Tag: Filip Rebraca

Forward Kris Murray announces return to the Iowa Hawkeyes men’s basketball team

Iowa received big news for the 2022-23 men’s college basketball season as forward Kris Murray announced his return to the Hawkeyes.

Forward Kris Murray announced on Wednesday that he is officially returning to the Iowa Hawkeyes for the 2022-23 men’s college basketball season. It puts to rest any uncertainty about his immediate future with the Hawkeyes.

That was called into question after the 6-foot-8, 225 pound forward filed for early entry into the 2022 NBA draft on April 14. It looked and felt like a good sign for Iowa when Murray declined his invitation to the 2022 NBA draft combine in early May, but the door was still open for Murray to potentially try his hand professionally.

Now, Murray is officially back in the fold for Iowa for the 2022-23 season.

“These past two months have been a tremendous learning process for me. By going through the NBA Draft process, I believe that it will help me in the long run and this upcoming season at Iowa. I can’t wait to get back to work with my teammates and coaches to play for the best fan base in the world! Go Hawks,” Murray said in his social media announcement.

Naturally, Iowa head men’s basketball coach Fran McCaffery voiced his excitement about Murray electing to return to Iowa City.

“Everyone in our program is very excited to have Kris back. We are happy that Kris had a positive experience going through the NBA process. He gained valuable feedback through workouts and conversations with NBA personnel. Kris will be awesome next year,” McCaffery said.

Murray’s decision means that the Hawkeyes now return both its leading scorer and rebounder off the bench. Murray 9.7 points and 4.3 rebounds per game also ranked fourth and third overall for Iowa last season.

The Cedar Rapids, Iowa, product also registered 31 blocks and 43 made 3-pointers for the Hawkeyes last year on 38.7% 3-point field goal shooting. Murray connected on at least one 3-pointer in a team-best 17 consecutive games from Jan. 22 through March 13, had multiple steals in 10 games and multiple blocks in nine contests.

Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Josh on Twitter: @JoshOnREF

Let us know your thoughts, comment on this story below. Join the conversation today.

Kris Murray declines 2022 NBA draft combine invitation

Iowa forward Kris Murray declined his invitation to the 2022 NBA draft combine. Does that mean he’s coming back to Iowa City?

Iowa forward Kris Murray might have surprised some Hawkeye fans when he announced on April 14 that he had submitted papers for early entry into the 2022 NBA draft.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to be able to play the game I love every day and to wear the Black and Gold. I will be taking this opportunity to enter my name into the 2022 NBA draft while maintaining my college eligibility. My focus is being able to grow as a player in every way possible.

“The opportunity to get feedback and the experience working out for NBA teams will help me become the best player I can possibly be and take my game to the next level. I have big plans for next year and this experience will help me do that. I appreciate everyone’s support,” Murray said at the time.

The 6-foot-8, 225 pound forward didn’t sign with an agent, retaining his NCAA eligibility if he chooses to withdraw his name on or before June 1. Now, it appears like he may be one step closer to returning to Iowa City.

According to Hawk Central’s Kennington Lloyd Smith, Murray declined his invitation to the 2022 NBA draft combine set for May 18-20 from Wintrust Arena and the Marriott Marquis in Chicago.

While that certainly appears to be good news in terms of a Murray return to Iowa City, his father, Kenyon Murray, said Kris’ decision-making process on whether or not to return to Iowa is still ongoing.

In an interview with Hawk Central on Wednesday morning, Kenyon Murray said Kris is “still in the draft process” and his decision to remain in the draft or return to Iowa will likely run its full course until the June 1 deadline.

Several NBA teams have expressed interest to Kris and there’s the possibility for invitations for individual workouts. Therefore, he’s not shutting the door on those opportunities and the chance to pique a team’s interest in a private session. – Lloyd Smith, Hawk Central.

Kenyon Murray also joined hosts Pat Harty and Tom Suter of HawkFanatic on KCJJ radio to further discuss Kris’ situation and decision-making process.

“He just wants all of the information that he can get. I think the day in, day out workouts against that kind of level of competition has really, really helped him. His confidence is sky high and I think he’s in a good situation either way,” Kenyon Murray said to KCJJ radio.

It makes sense that Kris wants to gather all of the information that he can before he makes a final decision. Kenyon said there’s a good chance Kris’ final decision doesn’t come until close to the June 1 deadline.

