It isn’t going to be easy for the Iowa Hawkeyes. Sitting at a No. 9 seed, the Hawkeyes are going to have a fight just to get out of the first round when they take on the No. 9 Clemson Tigers. Should Iowa win that, things don’t get any easier, as a date with the No. 1 seed Florida Gators is highly likely to be awaiting.
But it’s been done before. A top seed has made an early exit and been sent packing before the second weekend. With Iowa’s gritty, limited-possesion type of game and tempo, they could find themselves in striking distance against a top team as they have done so often this season.
First things first, Iowa can’t look past Clemson. With that matchup looking incredibly even, ESPN’s Jay Bilas took a look at who comes out on top and offered a prediction, taking the Hawkeyes on the shoulders of Bennett Stirtz being one of the best players in the NCAA Tournament.
No. 8 Clemson Tigers vs. No. 9 Iowa Hawkeyes
The Tigers are big and well-coached, but the Hawkeyes have Bennett Stirtz, one of the best shotmakers in college basketball, who is averaging 20.2 points, 3.4 rebounds and 5.1 assists. Take Iowa. Neither beats Florida, anyway.
Winner: Iowa – Bilas, ESPN
Bilas is a big believer in Bennett Stirtz as an elite guard and elite guard playing being a difference maker in these tightly contested NCAA Tournament battles. This prediction sets up a date with the No. 1 Florida Gators, a game Bilas sees sending Iowa packing.
Second Round
Florida has arguably the best frontcourt in the nation, featuring Thomas Haugh (an SEC Player of the Year contender); Rueben Chinyelu, an elite defender; and Alex Condon. Size matters. With a big game from Stirtz, Iowa could certainly win this game, but I favor Florida.
Winner: Florida – Bilas, ESPN
The Hawkeyes are going to have a chance to make some noise when things get started this Friday, March 20, at 5:50 p.m. CT, when Iowa tips off versus the Clemson Tigers from Tampa, Florida, in a game airing on TNT.
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