Iowa
Iowa basketball: As Hawkeyes exit Big Ten Tournament, uncertainty looms over program
Fran McCaffery discusses Iowa basketball’s loss to Illinois
Fran McCaffery, Josh Dix, Payton Sandfort discuss Iowa basketball’s loss to Illinois in the Big Ten Tournament.
INDIANAPOLIS — At this very venue on this very day three years ago, Iowa basketball stood atop the Big Ten’s mountaintop.
The Hawkeyes won four games in four days to capture a Big Ten Tournament title. Capped off by a win over Purdue, those four days were filled with thrills and euphoria. Iowa coach Fran McCaffery spoke fondly of that team earlier this week.
Thursday was three years removed from that tournament championship. And things looked much different.
After back-to-back wins over Nebraska and Ohio State, Iowa’s hopes to make an improbable run to the NCAA Tournament were put to an end. The Hawkeyes were unable to overcome the usual suspects — defense and rebounding — in a 106-94 loss to Illinois in the second round of the Big Ten Tournament.
That win over Ohio State on Wednesday was Iowa’s first victory in the Big Ten Tournament since beating Purdue in 2022. That year was also the last time the Hawkeyes made the NCAA Tournament. They haven’t won a game in the Big Dance since 2021.
The energy surrounding the program is drastically reduced from that memorable day three years ago.
As Iowa’s Big Ten Tournament run came to an end on Thursday, uncertainty looms over the future of the program.
For the second time in less than two weeks, McCaffery was prompted to speak about his future at Iowa. For the second time, he reaffirmed his commitment to the program.
On Thursday, McCaffery was asked if he expects to be Iowa’s coach next season and beyond.
“I do,” McCaffery said.
If that is the case, attention turns to Iowa athletics director Beth Goetz, who will have a decision to make.
In 15 seasons as Iowa’s head coach, McCaffery orchestrated success for the program. He helped develop nationally distinguished players such as Luka Garza, Keegan and Kris Murray, and others. Iowa won at least 20 games for four consecutive seasons in two separate stints during McCaffery’s tenure. The Hawkeyes did it from the 2012-13 to 2015-16 seasons and the 2018-19 to 2021-2022 seasons.
At its best, the program was relevant on a national scale.
But there are also fair criticisms of McCaffery’s tenure.
His teams’ lack of NCAA Tournament success are illustrated by the fact that he has never reached a Sweet 16 with the Hawkeyes. Defensive struggles are as woven into the fabric of the program as the Hawkeyes’ high-octane offense. McCaffery’s temper flare-ups occasionally brought unwanted national attention.
Iowa checked a few of those boxes on Thursday.
The Hawkeyes scored 94 points, shot 55% from the field, 46% from deep, turned the ball over just five times and still managed to lose by double-digits. In the second half, McCaffery was called for two technicals and thrown out of the game.
After the game, McCaffery indicated that he was pointing out the fouls discrepancy when he was hit with the first technical.
“I’m always going to advocate for my guys,” McCaffery said. “That’s my job.”
Thursday’s loss was not for a lack of trying. Payton Sandfort drilled eight 3-pointers (tying a Big Ten Tournament record) en route to a 30-point outing. A team that battled through injuries this season simply did not have enough answers, which might sum up where the program currently stands under McCaffery.
“It’s the greatest honor of my life to be able to represent the black and gold,” Sandfort said. “And that’s why I gave it everything I did every day. The chance to play for coach and the chance to play with so many great Hawkeyes. It’s the honor of my lifetime. I wish I could repay this place as much as it gave to me. But I gave it everything I had.”
Goetz has a lot to consider as she evaluates the future of the men’s basketball team. The last two seasons have been stale. Iowa managed a mediocre 36-31 record during that stretch. One win in the Big Ten Tournament. Zero appearances in the NCAA Tournament. Carver-Hawkeye Arena crowds that were small and spiritless far too often reflected a fan base distancing itself from the program.
But if Goetz decides it’s time for the program to go a different direction, there is no guarantee Iowa will be destined for greater heights. Michigan State’s Tom Izzo, the longest-tenured Big Ten men’s basketball coach, warned of that last week.
Iowa’s roster payroll is in the range of $1.1 million to $1.5 million, according to reporting by the Register’s Chad Leistikow. Not nearly enough, McCaffery said after Thursday’s loss.
“You’d probably need 6 million, and we were nowhere near that,” McCaffery said. “I think you know that. Those numbers are going to go north of that.”
If Iowa elects to embark on a new era, it will be a test of whether the program’s struggles were more of a McCaffery problem or an athletics department infrastructure problem.
Was McCaffery set up for failure due to a lack of financial resources? Or was it burnout from his tenure that caused the downturn?
For what it’s worth, McCaffery said Iowa playing in the debut of the College Basketball Crown postseason tournament is “going to happen.” But that is not currently the most pressing issue.
