Say what you will about our team, players, coaches, and their collective attitudes; but here are some simple facts to digest.
We are 19-8 (8-6) in against the No. 8 (According to RPI) or No. 5 (According to Sagarin) schedule in the country, and this does not include our upcoming games at West Virginia and Kansas that will likely raise that even higher.
We have nine top-70 RPI wins (seven top-40).
Outside of Northern Iowa (No. 115 in RPI), we do not have a loss to an RPI team that is ranked below 29.
Pretty remarkable resume when you consider the lack of depth, the loss of Naz Mitrou-Long, and the McKay debacle of late. I believe expectations are the only thing preventing the collection of our fanbase from being extremely elated with this team's performance. It's not this team's fault that the teams in the previous few years built expectations up so high that they were nearly impassable from the start.
Look at the differences between this year's team versus last year's.
Addition: Deonte Burton, Hallice Cooke, Jordan Ashton?
Losses: Dustin Hogue, Naz Mitrou-Long, Bryce Dejean-Jones
Not to mention, the Big 12 looks to be a much tougher league this year than last.
I know the returning guys are a year older, but that's still a huge loss of talent with little replacement. BDJ is entrenched on an NBA roster now, Hogue was the toughness of last year's team, and we all know how good Naz is and has been.
Point being, we're in a great place. If (big IF) we can get Jameel back on track, there's nothing this team cannot do.
We are 19-8 (8-6) in against the No. 8 (According to RPI) or No. 5 (According to Sagarin) schedule in the country, and this does not include our upcoming games at West Virginia and Kansas that will likely raise that even higher.
We have nine top-70 RPI wins (seven top-40).
Outside of Northern Iowa (No. 115 in RPI), we do not have a loss to an RPI team that is ranked below 29.
Pretty remarkable resume when you consider the lack of depth, the loss of Naz Mitrou-Long, and the McKay debacle of late. I believe expectations are the only thing preventing the collection of our fanbase from being extremely elated with this team's performance. It's not this team's fault that the teams in the previous few years built expectations up so high that they were nearly impassable from the start.
Look at the differences between this year's team versus last year's.
Addition: Deonte Burton, Hallice Cooke, Jordan Ashton?
Losses: Dustin Hogue, Naz Mitrou-Long, Bryce Dejean-Jones
Not to mention, the Big 12 looks to be a much tougher league this year than last.
I know the returning guys are a year older, but that's still a huge loss of talent with little replacement. BDJ is entrenched on an NBA roster now, Hogue was the toughness of last year's team, and we all know how good Naz is and has been.
Point being, we're in a great place. If (big IF) we can get Jameel back on track, there's nothing this team cannot do.
