On one hand, it’s a symbol of what could have been. A trip to the Final Four cut just short for head coach Ben McCollum and his unlikely team. On the other, it’s a reminder of how many people they’ve proven wrong. How many brackets they’ve broken. And how, after a year of uncertainty, a team of dreamers dragged Iowa basketball back into belief.

The Run of a Lifetime

After losing five of their final seven games before the NCAA tournament, Iowa wasn’t exactly on a roll. But considering they hadn’t made it to the big dance since 2022-23, it still seemed like fans were content with the season and excitement McCollum had brought back to Iowa City.

The team, however, was anything but satisfied.

The #9 Iowa Hawkeyes won a toss-up game with #8 Clemson behind a free-throw frenzy where Iowa made 24 of their 31 attempts at the line. One down. And with it, something started.

Just 48 hours after the win, they shocked the basketball world by beating Florida, the reigning champions, in the final seconds. Down by two points, Iowa senior Bennett Stirtz took the inbound and dribbled it past half court. Finding himself caught between two Gators trying to foul him, Stirtz dished it off to Alvaro Folgueiras, who hit the game-winning shot with 4.5 seconds left to play. The final buzzer sounded, cementing a storybook score on the jumbotron: 73-72, Iowa. From there, a Midwest motto was born.

“March is for the dreamers,” Folgueiras said after the game. “And there’s no better dreamer than us.”

Four days later, the dreamers took on Nebraska in their first Sweet Sixteen appearance since 1999. Both squads shot the lights out, but incredible performances from Iowa role players Tate Sage (19 points) and Folgueiras (16 points), along with Stirtz’s 20 points, lifted Iowa up and over the Cornhuskers. 77-71. Another win, another chapter closed.

Last night, their story came to an end against Illinois in the Elite Eight. The dream was over. And while for a split second it felt like the world was ending, it didn’t take long for fans and school alumni to express endless support for a team that will never be forgotten. Tweets and posts flooded social media, with praises and pictures of how much hope this team gave them. From half-empty arenas last season to jam-packed student sections and a historic tournament run this year, the energy was back for this program.

This team was special for a multitude of reasons. The lowest Big Ten seed to ever reach an Elite Eight. A roster built from places far outside the spotlight. A group that believed, with almost delusional conviction, that they could just keep winning. That they could restore hope to a dwindling fanbase.

And for nine days in March, they did just that. They made everyone believe.

Smile Because it Happened

There is something very uncomfortable about watching grown men cry. Especially when you’re in a room surrounded by them.

It doesn’t matter if you’ve seen it once or you’re a seasoned veteran, numb to the emotions that follow such a gut-wrenching tournament’s end. It’s weird. It’s hard. As close to twenty media members stuck microphones and camera lights in the faces of young athletes, illuminating dried tears and crusty lips, it felt necessary to seek out a smile.

The question: what would your 10-year-old self think about this journey?

Bennett Stirtz: “I always wanted to play college ball, but he wouldn’t believe this. It’s been pretty cool.”

Tate Sage: “He’d be pretty happy. Especially being able to stay up past my bedtime and watch myself on the TV.”

Kael Combs: “I wouldn’t believe it. I’ve worked so hard to get here. I’d tell him not to change a thing. “

Brendan Hausen: “Believe you can. Dream on. There will be lots of highs and lows, but just believe.”

Cooper Koch: “It’s fun. Enjoy practicing with these guys every day and lifting during the season. Trust the process and take it all in. You only get four years of it.”

One by one, reporters started to fade away as they got the answers they needed. When the players were done, they removed their sweat-soaked black and gold jerseys and tossed them into a tattered black Nike suitcase in the middle of the floor. Some laughed, shooting it like a basketball as they hugged their teammates. Others solemnly dropped their tank top time capsule of memories into the bag.

Just a Dream

After the locker rooms cleared completely, Ben McCollum emerged from the hallway to stand in front of a black and blue foldable March Madness backdrop. His usual white dress shirt and gold tie were nowhere to be seen, likely creased and damp, bearing the marks from a game he’ll think about for days.

His voice was steady, but his eyes told a different story. The kind that comes from knowing how close you were. The kind that doesn’t fully settle in until much later.

He talked about Bennett Stirtz, and how the journey they’ve taken together is “a little ridiculous.” How he followed him from school to school. How the University of Iowa feels like home.

For a moment, he paused, reflecting on just how far they’d come.

“We were just in Maryville, Missouri,” he said. “And now we’re playing in the Elite Eight.”

He laughed.

“Man, I almost said Final Four.”

The post A Team of Dreamers appeared first on KRUI Radio.

As the final horn and a couple of loud pops echoed around the cavernous Gainbridge Fieldhouse court, the Iowa Hawkeyes quickly and quietly exited into their locker room. The same way they entered, the same way they played.