“I think in the end it comes down to where Kris is comfortable. Does he want to come back and become a potential All-Big Ten, All-American and playing alongside the guys coming back and possibly win another Big Ten title or does he like what he hears from an NBA team? It’s probably going up to the deadline of June 1,” Kenyon Murray said to KCJJ radio.

Listening to his father, Kris’ game has only gotten better since the 2021-22 men’s college basketball season’s end. With that in mind, the sky is the limit for what Kris could accomplish in Iowa City next season if he so chooses.

Kenyon Murray discussed what the next evolution in Kris’ game would look like if he’s back in Iowa City.

“You’re going to get a kid that can definitely score at all three levels. You know, obviously, he’s got to finish better in the paint. That’s one of the things we talked about throughout the year, but he’s not going to be the same player as Keegan (Murray). You know, Keegan can post up and those kind of things.

“Not saying Kris can’t, but he has always been kind of a face the basket, you know, get to his spots, create for other people, so I think you’re going to see someone who can definitely play from the post but I think he’s going to be deadlier from the perimeter. Whether it’s with his passing, his dribble penetration. He’ll cut without the ball like Keegan did and obviously shoot the jump shot. I think you’re going to see just a more well-rounded version of Kris being able to score at all three levels,” Kenyon Murray said on KCJJ radio.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01fvdcxf97xrgg1awc player_id=none image=https://hawkeyeswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Josh on Twitter: @JoshOnREF

Let us know your thoughts, comment on this story below. Join the conversation today.

Iowa at No. 15 in 247Sports’ way-too-early men’s college hoops ranking

247Sports’ Kevin Flaherty ranked Iowa No. 15 in his latest way-too-early men’s college basketball rankings.

It is never too early to start looking toward the next men’s college basketball season. With the May 1 deadline for transfers to inform their school of their intention to transfer in the rearview mirror, analysts are now better enabled to get a read on next year’s rosters. 247Sports’ Kevin Flaherty published his way-too-early rankings for 2022-23 and had Iowa coming in at No. 15.

Kris Murray is testing the NBA draft waters, but he looks likely to return to Iowa City for another season, and likely to ascend to stardom. Murray following in his brother Keegan’s footsteps and becoming an All-Big Ten force wouldn’t be a surprise. Add in Patrick McCaffery, Filip Rebraca and Tony Perkins, and more time for Ahron Ulis and Payton Sandfort, and the Hawkeyes could enter March with another top-five seed. – Flaherty, 247Sports.

Iowa is Flaherty’s second-highest ranked Big Ten program behind No. 13 Michigan. Of course, the Wolverines are fresh off a Sweet 16 appearance in the 2022 NCAA Tournament. After the Hawkeyes and Wolverines, No. 20 Illinois, No. 22 Indiana and No. 23 Michigan State round out the Big Ten teams appearing in the rankings.

Last season Iowa went on a historic Big Ten Tournament championship run, finishing the season as the No. 21 team in the nation after bowing out of the first round of the NCAA Tournament with a loss to 12th-seeded Richmond, 67-63.

Iowa may have a tough road back to the Big Ten Tournament championship. Star forward [autotag]Keegan Murray[/autotag] is off to the NBA as a potential top-ten pick in the 2022 NBA draft and second-leading scorer and longtime starter [autotag]Jordan Bohannon[/autotag] exhausted his eligibility.

[autotag]Kris Murray[/autotag] will be the X-factor of the offseason. His return would be massive for a Hawkeyes team searching for their next star. While he declared for the draft, the door is still open for the junior forward to return to Iowa for the upcoming season. The deadline for Murray to remove his name and retain his NCAA eligibility is June 1.

Murray’s game progressed in his second season, showing some potential star power coming off the bench. In fact, Kris averaged Iowa’s team-high off the bench at 9.7 points and 4.3 rebounds per game. With a full-time role, look out for Kris to emerge as a top Big Ten star just like his twin brother Keegan did this past year.

Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Jacob on Twitter: @Jacobkeppen

Let us know your thoughts, and comment on this story below. Join the conversation today.

Connor McCaffery announces return to Iowa Hawkeyes

After sharing the Chris Street Award with teammate Keegan Murray, Connor McCaffery announced his intention to return to Iowa.

