Updated look at Iowa Hawkeyes women’s basketball bracketology
It may only be January, but the NCAA Tournament is always looming and that is what the entire regular season comes down to. Everything done throughout the gauntlet of conference play and conference tournaments culminates there.
The Iowa Hawkeyes have their eyes set on another run this year. After a Final Four run and National Championship appearance, Iowa wants to make a return trip in 2024. The Hawkeyes have the experience from a deep run on their side to know what it takes. All they have to do is go take it.
Sitting at 16-1 overall with a perfect 5-0 Big Ten record, the Hawkeyes are eyeing a No. 1 seed to set up a favorable March Madness path. Led by Caitlin Clark, the Hawkeyes’ supporting cast has come alive lately.
Here is an updated look at the bracketology for the 2024 Women’s NCAA Tournament from ESPN with some thoughts on what the current landscape could mean for Iowa.
Iowa's bracketology
Iowa’s current seed: No. 1 seed in the Albany 3 region
What it means: The Hawkeyes are on the hunt for their third No. 1 seed with the other two coming in 1988 and 1992. The top seed sets up the most favorable path for a return to the Final Four. There are also probably some internal thoughts on checking this goal off a list that has seen so many completed.
Iowa's region
No. 2 Colorado
No. 3 Kansas State
No. 4 Virginia Tech
No. 5 Utah
No. 6 Marquette
No. 7 Texas A&M
No. 8 Vanderbilt
No. 9 TCU
No. 10 Green Bay
No. 11 Miami/California
No. 12 Chattanooga
No. 13 James Madison
No. 14 Kent State
No. 15 Wyoming
No. 16 SE Louisiana/South Carolina Upstate
Analysis of the region
Could the Hawkeyes meet Kansas State for a third time this season? The two teams have already met twice splitting games. The Wildcats took the first one 65-58 in Iowa City while Iowa rebounded with a 77-70 win in the Gulf Coast showcase.
A fun little rematch in the first round could be against SE Louisiana. The two met in the first round of the 2022 NCAA Tournament in Iowa City which saw the Hawkeyes start their run with a 95-43 victory.
The No. 1 seeds
Top overall seed: South Carolina in the Albany 1 Region
Other No. 1 seeds: UCLA in the Portland 2 Region and Stanford in the Portland 4 Region
Conference breakdown
ACC: 9
Pac-12: 9
SEC: 7
Big Ten: 7
Big 12: 6
Big East: 3
Mountain West: 2
Joining Iowa out of the Big Ten conference are No. 8 Michigan State, No. 9 Maryland, No. 5 Ohio State, No. 10 Michigan, No. 8 Nebraska, and No. 4 Indiana.
Bubble teams
Last Four Byes: TCU, Alabama, Michigan, Duke
Last Four In: Arizona, Iowa State, Miami, California
First Four Out: Washington, Florida, Davidson, Minnesota
Next Four Out: Penn State, Texas Tech, Drake, Santa Clara
