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The Iowa Hawkeyes definitely have the talent to enter the season by being ranked in the top 25. However, they have a tough non-conference schedule, so they will have to earn that ranking once the season actually starts.
The Battle 4 Atlantis will be tough enough and Iowa could very well lose to a number of different opponents. Kansas, Xavier and Tennessee are part of the field (among other teams). At the same time, Iowa could really climb up the rankings. Winning the Battle 4 Atlantis would be huge and would likely have this team in the top 10.
Who knows if that will be the case, but the potential is there.
Games against Iowa State and Notre Dame will be tough, but they are also very winnable. Both of those teams will be losing some talent, while Iowa will be getting back a bunch.
The Hawkeyes did not make the 2013 NCAA Tournament, but it is important to note that they did make it all of the way to the NIT championship game. So although it may not be the big tournament, this team does have some tournament experience, which could go a long ways in the upcoming season.
Playing a bunch of tough teams in their non-conference schedule could be a good or bad thing. Iowa could climb very high up the rankings or they could fall out of them altogether. However, I think it will win some big games and lose others.
Kansas is the favorite to win the Battle 4 Atlantis and I think that will hold true.
However, I would still expect Iowa to stay in the top 25 all season long. Big Ten play will provide plenty of tough matchups, but the Hawkeyes have the talent to finish in the top three of the conference standings.
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