The Iowa Hawkeyes are hoping for a return to the NCAA Tournament in the 2024-25 men’s college basketball season.
After four straight trips, Iowa missed out on a tourney bid last season en route to a 19-15 (10-10 Big Ten) finish.
The Hawkeyes got good news this offseason as leading scorer and rebounder Payton Sandfort elected to return. The senior forward averaged 16.4 points and 6.6 rebounds per game while shooting 44.6% from the field, 37.9% from 3-point distance and 91.1% from the free throw line.
Sandfort’s return is gigantic for Iowa. But, it can’t be the only big development if the Hawkeyes have eyes on an NCAA Tournament return.
Junior guard Josh Dix has shown flashes of brilliance throughout his two seasons in Iowa City. Dix scored in double-figures in 11 games and eclipsed 20 points in four.
Now, it’s time for the 6-foot-6 guard from Council Bluffs to morph himself into a more consistent contributor.
One college basketball expert likes that to happen for Dix and the Hawkeyes during the 2024-25 men’s college basketball season. College Hoops Today’s Jon Rothstein included Dix among his list of 20 under-the-radar breakout players for the 2024-25 men’s college basketball season.
Everyone knows about Payton Sandfort and Owen Freeman, but Dix is also a major key to the Hawkeyes’ formula for success. The 6-5 guard has shot over 40 percent from three-point during each of the first two years of his college career and also showed his scoring chops at the end of last season as he scored 20 points or more in three consecutive games in late-February and early March. Dix is a name to watch in the Big Ten. – Jon Rothstein, College Hoops Today.
If Dix can take his game to the next level, he would form a talented top three for the Hawkeyes alongside Sandfort and sophomore forward Owen Freeman.
Freeman averaged 10.6 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game during his freshman season. The 6-foot-10 big shot 61.4% from the floor.
Iowa also added Morehead State point guard Drew Thelwell and Manhattan forward Seydou Traore to its roster via the transfer portal.
Thelwell averaged 10.0 points, 6.2 assists and 3.0 rebounds per game last season while shooting 43.5% from the field, 33.8% from 3-point distance and 64.5% from the foul line.
Traore averaged 11.8 points, 8.2 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.3 blocks per game in his freshman season. The New York product shot 43.8% from the field, 25.6% from 3-point range and 80.0% from the free throw line.
Iowa opens its 2024-25 season on Monday, Nov. 4 versus Texas A&M-Commerce.
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