Iowa basketball projected ‘Next Four Out’ in ESPN’s late July bracket update

O Iowa Hawkeyes are expected to be dancing around the bubble during the 2024-25 men’s college basketball season, according to many national experts.

With the start of the season less than 100 days away, it won’t be long before the Hawkeyes prepare and look for a spot in the NCAA Tournament. Iowa will look to return to the tournament after missing out for the first time since the 2017-18 campaign.

Last season’s 19-15 (10-10 Big Ten) finish snapped the Hawkeyes’ streak of four consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances.

As Iowa looks to reverse its fortunes, it will happen without many experts across the country predicting the Hawkeyes will do so. Just like in ESPN’s May bracket update, Iowa is once again among Joe Lunardi’s “Next Four Out” in his “On The Bubble” category in ESPN July Bracketology Update.

Iowa joins USC, Wisconsin and NC State among Lunardi’s “Next Four Out.”

In a demonstration of the league’s strength, Lunardi currently projects 10 of the Big Ten’s 18 teams to make the Big Dance. This matches the SEC for the most proposals of any national conference.

Rutgers, OregonMaryland and Nebraska each joins USC, Wisconsin and Iowa as Big Ten teams that are squarely on the predicted bubble.

Rutgers joins Miami, Kansas State and Saint Mary’s among Lunardi’s “Last Four Byes,” Oregon and Maryland join Villanova and Pittsburgh among the “Last Four In,” and Nebraska joins GeorgiaLouisville and VCU in “First Four Out.”

Rutgers earned the No. 9 spot, while Oregon and Maryland were ranked 11th.

Purdue is projected as the Big Ten’s automatic qualifier and has earned the league’s projected highest ranking of fourth in the South Region.

Indiana is projected as the fifth seed, UCLA as a No. 6 seed, Illinois and State of Michigan as seeds no. 7 and Michigan It is Ohio State as #8 seeds.

Lunardi’s No. 1 seeds are Kansas as the overall top seed, fellow Big 12 member Houston, two-time national champion UConn and Alabama outside the SEC.

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The story originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire