It's official. The Hawkeyes are dancing for the first time since 2023.
For the first time since 2023, the Iowa men's basketball team is going to the NCAA tournament.
CBS Sports host Adam Zucker called Iowa's name late in Sunday's NCAA Selection Show, but Hawkeye fans didn't care how long it took - the only thing that mattered was hearing their team's name called.
The selection committee awarded Iowa (21-12, 10-10 Big Ten) a No. 9 seed in the South Region, where they will take on No. 8 Clemson (24-10, 12-6) in Tampa, Florida. This will be the Hawkeyes' first NCAA tournament berth under first-year head coach Ben McCollum, as well as Iowa's fifth time as an 8/9 seed (30th appearance overall).
Should the Hawkeyes win their first round game, they would have a likely matchup with top-seeded and defending national champion Florida in the Round of 32.
The Iowa-Clemson game will take place on Friday, March 20. Tip off is set for 5:50 CST on TNT, with Tom McCarthy, Candace Parker, and Dan Bonner announcing.
“Just seeing our name up there on the screen, I think, it’s just a little bit of relief and you can take a deep breath," star point guard Bennett Stirtz told The Des Moines Register. "But then after that, tomorrow morning, we’ll be ready to go and watch film. That relief has turned into, ‘Let’s go, let’s get into excitement to play in the tournament.'"
Want a Caitlin Clark jersey?
HawkeyeRoundtable is giving away a FREE Cailtin Clark jersey! This is a cool chance to surprise someone with a birthday gift or just some cool Hawkeye swag! It only takes you 2 minutes to join, and it's completely FREE!
The contest is open through March 21, so don't miss out on the chance to enter your name. Click here to join!
Looking for a FREE Hawkeyes community?
Don't miss out on our Roundtable community and the latest news! It's completely FREE to join.
Share your thoughts, engage with our Roundtable writers, and chat with fellow members. Download the FREE Roundtable APP and stay even more connected!