The Hlog

Drake is 16th - A Spot Iowa Once Knew So Well

Drake has ascended to 16th in Associated Press' college basketball rankings for the first time in over three decades.

So I did a little digging to see who some of the No. 16 teams were in the last week of January.

In 1999, it was Iowa. In 1998, it was Iowa. In 1996, it was Iowa. In 1988, it was Iowa.

Iowa used to be ranked a lot. It was in the AP poll from the start of the season to the finish in 1986-87, 87-88, 88-89, 92-93 and 95-96, and in most of the 1997-98 and 98-99 seasons.

Those were the years, eh? The Hawkeyes were ranked from time to time during the Steve Alford era, and were as high as No. 9 the first week of 2002. Their highest ranking since was 14th in '05.

By my unofficial count, Iowa has been in the Top Ten in 104 different weeks. Maybe again, someday.

Until then, Drake has Creighton to beat Wednesday and then Indiana State at Terre Haute Saturday if it is to keep climbing. Drake-Creighton is on Mediacom Connections Wednesday night, so there's one reason I'm glad I didn't switch to a dish.

  |    Login or Join to Post Comments