The Iowa Hawkeyes open the N-C-A-A Tournament in a stronger position this year than what they were in last year. Iowa seeded third coming off a Big Ten tournament championship. But coach Steve Alford says that doesn’t make them a lock in the first round Friday against Northwestern State of Louisiana in Auburn Hills, Michigan. Alford says the gap between teams has gotten smaller.
Alford says you just have to look at the teams that got left out of the tournament. He says there are more arguments today than there used to be about the teams that should be in. Alford says Northwester State doesn’t remind him of any other team they’ve played. He says their sub patterns are like Drake, five at a time, but he says their presses are different and they are athletic and long.
Alford says his team can expect tight defense. He says they’ll play full-court defense and like to trap the ball, so he says valuing the ball will be important. Alford says they just have to take care of the things they do well. He says he likes their chances if they don’t turn the ball over and defend. Iowa plays Friday at 11:25.