At the same time, a downpour of blue and white confetti rained from the rafters. The colors of the UCLA Bruins. The colors of the Big Ten champions.

Some scores don’t tell the full picture of what happened in a game. UCLA 95, Iowa 41 certainly does.

While the Bruins are a Big Ten college basketball team on paper, in practice, they are a collection of soon-to-be professionals, getting their last licks in on the rest of the college basketball world.

Four of UCLA’s starting five are projected top 10 picks in the upcoming WNBA draft. It’s a roster that boasts Big Ten Player of the Year Lauren Betts, First Team All-Big Ten Kiki Rice, Second Team Gabriela Jaquez, and Gianna Kneepkens.

“Most of us have one or two go, but they have a lineup like that,” Iowa head coach Jan Jensen said.

UCLA didn’t just beat Iowa. Beat is when you lose by 10. A blow out is when you lose by 20. Brutalized is 30. There isn’t even a word to describe a 51 point loss.

And this was the championship game. In theory, between the two most deserving, battle tested squads.

UCLA’s quarterfinal against Washington on Friday was close for three quarters, until the Bruins pulled away to win 78-60. Their semifinal bout with Ohio State was stress free the entire way through, finishing 72-62 Bruins.

Iowa cruised to a 64-58 win in their quarterfinal game vs Illinois that only looked close in garbage time. Then on Saturday, the Hawkeyes put together one of their best fourth quarters of the year to pull away from Michigan 59-42. 

“In that fourth quarter, to start it, I just had everybody do a zen moment,” Jensen recalled.

After the championship game opened with a Taylor Stremlow three pointer, the ensuing 13-0 Bruin run snapped the Hawkeye flow state. Iowa never recovered.

“If you let that margin get a little too great, you can never really ever shrink it,” Jensen said. 

Against a team like UCLA, there is zero margin for error. Not when your basketball team contains nine freshmen and sophomores. Not when UCLA has eight seniors and grad students. Not when you shoot 21% from beyond the arc and UCLA shoots 50%.

Throughout the second half, a steady stream of Iowa fans made their way to the exits at each break. As they did, “Carver East” felt more and more like East L.A.

The Bruins never let up. They closed out the game making nine of their last nine baskets. Iowa went one for nine in the same stretch.

At the end, there were no tears as the Hawkeyes left the court. Just stunned silence. A reality check for a group with all the momentum in the world.

If the semifinal win against Michigan was the best game of the year for Iowa, the championship was by far the worst. The 51 point margin of victory was the biggest ever in a Big Ten Championship game. It was the largest margin of defeat for Iowa in 50 years. 

“Disappointments and setbacks make losers bitter, but they make winners better,” Jensen said after the game. 

There’s no doubt Iowa will be better when they host the first two games of their March Madness run in two weeks. When their run inevitably leads them into another national championship contender, though, is when they’ll need to prove it.

The post Powerless in Indianapolis: UCLA Dismantles Iowa in Big Ten Tournament appeared first on KRUI Radio.

Here’s what to know, some fun facts, and some key matchups from Selection Sunday.

Key Matchups

First, let’s discuss some of the most prominent and difficult games to pick in this bracket. These are great first-round matchups that could welcome some fantastic moments.

8. Louisville Cardinals (27-7) vs. 9. Creighton Bluejays (24-10)

South Region – 3/20, 11:15 PM CST – CBS – Lexington, Kentucky

This was a shocking reveal. Both teams were runner-ups in their respective conference tournaments, both conferences weighted heavily, and yet they both have lower seedings. Louisville was a projected 5-seed after finishing last season with an awful record of 8-24. Now led by National Coach of the Year Finalist Pat Kelsey, this team is ready to make some noise. They average 78.6 points per game and have a BPI ranking of 28. However, Creighton coach Greg McDermott makes every game terribly difficult on opposing coaches. They have similar numbers with the Cardinals, averaging 75.2 points per game. If you were to ask me, I would lean towards Louisville. Point Guard Chucky Hepburn is a leader on the court, and I believe the whole team will be able to adjust and command the game where needed.

Louisville opens up as 2.5 point favorites.

5. Michigan Wolverines (25-9) vs. 12. UC San Diego Tritons (30-4)

South Region – 3/20, 9:00 PM CST – TBS – Denver, Colorado

A Golden Rule when filling out a bracket is to pick a 12-seed over a 5-seed. It seems each year, there is one 12-seed everyone loves to pick, and this year, it is UC San Diego. They are one of the strongest 12-seeds in history. This will be a matchup in Quadrant 1 between Michigan and UC San Diego, which is not typical at all for a 5-seed vs. 12-seed. Michigan is coming off a Big Ten Tournament Championship win. While it was a sloppy win against Wisconsin, it probably should have moved them up to a 4-seed. It also should have allowed them to avoid the Tritons, which was a projected matchup for some time now.

