Every time Alvaro Folgueiras hits a three-point shot, he points to the sky. His father, who passed away when Alvaro was just nine years old, is up there. He is watching from the best seat in the house.
Tonight, against the reigning March Madness champion Florida Gators, Folgueiras pointed to his father just once all game. But with 4.5 seconds to play, down by two points, he hit the game-winning shot, the shot of his life, and connected with his father once more.
After a great defensive stand from Iowa in the waning seconds, the final buzzer sounded. 73-72. Hawks win. And for the first time since 1999, Iowa punched their ticket to the Sweet Sixteen.
Folgueiras celebrated briefly with his teammates before booking it over to the stands. There, his mother Beatriz awaited. Friday’s round one game was the first time she’d seen him play in an Iowa uniform in person. Tonight was the second. It’d been two years since they said “I love you” face-to-face.
“Having my mom here, she’s everything for me,” Folgueiras said with a smile after the game. “I’m so lucky to have her as a mom.”
The 6-foot-10 junior finished the magical night with 14 points, second in scoring behind Tavion Banks with 20. Bennett Stirtz, Iowa’s consistent scoring leader, was ice cold all night, shooting 0-for-9 from behind the arc. Ultimately, of course, that lack of scoring from the captain didn’t matter.
“It was my teammates tonight,” Stirtz said. “We’re just so unselfish.”
Ironically, it was Stirtz who dished the final assist to Folgueiras to win the game. Practice what you preach.
This year has been up and down for the Hawks. A new head coach. Close games against #1 Michigan. Abysmal losses to Penn State, who ranked last in the big ten. But this month is in a league of its own. And Folgueiras, tonight, felt the madness more than anyone.
“March is for the dreamers,” he said. “And there’s no better dreamer than us.”
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