After a series of departures to the 2022 NBA draft, graduation and the transfer portal, the Iowa men’s basketball team got some good news. Redshirt senior guard [autotag]Connor McCaffery[/autotag] announced his intentions to return to the Hawkeyes and make use of his sixth season of eligibility.

After being named co-winner of the Chris Street Award alongside teammate [autotag]Keegan Murray[/autotag] at Iowa’s team awards ceremony, McCaffery grabbed the mic and delivered a message.

“Last night, I sat down thinking of what I was going to say for my senior speech. So, then I thought, ‘You know what? I’ll wait to do it next year,'” McCaffery said.

McCaffery averaged 2.5 points and 1.9 assists per game this past season for Iowa. The 6-foot-5 guard connected on 33.8% of his 3-point tries and dished out three or more assists in 11 contests during the 2021-22 season. McCaffery had a big month of February where he made 12-of-19 3-pointers.

In fact, he knocked down 11-of-15 in the final four games of the month at Ohio State, versus Michigan State, at Nebraska and versus Northwestern. That Northwestern performance on Feb. 28 included McCaffery’s season-high 17 points and a career-best five 3-pointers.

With McCaffery’s decision to return, the outlook for the Hawkeyes in 2022-23 is a little clearer. Connor’s younger brother and one of Iowa’s best players returns in Patrick McCaffery. Patrick averaged 10.5 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game this past season. Guards Tony Perkins, Payton Sandfort and Ahron Ulis are all returning. Forward Filip Rebraca is as well. Perkins, Sandfort and Ulis averaged 7.4, 5.0 and 3.1 points per game, respectively. Rebraca added 5.8 points and 5.6 rebounds per game.

The Hawkeyes are still waiting on sophomore forward [autotag]Kris Murray[/autotag]’s final decision. After averaging 9.7 points and 4.3 rebounds per game, Murray announced on April 14 that he would be testing the 2022 NBA draft waters.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to be able to play the game I love every day and to wear the Black and Gold. My focus is being able to grow as a player in every way possible. The opportunity to get feedback and experience working out for NBA teams will help me become the best player I can possibly be and take my game to the next level. I have big plans for next year and this experience will help me do that. I appreciate everyone’s support,” Murray said.

Murray didn’t sign with an agent, so he’s maintained his collegiate eligibility if he chooses to return to Iowa. Underclassmen have until June 1 to either remain or remove their names from the draft and the expectation is that Murray will indeed return to Iowa City.

Of course, guard [autotag]Jordan Bohannon[/autotag]’s college eligibility has expired and Kris’ twin brother, Keegan Murray, announced that he would be entering the 2022 NBA draft where he’s regarded as a likely lottery pick. Beyond that, three players have transferred out. Guard Joe Toussaint is transferring to West Virginia and guard Austin Ash and forward Josh Ogundele announced they aren’t returning either.

Iowa signed a pair in the 2022 class, three-star point guard [autotag]Dasonte Bowen[/autotag] out of the Brewster Academy in New Hampshire and three-star shooting guard Josh Dix from Abraham Lincoln High School in Council Bluffs, Iowa. The Hawkeyes are in the running for Utah Valley transfer center [autotag]Fardaws Aimaq[/autotag] as well. Aimaq averaged 18.9 points and 13.6 rebounds per game last season while shooting 43.5% from 3-point range. He included Iowa in his top five along with Gonzaga, Texas, Texas Tech and Washington.

Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Josh on Twitter: @JoshOnREF

Let us know your thoughts, comment on this story below. Join the conversation today.

Iowa makes top 5 for Utah Valley transfer center Fardaws Aimaq

Iowa made the cut for Utah Valley transfer center Fardaws Aimaq.

Iowa is in the process of replacing national player of the year candidate and probable 2022 NBA draft lottery pick [autotag]Keegan Murray[/autotag] as well as Iowa’s and the Big Ten’s career made 3-pointers leader in guard [autotag]Jordan Bohannon[/autotag].

At least one reporter expects the Hawkeyes to be better off than maybe some naysayers would think. 247Sports national college basketball writer Kevin Flaherty recently ranked Iowa No. 16 in his way-too-early top 23 for 2023. Fellow 247Sports writer Isaac Trotter included Hawkeye forward Patrick McCaffery among his players poised to emerge as potential breakout stars in the 2022-23 season.

