Iowa Men's Basketball: Breaking Down the South Region

For the first time in three years, Iowa men's basketball fans will get to watch their team play in the NCAA tournament. 

The NCAA Selection Committee awarded the Hawkeyes a No. 9 seed in the South Region, where they'll take on No. 8 Clemson. The contest will take place on Friday, March 20, in Tampa, Florida. 

The prize for winning an 8/9 game is getting a crack at taking down a No. 1 seed. The top seed in Iowa's region is none other than the defending national champion Florida Gators. 

This part of the bracket is the obvious focus for Hawkeye fans, but the South Region is filled with intriguing matchups that you may want to know about before you fill out your brackets. 

Without further adieu, here's a breakdown of the entire South Region except for Iowa-Clemson (more on that matchup to come later in the week): 

No. 1 Florida 

Many doubted Florida would return to a No. 1 seed after struggling to a 5-4 start, but Todd Golden's squad quickly molded into championship form after that. The Gators were blitzed by Vanderbilt in the SEC tournament semifinals, but that doesn't overshadow an impressive 16-2 mark in regular season play - which won the outright crown by three games. 

This is a dangerous team and well-deserving of a No. 1 seed. 

No. 16 Lehigh/Prairie View A&M 

Both of these teams won 18 games in one-bid leagues. They'll get their moment in the First Four game, but Florida should take care of business. 

No. 5 Vanderbilt 

After winning 30 games and upsetting Wisconsin in 2024, Mark Byington took over the struggling Vanderbilt program. In just two years, the Commodores have become an SEC contender - falling just short against Arkansas in the SEC title game on Sunday. Vandy's guard trio of Tyler Tanner (19.2 PPG), Duke Miles (16.4 PPG), and Tyler Nickel (13.3 PPG) are more than capable of guiding the Commodore's to a run in March. 

No. 12 McNeese 

Will Wade set a goal of leaving the McNeese program in good shape when he departed for NC State last year, and the Cowboys have responded by posting a 28-5 mark under first-year coach Bill Armstrong. McNeese ranks 68th on KenPom - which is pretty impressive for a small mid-major. 

No. 4 Nebraska 

Will Nebraska finally win its first NCAA tournament game in program history? This looks like it could be the year. Fred Hoiberg did an outstanding job with this group this season, and though the Huskers finished 6-6 after starting 20-0, this is still an experienced team that plays the game right. Former Hawkeye Pryce Sandfort will make his first appearance in the Big Dance. 

No. 13 Troy 

Nebraska will undoubtedly be the heavy favorite in this matchup, but don't overlook Troy. The Trojans are making their second consecutive appearance in the Dance, and that experience could help them on their quest to send the Huskers home without a tournament win. KenPom has Troy's defensive efficiency rating at 166, so it looks like a shootout may be necessary for the Trojans' victory chances. 

No. 6 North Carolina 

North Carolina hasn't been the elite team we've been accustomed to seeing from this program in its history, but the Tar Heels bring a wealth of experience to this tournament. Senior guard Seth Trimble (14 PPG) is the key to unlocking a deep tournament run, especially since star freshman Caleb Wilson went down with a season-ending thumb injury in February. 

No. 11 VCU 

Phil Martelli Jr. 

If that name sounds familiar, it's because it is. Martelli's father, Phil Sr., was the head coach at Saint Joseph's for 24 seasons. The younger Martelli is on the fast track to coaching stardom, leading VCU to the Atlantic 10 regular season and tournament championships. The Rams are always a tough out in the NCAA tournament, and if they get hot, they could easily take down UNC. 

No. 3 Illinois 

Brad Underwood's team met a disappointing end in the Big Ten tournament, but this is a talented squad capable of getting to Indianapolis. Freshmen sensation Keaton Wagler has been one of the Big Ten's best players this year, and his supporting cast of Kylan Boswell, Tomislav Ivisic, Andrej Stojakovic, and others is tough for opponents to defend. 

No. 14 Penn 

One year after getting fired from Iowa, Fran McCaffery has his alma mater back in the NCAA tournament for the first time in eight seasons. Illinois will have its hands full with junior forward TJ Power. He's been carrying this Quakers team on his back, scoring 44 points in the Ivy League championship game over Yale. 

No. 7 Saint Mary's 

Every tournament features new teams, but one of the few constants in the Big Dance recently has been Saint Mary's. Randy Bennett has built a model program in Moraga, California, and with Gonzaga leaving the West Coast Conference, the Gaels are poised to take over that league. Saint Mary's is ranked 24th in KenPom and boasts a strong defense - clocking in at No. 19 in the country. 

No. 10 Texas A&M 

"Buckyball" has made its way to the SEC, and it's led to a stellar first campaign with the Texas A&M Aggies. This is a reference to head coach Bucky McMillan's frantic, up-tempo style of play. The Aggies averaged 87.7 points per game during the regular season. 

No. 2 Houston 

If there's any team that has the biggest advantage in this region, it's Houston. Should the Cougars make it out of the first weekend, they would have the comfort of playing games at the Toyota Center in downtown Houston. Kelvin Sampson's crew may have been the No. 1 seed in this region had they not lost three consecutive games in mid-February. As long as Kingston Flemings and Emanuel Sharp are healthy, the Cougars can cut down the nets. 

No. 15 Idaho 

The Vandals are making their first NCAA tournament appearance since 1990 after coming out of nowhere to win the Big Sky tournament. One Iowa-related note here? Frank Garza, the father of Hawkeye legend Luka Garza, played two years in Moscow in the mid-'80s.