It’s finally here, folks. All season the Iowa Hawkeyes have been preparing and training for this moment. It is finally time for the 2023 NCAA Tournament.
The situation is different for this Hawkeyes team compared to last year. Iowa entered the 2022 NCAA Tournament with high expectations. The fifth seed and the reigning Big Ten Tournament champions, Iowa unexpectedly bowed out in the first round to 12th-seeded Richmond. It was a big disappointment for a squad you thought could make a deep run.
This year it’s a bit different. Iowa (19-13, 11-9 Big Ten) is back in the tournament in a coin-flip of an eight-versus-nine game against SEC competitor Auburn (20-12, 10-8 SEC). The Tigers also enter the 2023 tournament under different circumstances as well.
Last year, they were a No. 2 seed led by NBA prospect Jabari Smith and expected to contend for the Final Four. They too would be at the unfortunate hands of an upset, losing in the second round to Miami.
Both teams enter the 2023 tournament in similar situations. Both bowed out of last year’s tournament early and proceeded to lose their top star to the NBA. Both squads are looking to redeem themselves after losing their first game in their respective conference tournaments
Iowa players Filip Rebraca, Connor McCaffery, and Kris Murray sat down with the media on Wednesday to preview their first-round matchup against Auburn. Here is what was said.