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Fran McCaffery gets run by the refs, and Iowa gets run out of Big Ten tourney by Illini
Hawkeyes leave Indianapolis with a 17-16 record and questions about what comes next after 106-94 loss to No. 24 Illinois
Mar. 13, 2025 7:38 pm, Updated: Mar. 14, 2025 7:23 am
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INDIANAPOLIS -- Fran McCaffery bid the game farewell early with two technical fouls. His Iowa men’s basketball team may have bid goodbye to the 2024-25 season with its 106-94 loss to Illinois Thursday.
The Hawkeyes’ time in the Big Ten tournament ended with a defeat to the No. 24 Illini at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in the second round of the tourney. If 17-16 Iowa plays again this season, it likely would be March 31 or April 1 at the inaugural College Basketball Crown 16-team tournament in Las Vegas.
A lot of things could happen within the program between now and then. The NCAA transfer portal opens for basketball on March 24. Then there’s the matter of whether Iowa will retain McCaffery as its coach.
As for Thursday’s game, the Hawkeyes ran out of defensive fuel against Illinois. After notching a victory at Nebraska Sunday to get into the conference tourney, and beating Ohio State Wednesday in the first round, Iowa couldn’t come close to slowing down the Flyin’ Illini (21-11).
One night after arguably Iowa’s best defensive game of the season in its 77-70 win here over Ohio State, the Hawkeyes were torn asunder by Illinois’ passing and cutting for easy scores, its capitalizing on open 3-pointers, and its dominance on the glass.
At one point early in the second half, the Illini had nine offensive rebounds and the Hawkeyes had nine total rebounds.
It wasn’t as if Iowa didn’t put up a fight. The first-half had eight ties and 10 lead-changes. Illinois’ lead was just two points early in the second half.
The pace, however, was perfect for Illinois, the Big Ten’s highest-scoring team. It also took advantage of a 41-24 difference in rebounds.
McCaffery got one technical on top of another with 13:33 left for an automatic ejection. Kasparas Jakucionis made all four free throws for a 73-60 Illini lead. Iowa scored the next four points, but wouldn’t get any closer than that 9-point deficit afterward.
Iowa senior forward Payton Sandfort tied his career-high with 30 points. He made 8 of 13 3-pointers. Illinois’ Kylan Boswell had 24 points, one of four Illini players with at least 19.
Comments: (319) 398-8440; mike.hlas@thegazette.com
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