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By Joel Welser
jwelser@collegehoops.net
2006 NCAA Tournament Capsule: Iowa
Iowa Hawkeyes (25-8)
Big Ten:
2nd(t),11-5
RPI: 10
AP: 20
Big Wins:
Illinois (63-48), Ohio State (67-62), Michigan State (66-54)
Bad Losses:
at Northern Iowa (63-67), at Iowa State (60-72), at Northwestern (48-51)
Last NCAA
Appearance: 2005, First Round
Top Players:
Greg Brunner,
Sr, F, 14 ppg, 9 rpg
Adam Haluska,
Jr, G, 14 ppg, 5 rpg
Jeff Horner, Sr,
G, 14 ppg, 6 apg
Erek Hansen, Sr,
C, 7 ppg, 4 rpg
Not many had
success on the road in the Big Ten, and Iowa was no different just sneaking
out one quality victory at Indiana. Don’t hold that against the Hawkeyes
though. Steve Alford starts four seniors and one junior and that experience
and urgency should have Iowa ready to make a tournament run. Greg Brunner
will score in the paint, Erek Hansen can block anything that comes his way,
Adam Haluska can flat out shoot and Jeff Horner can do everything. Despite
having two very capable long range shooters in Haluska and Horner, the
percentage isn’t anything to brag about, ranking 10th in the
conference. Luckily, they don’t take that many long balls anymore, and when
they aren’t falling, this group is smart to enough to stop shooting them.
Seed: 3
First Round:
Northwestern State
Joel's Likely
Finish: Second Round
CHN's
Official Prediction: Second Round
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