Tag: Iowa men’s basketball

Takeaways from Iowa’s close loss to No. 12 Illinois

Iowa Men’s Basketball fell at Illinois 95-85. Here’s the key takeaways from the night as the Hawkeyes were outlasted by the No. 12 Illini

The Iowa Hawkeyes faced a significant challenge on Saturday, traveling to play No. 12 Illinois in a late-season contest. This game had massive postseason consequences, with only four games remaining in the regular season,

The 16-11 Hawkeyes entered Saturday’s contest at Illinois on a hot streak. They knocked off both No. 21 Wisconsin and Michigan State in their past two games, bumping up to eighth in the Big Ten with an 8-8 conference record.

For a Hawkeyes team on the outside looking in of the NCAA Tournament bubble, playing 12th-ranked Illinois twice is a fantastic opportunity to propel their case for the tournament. That’s two potential Quad 1 wins, and wins against Northwestern and Penn State wouldn’t be too shabby either.

Iowa gave it their best effort, standing toe-to-toe with the Illini for most of the game. Unfortunately, they ran out of gas at the end, sputtering as the Illini took care of business in the 95-85 win. Here’s a look back at the takeaways from Iowa’s loss to Illinois.

Social media reacts as Iowa drops close contest to No. 12 Illinois

Social media reacted as Iowa Men’s Basketball ran out of steam late against No. 12 Illinois, the Hawkeyes losing to the Illini 95-85.

Saturday afternoon was the perfect example of a moral victory type of game for the Iowa Hawkeyes. Sitting in eighth place in the Big Ten following two huge wins against No. 21 Wisconsin and Michigan State, the 16-11 Hawkeyes found themselves in another close battle with No. 12 Illinois on the road.

At times we’ve seen the Hawkeyes start sluggish, taking the first half to really catch up to speed and start putting pressure on their opponents. This time it was different. In a massive game for their NCAA Tournament hopes, the Hawkeyes entered Champaign, Ill., swinging. They stood toe-to-toe with the Fighting Illini, despite being the underdog, unwilling to go away even as Illinois was backed by their home crowd.

While they were able to stay in the fight for the majority of the game, performing well on offense to keep up, the Hawkeyes unfortunately didn’t have enough gas in the tank to win this one. In crunch time they sputtered as they ran out of gas, while Illinois kept a level head and got the job done. The Illini would win 95-85 over Iowa.

It certainly wasn’t a bad performance by the Hawkeyes on the road at all. Against a really good Illinois team, they did some things well and fought hard. Unfortunately, at this stage of the season, moral victories don’t do much for the tournament selection committee. It’s a disappointing one to drop, and fans felt that disappointment too, reacting to the loss on social media.

How to buy Iowa vs. No. 2 Purdue college basketball tickets

Want to watch the Hawkeyes host the No. 2 team in the country? Tickets still remain for Iowa vs. No. 2 Purdue for as little as $11.

Don’t look now, but the Iowa men’s basketball team has won three Big Ten games in a row.

Even with all the fanfare surrounding Monday’s win at Minnesota, a fourth-consecutive win might be more important given the caliber of opponent.

Iowa hosts No. 2 Purdue on Saturday, Jan. 20 at 2:00 p.m. EST.

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If you want to be a part of the action in person, tickets still remain to watch Iowa host the top team in the conference.

At the time of publication, the cheapest ticket available for the game is just $11.

If you’re looking for a more luxurious experience, the most expensive ticket to Saturday’s game will cost you $286.

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Iowa men’s basketball proving they should be a lot of fun in 2023-24

Entering the season as an unknown, Iowa men’s basketball has shown early on what they will be this year: Fun. Buy into the Hawkeyes now!

Teams within Iowa athletics are not typically unknown quantities. Think of all of the sports in Iowa City.

You have the football program, which has stayed the same for years now. Their style of play and mentality under head coach Kirk Ferentz has been unwavering, almost to a fault in the new landscape of college football.