McCaffery and forward Kris Murray should both see elevated minutes and usage rates. It only makes sense that McCaffery’s 10.5 points and 3.6 rebounds per game should go up as well. That should be the case with Kris Murray’s 9.7 points and 4.3 rebounds per game, too.

Still, Iowa is losing some serious production in both Keegan Murray and Bohannon. Keegan Murray finished averaging 23.5 points and 8.7 rebounds per game. Murray joined former Texas star Kevin Durant in becoming just the second player in Division I history to amass more than 800 points, 60 blocks, and 60 3-pointers in a single season. Meanwhile, Bohannon ended his career having made an Iowa and Big Ten record 455 3-pointers. He also averaged 11 points per game last season for the Hawkeyes.

With those losses in mind, Iowa is looking to replenish via the transfer portal. One of the names Iowa has been linked to is Utah Valley center Fardaws Aimaq. The 6-foot-11 center trimmed his list of potential transfer destinations down to five and Iowa made the cut.

Along with the Hawkeyes, Aimaq is still reportedly considering Gonzaga, Texas, Texas Tech and Washington.

Iowa Hawkeyes offer 2025 small forward Cooper Flagg

Class of 2025 small forward Cooper Flagg received an offer from the Iowa Hawkeyes.

Iowa and head men’s basketball coach [autotag]Fran McCaffery[/autotag] aren’t wasting any time letting class of 2025 small forward [autotag]Cooper Flagg[/autotag] know how much they like his game. The Hawkeyes offered the 6-foot-8, 195 pound wing from Nokomis Regional High School in Newport, Maine.

It’s obviously very early in the 2025 cycle and Flagg just finished up his freshman season. As a result, there aren’t really any player recruiting rankings to look at yet. Still, the Iowa offer and recent interest from Michigan and UCLA shows the power-five ability coaching staffs feel Flagg possesses.

247Sports national basketball recruiting analyst Dushawn London wrote a get-to-know piece on Flagg back in January.

Class of 2025 forward Cooper Flagg has emerged as a player to keep on the radar. Flagg plays his high school ball at Nokomis Regional School in Newport Maine. At 6-foot-7 Flagg brings a lot of versatility and length on both sides of the ball and is already off to a hot start to his high school career.

“The biggest takeaway so far is playing against the better people in the area,” he said. “Going through middle school there wasn’t really much competition but now it’s the maximum competition around the area.” – London, 247Sports.

London noted that Flagg will also play AAU for Maine United. After the Hawkeyes offered, UCLA extended an offer to Flagg two days later. According to 247Sports, Flagg also holds offers from Bryant and Albany.

Iowa men’s basketball is set to look different in the 2022-23 season. That’s guaranteed after the departures of standout sophomore forward [autotag]Keegan Murray[/autotag] to the 2022 NBA draft and longtime sharpshooter [autotag]Jordan Bohannon[/autotag].

Iowa head men’s basketball coach Fran McCaffery will also be looking to replace transfer portal defections in guard Austin Ash, guard Joe Toussaint and forward Josh Ogundele. The Hawkeyes signed a pair in the 2022 class, three-star Brewster Academy point guard [autotag]Dasonte Bowen[/autotag] and three-star Abraham Lincoln High School shooting guard [autotag]Josh Dix[/autotag].

Projecting forward, Iowa has a commitment from four-star, class of 2023 power forward [autotag]Owen Freeman[/autotag] of Bradley-Bourbonnais High School in Bradley, Ill.

Here’s a look at Flagg’s game courtesy of SLAM.

247Sports tabs Iowa Hawkeyes’ Patrick McCaffery as potential 2022-23 breakout star

247Sports’ Isaac Trotter listed Iowa forward Patrick McCaffery as one of his potential breakout stars for the 2022-23 basketball season.

With Kansas’ 72-69 rally over North Carolina in the NCAA Tournament’s national championship game, the 2021-22 college basketball season is officially a wrap. While Iowa’s stay in March Madness was an abbreviated one, the season itself was a big surprise to many prognosticators.

Iowa was picked to finish ninth by the league’s media entering last season. With Iowa replacing national player of the year [autotag]Luka Garza[/autotag], it made sense why some media members might be down on the Hawkeyes at the beginning of this past season.

