The 2023-24 Iowa Hawkeyes men’s basketball team has unofficially become the Missouri Valley Hawkeyes. It’s fitting, considering the midwestern mid-major conference includes two schools from the Hawkeye State, Northern Iowa and Drake, respectively.
Fran McCaffery hit the transfer portal to address great losses in the front court from last season, with four featured players moving on during the offseason.
He found two experienced transfers from the Missouri Valley Conference in Ben Krikke and Even Brauns who were ready to make a difference in the Big Ten. While Krikke is the bigger of the two names—the Valparaiso big man led the MVC in scoring last year—do not forget about Brauns.
The Iowa City native started in 29 contests for Belmont last year and figured to play a vital role for the Bruins as a senior. Instead, the center decided to forego personal glory and numbers to return home.
A lifelong fan of the Hawkeyes, it has been Brauns’ dream to play for his hometown team. Now, he has just that opportunity with plenty of minutes on the interior open for the taking.
With his decision, the 6-foot-9 center knew that he wasn’t coming to necessarily be the statistical giant he could have been in the Missouri Valley Conference. Above all, he wanted a chance to help his team win, to do the dirty work and elevate his teammates, and to help lead his Hawkeyes back to success in the Big Ten. He is the type of player every coach would give their right arm to have on their squad.
Here is a look at the newest Hawkeye center, Even Brauns.