Both women’s basketball and wrestling are strong contenders for both Big Ten and national championship glory. As long as Caitlin Clark is wearing the black and gold and Iowa wrestling is, well, Iowa wrestling, that’s not going to change this year.

For the men’s basketball team, though, a lot was unknown. Here is a team that was very hit-and-miss last season. They showed some life in the second half of the season, but the Hawkeyes bowed out of both the conference and NCAA Tournaments in the first round.

Iowa lost multiple key figures over the offseason as well, and wasn’t heavy on a ton of known quantities waiting to replace them. No Luka Garza-type waiting in the wings and no Murray brothers left in Iowa City.

Iowa men’s basketball was a massive mystery ahead of the season, sort of the forgotten program given the success around them at the current moment. The Hawkeyes were picked to finish ninth in the preseason Big Ten media poll and most of the excitement was placed on what was to come with a fantastic freshman class, rather than on the present moment. This 2023-24 season was giving the vibe of an ultimate transitional “wait ’til next year” type of season.

Ladies and gentlemen of Hawkeye Nation. Do not wait until next year to start buying into this program. While the ultimate postseason success may still be yet to come in the future once the team matures a bit, they are still very much worth your time. At least, that’s what Iowa head men’s basketball coach Fran McCaffery and his squad have declared through three games into this year.

Though the Hawkeyes did lose to No. 7 Creighton last night, the performance was commendable to say the least. From graduate transfer Ben Krikke looking as good as advertised to freshmen Ladji Dembele and Owen Freeman showing some fantastic flashes off the bench, there was a lot to like about the Hawkeyes last night.

Against a team who can easily make a run in March, in a game that easily could have resulted in a blowout, the young Hawkeyes fought until the very end. They gave the Bluejays everything that they could handle, and while it didn’t end the way Iowa wanted it to, it’s just the performance you want to see early on.

In comparison to last season, the Hawkeyes seemed lethargic in these types of situations. They would seem dead in the water in bigger games, and it was frustrating because you saw the talent they had. You saw what they were capable of at times during the season.

While it’s very early in this 2023-24 season, it feels different this year. This team feels like the scrappy underdog who’s going to go out there and make you earn your W.

I’m not going to make a grand statement and say that they’re going to win the Big Ten and go on a run. That would be ridiculous after three games.

However, this team has showed me so far that they are very much deserving of your attention. They aren’t just the “other” basketball team, lost in the Caitlin Clark fever. Fran McCaffery is building something in Iowa City. Jump on the bandwagon early, while there’s still plenty of seats.

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Kris Murray’s consensus All-American status caps fantastic breakout season

This latest All-American distinction caps a breakout season for Iowa star Kris Murray.

Iowa basketball certainly had an interesting season. It was a very up-and-down campaign. At times, they looked like contenders in the Big Ten and ready to break off a streak of wins behind great shooting performances. Other times, though—particularly away from Carver—games that should have been simple victories turned out to be anything but.

The constant throughout the entire season though was the fantastic play from forward Kris Murray. The 6-foot-8, 220 pound forward finished averaging an eye-popping 20.2 points and 7.9 rebounds per game. He did that on 47.6.% field goal shooting, including 33.5% from 3-point distance.

All preseason there was an aura of hype surrounding the returning Murray brother, projected to take over the star mantel from his twin brother Keegan. Kris did exactly that. For his efforts, he was named a consensus third-team All-American.

Murray is now the fourth Hawkeye in eight years to become a consensus All-American. It also marks the fourth consecutive season that Iowa has boasted a consensus All-American.

For Murray, it truly is well deserved for a player who unfortunately flew under the radar. Paired in the same conference with stars such as Zach Edey and Trayce Jackson-Davis—not to mention playing for the same school as Caitlin Clark—it never felt like Murray truly received his due credit this year.

