
The Iowa Hawkeyes have had a rich history in basketball, with notable wins and rankings over the years. The team's performance has fluctuated, with some standout seasons and achievements. In the 2019-20 season, the Hawkeyes completed a 9-2 non-conference schedule, including wins over rival Iowa State and #12 ranked Texas Tech. The men's basketball team has also seen success in the NCAA Tournament, making it to the Elite Eight in 1987 and the Sweet Sixteen in 1988. In recent years, the Hawkeyes have continued to perform well, with a marked increase in attendance and a #3 seed in the 2013 NIT tournament. With a strong record in the Big Ten conference, the Iowa Hawkeyes have established themselves as a competitive force in college basketball.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Conference | Big Ten |
| 2024-25 Quad I record | 2-15 |
| 2024-25 Quad II record | 6-0 |
| 2024-25 Quad III record | 2-1 |
| 2024-25 Quad IV record | 7-0 |
| 2019-20 record | 20-11 |
| 2012-13 record | 20-11 |
| 2000-01 record | 23-12 |
| 1999-00 record | 14-16 |
| 1986-87 record | 18-0 |
| 1985-86 record | 55-38 |
| 1987-88 rank | Top five |
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What You'll Learn

Iowa Hawkeyes' NCAA Tournament appearances
The Iowa Hawkeyes have a rich history in NCAA Tournament appearances, with 28 or 29 appearances to their name. The team has experienced varying levels of success over the years, with their most notable achievements including three Final Four appearances and an Elite Eight finish.
In the 1955-56 season, the Hawkeyes advanced to the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament, where they ultimately lost to the undefeated defending national champions, the Bill Russell-led San Francisco Dons, by a score of 83-71. This remains the only national championship game appearance by the Hawkeyes.
The Hawkeyes again reached the Final Four in 1980 under the leadership of coach Lute Olson. Notable players from this era include Ronnie Lester, Kenny Arnold, and Steve Waite. The team continued their success in the 1987 NCAA Tournament, where they defeated Santa Clara, UTEP, and Oklahoma to advance to the Elite Eight. However, they fell just short of reaching the Final Four, losing to the top-seeded UNLV 84-81.
The Hawkeyes have also experienced recent success in NCAA Tournament appearances. In the 2019 NCAA Tournament, Iowa entered as the No. 10 seed in the South region and defeated No. 7 seed Cincinnati 79-72 before falling to second-seeded Tennessee in overtime. In the 2021 NCAA Tournament, the Hawkeyes entered as the No. 2 seed in the West region behind Big Ten Player of the Year and national player of the year Luka Garza. However, their season ended in the first round with a loss to the 12th-seeded Richmond Spiders, 67-63.
Despite some disappointing early exits, the Hawkeyes have consistently proven their talent and competitiveness in the NCAA Tournament. With a passionate fan base and a dedicated coach, the team looks to build on their history and make a deep run in future tournaments.
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The team's performance in the 2019-20 season
The Iowa Hawkeyes' 2019-20 season was a strong one, with the team recording several impressive wins. One notable victory came against Michigan, whom they beat 74-59 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. This was Iowa's first win over a top-five team since 2016 and saw them snap a two-game losing streak. The Hawkeyes' performance against Michigan showcased their ability to adapt and respond to their opponents' strategies.
Another highlight of the season was their participation in the 2K Sports Classic in New York City, where they played Oregon and UConn, who finished 28th and 98th, respectively, in the KenPom rankings. Iowa's non-conference tournament opponents for the 2019-20 season looked to be a step up from the previous year, with potential matchups against Creighton, South Dakota State, and Texas Tech, who finished 55th, 92nd, and 5th in the KenPom rankings, respectively.
The Hawkeyes' schedule for the 2019-20 season included a mix of challenging opponents and teams ranked 200th or lower in the KenPom rankings, such as SIU-Edwardsville, Oral Roberts, and Kennesaw State. Iowa's only annual non-conference opponent, Iowa State, also posed a significant challenge, with the game taking place in Ames. Despite some losses, including a tough defensive performance against Minnesota, the Hawkeyes demonstrated their ability to bounce back and improve throughout the season.
Overall, the Iowa Hawkeyes' 2019-20 season was marked by resilience, strong performances, and a notable win over a top-five team. They navigated a demanding schedule and showed potential for future success, with expectations high for the following season.
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Iowa's 1987 NCAA tournament run
The Iowa Hawkeyes men's basketball team has a rich history, with 29 appearances in the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournaments and three advancements to the Final Four. The 1986–1987 season was particularly notable, as the team, coached by Tom Davis, started with 18 consecutive wins and achieved the No. 1 ranking in the AP and UPI polls for the first time in the school's history.