The future of the program is in Goetz’s hands. The ball is in her court.
Follow Tyler Tachman on X @Tyler_T15, contact via email at ttachman@gannett.com
WEST BRANCH, Iowa (KCRG) – Cleanup crews are still working to remove vehicles from Interstate 80 in eastern Iowa following multiple crashes that blocked the highway for about 12 hours Saturday morning.
Multiple crashes on I-80 east of Iowa City Saturday morning shut down the interstate for several hours in both directions. No one was killed, but dozens of people were injured and taken to the hospital.
Lanes in the area will be closed in order to pull crashed cars out of the median.
“Towing and recovering efforts started right away after the storm, Sunday night after the storm and have continued each night since then and we’re estimating a couple, two to three more nights yet to get everything removed out there,” said Mitch Wood with the Iowa Department of Transportation.
DOT explains highway closure decision
The DOT did not expect conditions to be as bad as they were this weekend. Access to the highway was only limited after the crash happened.
“It started out with just a typical Iowa snowfall forecast. Nothing in that forecast, I guess, rose to that level of alarm for us to kind of forecast that we would have seen the traffic issues that we ended up seeing,” Wood said.
The DOT says preemptively closing the interstate can be done if unsafe travel can be predicted.
“What we could never really anticipate is the driving conditions changing rapidly and how drivers are going to respond to that,” Wood said.
Wood says shutting down an interstate is never a light decision.
“It’s not something that we necessarily want to do but when we make that decision, almost everytime we’re making that decision for safety reasons,” Wood said.
Cleanup of those accidents from Saturday are still underway. That typically happens in the evening, so drivers should watch for signs and lane closures when towing is happening.
Copyright 2025 KCRG. All rights reserved.
CDOT: How to drive safely through a road construction zone
Be patient and drive carefully when driving through a work zone, the Colorado Department of Transportation says.
Ames commuters: Now is the time to send in your feedback for proposed changes to Interstate 35.
The Iowa Department of Transportation is proposing new construction to widen I-35 between Huxley and Ames and rebuild sections of U.S. Highway 30 as part of a multi-year plan.
What’s in the Iowa DOT’s construction plan for I-35 between Huxley and Ames?
The Iowa DOT has been planning these changes for more than ten years. Around 2005, about 35,000 vehicles using I-35 south of U.S. 30. In 2024, that number’s now at approximately 47,000 vehicles — and expected to continue growing.
Some of the improvements include:
- Replacing and widening I-35 bridges over U.S. 30 in Ames
- Lowering U.S. 30 to improve clearance for I-35 bridges
- Reconstructing ramps at the U.S. 30 interchange
- Widening I-35 to 6 lanes between Huxley and the U.S. 30 interchange in Ames
How much will I-35 improvements between Ames and Huxley cost?
The cost of the project is expected to total $100 million.
When will construction start on I-35 in Story County?
Construction is expected to begin in spring 2027 and be completed by the end of 2030. The project also requires permanently closing 564th Avenue south of Ames between 280th and 290th Streets.
The public input period concludes at the end of December. You can submit questions and comments on the DOT’s website.
Lucia Cheng is a service and trending reporter at the Des Moines Register. Contact her at lcheng@gannett.com or 515-284-8132.
CENTERVILLE, Iowa (KYOU) – A state innovation grant is helping a local meat processing facility serve area farmers and strengthen Iowa’s food supply chain.
Country Roads Meat Processing received funding through Iowa’s “Choose Iowa” butchery innovation grant program to update equipment at their facility.
Owner Melanie Seals said the business processes beef from multiple local farmers.
“Probably at least purchase beef from at least 20 to 25 different farmers,” Seals said.
Seals, who grew up on her family farm butchering meat, now runs Country Roads Meat Processing with her husband.
On Monday she gave Iowa Agriculture Secretary Mike Naig a tour of the facility.
“I mean we both grew up on farms we always butchered our own meat, and we just want to the local movement ally just excel and to grow,” Seals said.
The Choose Iowa butchery innovation grant helps small meat processors update and expand their operations. Seals used the money to update the facility’s equipment, which she said helps supply an important link in the food chain.
Seals said the grant is also helping the business increase visibility for more farmers in the community.
“We like to get as many as we can on the board up there so that way more people can know,” Seals said.
Iowa Agriculture Secretary Mike Naig said he wants to see this kind of success statewide.
“What we’re seeing is a reasonable investment on the part of the state results in a significant investment locally which again drives more businesses,” Naig said.
The success matters as farmers continue to face challenges ahead.
“Were optimistic for another good growing season but that the marketplace will respond,” Naig said.
For Seals, the grant represents a solution that pays off by investing in the future for local farmers.
“We like to help those people that are local have their own businesses and we just kind of want to be a hub for all of that,” Seals said.
Copyright 2025 KYOU. All rights reserved.
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