And while there were the tears and hugs that go with emotional farewells in Iowa’s locker room after the 106-94 loss to Illinois in Thursday’s second round of the Big Ten Tournament at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, McCaffery seemed sure on what the Hawkeyes’ immediate, and long-term future, was going to look like.

He was equally sure on what his future was going to be.

Asked if he expected to be the Hawkeyes’ coach next season, McCaffery simply said, “I do.”

And when later asked if Iowa was going to be a part of the new College Basketball Crown tournament, McCaffery said, “It’s going to happen.”

Yet, this felt like a goodbye.

Payton Sandfort, who scored 30 points and tied a tournament record with eight 3-pointers, spoke softly as he tried to put into words what his four years with the Hawkeyes meant.

“I’m so grateful. I’m so blessed,” Sandfort said. “I love all these guys in this locker room, man. It’s been such a tough year. We’ve dealt with so much that nobody will ever understand unless you’re in the locker room room. The way that we stayed together, getting the chance to go on this little run and give ourselves a chance on the stretch, it’s gonna be one of my greatest memories forever.”

McCaffery wasn’t around for the final minutes. Unhappy with the foul discrepancy in the second half, he said something that earned him a technical foul from official Brian Dorsey. And then, as the Illini were getting ready to shoot free throws from the technical, McCaffery dropped a combination of two obscenities that earned him a second technical foul from Larry Scirotto.

“I think I might have mentioned that it was five to one (in fouls),” McCaffery said. “I didn’t think it was that egregious.”

Asked if he wished he could have been around for the final moments with his senior players, McCaffery said, “I would have wanted to be there. But I’m always going to advocate for my guys. No one else can do it. So I did it.”

The Hawkeyes, the 15th seed here, needed to beat Nebraska last Sunday to just get into this tournament, and they did that. They needed to beat Ohio State to advance in the tournament, and they did that on Wednesday night.

And they gave the fifth-seeded Illini fits until they couldn’t.

The Hawkeyes shot 54.9% from the field, Illinois shot 53.8%. The final score set a tournament record for points.

“That’s always a possibility with Iowa,” Illinois coach Brad Underwood said.

It’s been a fight all season for Sandfort, who went through the list of injuries he’s endured this season, including a fractured wrist and a shoulder that has been dislocated twice.

He was 11 of 20 from the field, 8 of 13 in 3-pointers, and this game just added to the respect both coaches have for him.

“The one thing we didn’t want was Payton to get going,” Underwood said. “I will mention this — so much respect for Payton. He stayed four years. I love seeing guys cry when it’s over. That’s

invested. That’s committed. That’s dedicated. That’s love for his university. That’s love for his coaching staff. That young man had just an unbelievable career. He had a terrific game today.”

“He just kept taping it up and playing,” McCaffery said. “One of the toughest dudes I’ve been around.”

Josh Dix had 21 points for the Hawkeyes. Drew Thelwell had 12 points, and Pryce Sandfort had 11.

The final words insisted this wasn’t a goodbye, but it seemed like it was a farewell.

“Very proud of the leadership, very proud of the fight, very proud of the professionalism and focus of this group,” McCaffery said. “It was awesome coming to work every day with these guys.”