Iowa coach Steve Alford believes the Big Ten Conference will get five or six teams into the NCAA Tournament. Ohio State, Wisconsin, Michigan State and Indiana are likely to get in meaning the Hawkeyes along with Illinois, Purdue and Michigan will all battle for whatever is left.
Alford says it’s hard to predict how many teams will get in. He says the teams that are on the bubble have to finish strong and make the most of their opportunities. Iowa is 8-6 in the Big Ten and Alford says with a 16-12 overall record a top four finish in the Big Ten is critical.
The Hawkeyes visit Penn State Wednesday night before closing the regular season at home against Illinois. Alford says it’s a pivotal week where they need two wins, and want to get a better seed so they can avoid playing a Thursday game in the tournament. Alford says finishing 10-6 in the league would be a very good year.