Conference View

The Big Ten conference sent seven teams to the NCAA tournament last year as well as two teams to the NIT tournament. This includes sending Michigan State to the NCAA finals as well as sending Penn State to the NIT finals.

This year the Big Ten is expected to do the same as last year with six teams in the top 25 pre-season AP poll. The conference has a good shot of sending even eight teams to the NCAA tournament.

Hawkeyes Overview

Coach: Todd Lickliter (third season, 28-36 at Iowa, 159-97 overall).
Last season’s record: 15 – 17 overall, 5 – 13 in Big Ten (tenth in league).
Postseason: None.
Last time they made the NCAA field: 2005-2006 season.
Returning starters: 2.

The Hawkeyes are coming off their second consecutive losing season. Last two years, Iowa has a combined 11 – 25 record in Big Ten play and a combined 28 – 36 overall record. Iowa hasn’t had back to back losing seasons since before Tom Davis was head coach of the Hawkeyes.

Todd Lickliter has a lot of rebuilding to do this year after losing four players due to them transferring out of Iowa and going to other schools. They are Jake Kelly (Indiana State), Jeff Peterson (Arkansas), Jermain Davis (Minnesota State) and David Palmer (NKU).

Iowa was well on its way to becoming a Big Ten contender in a couple years, but now the program is in ruins due to all of the transfers. This can be a make or break season for Coach Lickliter as well as Iowa basketball program. Iowa will need to finish with a winning record and out of the conference basement for Todd Lickliter to avoid the hot seat and keep his job safe.

Iowa is picked by everyone to finish in last place in the Big Ten Conference. Rivals have Iowa ranked at No. 134 and CollegeHoops.net has them at a ranking of 123. Iowa is currently ranked 121st in the RPI heading into this season.

Roster Breakdown:

Projected Starting Five:
Matt Gatens, Sophomore, Guard, 10.8 points per game
Anthony Tucker, Sophomore, Guard, 10.4 points per game
Cully Payne, 6-1, Freshman, Guard
Aaron Fuller, Sophomore, Forward, 4.0 points per game
Jarryd Cole, Junior, Forward, 3.7 points per game

Iowa only has six players returning from last year’s team that has any game time experience. With that said, there are a lot of questions that will need to be answered before the start of Big Ten play. Since four players transferred out, there are holes that will need to be filled by existing players or by last year’s recruiting class.

If Iowa can answer most of their questions, then they will have a team that has two inside players that can block shots, rebound, and score as well as having four outside threats that can hit the long ball.
Senior guard Devan Bawinkel and Redshirt Freshmen guard John Lickliter can drain the three point shot as well as Gatens and Tucker. Junior forward Devon Archie could be one of Lickliter’s best recruits last year and could help them in blocking shots as well as scoring and rebounding.

Iowa is also battling the injury bug early this year. Forward Devon Archie injured his shoulder in practice and is out 4 to 7 weeks. He will return before the start of Big Ten play. Freshman Cully Payne is fighting through a sprain ankle that he got during last weekend’s Black and Gold scrimmage. Anthony Tucker is also dealing with a hurt back at the beginning of this season.

List of incoming freshman and JUCO players.
F Devon Archie, 6-9, jr., Indianapolis;
F Brennan Cougill, 6-9, fr., Sioux City, Iowa;
G John Lickliter, 5-11, redshirt fr., Iowa City;
G Eric May, 6-5, fr., Dubuque, Iowa;
G Nick Neari, 6-2, fr., St. Charles, Ill.;
G Cully Payne, 6-1, fr., Schaumburg, Ill.

Schedule Breakdown:

The Hawkeyes have a decent schedule this year. Iowa plays non-conference teams like third ranked Texas and Pittsburgh in the CBE tournament as well as playing at Northern Iowa.

They also play all six pre-season ranked Big Ten Teams this year at home and on the road. They are second ranked Michigan State, seventh ranked Purdue, 15th ranked Michigan, 16th ranked Ohio State, 23rd ranked Illinois, and 25th ranked Minnesota.

Season Outlook:

There will be too many questions for Iowa to answer this year. Iowa will get their first winning season under Coach Lickliter, but they are still going to be in the lower half of the conference standings.

The Hawkeyes will need to get an inside person to score and rebound as well as block shots. If this happens then Iowa will become a wildcard in the Big ten Conference with a chance to make it to a post-season tournament. Iowa can score on the outside if they are open, but needs help inside to help win the rebounding game.

A 7-11 finish in conference is my prediction, with a small chance of making any tournament in the post-season, and a 17-15 overall record.