but I think that is a bad prediction. He still thinks Kansas deserves a two seed but with Iowa State winning last night, they deserve the two seed and Kansas should be the three seed.

University of Iowa

Iowa got beat in their first game of the Big 10 tournament but luckily for them the seedings also go by how they do during the regular season.  The Hawks won six in a row before getting beat the other day but I think they are not consistent or strong enough to get an eight or a nine seed.  I think they don't deserve anything better than a ten seed.

What are your thoughts about the seedings?

Big 12 Tourney

I haven't blogged in a long time so I thought I better blog with the Big 12 Tournament coming up.  I will focus on my predictions of the Big 12 matchups for the tournament.

Game 1: Kansas State vs. TCU
Kansas State is going to win because they are way taller and they can block TCU's offense and shoot over them.  I don't think TCU has the depth to keep up with Kansas State. I think the score will be 72-67.

Game 2: Texas vs. Texas Tech
I think Texas will win because they have good small guards that can make 3-pointers and easy layups but they also have big guys that on defense can block and dunk on the offensive side.  My prediction is a blowout and the score will be 87-63.

Game 3: Baylor vs. West Virginia
My prediction is this will be a tough matchup but West Virginia will pull it out with a win.  They are really good three point shooters and are quick with steals.  Even though they lost to Baylor twice this year, I think they will pull of the victory with a score of 78-76.

Game 4: Kansas vs. Kansas State
Kansas State beat Kansas earlier this season, but Kansas will be ready for some revenge.  I think the reason Kansas will win is because they will have rest, home court advantage and Bill Self will have his team ready to play.  I think the score will be 83-78.

Game 5: Iowa State vs. Texas
I think this game could go either way easily, as it depends on which Iowa State team shows up.  If the three pointers fall, Iowa State will pull this off easily.  If not, I think it will be a much closer game. Iowa State needs to make the easy buckets and box out, which they have struggled with all year.  I think the score will be 81-73.

Game 6: Oklahoma vs. Oklahoma State
Surprisingly, Oklahoma State will win because they are going to shoot a lot of three pointers and make a lot of breakaway layups. Oklahoma will struggle having their buckets fall.  The score to this game will be 79-75.

Game 7: West Virginia vs Kansas
This will be a great matchup for a semi-final game.  Both teams are red-hot right now and cannot miss.  West Virginia is going to come out with an upset victory over Kansas as Perry Ellis may not be back yet and if he is, he will not be 100% healthy.  I think the score will be 83-71.

Game 8: Iowa State vs. Oklahoma State
This will be a good game, but I think Iowa State will pull off a victory. Iowa State has a strong offense, but rely on the quick uptempo game.  Jameel McKay will be key to this victory with a lot of dunks and his defensive play.  He was the first Iowa State player to become the MVP defensive player of the year.  I think the score will be 83-74.

Game 9: Championship - West Virginia vs. Iowa State
This championship matchup will be tough and since I am a huge Iowa State fan, I think Iowa State will take home the championship trophy.  Iowa State was unable to shut down Juwan Staten during their early matchups of the season, but they will learn from those mistakes.  Iowa state will struggle finding a rhythm and force outside shots that will not fall in the first half, but Fred will get them going at half time.  Georges Niang will lead the team to victory but will get in foul trouble early so Monte Morris will be the backbone of the team for the rest of the game.  Naz Long will be unstoppable from the three point line.  I have to go with my heart and pick Iowa State, even though West Virginia has been playing well lately.

What are your thoughts on the upcoming tournament?