Instead of the projected ninth-place finish, Iowa wound up ending the Big Ten regular season with a 12-8 league mark to earn the No. 5 seed in the Big Ten Tournament. Of course, the Hawkeyes went on to win the Big Ten Tournament by dispatching of then-No. 9 Purdue in the championship game, 75-66.

Sophomore forward [autotag]Keegan Murray[/autotag] emerged as one of the nation’s best players, upping his points per game average by more than 16 points. Murray averaged 23.5 points and 8.7 rebounds per game to place himself in the conversation for all of the major national player of the year awards.

Now, with Murray having declared for the 2022 NBA draft and guard [autotag]Jordan Bohannon[/autotag] having exhausted his eligibility, Iowa finds itself in similar circumstances to the beginning of last season. Plenty of analysts will be expecting a step backwards for Iowa given the production the Hawkeyes are losing.

That means more opportunities for those returning to campus, though, and Iowa will be hoping for a pair of forwards to make significant leaps during the 2022-23 men’s college basketball season. [autotag]Kris Murray[/autotag] and [autotag]Patrick McCaffery[/autotag] are both great candidates to make serious strides entering next season. In fact, 247Sports writer Isaac Trotter included McCaffery as one of his potential breakout stars for next season.

Kris Murray is going to be the trendy pick to step up for Iowa after Keegan Murray’s departure for the NBA. Kris Murray is going to be a star, but McCaffery could also be one, too. McCaffery really had a polished offensive game. His usage rate should get a big bump next year, and the 6-foot-9 forward will form a powerful 1-2 punch with Kris Murray. – Trotter, 247Sports.

Again, both Murray and McCaffery will be popular picks to take steps forward in their production. Murray averaged 9.7 points and 4.3 rebounds per game in just 17.9 minutes of floor time on average. Meanwhile, McCaffery was one of Iowa’s three players to average double-figure scoring last year. McCaffery averaged 10.5 points and 3.6 rebounds per game in 24.2 minutes of floor time on average.

It’s easy to see both Murray and McCaffery seriously improving upon their averages from this past season. Beyond that, Iowa will need to add some talent from the transfer portal to go along with the pair of three-star guards the Hawkeyes are bringing in. According to 247Sports, Iowa signed three-star point guard [autotag]Dasonte Bowen[/autotag] from Brewster Academy in New Hampshire and three-star shooting guard [autotag]Josh Dix[/autotag] from Abraham Lincoln High School in Council Bluffs, Iowa.

Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Josh on Twitter: @JoshOnREF

Let us know your thoughts, comment on this story below. Join the conversation today.

Iowa Hawkeyes ranked No. 16 in 247Sports’ way-too-early top 23 for 2023

247Sports writer Kevin Flaherty ranked Iowa No. 16 in his way-too-early top 23 teams for 2023.

After a 26-10 season that included a Big Ten Tournament title, Iowa enters the offseason set to replace a superstar and the Big Ten’s all-time 3-pointers made leader. Sophomore forward [autotag]Keegan Murray[/autotag] recently announced his intention to enter the 2022 NBA draft and sixth-year senior guard [autotag]Jordan Bohannon[/autotag] has exhausted his eligibility.

Murray ranked fourth nationally and led all power-five players in scoring average with 23.5 points per game. He also finished with the nation’s most total points with 822. The Cedar Rapids, Iowa, native finished second in the Big Ten with his 8.7 rebounds per game. Meanwhile, Bohannon finished his Hawkeye career with 455 made 3-pointers, which is the most in both Iowa program history and among all Big Ten players.

Iowa has also seen three defections into the transfer portal. Redshirt senior guard Austin Ash, junior guard Joe Toussaint and sophomore forward Josh Ogundele all announced their decisions to enter the transfer portal. Toussaint had the biggest impact on last season for the Hawkeyes, averaging 4.3 points, 3.2 assists and 1.4 steals per game. Ash averaged 2.9 points per game while playing an average of 4.4 minutes per contest. Ogundele averaged 1.5 points and 1.3 rebounds in 5.2 minutes per game.

