Ayrton Oneill
The Iowa Hawkeye men's basketball team has had a disappointing season, failing to make the NCAA Tournament and losing in the second round of the NIT. With a 19-15 record, the team struggled to gain momentum and fans are growing impatient for success. However, there is reason for optimism with the hiring of Ben McCollum as the new head coach and the addition of top high school guard Addie Deal. The women's team is also on the rise, led by star Caitlin Clark. With a strong core of players and a talented new coach, will the Iowa Hawkeyes be more successful next year?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Iowa Hawkeye's 2023-24 season outcome | Disappointing, as they failed to make the NCAA Tournament for the first time in five seasons |
| Iowa Hawkeye's 2023-24 season record | 19-15, including 10-10 in Big Ten play |
| Iowa Hawkeye's NCAA Tournament appearances | 4 out of the past 5 seasons |
| Iowa Hawkeye's head coach | Ben McCollum |
| Iowa Hawkeye's player transfers | Tony Perkins, Dasonte Bowen, and Aaliyah Guyton have entered the transfer portal; Josh Hecklinski is transferring in |
| Iowa Hawkeye's player departures | Senior forward Patrick McCaffery |
| Iowa Hawkeye's player arrivals | One of the top high school guards in the country, Addie Deal |
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What You'll Learn
The impact of Ben McCollum as head coach
The Iowa Hawkeye basketball team's 2023-24 season was a disappointment to some fans as the team failed to make the NCAA Tournament for the first time in five seasons. This, along with the team's failure to reach the 20-win mark for the second straight season, led to the dismissal of former head coach Fran McCaffery. In March 2025, the University of Iowa hired Ben McCollum as its new head men's basketball coach.
McCollum, an Iowa native, has an impressive coaching record. In his 16-year coaching career, he has amassed a record of 426-95 for an 81.8% winning percentage, the fifth-best all-time among collegiate men's basketball coaches. McCollum's playing career began at North Iowa Area Community College in Mason City, Iowa, where he was a two-time all-region selection. He then helped lead Northwest Missouri State to a 51-12 record and the program's first-ever Elite Eight appearance in 2001-02. McCollum's first full-time coaching position was at Emporia State from 2005-09, before he took over as the head coach of the Maryville Bearcats. During his 15 years in Maryville, he posted a 395-91 record (81.3% winning percentage) and earned five NABC Division II National Coach of the Year awards, the most for a single coach in Division II history. McCollum also garnered three Clarence Gaines Awards, nine MIAA Coach of the Year honours, and was a 2024 Missouri Sports Hall of Fame inductee.
In his first season as a Division I coach with Drake, McCollum guided the Bulldogs to a 31-4 record, en route to being named the Missouri Valley Conference Coach of the Year. The team also won the conference's regular-season and tournament titles, and beat Missouri in the first round of the NCAA Tournament before losing to Texas Tech in the second round. McCollum's success in his first season at Drake, along with his impressive resume, makes him a promising hire for the Iowa Hawkeye basketball team. With his extensive experience and proven ability to lead successful basketball programmes, expectations are high for the team to improve and find greater success in the upcoming seasons under McCollum's leadership.
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The team's recent disappointing seasons
The Iowa Hawkeye men's basketball team has had a disappointing run of form over the last few seasons. The 2023-24 season was a particular low point, as the team failed to qualify for the NCAA Tournament for the first time in five seasons. They ended the season with a 19-15 record, including 10-10 in Big Ten play, and never managed to string together more than three consecutive wins. This lack of consistency and their absence from the prestigious NCAA Tournament led to a sense of disappointment among fans, who have grown accustomed to success.
The previous season, 2022-23, had also ended in frustration for the Hawkeyes and their supporters. They fell short of the 20-win mark for the first time in two straight seasons, breaking a sequence of four consecutive 20-win campaigns. The team's performance in the NCAA Tournament that year was also underwhelming, as they were unable to advance beyond the early rounds.
The recent struggles of the Iowa Hawkeye men's basketball team have led to some calls for change. There has been speculation about the future of head coach Fran McCaffery, with some suggesting he should be dismissed. However, others have defended McCaffery, highlighting his overall success with the team, including four NCAA Tournament appearances in the last five seasons before the 2023-24 season.
The team has also experienced some player departures, with key contributors like Tony Perkins and Dasonte Bowen entering the transfer portal. Additionally, veteran players such as Patrick McCaffery, Fran's son, have indicated their intentions to pursue professional basketball opportunities or transfer to another school. These changes could further impact the team's performance and add to the challenges they have faced in recent seasons.
Despite these disappointing seasons, there are reasons for optimism. The Hawkeyes have a talented roster, including players like Jordan Bohannon, Connor McCaffery, and Kris Murray, who possess the skills and experience to lead the team to success. Additionally, the hiring of Ben McCollum as the new head coach brings fresh hope and a new strategic vision for the team's future. With his impressive track record at Drake, fans are eager for McCollum to replicate his success with the Hawkeyes and bring about a change in fortunes.
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The loss of key players to the transfer portal
The Iowa Hawkeye men's basketball team has seen a number of players enter the transfer portal in recent years, which may impact their success in the upcoming season.
One notable loss is that of Owen Freeman, a 6-foot-10 forward who entered the transfer portal in 2025. Freeman was a key player for the Hawkeyes, appearing in 53 games and making 44 starts in his first two years with the team. He was named the Big Ten's Rookie of the Year as a freshman and was a co-winner of the same award in his second year. Freeman's statistics from his final season with the Hawkeyes include 16.7 points and 6.7 rebounds per game, along with a 64% field goal percentage.
