Tag: iowa hawkeyes basketball

Hawkeyes Sweet 16 nuggets: Get to know the Colorado Buffaloes, a prediction

The Iowa Hawkeyes survived the first two rounds, but the same can’t be said for other higher seeds. Meet Iowa’s Sweet 16 opponent, Colorado.

The Sweet 16 is nearly upon us and getting to play a meaningful game this late in the season in the midst of an NCAA Tournament run truly is so sweet. The Iowa Hawkeyes are the highest seed left in their bracket after utter carnage to other host seeds and have their sights set on an incredible opportunity.

A high-powered offense paired with a mentality to turn it up a notch on defense when needed has spurred Iowa to the Sweet 16 and a Friday night matchup with the No. 6 seed Colorado Buffaloes. Colorado finds themselves in the Sweet 16 following a 61-53 upset victory over No. 3 Duke in overtime and now gets their shot to take down high seeds back to back.

Get to know who the Buffaloes are with their record, season stats, some key players to watch out for, and a look at their tournament run so far. Lastly, get ready for the game with a look at how Colorado can win, how Iowa can win, and a prediction as tipoff approaches.

Pair of Iowa Hawkeyes hit the NCAA transfer portal

Iowa Hawkeyes Ahron Ulis and Josh Ogundele announced their departure to the NCAA transfer portal on Wednesday.

The first big moves of the Iowa basketball offseason have occurred. On Wednesday, Iowa guard Ahron Ulis and center Josh Ogundele announced their intention to enter the NCAA Transfer Portal.

A junior, Ulis started 27 games for the Hawkeyes this season, averaging 22.6 minutes per game. He finished the season with 6.1 points per game and a little over two assists per game. Ulis’ season-high 17 points came in a loss at Michigan State on Jan. 26.

Ulis announced his decision on Twitter Wednesday, thanking the Iowa coaching staff for the opportunity. He thanked the fans and his teammates for their support over the past three years as well.

Big man Josh Ogundele is also on the move. It’s his second time entering his name into the portal. Ogundele played sparingly over his three seasons in Iowa City, appearing in 38 games but making zero starts. He averaged 6.5 minutes per game this season after a knee injury at the end of December seriously derailed his momentum.

Ogundele also announced his decision on Twitter, thanking his coaching staff, fans, and teammates at Iowa.

For the Hawkeyes, Ulis’ departure opens up some more minutes at guard. While he started a lot of games, down the stretch Tony Perkins and Payton Sandfort would outearn him in minutes. Dasonte Bowen is a candidate to receive more playing time next year, showing some flashes in his limited playing time.

Ogundele will be missed as a fan favorite, but his departure doesn’t really help the dire situation of the Hawkeyes’ frontcourt next year. Starters Filip Rebraca and Connor McCaffery will be graduating, while star Kris Murray is expected to enter the 2023 NBA draft. There are not a whole lot of returning minutes in the front court.

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NCAA Tournament: Hawkeyes Wire predicts No. 8 Iowa versus No. 9 Auburn

The Iowa Hawkeyes tip it off against the Auburn Tigers in the NCAA Tournament. Here are the predictions and thoughts from Hawkeyes Wire.

The Iowa Hawkeyes didn’t draw the easiest of first-round matchups. In fact, they drew one of the most intriguing games across the entire slate. The No. 8 Hawkeyes take on the No. 9 Auburn Tigers on Thursday, March 16 at 5:50 p.m. CT in Birmingham, Ala.

The Hawkeyes and Tigers are part of the Midwest Region with the winner getting a shot to take down No. 1 Houston barring an upset of epic proportions at the hands of No. 16 Northern Kentucky. First things first, both teams are focused on getting to the second round with this matchup being touted as a highly-watchable contest.

The 8-seed versus 9-seed matchups are always tight. There really is not much difference in teams seeded this closely, but there is some belief from some big-name analysts that the Hawkeyes can find a way to advance.

Here are the predictions and thoughts on this matchup from us here at Hawkeyes Wire.

