Iowa is not the No. 91-ranked team in the country. Unfortunately, the RPI feels otherwise. According to reality-based metrics, the Hawkeyes are one of the 35 best teams in the country -- No. 31 in BPI, No. 35 in KenPom -- whose only fault is being young and thus far not very good at closing out tight games. To wit: Losses to Indiana, Michigan State, Purdue, Minnesota and Wisconsin were all decided by fewer than four points. For all of these reasons, I would like to give the Hawkeyes the benefit of the doubt. But recent history tells us that a 91 RPI and a 326th-ranked nonconference schedule are non-starters, bubble-wise. Right now, the Hawks are your overwhelming NIT favorites. We'll see if they can change that in the weeks to come. -ESPN