While Iowa is certainly replacing star power and a steady hand in Toussaint, at least one national writer thinks highly of the Hawkeyes entering next season. 247Sports national college basketball writer Kevin Flaherty included Iowa in his way-too-early top 23 rankings for 2023. Flaherty ranked Iowa No. 16 and shared why he feels the Hawkeyes will still be a force in the 2022-23 season.

OK, so Keegan Murray is gone. But Kris Murray was a pretty salty option off the bench this year, and he’ll join forces with Patrick McCaffery, Tony Perkins and Payton Sandfort to field a team that should once again be among the Big Ten’s best. With Filip Rebraca announcing his return for his extra season of eligibility, Iowa returns five of its top eight from the Hawkeyes’ lineup in the Big Ten Tournament title game win over Purdue. – Flaherty, 247Sports.

The continued growth of [autotag]Kris Murray[/autotag] will be one of the biggest keys for Iowa next season. Murray averaged 9.7 points and 4.3 rebounds per game in just 17.9 minutes of floor time on average. Patrick McCaffery averaged 10.5 points and 3.6 rebounds per game last season. Murray shot 38.7% from 3-point range and McCaffery shot 33% from deep. That’s a talented pair to build around and Iowa will likely look to add some players out of the transfer portal as well.

According to 247Sports, the Hawkeyes signed a pair of three-star guards in the 2022 signing class in point guard Dasonte Bowen out of Brewster Academy in New Hampshire and shooting guard Josh Dix from Abraham Lincoln High School in Council Bluffs, Iowa.

Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Josh on Twitter: @JoshOnREF

Let us know your thoughts, comment on this story below. Join the conversation today.

Iowa ranked No. 4 in ESPN’s NCAA Tournament pain index

ESPN ranked Iowa No. 4 in its NCAA Tournament pain index.

Unfortunately, Iowa has been no stranger to NCAA Tournament heartbreak. The latest edition came in the Hawkeyes’ first-round matchup in the Midwest region against the 12th-seeded Richmond Spiders in a 67-63 loss on March 17.

Richmond guard Jacob Gilyard knocked down 4-of-7 3-pointers and scored 24 points to lead the Spiders’ upset win. Richmond forwards Tyler Burton and Nathan Cayo added 18 and 15 points, respectively. Iowa entered March Madness having won the Big Ten tournament title over Purdue and the Hawkeyes were being talked about as one of the teams that could unseat No. 1 seed Kansas in the Midwest region.

Instead, Iowa sophomore forward Keegan Murray’s 21 points and nine rebounds weren’t enough to push the Hawkeyes past the Spiders. Iowa sophomore forward Patrick McCaffery connected on four 3-point tries and added 18 points, but the Hawkeyes didn’t have another double-figure scorer outside of those two.

As a result, Iowa’s dubious streak of having not reached a Sweet 16 since 1999 continued. Ahead of Monday night’s national championship game, ESPN put together its NCAA Tournament pain index and Iowa ranked No. 4 among teams who have been eliminated.

Iowa fans who haven’t seen a trip to the second weekend since 1999 never come in arrogant about the Hawkeyes’ chances in the NCAA tournament, but had to be a bit more hopeful than usual entering a first-round matchup with Richmond. After all, this team had been playing some of the best basketball in the country as the event began, including a thrilling run to the Big Ten tournament championship, with an All-American and future lottery pick in Keegan Murray leading the way. Maybe, just maybe …

But Richmond was another conference tourney champ looking to keep the good times rolling, and it rode Jacob Gilyard (24 points, 6 assists) and some uncharacteristically poor Hawkeyes offense (including 6-of-29 from 3) to a classic 12-over-5 upset. – ESPN.

Given how the Hawkeyes were playing entering the NCAA Tournament and the type of season that Keegan Murray had, there’s plenty of sting with this latest March Madness exit. The fact that it comes on the heels of Iowa having lost as a No. 2 seed with the national player of the year in Luka Garza to Oregon in the tournament’s second round last year only adds to the frustration.

If it’s any solace, Iowa actually wasn’t the Big Ten team ranked the highest on the pain index. That distinction was awarded to Purdue, who lost in the Sweet 16 to cinderella Saint Peter’s. Thanks to the Peacocks’ 67-64 win over Purdue in the Sweet 16, Saint Peter’s became the first No. 15 seed to ever advance to the Elite Eight. Then, Saint Peter’s was promptly routed by North Carolina, 69-49. That can’t make Boilermaker fans feel any better.