In the 1987 NCAA Tournament, the Iowa Hawkeyes, as the #2 seed, defeated Santa Clara 96–76, UTEP 84–82, and Oklahoma 93–91 to advance to the Elite Eight. Kevin Gamble's last-second 3-pointer against Oklahoma secured their place in the Elite Eight. However, their journey ended in the Western Regional Final, where they faced the #1 seed UNLV, losing 84–81 despite having a 16-point halftime lead.
The 1987–1988 season saw the Hawkeyes, retaining key players B.J. Armstrong, Ed Horton, Bill Jones, and Roy Marble, ranked in the top five by most polls and publications. They advanced to the Sweet Sixteen, defeating Florida State and avenging their previous year's loss to UNLV with a score of 106–89. Unfortunately, their run ended in the Sweet Sixteen, losing to former coach Lute Olson's Arizona Wildcats 99–79.
The success of the Iowa Hawkeyes in the late 1980s, under the leadership of Coach Tom Davis, contributed to the team's overall success during that decade and established a strong foundation for future seasons.
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The Hawkeyes' head coaches
The Iowa Hawkeyes men's basketball team has had 22 head coaches in its 118-season history. Ed Rule was the first head coach, leading the team to a 10–2 record in their inaugural season in 1901. Rule's winning percentage is still the best in Iowa basketball history.
Following Rule, the Hawkeyes had a series of head coaches who served relatively short tenures, including Fred Bailey (1902–1903), John Chalmers (1904–1905), and John Griffith (1907–1910). In 1922, Sam Barry was hired as Iowa's 10th head coach. Barry led the Hawkeyes to their first Big Ten championship in 1923 and was later inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 1979.
Rollie Williams, who coached Iowa on two occasions (1929–1942 and 1951), became the winningest coach in Iowa history at the time. However, he was surpassed by Lute Olson, Tom Davis, and Fran McCaffery. Bucky O'Connor, who also served multiple tenures, achieved great success as head coach from 1951 until his death in 1958.
In more recent times, Steve Alford joined as coach in 1999, leading the team to defeat the defending national champion and No. 1-ranked Connecticut Huskies in his first game. McCaffery earned his 300th career win as a head coach on March 9, 2013, with a victory over Nebraska. The current head coach is unknown, but the team is now led by standout center Luka Garza, who has won numerous accolades, including the Big Ten Player of the Year and Sporting News Men's College Basketball Player of the Year.
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Iowa's ranking in the Big Ten conference
The Iowa Hawkeyes men's basketball team has had its ups and downs over the years, with notable wins and losses. In the 2019-20 season, the Iowa squad, led by standout centre Luka Garza, achieved a 9-2 non-conference record with impressive wins over rivals. Garza went on to win several accolades, including Big Ten Player of the Year, and led the Hawkeyes to a 20-11 record with conference wins over highly-ranked opponents.
During the 2012-2013 season, the Hawkeyes finished the regular season with a 20-11 record, including a 9-9 conference record. They defeated Northwestern in the Big Ten tournament before falling to the Michigan State Spartans in the second round. In the 2020-21 season, Iowa finished 14-16 overall and 7-9 in the Big Ten Conference regular season.
In the 1986-87 season, the Hawkeyes achieved the No. 1 ranking in the AP and UPI polls for the first time in their history, winning their first 18 games. In the 1987 NCAA Tournament, Iowa, as the #2 seed, defeated Santa Clara, UTEP, and Oklahoma to advance to the Elite Eight, where they lost to #1 seed UNLV.
More recently, in the 2024-25 season, Iowa was ranked in the top 70 teams in the country, with six other Big Ten teams in the top 35. Iowa's coach, Fran McCaffery, is also approaching a coaching milestone, with 295 wins at Iowa as of March 2025.
Overall, while Iowa's ranking within the Big Ten Conference may vary from season to season, they have had notable successes and continue to be a competitive force in the conference.
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Frequently asked questions
The Iowa Hawkeyes were ranked #2 in the 1987 NCAA tournament.
The Iowa Hawkeyes had a 9-2 non-conference record in the 2019-20 season.
The Iowa Hawkeyes had a 20-11 record in the 2012-13 season.
The Iowa Hawkeyes finished the 2000-01 season with a 23-12 record.
The Iowa Hawkeyes are in the Big Ten conference.











































