By JOHN BOHNENKAMP

The first release of the NCAA’s NET should be taken for what it’s worth — it’s a starting point, but certainly not anything to freak out about.

The number on December 2 isn’t going to look anything like what it will be in the final week of the season when the NCAA tournament men’s and women’s basketball selection committees meet. Conference play starts this month, and those games will determine the movement up and down.

Some thoughts on Monday’s first release:

• Iowa’s women’s basketball NET (29) doesn’t equal the Hawkeyes’ national ranking (No. 17 in the Associated Press poll), but that’s OK. The Hawkeyes don’t have a Quad 1 win and their strength of schedule ranks 261st, but their schedule will get tougher, starting this week.

• Western Illinois’ women’s team has a good starting spot at 112. The Leathernecks are 3-0 on the road this year, and while their March hopes rest on Ohio Valley Conference regular-season play and the tournament, they’ve put together a good start.

• Iowa State men are 19th. The Cyclones already have two Quad 1/Quad 2 wins, and the Big 12 schedule will certainly enhance their overall SOS, which stands at a strong 57th..

• Drake’s men come in at No. 45. At 7-0 (6-0 against NCAA Division I teams), the Bulldogs have a solid starting foundation, but it’s hard to say how the Missouri Valley Conference schedule will affect their overall ranking.

MEN

Iowa State

NET: 19

Record: 5-1

SOS: 57

Quad 1: 1-1

Quad 2: 1-0

This week: The Cyclones get Marquette (7 NET) at home on Wednesday and Jackson State (349 NET) on Sunday.

Drake

NET: 45

Record: 7-0 (6-0 Division I)

SOS: 287

Quad 1: 0-0

Quad 2: 1-0

This week: Only one game for the Bulldogs this week, but it’s the Valley opener at Valparaiso (272 NET) on Thursday.

Iowa 

NET: 54

Record: 6-1

SOS: 222

Quad 1: 0-1

Quad 2: 1-0

This week: The Hawkeyes open Big Ten play with a home game Tuesday against Northwestern (73 NET) and a Saturday road game against Michigan (35 NET)

UNI

NET: 166

Record: 3-4 (2-4 NCAA Division I)

SOS: 72

Quad 1: 0-1

Quad 2: 0-3

This week: The Panthers open Valley play at UIC (161 NET) on Wednesday before getting a Saturday home game against Northern Illinois (341 NET)

Western Illinois

NET: 312

Record: 4-4 (3-4 NCAA Division I)

SOS: 350

Quad 1: 0-0

Quad 2: 0-0

This week: The Leathernecks have two games against non-Division I teams this week — St. Ambrose on Wednesday and East-West University on Friday.

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WOMEN

Iowa

NET: 29

Record: 8-0

SOS: 261

Quad 1: 0-0

Quad 2: 1-0

This week: The Hawkeyes don’t play until Saturday’s neutral-court game against Tennessee (32 NET). Iowa is 3-0 on neutral courts this season.

UNI

NET: 60

Record: 4-3 (3-3 NCAA Division I)

SOS: 214

Quad 1: 0-0

Quad 2: 0-1

This week: The Panthers play host to Creighton (39 NET) on Saturday.

Iowa State

NET: 76

Record: 6-2

SOS: 100

Quad 1: 0-1

Quad 2: 0-1

This week: The Cyclones get USC Upstate (339 NET) on Tuesday and Central Michigan (237 NET) on Sunday, and those aren’t resumé enhancers.

Western Illinois

NET: 112

Record: 5-1 (4-1 NCAA Division I

SOS: 330

Quad 1: 0-0

Quad 2: 0-0

This week: The Leathernecks get a road test against a power conference team in Cincinnati (94 NET) on Friday.

Drake

NET: 113

Record: 3-5

SOS: 131

Quad 1: 0-1

Quad 2: 0-2

This week: No games for the Bulldogs this week.

Photo: Iowa State guard Tamin Lipsey (3) shoots over Colorado guard Julian Hammond III at the Maui Invitational last week. (Brian Spurlock/Icon Sportswire)