On a team known for its streakiness, Murray always seemed to just do his thing. Sometimes, that meant taking over, but the true value in Murray was his inability to have more than one off game. He was the model of consistency all year for a team that desperately needed a steady hand.

Whether or not this is his last year in Iowa City—Murray already flirted with the NBA draft last season—he deserves recognition for what he did this season!

Along the way, there were plenty of highlight-worthy moments.

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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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 vs Michigan State Spartans: Stream, broadcast info, injury report for Saturday

The Hawkeyes host the Spartans at Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Saturday. Here’s how to watch, stream and listen to Iowa versus Michigan State.

The Iowa Hawkeyes are staying home for a pivotal matchup in their gauntlet of Big Ten play. The Hawkeyes are welcoming in the Spartans of Michigan State in a matchup of two teams in the NCAA Tournament right now but looking to build their resume, improve their conference standing, and get hot at the right time heading down the stretch before Big Ten Tournament play and NCAA Tournament play gets going.

Iowa comes into the matchup sitting with a record of 17-11 overall and a mark of 9-8 in conference play. The Spartans boast just slightly better records in each as they are 17-10 overall and 9-7 in Big Ten play. Iowa has dropped their last two games and should have a bit of a sense of urgency going into this game.

With the matchup a pivotal one for the conference standings and tournament seedings, Carver-Hawkeye Arena is certain to be a loud, charged up environment at tipoff.  Here is how to watch the Iowa Hawkeyes versus the Michigan State Spartans.

ESPN Bubble Watch has Hawkeyes still in NCAA Tournament, seeding suddenly in question

While both on the road, the Hawkeyes have dropped their last two. ESPN’s Bubble Watch has Iowa in the tourney but their seed in question.

The last two contests have not been kind to the Iowa Hawkeyes. Road basketball games in the Big Ten are always a gauntlet, but, at the end of the day, a loss is a loss and the NCAA Tournament selection committee views those as black and white.

Iowa’s high-powered offense has suddenly gone ice cold at the worst time of the year as they are closing out the regular season. ESPN’s John Gasaway has taken note of this and has the Hawkeyes in a treacherous spot with their seeding fading down the stretch.

In its past two outings, Iowa has lost road games at Northwestern and Wisconsin by 20 and 12 points, respectively. The defeat at the hands of the Badgers represented the worst showing on offense (0.85 points per possession) recorded by the Hawkeyes in 13 months. Road losses to at-large-level opponents are surpassingly common in the Big Ten, naturally. Still, the fact that Iowa’s offense suddenly looks weak in defeats by double-digit margins does raise the question of whether this group can hold on to its expected No. 8 seed. – Gasaway, ESPN

Prior to the loss to Wisconsin, Iowa was sitting firmly as a No. 7 seed but that appears to be fading after two consecutive slip ups. That said, the sky has not fallen yet.

The Hawkeyes have games against tournament-bound teams Indiana and Michigan State, and a matchup against a suddenly very feisty Nebraska team left to boost their resume along with the Big Ten Tournament.

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Eastern Illinois stuns Iowa as 32-point underdogs in one of the biggest upsets in college basketball history

Hope you bet big on Eastern Illinois.

Woah! What were you doing this Wednesday afternoon when the biggest college basketball upset of the season occurred?

Perhaps you were at work. Maybe you were wrapping Christmas presents. Or, hey, there’s a chance you were watching this game between Iowa and Eastern Illinois that took place in Iowa City.

But in case you missed it, the Eastern Illinois Panthers went into Carver-Hawkeye Arena as 32-point road underdogs and left with a 92-83 win.

The upset on Tuesday afternoon is being dubbed by bookmakers as “the biggest college basketball point-spread upset in the last 30 years,” according to Chris Hassel of CBS Sports HQ.

If you were one of the lucky individuals who put your money on Eastern Illinois to do seemingly the unthinkable, your payout was certainly worth the wager.

As is always the case, college basketball is truly one of the wildest and most unpredictable sports to bet one. Just wait until we get to March.

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