With the cancellation of the 2020 NCAA Tournament, we’re seeing an expedited timeline on a number of things traditionally reserved for April. One such item is final rankings. With no post-season play, both the AP and Coaches Polls were released this week, a month ahead of schedule.
The Iowa Hawkeyes remained in the top 25 in both polls, but just barely following a two-game skid to end the year. The Hawkeyes lost their last two at home to Purdue and on the road at Illinois. They were deprived of their opportunity at revenge against the Fighting Illini when the Big Ten Tournament was called off and any chance to move back inside the top 20, where they spent most of the back half of the year, was ruined by the NCAA Tournament cancellation.