The Iowa Hawkeyes: A Closer Look at the Men’s College Basketball Team

The highly anticipated men’s college basketball season is just around the corner, and the Iowa Hawkeyes are eager to continue their impressive streak of NCAA Tournament appearances. With four consecutive tournament participations, Iowa stands among the rare group of only 10 teams in the country that can make such a claim. Purdue and Michigan State, both representing the Big Ten conference, also share this distinction.

This upcoming season will introduce several new faces who will take on prominent roles for Iowa. Head coach Fran McCaffery is particularly excited about point guard Brock Harding and forwards Pryce Sandfort, Owen Freeman, and Ladji Dembele, all talented freshmen joining the team. Iowa’s most established playmakers include senior guard Tony Perkins, redshirt senior forward Patrick McCaffery, and junior forward Payton Sandfort. Perkins averaged 12.3 points per game, Sandfort averaged 10.3 points per game, and McCaffery averaged 9.8 points per game last season, signaling the return of three double-figure scorers from the previous year.

In addition to their core players, the Hawkeyes will rely on sophomore guards Dasonte Bowen and Josh Dix to make significant contributions. Iowa has also bolstered its frontcourt depth through the transfer portal, securing the talents of big men Even Brauns from Belmont and Ben Krikke from Valpairaiso.

However, the Hawkeyes face the challenge of replacing their top two scorers and rebounders from the previous season. Kris Murray, a first-round NBA draft pick in 2023, averaged 20.2 points and 7.9 rebounds per game, while Filip Rebraca, a seasoned ABA League pro, contributed an average of 14.1 points and 7.5 rebounds per game. This means that head coach Fran McCaffery must work diligently to ensure the team improves rapidly, reaches its peak performance at the right time, and secures another tournament berth.

For McCaffery, this season presents an opportunity to showcase his coaching prowess to Iowa fans. Often criticized for his inability to guide the Hawkeyes to the Sweet 16 during his tenure, McCaffery deserves more credit for his consistent winning record. Over the past 11 seasons, Iowa has made the NCAA Tournament seven times and won 20 or more games in eight seasons (excluding the season canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic). While fans understandably yearn for a Sweet 16 appearance since 1999, it is vital to acknowledge McCaffery’s overall success.

In The Athletic’s preseason men’s college basketball coaching tiers list, Fran McCaffery falls into Tier 3, much like last season. Now, let’s dive into the rankings and see where the rest of the Big Ten coaches stand:

Tier 1

Tier 2

Tier 3

• Fran McCaffery, Iowa head coach: 261-176
• Greg Gard, Wisconsin head coach: 164-93
• Chris Holtmann, Ohio State head coach: 123-75
• Steve Pikiell, Rutgers head coach: 117-106
• Mike Rhoades, Penn State head coach: 129-61 (at Virginia Commonwealth)
• Brad Underwood, Illinois head coach: 114-79
• Kevin Willard, Maryland head coach: 22-13

Tier 4

Tier 5

Tier 6

Tier 7

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By Josh (@JoshOnREF)

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Story originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire

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