Iowa Hawkeyes

Team History

Iowa has appeared in 27 NCAA Tournaments, eight NIT Tournaments, eight Big Ten regular-season conference titles, and two Big Ten tournament championships. Iowa has made three appearances in the Final Four, reaching the semifinals in 1955 and 1980 and the championship game in 1956 against the University of San Francisco. Continue for more Iowa Hawkeyes Stats.

With a program renaissance under Lute Olson and the tenures of George Raveling and Tom Davis, Iowa basketball enjoyed huge success in the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s. The Hawkeyes won their last Big Ten regular-season championship and advanced to the 1980 Final Four under Olson’s leadership.

They share Carver-Hawkeye Arena with the Iowa women’s basketball, wrestling, and volleyball teams, which has a capacity of 15,400.

The Hawkeyes used to play in the Iowa Armory and the Iowa Field House, which is still used by the school’s gymnastics teams today, before moving to Carver-Hawkeye Arena in 1983. Before losing to in-state foe Northern Iowa in 2006, the Hawkeyes had a school-record 21 straight wins at home. That’s why this years March Madness is going to be important.

Sam Barry, Ralph Miller, and Lute Olson, all of Iowa’s head coaches, have been elected into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame as coaches. George Raveling, a fourth Hawkeyes head coach, is a contributing member of the Hall of Fame.

Championships Won by the Team

Iowa has never won an NCAA title but was the runner-up in 1956. With all of the storied history that Iowa has, they have struggled to win many championships with it and have not won the big dance.

The Hawkeyes have won a few Big Ten titles but have not won any recently. They were the conference tournament champions in 2001 and 2006. The Hawkeyes have won eight conference regular-season titles, but the most recent came back in 1979. Iowa has struggled against the powers in the Big Ten over the past few decades. They are relevant in the conference but just have not shown the ability to breakthrough.

Important Team Events

One of the biggest events that surrounds the basketball team each year is the matchup with Iowa State. Even though Iowa State is in the Big 12, Iowa and Iowa State play each other each year in an alternating home-and-home fashion. This is one of the games that Iowa has circled on their calendar each year. In the state of Iowa, this is a huge rivalry, and Iowa is always looking forward to playing the game.

The student section at Iowa basketball games is also very crazy as the fans get very loud and crazy. The arena is designed so that it feels like the fans are sitting on top of you. They do not have any special chants or cheers but always come out to support their Hawkeyes.

Top Players

Iowa has had a lot of notable players come through, and the most notable in recent memory has to be Luza Garza. Garza won the Big Ten Player of the Year in back-to-back years and is now playing in the NBA. Iowa has had 37 players be named first-team all-conference and Garza had two of those bids.

There have been many Hawkeyes inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. George Raveling, Don Nelson, C. Vivian Stringer, Lute Olson, Connie Hawkins, Ralph Miller, and Sam Barry have all been inducted into the Hall of Fame for their various roles.

Iowa has had three players go on to play in the Olympics, and all won gold medals while they were there. Carl Cain, Chuck Darling, and Raveling all won gold medals playing for their country. Iowa has had 19 All-American selections, and they have had players be noted as first-team members six times. There have been no players who become a first-team All-American twice, but both Dick Ives and Garza were All-Americans twice, with Ives garnering three honors.

The Hawkeyes have nine jersey numbers retired, and their most recent retired number was that of Garza just last year. With more stellar play coming from the Hawkeyes this year, you can be sure that the next jersey to be retired is in the near future.

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