Iowa men determined to prove doubters wrong
By Pat Harty
IOWA CITY, Iowa – While Hawkeye nation is fixated on Caitlin Clark and the third-ranked Iowa women’s basketball team, and deservedly so after its NCAA runner-up finish last season, the Iowa men’s basketball team will start its season against North Dakota on Tuesday under different circumstances.
The Iowa men aren’t ranked in the top five nationally, or at all for that matter.
The Iowa men aren’t considered a Big Ten contender as one preseason prognostication has them ranked 13th among the 14 conference teams.
The Iowa men, unlike the Iowa women, also haven’t sold out all their home games for the 2023-24 season.
Senior forward Patrick McCaffery, who is the son of Iowa head coach Fran McCaffery, was asked Monday what he would say to fans that are on the fence about whether to purchase men’s basketball tickets.
“Nothing I can say is really going to convince them either way,” Patrick McCaffery said. “It’s just how we play on the floor.”
Iowa plays an entertaining style on offense under Fran McCaffery in which pushing the pace and taking shots in transition is widely accepted.
The Hawkeyes led the Big Ten in scoring, and ranked 18th nationally last season, averaging 80.1 points per game. Iowa has led the league in scoring seven of the last 11 seasons, including six straight years.
But Iowa also has some key holes to fill with former All-America forward Kris Murray, and multi-year starters Connor McCaffery and Filip Rebraca all having moved on from last season.
There are six newcomers on the current team, including four true freshmen.
“We do have a lot of unproven people,” Patrick McCaffery said. “I understand maybe why fans would be skeptical.
“I think we’re going to have a good team. But I can understand why people on the outside might not see it that way. But I’ve been here every day. I’m very confident in my teammates and myself and our coaches.”
The Iowa players are fully aware of what’s being said about their team and where they’re being picked to finish in the Big Ten.
“Preseason rankings, especially college sports now, it’s impossible. How are you supposed to predict anything,” Patrick McCaffery said. “But at the end of the day, we see some pretty outlandish predictions. And it is what it is. Those people can pick however they want. Preseason rankings don’t really mean anything. It’s all about what you put on the floor.
“There needs to be continuity with your roster. It doesn’t matter how many good players you have if there is no continuity. And I think we have good continuity and I’m excited. I can sit here in front of you and curse out every single person that made one. But we’d rather just go out on the floor and let them feel stupid themselves.”
Patrick McCaffery, along with senior guard Tony Perkins and junior forward Payton Sandfort are Iowa’s most experienced players returning from last season’s team that won 19 games and made the NCAA Tournament.
The Hawkeyes also have added two experienced transfers in 6-foot-9 forwards Ben Krikke and Iowa City native Even Brauns, who transferred from Valparaiso and Belmont, respectively.
Krikke led the Missouri Valley Conference in scoring last season and is expected to be in the starting lineup for Tuesday’s game, along with Patrick McCaffery, Perkins, Payton Sandfort and sophomore point guard Dasonte Bowen.
“Seamless transition, no question about it,” Fran McCaffery said of Krikke’s adjustment to being a Hawkeye. “A lot of it is attitude, who he is. But his work ethic is tremendous.
“He’s really talented. His game also fits our style, which is one of the reasons why he came here in the first place. I think he knew we would utilize him in the right way. I’m excited.”
Bowen is the only starter that averaged fewer than 10 minutes playing time per game last season.
The Boston, Massachusetts native averaged 9.3 minutes per game last season and 3.1 points per contest.
Bowen was told by Fran McCaffery the day before Iowa played Quincy in an exhibition game that he would start over fellow sophomore guard and his close friend, Josh Dix.
“He told us it was one of the closest races he’s ever had for a fifth starter,” Bowen said. “But I think between me and Josh, that’s probably who I’m closest with on the team, we lived together last year and this year.
“So, it never really mattered to us who started, who played. He let us know that we’re both going to play about the same amount. Regardless of the position, we’re going to get a lot of minutes.”
Iowa has four freshmen – guards Brock Harding and Pryce Sandfort, and forwards Owen Freeman and Ladji Dembele – that will make their college debuts on Tuesday.
Fran McCaffery said he expects all four freshmen to contribute this season.
Iowa is 12-1 in season openers under Fran McCaffery and 8-0 against North Dakota, which was picked to finish fifth in the Summit League preseason coaches poll.
North Dakota vs. Iowa
When: Tuesday, 7 p.m.
Where: Carver-Hawkeye Arena
TV/online: B1G+ (subscription)
Radio: Hawkeye Radio Network