UC San Diego won the Big West Championship and is riding a 15-game winning streak. This is also their first appearance in March, as it is also their first eligible season after moving up from Division II just four seasons ago. UC San Diego is averaging 79.8 points per game while allowing just 61.6 points per game. The major talk with this potential upset is Michigan’s immense turnover struggles, as UC San Diego forced turnover margin is frightening for Wolverine fans. In my opinion, I am definitely taking this into account as I lean the Tritons way, though Michigan and Dusty May are red hot as of right now.

Michigan opens up as 3.5 point favorites.

6. BYU Cougars (24-9) vs. 11. VCU Rams (28-6)

East Region – 3/20, 3:05 PM CST – TNT – Denver, Colorado

OFFENSE! These are two teams who love to score buckets all game long. BYU averages 81.0 points per game, while the Rams average 77.4 points per game. BYU’s Big XII Tournament game against Iowa State was extremely eye-opening, as they got past the Cyclones with 18 made shots from beyond the arc. VCU is led by Ryan Odom, the coach who led UMBC to be the first ever 16-seed to upset a 1-seed against Virginia in 2018. The Rams are one of the best defensive teams inside the perimeter, and they hold a BPI ranking of 34. While this is perfect to test a smaller BYU roster, if the Cougars continue to make the 3-point shot as consistently as they have been, their size should not be an issue, and I would not be surprised to see them make a deep run in March. Also, some extra advice, pick an 11-seed over a 6-seed just like people say to pick a 12-seed over a 5-seed. All four 6-seeds have not won in the first-round of the same bracket since 2004.

BYU opens up as 3.5 point favorites.

7. Marquette Golden Eagles (23-10) vs. 10. New Mexico Lobos (26-10)

South Region – 3/21, 6:25 PM CST – TBS – Cleveland, Ohio

The third game from the South Region. Good luck picking these games. This one, for the record, may be the most awkward to pick. An inconsistent Big East team facing a wildly under-appreciated Mountain West squad. Marquette lost six of their last ten regular season games, though four of those games were against St. John’s and UConn. They also have not beaten a top 50 team since January 3rd, with a home win against Creighton. New Mexico enters the field with some notable wins under their belt as well. They’ve taken down other tournament teams including UCLA, VCU, San Diego State, and Utah State, and have six top 50 victories. The Lobos are also led by Mountain West Coach of the Year Richard Pitino, son of legendary head coach, and current head coach of St. John’s, Rick Pitino. Using the “eye-test,” I believe Marquette is more battle tested and will be able to spread the floor more than the Lobos though.

Marquette opens up as 3.5 point favorites.

5. Clemson Tigers (27-6) vs. 12. McNeese Cowboys (27-6)

Midwest Region – 3/20, 2:15 PM CST – truTV – Providence, Rhode Island

Clemson, who lost to Louisville in the semifinals of the ACC tournament, is going to have to play a fantastic game to escape the Southland Champions McNeese. Clemson enters the tournament with a school record of 27 wins. They also recorded six losses, with three of their losses coming in overtime. This is a very consistent team that has found ways to win all year long. McNeese though, averages more points per game and allows less points per game than the Tigers. They are led by coach Will Wade, who has brought the team to its second consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance. He is getting looks for a lot of high-level job openings, but is still looking to snatch the program’s first NCAA Tournament game win with McNeese. However, the Cowboys have lost the three games on their schedule against teams in the tournament field, those being Alabama, Liberty, and Mississippi State. While they have seven different players who average around 10 points per game, I think this is a game Clemson should do well in.

Clemson opens up as 7.5 point favorites.

Upsets to Watch For

4. Texas A&M Aggies (22-10) vs. 13. Yale Bulldogs (22-7)

South Region – 3/20, 6:25 PM CST – TBS – Denver, Colorado

Texas A&M has been one of the strongest teams this season, toppling some tall opponents. However, Yale head coach James Jones is one of the smartest and most strategic coaches out of the Ivy League. If any coach is ready to sit through the Aggies’ film, it’s Coach Jones.

6. Missouri Tigers (22-11) vs. 11. Drake Bulldogs (30-3)

West Region – 3/20, 6:35 PM CST – truTV – Wichita, Kansas

Drake has lost only three games this season. They solidified their March Madness appearance with the Missouri Valley Conference Championship, and are ready to make the noise they are absolutely capable of. However, Missouri was my preseason dark horse team with their incoming transfers, and they continue to get better. It’s set to be an interesting clash.

5. Memphis Tigers (29-5) vs. 12. Colorado State Rams (25-9)

West Region – 3/21, 1:00 PM CST – TBS – Seattle, Washington

Colorado State is hitting their stride at the perfect time and are now coming off a Mountain West Tournament Title. They are very suited to win multiple games in the tournament if they play up to par, and Memphis open up as only 2.5 point favorites.