Iowa Hawkeyes’ Caitlin Clark, Monika Czinano among AP All-American teams

Iowa is headed into the NCAA Tournament confident. Caitlin Clark and Monika Czinano have been recognized by the AP All-American teams.

Caitlin Clark and Monika Czinano are two catalysts that make Iowa go. They can play a pick-and-roll game. Clark and Czinano can read each other’s minds on passes with incredible anticipation and they can often score at will. That is why the two of them are earning deserved accolades.

She has done it again. For the second straight year, Caitlin Clark finds her way as an Associated Press first-team All-American. The Iowa Hawkeyes’ guard is a household name across basketball and across the nation right now and rightfully so.

Caitlin Clark has put up a stellar year for the Hawkeyes (26-6, 15-3 Big Ten). She is averaging 27 points, 8.3 assists, and 7.5 rebounds per game. Her numbers are out of this stratosphere. She isn’t just a volume scorer, but also efficient with a 46.9% shooting percentage, 83.1% from the free throw line, and 37.9% from 3-point range.

Czinano finds herself recognized among the nation’s best by the AP. She is an AP honorable mention All-American for her efforts this season leading the Hawkeyes in the paint.

Czinano is averaging 17.3 points, 6.5 rebounds and is making an incredible 67.4% of her attempts from the field along with a 78.1% mark at the free throw line.

The two get to suit up at home at least once, if not twice more, this weekend when they host the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament. The No. 2 Hawkeyes open up Friday, March 17 at 3 p.m. CT against No. 15 Southeastern Louisiana.

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NCAA Tournament: Breaking down the Midwest Region

The Midwest Region of the NCAA Tournament includes a handful of favorites with some Cinderella potential. A breakdown of the Midwest Region.

The best weekend of the year is almost here. March Madness is upon us and the onslaught of mayhem is about to beginning. Upsets, buzzer beaters, and lifelong legends are made in this tournament.

The Iowa Hawkeyes are in the Midwest region as a No. 8 seed taking on the No. 9 Auburn Tigers in Birmingham, Alabama. For this game being in the Midwest region and against Auburn, the Hawkeyes have drawn a bit of tough luck taking on Auburn in their own backyard. That is neither here nor there, though. It’s tournament time and you have to find a way to win regardless.

In the Midwest Region are some heavy hitters and a few sleepers that could make some noise and bust up brackets across the country. Here is a breakdown of the region’s top players, top matchups, who is on upset watch, and what things look like for the Hawkeyes.

5 thoughts on the women’s NCAA Tournament bracket for the Iowa Hawkeyes

The dust has settled and the Iowa Hawkeyes’ path in the Seattle 4 Region is set. Here’s five thoughts on Iowa’s March Madness bracket.

The regular season was fun. The Big Ten Tournament was even better. Now, we get to the women’s NCAA Tournament, the best of them all.

The real fun begins now as it is win-or-go-home from here on out. There are no chances to bounce back and no do-overs. The Iowa Hawkeyes‘ season has led to this point and the successes of the season have them primed for a run.

The bracket is set and there are some curious things on the Hawkeyes’ side of the bracket that are rather intriguing with what the storylines could be, the matchups in play, and the chances to get to banner games.

Anything less than a strong showing and advancing in this tournament will leave Iowa feeling underwhelmed after what their year has been. Here are five thoughts on the Iowa Hawkeyes’ side of the women’s NCAA Tournament bracket before things get underway.

Women’s NCAA Tournament: Iowa Hawkeyes a No. 2 seed, draw No. 15 Southeastern Louisiana

The Iowa Hawkeyes women are a No. 2 seed. Take a look at their draw and opponent, No. 15 Southeastern Louisiana.

The Iowa Hawkeyes women’s basketball team has their fate. They are hosting the first two rounds of the women’s NCAA Tournament in Iowa City.

After a 26-6 overall season which saw a 15-3 Big Ten record to go with a repeat Big Ten Tournament title, the Hawkeyes had long ago eliminated the question of if they were going to make the tournament.