Another significant departure is that of Josh Dix, a guard who committed to Creighton, as announced on his Instagram page. In the 2024-25 season, Dix averaged 14.4 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game, while shooting 42% from three-point range.
Additionally, the Hawkeyes have also seen the exit of JT Rock, a center who averaged 0.7 points per game in 9 appearances in 2024-25, and Kayden Fish, a forward who also averaged 0.7 points per game in 9 appearances. Rock has since committed to New Mexico, while Fish is reportedly heading to Ball State.
The team has also lost players like Dasonte Bowen, a sophomore guard who lost his starting spot early in the season, and Tony Perkins, a key player for the Hawkeyes over the previous four years.
The impact of these departures on the team's success in the upcoming season remains to be seen. The loss of key players like Freeman and Dix could affect the team's performance and their ability to return to the NCAA Tournament, which they failed to qualify for in the 2023-24 season. However, the Hawkeyes have also gained some new players through the transfer portal, including Cam Manyawu, Isaia Howard, and Tavion Banks, who could help fill the gaps left by the departing players.
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The rise of star players like Caitlin Clark
The Iowa Hawkeye basketball team has seen great success with star players like Caitlin Clark, who is regarded as one of the greatest collegiate players in the NCAA Division I. Clark, who was born in Des Moines, Iowa, started playing basketball at the age of five in boys' recreational leagues as there were no girls' leagues for her age group. She is a natural athlete, having also played softball, volleyball, soccer, tennis, and golf as a child.
Clark's talent and work ethic have propelled her to become one of the most celebrated players in the sport. She led the NCAA Division I in scoring and earned All-American honours during her freshman season with Iowa. As a sophomore, she continued to excel, becoming a unanimous first-team All-American and the first female player to lead Division I in points and assists in a single season. Clark's impressive skills and leadership on the court have earned her numerous accolades and the recognition of being the face of women's basketball.
Clark's success on the court is not limited to her college career. She has also represented the United States in international competitions. In 2023, Clark helped the Iowa Hawkeyes win the Gulf Coast Showcase, and she was named the Tournament MVP. Clark's talent and charisma have driven the popularity of women's basketball, a trend known as the "Caitlin Clark Effect." Her emotional accessibility and intensity on the court have attracted throngs of fans, and her joyful celebrations and fierce competitiveness have made her a beloved figure in the sport.
Clark's success can be attributed to her natural athleticism, dedication to the sport, and supportive family. With eleven family members having played collegiate sports, Clark was raised in an environment that valued athletics and competition. Her father, Brent Clark, played basketball and baseball at Simpson College, and her older brother, Blake, plays football at Iowa State. Clark's cousin, Audrey Faber, also played college basketball for Creighton, showcasing the family's athletic prowess.
As Clark continues to excel and break records, she is an inspiration to young athletes, particularly female basketball players. Her impact extends beyond the court, as she has helped to popularize women's basketball and increase interest in the sport. Clark's success and the rise of other talented players bode well for the future of the Iowa Hawkeye basketball team.
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The future of Fran McCaffery as head coach
The Iowa Hawkeyes men's basketball team's 2023-24 season was a disappointment to some fans as the team failed to make the NCAA Tournament, settling for a spot in the NIT where they lost in the second round to Utah. This marked the second consecutive season that the team failed to reach the 20-win mark. In light of this, some fans have called for Fran McCaffery's dismissal as head coach. However, McCaffery has had a successful run with the team, leading them to the NCAA Tournament in four of the past five seasons and achieving 11 Big Ten upper-division finishes in the last 12 seasons.
McCaffery has given no indication that he is considering retiring at the age of 64. In fact, he has continued to actively support and promote his players, as seen in his statement regarding Tony Perkins' entry into the transfer portal. McCaffery acknowledged Perkins' contributions to the team and wished him the best for his future professional career.
While there have been calls for his dismissal, it is important to consider the overall success McCaffery has brought to the program. Iowa is unlikely to make a hasty decision regarding their head coach, especially given McCaffery's track record and the challenges faced during the pandemic.
Looking ahead, it is unclear if McCaffery intends to continue coaching his son, Jack McCaffery, who is a rising basketball star but has stated he doesn't plan to attend Iowa. Nonetheless, with McCaffery's commitment to the program and Iowa's history of success under his leadership, it appears that he will remain the head coach for the foreseeable future.
The recent hiring of Ben McCollum as the men's basketball head coach, as reported by some sources, indicates a potential shift in the coaching staff. However, it is unclear if this will have any immediate impact on McCaffery's position.
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Frequently asked questions
It's hard to say. Iowa Hawkeye fans might consider the 2023-24 season a disappointment as the team failed to make the NCAA Tournament. However, the team has hired Ben McCollum as their next men's basketball head coach, and he is said to be a "basketball mastermind".
The team has had a stretch of four 20-win seasons in a row, and they have 11 Big Ten upper-division finishes in the last 12 seasons. They have also won 10 or more Big Ten games in a school-record six straight seasons. The team has a lot of talent, including Tony Perkins, who has entered the transfer portal, and Jordan Bohannon and Connor McCaffery, who are said to know what's needed and act as coaches.
The Iowa women's basketball team is also seeing success, with the rise of Caitlin Clark.
