That loss to Maryland? Not a big deal, per the pollsters and the bracketologists.
Iowa basketball finally tasted defeat for the first time in almost two months last week, falling 74-68 at Maryland behind Jarrod Uthoff's worst game of the season (and a cold night of long-range shooting from everyone on the team). Iowa rebounded with an easy blowout win over Northwestern yesterday, though, and still sit at 17-4 overall and 8-1 in the Big Ten. Their key Big Ten wins (Michigan State x2, Purdue x2, Michigan) combined for six wins of their own last week (most of which came against Big Ten dregs, but hey), which didn't hurt Iowa's profile any.