Champion Favorites

Here are the two teams I have high expectations for and predict to win the National Championship.

1. Florida Gators (30-4)

Florida has some of the most impressive wins all year long. Beating Auburn, Tennessee twice, and Alabama twice. Scoring a plethora in all of those games really made me a believer. This Florida team seems unstoppable, and they would love to run it back to 2007. They have the third best offense in adjusted efficiency, and I do not think there are many teams in their path that can slow that down.

2. Houston Cougars (30-4)

Houston shoots the ball so well down the stretch. In March, the teams that make the sprint to the trophy will find themselves in very close contests. I believe Houston is extremely battle tested, and they have found ways to win plenty of tough games against great opponents. This alone gives me the idea that it may be their year to win it all. However, I think they will have an incredibly difficult matchup in the second-round with Gonzaga, which would be a top 10 matchup, so my theory may be tested extremely early. Their offensive pace is a little slower than the other top teams in the country, but they are still right there in the “Trapezoid of Excellence” which measures the country’s best teams by NET ranking and pace of place.

First-Time Dancers

Now for some fun. There are quite a few teams who will be learning how to groove for the first time in their program’s history, so here’s a quick look at their matchups.

12. UC San Diego Tritons (30-4)

The program has been eligible for the tournament for one season, and they jumped right at the opportunity. They’ll face 5. Michigan on Thursday, March 30th at 9:00 PM CST on TBS.

13. High Point Panthers (29-5)

This is another team I could see making a run, including an upset over their first round opponent 4. Purdue on Thursday, March 30th at 11:40 AM CST on truTV.

15. Omaha Mavericks (22-12)

Hide your trash cans! If the Big Sky Champs pull off the improbable upset, they’ll celebrate by smashing a trash can in their locker room. Their first tournament appearance sets them on a date with Rick Pitino’s 2. St John’s on Thursday, March 30th at 8:45 PM CST on CBS.

16. SIU Edwardsville Cougars (22-11)

I loved seeing head coach Brian Barone break out the scissors that he had framed to cut down the net after their Ohio Valley Conference Championship win. They’ll be in the Midwest Region against 1. Houston on Thursday, March 30th at 1:00 PM CST on TBS.

Happy researching, happy bracketing, and happy March as we watch our favorite stories of the year unfold in front of us and our brackets crumble. We Sleep in May.

The post 2025 March Madness Overview appeared first on KRUI Radio.

No. 2 seeded San Diego State has been dominant all tournament long by winning all of their games with by at least a 15 point margin. The Aztecs will have a tough test though as they go up against George Washington who has been lighting it up offensively and pouring in over 80 points each game this tournament.

Head coach Steve Fisher and the Aztecs will also have to face an entirely different environment as they are playing across the nation in what some say is the “basketball mecca” of arenas in Madison Square Garden. Having played their last two tournament games at home, the Aztecs will have to step up and show they are capable of getting it done on a neutral floor.

“It was a team that was probably playing in the wrong tournament to be honest with you, They deserve to play in the NCAA tournament. Their numbers showed it, their record showed it,” former Georgia Tech head coach Brian Gregory said according to Mountain West Connection.

George Washington has proven their toughness as well this season by scrapping out difficult wins against top tier teams such as Virginia earlier this year. Going into Tuesday night the Colonials will heavily depend on senior leader Tyler Cavanaugh who has dropped at least 20 points a game this tournament and also on junior Kevin Larsen who has chipped in over 15 points a game during their NIT run.

Like George Washington the Aztecs are led by a heavily loaded upperclassmen starting lineup to show both teams are bringing experience to the table. A key for the Aztecs success will come down to whether sophomore Trey Kell will be able to keep producing for the team as he has put up doubles digits the past two games and continues to shoot better from the field as the tournament rolls on.

“You watch the NBA and everyone, everyone known basketball player says they love going to New York, they want to put on a show from LeBron to Kobe To Michael, so it’s just one of those things, if it’s special to them, it must be really crazy and special. I’m just really excited for the experience,” Trey Kell said according to Mountain West Connection.

The Colonials are an impressive 71-11 when leading at halftime with five year head coach Mike Lonergan but Aztec head coach, Steve Fisher, has gone through a lot of battle tested games when being down having previously coached the famous Fab Five through many tough fought  games against top programs.

The game is set to showdown at 8 p.m. CT and the winner of this game will move on to the NIT championship where they will go up against either Valparaiso or Brigham Young on Thursday March 31 in Madison Square Garden.

The post No. 2 San Diego State, No. 4 George Washington Face Off For Trip To NIT Championship appeared first on KRUI Radio.