Iowa's players are loose, excited for postseason opportunity

EUGENE, Ore. - Iowa's players walked into Matthew Knight Arena loose and full of energy Saturday, one day ahead of their National Invitation Tournament second-round matchup against Oregon.

The roots of Iowa's relaxed, happy feelings were set last Sunday. With a 17-16 record at the time, it wasn't automatic the Hawkeyes would play anywhere in the postseason. Iowa Athletics Director Gary Barta told reporters two days earlier (March 9) the school was interested in playing in the NIT but not the College Basketball Invitational (CBI), a third-tier postseason tournament.

But the uncertainty failed to deter the team's spirit. The team bought into that Sunday practice, and the tempo was terrific.

"It's kind of surprising because you don't know if half the guys are checked out," Iowa senior Matt Gatens said Saturday. "You don't know if half the guys think the season's over. But we still have a chance. We had a good effort. Everybody was all locked in, after a couple of days off from the Big Ten tourney and we had a great practice that day. We found out we're still playing, and it's a great opportunity and kind of a second life to keep playing and keep chasing another championship."

"It was a very energetic practice," McCaffery said Saturday. "We didn't know if we would be playing or when we'd be playing. We kind of felt like we were going to get into the NIT and if we didn't, we would have an opportunity to play in the CBI. So you don't know if you're going to be hosting or if you're going to be traveling."

McCaffery said the door wasn't shut on the CBI.

"I think he (Barta) was open to it," McCaffery said. "I think he preferred the NIT. I was kind of hoping that would happen. I think the CBI was a definite possibility.

"He (Barta) would have ultimately had to be the one to make that decision. But I think what he wanted for us was to continue to have the opportunity to play, and he hoped it would be in the NIT."