INDIANAPOLIS — At this very venue on this very day three years ago, Iowa basketball stood atop the Big Ten’s mountaintop.
The Hawkeyes won four games in four days to capture a Big Ten Tournament title. Capped off by a win over Purdue, those four days were filled with thrills and euphoria. Iowa coach Fran McCaffery spoke fondly of that team earlier this week.
Thursday was three years removed from that tournament championship. And things looked much different.
After back-to-back wins over Nebraska and Ohio State, Iowa’s hopes to make an improbable run to the NCAA Tournament were put to an end. The Hawkeyes were unable to overcome the usual suspects — defense and rebounding — in a 106-94 loss to Illinois in the second round of the Big Ten Tournament.
That win over Ohio State on Wednesday was Iowa’s first victory in the Big Ten Tournament since beating Purdue in 2022. They haven’t won a game in the Big Dance since 2021.
The energy surrounding the program is drastically reduced from that memorable day three years ago.
As Iowa’s Big Ten Tournament run came to an end on Thursday, uncertainty looms over the future of the program.
For the second time in less than two weeks, McCaffery was prompted to speak about his future at Iowa. For the second time, he reaffirmed his commitment to the program.
On Thursday, McCaffery was asked if he expects to be Iowa’s coach next season and beyond.
“I do,” McCaffery said.
More: Iowa basketball coach Fran McCaffery says he plans to return to Hawkeyes next season
If that is the case, attention turns to Iowa athletics director Beth Goetz, who will have a decision to make.
In 15 seasons as Iowa’s head coach, McCaffery orchestrated success for the program. He helped develop nationally distinguished players such as Luka Garza, Keegan and Kris Murray, and others. Iowa won at least 20 games for four consecutive seasons in two separate stints during McCaffery’s tenure. The Hawkeyes did it from the 2012-13 to 2015-16 seasons and the 2018-19 to 2021-2022 seasons.
At its best, the program was relevant on a national scale.
But there are also fair criticisms of McCaffery’s tenure.
His teams’ lack of NCAA Tournament success are illustrated by the fact that he has never reached a Sweet 16 with the Hawkeyes. Defensive struggles are as woven into the fabric of the program as the Hawkeyes’ high-octane offense. McCaffery’s temper flare-ups occasionally brought unwanted national attention.
Iowa checked a few of those boxes on Thursday.
The Hawkeyes scored 94 points, shot 55% from the field, 46% from deep, turned the ball over just five times and still managed to lose by double-digits. In the second half, McCaffery was called for two technicals and thrown out of the game.
After the game, McCaffery indicated that he was pointing out the fouls discrepancy when he was hit with the first technical.
“I’m always going to advocate for my guys,” McCaffery said. “That’s my job.”
More: Iowa basketball fades during second half in loss vs Illinois, coach Fran McCaffery ejected
Thursday’s loss was not for a lack of trying. Payton Sandfort drilled eight 3-pointers (tying a Big Ten Tournament record) en route to a 30-point outing. A team that battled through injuries this season simply did not have enough answers, which might sum up where the program currently stands under McCaffery.
“It’s the greatest honor of my life to be able to represent the black and gold,” Sandfort said. “And that’s why I gave it everything I did every day. The chance to play for coach and the chance to play with so many great Hawkeyes. It’s the honor of my lifetime. I wish I could repay this place as much as it gave to me. But I gave it everything I had.”
Goetz has a lot to consider as she evaluates the future of the men’s basketball team. The last two seasons have been stale. Iowa managed a mediocre 36-31 record during that stretch. One win in the Big Ten Tournament. Zero appearances in the NCAA Tournament. Carver-Hawkeye Arena crowds that were small and spiritless far too often reflected a fan base distancing itself from the program.
But if Goetz decides it’s time for the program to go a different direction, there is no guarantee Iowa will be destined for greater heights. Michigan State’s Tom Izzo, the longest-tenured Big Ten men’s basketball coach, warned of that last week.
Iowa’s roster payroll is in the range of $1.1 million to $1.5 million, according to reporting by the Register’s Chad Leistikow. Not nearly enough, McCaffery said after Thursday’s loss.
“You’d probably need 6 million, and we were nowhere near that,” McCaffery said. “I think you know that. Those numbers are going to go north of that.”
If Iowa elects to embark on a new era, it will be a test of whether the program’s struggles were more of a McCaffery problem or an athletics department infrastructure problem.
Was McCaffery set up for failure due to a lack of financial resources? Or was it burnout from his tenure that caused the downturn?
For what it’s worth, McCaffery said Iowa playing in the debut of the College Basketball Crown postseason tournament is “going to happen.” But that is not currently the most pressing issue.
The future of the program is in Goetz’s hands. The ball is in her court.
Follow Tyler Tachman on X@Tyler_T15, contact via email at [email protected]
