While the eyes of the college basketball world were on Los Angeles for two games featuring four of the nation’s top six teams — and you can read all about those results here and here — rest assured, we have not forgotten about America’s heartland at Power Rankings Central. Kudos to the state of Iowa for keeping regional rivalries alive and having Iowa, Drake, Iowa State and Northern Iowa face each other annually. Even though the teams play in three different conferences, these games on the schedule are non-negotiable.
The Hawkeyes had their hands full with Bulldogs’ Katie Dinnebier last week, as she put up 40 points for the second-highest Division I scoring performance of the season. Dinnebier delivered quite the encore against the Cyclones, scoring 39 points but losing heartbreakingly as Iowa State’s Audi Crooks made the buzzer-beating game winner. That came after the Cyclones had already lost to the Panthers earlier in the week — the first defeat of the year for the Big 12 title contenders.
AUDI CROOKS CALLED GAME 😤
No. 8 Iowa State survives a thriller vs. Drake‼️ pic.twitter.com/lLDCcP9sLa
— espnW (@espnW) November 24, 2024
Three more contests remain on the intrastate circuit, and after the drama of the first three, those should be appointment viewing,…
