Way too early top 25 from ESPN
- Thread starter acoustimac
- Start date
ISU is starting off with higher expectations already. I don't think that's a bad thing, but they tend to play better without the target on the back. With a top ten recruiting class and returning the vast majority of scoring and rebounding, to *not* be in the conversation would be surprising.
The top 10:
1) South Carolina
2) Stanford
3) Mississippi State
4) UCONN
5) Baylor
6) Louisville
7) Arizona
8) NC State
9) UCLA
10) Maryland
...
16) Iowa State
There are a bunch of Big 10 schools between 10 and 25, along with a couple more Pac 12. Missouri State is still getting attention at #24. Nothing else of particular regional interest (other than no Iowa).
The top 10:
1) South Carolina
2) Stanford
3) Mississippi State
4) UCONN
5) Baylor
6) Louisville
7) Arizona
8) NC State
9) UCLA
10) Maryland
...
16) Iowa State
There are a bunch of Big 10 schools between 10 and 25, along with a couple more Pac 12. Missouri State is still getting attention at #24. Nothing else of particular regional interest (other than no Iowa).
No kidding. A while back it was like "Oh ISU ended up 7-9 in the Big 12? That's definitely a 7 or 8 seed for them given that conference"
The league upheaval really did a number on its overall strength. Back in 2002, ISU finished 9-7 and was a 3 seed in the NCAA tournament. And if I'm not mistaken, all seven Big 12 teams that made the NCAAs that year hosted 1st and 2nd round games.
Decided to look up how the league did that year. So for a trip down memory lane (holy crap -
18 years ago already?!), this is what transpired:2001-2002 final standings with final RPI before the NCAAs:
Oklahoma (14-2) #3
Baylor (12-4) #8
Colorado (11-5) #19
Kansas State (11-5) #9
Texas (10-6) #12
Iowa State (9-7) #14
Texas Tech (8-8) #11
Oklahoma State (7-9) #61
Texas A&M (5-11) #145
Missouri (5-11) #88
Nebraska (4-12) #93
Kansas (0-16) #199
NCAA Tournament results (all seven Big 12 teams in the field hosted sub-regionals):
*Oklahoma (1 seed), advanced to national title game, lost to UCONN (1 seed) 82-70
*Baylor (2 seed), advanced to 2nd round, lost to Drake (7 seed) 76-72
*Kansas State (3 seed), advanced to Sweet 16, lost to Old Dominion (7 seed) 82-62
*Iowa State (3 seed), advanced to 2nd round, lost to BYU (11 seed) 75-69
*Colorado (3 seed), advanced to Elite 8, lost to Oklahoma (1 seed) 94-60
*Texas (4 seed), advanced to Sweet 16, lost to Duke (1 seed) 62-46
*Texas Tech (4 seed), advanced to Sweet 16, lost to Oklahoma (1 seed) 72-62
In that decade, the Big 12 failed to send at least half the league to the Big Dance just one time (2006). Every other year, it was anywhere from six to nine teams in the field (nine teams happened in both 2004 and 2008). But I think 2002 may have been the Big 12's crowning achievement with all seven teams hosting, five making at least the Sweet 16, and one going all the way to the title game.
Yes, I got bored again. But it's fun to go back and remember some of these seasons, even if they weren't the best ending for Iowa State.
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