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Preseason Sweet 16: Iowa Hawkeyes

Editor's note: With the men's college basketball season starting to ramp back up, Yahoo! Sports analyst Clark Kellogg picks the teams he thinks have the best shot at making it to the Sweet 16 in 2006.

Each pick is listed alphabetically. Check back during the week for his latest selections.


Other Sweet 16 teams:
Arizona | Boston College | Connecticut | Duke | Gonzaga | Kentucky | Louisville
Michigan St. | Nevada | Oklahoma | Stanford | Texas | Villanova | Wake Forest | West Virginia

THE REST OF THE BIG TEN

ILLINOIS
Despite losing significant personnel from last year's NCAA runner-up team, Dee Brown and James Augustine should keep the Illini in the conference title race.

INDIANA
Mike Davis' Hoosiers are one of my darkhorse teams to challenge for the conference crown.

MICHIGAN
Injuries dismantled a potential NCAA tournament team last year. If the Wolverines can stay healthy this season, a nice recovery is in store.

MICHIGAN STATE
The Spartans are capable of another trip to the Final Four with four starters returning from last year's team.

MINNESOTA
Last season's NCAA tournament bid will be matched only if a strong supporting cast develops around conference MVP candidate Vincent Grier.

NORTHWESTERN
Unless the Wildcats get outstanding shooting from four positions, finishing in the upper half of the conference is unlikely.

OHIO STATE
My other conference darkhorse team. The '06 recruiting class has created a buzz in Columbus, and this year's team has the potential for a nice upside surprise.

PENN STATE
The wins will be hard to come by, especially in league play, but the future is looking brighter.

PURDUE
A new era begins in West Lafayette as Matt Painter takes over for the very successful and likable Gene Keady.

WISCONSIN
The Badgers have a proven, high-level performer in Alando Tucker, but question marks everywhere else.

Iowa Hawkeyes
News | Schedule | Roster

The Hawkeyes endured a roller coaster of a season last year. During a 12-1 start, which included impressive wins over Louisville, Texas, Iowa St. and Texas Tech, the Hawkeyes averaged 81 ppg. That was followed by a 4-9 stretch where the Hawkeyes averaged just 67 ppg. Then a 5-1 finish helped Iowa earn a 10 seed in the NCAA tournament, but a first-round loss to Cincinnati brought their momentum to a halt.

A significant factor that contributed to Iowa's turbulent season was the play (and suspension) of Pierre Pierce, the team's most talented player and its leading scorer. With Pierce in the lineup the Hawkeyes were 15-5 and averaged close to 80 ppg. In the 13 games without him, they were 6-7 and averaged just 66 ppg, and Pierce's uncertain status undoubtedly was a distraction. I should mention here that Pierce was sentenced on October 28 to two years in prison for assaulting his former girlfriend.

But this year should be different for Iowa. All five starters from the second half of last season are returning and all are talented upperclassmen. Greg Brunner, a versatile double-double guy, led the team in rebounding and was second in scoring. Erek Hansen is an agile, mobile shot blocker. Jeff Horner and Adam Haluska are combo guards who handle the ball well, are good outside shooters and have good size, and Mike Henderson provides winning intangibles. Off the bench, the trio of Carlton Reed, Doug Thomas and Alex Thompson provide solid contributions.

Last year's squad struggled at times on the defensive end and on the glass. As a result, easy points were hard to come by. But with the experience and talent on this year's team, those problem areas should be much improved.

The offensive firepower is there in terms of savvy, shooting and versatility, but whether the Hawkeyes can develop a consistent low post scorer and find someone who can penetrate off the dribble remains to be seen.

Last season's adversity, coupled with the Hawkeyes' strong finish, has provided the foundation for this senior-laden team to be a force in the Big Ten. They are hungry and focused, and if the question marks are answered, a Big Ten title and long tournament run are possible.