With an NCAA Tournament berth in hand, Iowa solely focused on just how high they could make their seed. In fact, the committee may have just gift-wrapped some serious bulletin board for the Hawkeyes to use this tournament.

Although the Hawkeyes provided an absolute mountain of evidence to prove why they were worthy of a No. 1 seed, the committee went another direction and has Iowa as a No. 2 seed in the Seattle Region.

Here is a quick look at the Hawkeyes’ opponent, the No. 15 seed Southeastern Louisiana, their record, the Hawkeyes’ potential opponents, and the rest of their region.

NCAA Tournament: Iowa Hawkeyes a No. 8 seed, draw No. 9 Auburn Tigers

The Iowa Hawkeyes are officially in as a No. 8 seed. Take a look at their draw and opponent, the No. 9 Auburn Tigers.

After a tumultuous regular season, the Iowa Hawkeyes have completed one of their largest goals in making the NCAA Tournament. The Hawkeyes were projected to be in the field for most of the season, but their seeding was often a roller coaster ride.

With the bracket officially announced, the Hawkeyes are a No. 8 seed in the Midwest Region. They will be taking on the No. 9 Auburn Tigers in the first round in a Big Ten versus SEC matchup. They will play in Birmingham, Ala., which is a bit of an unfortunate draw for Iowa as that is extremely local to the Auburn faithful.

While the draw of a No. 8 seed is always a tough one should you win your first matchup as a No. 1 seed is almost guaranteed to be waiting, they are in and that is what matters.

Here is a look at the bracket, the Auburn Tigers’ season, their best players, and what the rest of the bracket holds for the Hawkeyes.

Latest bracketology roundup for the Hawkeyes ahead of Selection Sunday

Just ahead of Selection Sunday, here is a final bracketology roundup for the Iowa Hawkeyes from all of the major bracketology experts.

Alright, Hawkeyes fans! The Big Ten Tournament did not end as we all wanted, not by a long shot. I seriously doubt any Iowa fan hoped for a swift exit in the first game to 13th-seed Ohio State, even if that Buckeyes squad is currently set to play Purdue in the Semifinals at the time of writing.

While we may collectively feel down, we are not out quite yet! There is still an NCAA Tournament to play folks, and if this Big Ten Tournament has taught us anything, it’s that your previous body of work means NOTHING!

Anything can happen at the big dance, and no squad is safe from the dreaded upset watch. It’s the great time for redemption on an even playing field for Iowa, a team still projected by many to make it to the tournament.

In preparation for Selection Sunday, here is a roundup of all the bracketology projections for the Iowa Hawkeyes.

Iowa Hawkeyes’ Lisa Bluder among finalists for the Naismith Trophy’s Coach of the Year award

Lisa Bluder has the Hawkeyes on the rise right now. Her coaching has her among finalists for the Naismith Trophy’s Coach of the Year award.

A Big Ten Tournament title, a 26-6 mark on the season, and a current No. 2 ranking in the AP Top 25 is quite the 2022-23 resume for Iowa Hawkeyes women’s basketball head coach Lisa Bluder.

Heading into the NCAA Tournament with the opportunity to host the first two rounds at home in Carver Hawkeye Arena is just the start of the goal that Bluder set out for her team this season. With all of these goals, the recognition has begun as she has been named as one of ten finalists for the Naismith Trophy. Bluder was the recipient of this award in 2019.

The Naismith Women’s College Coach of the Year Award was created in 1987 and is given out annually to the best basketball coach after a vote conducted by Atlanta Tipoff Club’s Board of Selectors.

Bluder has a career record of 463-242 (.657) as the head coach of the Hawkeyes and an outstanding overall record of 819-384 (.681). She is also one of five active coaches to have more than 815 wins, one of 14 women’s coaches to ever reach that mark, and one of just 25 coaches (men’s or women’s basketball) to get to 815 wins.

Also up for the award from the Big Ten is Indiana Hoosiers head coach Teri Moren. She led Indiana to a regular season Big Ten title, a 27-3 overall record, and a current AP Top 25 ranking of No. 3 in the nation.

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