**Tampa, Fla. ** - The Iowa Hawkeyes are still grooving in the 2026 NCAA Tournament, and they’re doing it with style.
After slicing through the field of 68, Iowa showed grit and determination in a 67-61 victory over the Clemson Tigers, never trailing once. It was a collective effort that saw the Hawkeyes fend off Clemson's second-half pushes, marking a milestone win for the program-their first NCAA Tournament triumph since 2021.
Ben McCollum, in his debut season as head coach, has already left an indelible mark. With 22 wins, the most since the 2021-22 season, Iowa isn't just back in the tournament for the first time since 2023-they’re knocking on the door of the elusive Sweet 16. McCollum and his squad have reignited the passion around Hawkeye basketball.
Next up? The reigning national champs, the Florida Gators, await them in what promises to be an electrifying matchup.
While it’s not quite a David vs. Goliath scenario, Iowa is stepping in as the clear underdog, facing the top-seeded Gators in their own backyard in Tampa.
McCollum’s take? “Good. More fun that way.”
Iowa’s season has already been a triumph, and facing Florida presents a low-risk, high-reward situation. A loss wouldn’t tarnish their achievements, but a win?
That would be a seismic shift for a program that hasn't tasted Sweet 16 success since 1999. The excitement among Hawkeye fans is palpable.
“We’re going to have our hands full,” McCollum admits.
Against Clemson, Iowa’s physicality was on full display as they outrebounded their opponents by 13 and dominated at the free-throw line. But Florida presents a whole new challenge.
The Gators, fresh off a 114-55 thrashing of Prairie View A&M, boast a towering frontcourt with Alex Condon, Rueben Chinyelu, and Thomas Haugh-all veterans of their 2025 championship team. Add in dynamic guards Boogie Fland and Xaivian Lee, and Iowa has its work cut out.
Bennett Stirtz knows the key lies in offense. “We’ve got to get a good shot and then set our defense. We’ve faced size all season in the Big Ten, so this is nothing new.”
Florida’s season started rocky at 9-5, but they’ve been scorching hot since, losing just twice since January 6. Yet, Iowa has shown they can hang with the best, with narrow losses to top-tier teams like Iowa State, Illinois, Purdue, and Michigan. They’ve been competitive, rarely blown out, and have given themselves a fighting chance time and again.
The challenge for Iowa is breaking through against elite competition, something they managed with a gritty 57-52 win over Nebraska. To topple Florida, they’ll need to replicate that performance and then some.
“It’s about correcting a few mistakes,” McCollum explains. “We need to have our scout dialed in and fight for 40 minutes.”
Iowa’s blueprint? A low-scoring, defensive battle like the one against Nebraska.
Keeping Florida off the boards and controlling the tempo will be crucial. And while the Gators are formidable, they’re not invincible-Vanderbilt proved that with a 91-74 win in the SEC Tournament.
It’s March Madness, where the unexpected is the norm. Iowa might just find some magic of their own.