Another victim of Saint Peter’s, the Kentucky Wildcats, checked in at No. 2 on ESPN’s pain index. Duke took home the ultimate pain index crown, though. According to this ESPN list, nothing stings more than losing to an archrival in the Final Four. The fact that the Tar Heels ended legendary Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski’s career with a loss in his final home game and then sent he and his team packing in the Final Four created quite the cocktail of misery for Duke fans.

Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Josh on Twitter: @JoshOnREF

Let us know your thoughts, comment on this story below. Join the conversation today.

Iowa vs. Richmond: Stream, injury report, broadcast info for Thursday

Iowa rolls into the NCAA Tournament off a Big Ten Tournament championship. Here’s broadcast info for the Hawkeyes’ date versus Richmond.

Iowa (26-9, 12-8 Big Ten) rolls into the NCAA Tournament after capturing the program’s first Big Ten Tournament title since 2006 after downing Purdue, 75-66, in the championship game. It was the third tournament title in program history and it capped off an incredible run to the crown.

In the process, the Hawkeyes became the only school to win a Big Ten Tournament championship twice by winning four games in four days. Iowa accomplished that same feat in 2001 when it won the tournament title as the league’s No. 6 seed.

Sophomore forward Keegan Murray was named the Big Ten Tournament Most Outstanding Player after averaging 25.7 points per game on 55.8 percent field goal shooting. Murray made 8-of-10 3-point attempts in Iowa’s 80-77 semifinal win over Indiana and finished the tournament shooting a blistering 53.8 percent on 3-pointers.

Murray was joined on the Big Ten’s All-Tournament Team by redshirt senior guard Jordan Bohannon. Bohannon averaged 13 points per game and connected on 43.3 percent of his 3-point tries in the Big Ten Tournament.

“I don’t know if I’ve ever been more proud of a team than this group, how they worked and sacrificed and incredible unselfishness. But I have to say we played a tremendous team today, incredibly well-coached team who had a great year and anything short of the effort that we put forth today, you know, we would not have won. They were committed to the game plan, they were committed to each other, and there’s no better feeling as a coach than to watch them celebrate the way they were able to celebrate after the game for the Big Ten championship,” Iowa head men’s basketball coach Fran McCaffery said after the Hawkeyes’ win over Purdue.

Now, Iowa looks to keep the momentum going as the No. 5 seed in the Midwest Region. The Hawkeyes are set to battle Richmond (23-12, 10-8 Atlantic 10), who earned the No. 12 seed after topping Davidson, 64-62, in the Atlantic 10 Tournament championship game.

Here’s when you should tune in to see the game:

  • Date: March 17
  • Time: 2:10 p.m. CT
  • TV Channel: truTV
  • Live Stream: fuboTV (watch here)

Iowa vs. Richmond injury report:

The great news is that both teams enter the NCAA Tournament with a good bill of health. Neither Iowa or Richmond have any injuries to report according to the USA TODAY Sports injury database.

Players to watch:

Iowa:

  • Sophomore forward, Keegan Murray: 23.6 points per game, 8.6 rebounds per game, 2.0 blocks per game, 55.5 percent field goal shooting, 40.5 percent 3-point shooting
  • Redshirt senior guard, Jordan Bohannon: 11.1 points per game, 1.8 assists per game, 38.9 percent field goal shooting, 38.5 percent 3-point shooting, 88.9 percent free throw shooting
  • Redshirt sophomore forward, Patrick McCaffery: 10.3 points per game, 3.6 rebounds per game, 1.6 assists per game, 42.2 percent field goal shooting, 31.2 percent 3-point shooting
  • Sophomore forward, Kris Murray: 9.9 points per game, 4.2 rebounds per game, 48.6 percent field goal shooting, 40.6 percent 3-point shooting

Richmond:

  • Junior forward, Tyler Burton: 16.3 points per game, 7.7 rebounds per game, 46.7 percent field goal shooting, 37.7 percent 3-point shooting
  • Senior forward, Grant Golden: 14.1 points per game, 6.1 rebounds per game, 2.8 assists per game, 51.5 percent field goal shooting
  • Senior guard, Jacob Gilyard: 13.3 points per game, 3.4 rebounds per game, 5.4 assists per game, 36.4 percent 3-point shooting