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Iowa Basketball ranked No. 5 in preseason AP Top 25

By Joe Kipp

ANN ARBOR, MI - DECEMBER 6: Luka Garza #55 of the Iowa Hawkeyes defends during the second half of the game against the Michigan Wolverines at Crisler Center on December 6, 2019 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Michigan defeated Iowa 103-91. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)
ANN ARBOR, MI - DECEMBER 6: Luka Garza #55 of the Iowa Hawkeyes defends during the second half of the game against the Michigan Wolverines at Crisler Center on December 6, 2019 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Michigan defeated Iowa 103-91. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images) /
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The Iowa Basketball program comes in at No. 5 in the preseason AP Top 25 poll.

There’s some lofty expectations for Iowa Basketball in 2020, especially with the return of senior big man Luka Garza. In the first AP poll of 2020, the Hawkeyes are ranked No. 5 in the nation heading into the season.

It’s the first time ever that Iowa Basketball has been ranked in the top five in the preseason poll. It’s also the first time they’ve been ranked in the preseason top 25 since the 2005-06 season.

Ahead of Iowa are Gonzaga, Baylor, Villanova and Virginia. The Hawkeyes are one of three teams in the Big Ten ranked in the top 10 (Wisconsin, Illinois). Overall, seven Big Ten teams are ranked in the initial top 25.

Here’s the full preseason AP Top 25 college basketball poll:

1. Gonzaga (0-0)
2. Baylor (0-0)
3. Villanova (0-0)
4. Virginia (0-0)
5. Iowa (0-0)
6. Kansas (0-0)
7. Wisconsin (0-0)
8. Illinois (0-0)
9. Duke (0-0)
10. Kentucky (0-0)
11. Creighton (0-0)
12. Tennessee (0-0)
13. Michigan State (0-0)
14. Texas Tech (0-0)
15. West Virginia (0-0)
16. North Carolina (0-0)
17. Houston (0-0)
18. Arizona State (0-0)
19. Texas (0-0)
20. Oregon (0-0) 
21. Florida State (0-0) 
22. UCLA (0-0)
23. Ohio State (0-0)
24. Rutgers (0-0)
25. Michigan (0-0)

The expectations for the Hawkeyes this coming season are already at an all-time high. The Hawkeyes haven’t reach the Final Four since 1980. The last time they won the regular season Big Ten title was the 1979 season. Oddsmakers don’t seem to care.

Iowa currently boasts the second-highest odds to win the 2020-21 college basketball National Championship. Only Villanova has better odds to cut down the net. Tied for third best odds are Gonzaga, Kentucky and fellow Big Ten school Illinois (+1000).

The No. 5 ranked Hawkeyes are scheduled to face No. 1 ranked Gonzaga on Dec. 19 in Sioux Falls, SD, at Sanford Pentagon Arena. The matchup should be one of the most exciting games of the college basketball season and can be seen on CBS at 11:00 a.m. (CT).

light. Related Story. Iowa Basketball has 2nd best odds to be 2021 National Champs

The only other game currently scheduled for Fran McCaffery’s squad is on Dec. 9 against North Carolina in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge. The 2020-21 college basketball season is slated to start on Nov. 25. Iowa returns seven players with starting experience.

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