Mike Hlas

Whether Iowa Athletic Director keeps Fran McCaffery as the Hawkeyes’ coach or not, Tom Izzo is right when he says Iowa isn’t in the high end or even the middle of resources among Big Ten men’s basketball programs.

Hawkeyes rebounded from 5-game January losing streak to push its way to a certain NCAA tournament invitation, and their 3-game stay at the Big Ten tournament only added to their resume.

Buckeyes’ Cotie McMahon made two free throws with 6.7 seconds left, and Iowa was denied on two final shots after that. The Hawkeyes will now wait to learn its NCAA tournament foe and destination.

With a big lift from freshman center Ava Heiden Thursday, Iowa is 2-for-2 in the Big Ten tourney and has won its last four games. It advances to face 13th-ranked Ohio State Friday night.

Hawkeyes face a defensive force in Buckeyes, with the winner proceeding to Saturday’s semifinals.

Iowa is 2-for-2 in Big Ten tourney and has won its last four games. It advances to face 13th-ranked Ohio State Friday night

The winner advances to the league’s quarterfinals, and the loser goes home to wait for Selection Sunday.

Iowa proceeds to Thursday night second-round clash with No. 24 Michigan State.

The Spartans have hopes of a Big Ten regular-season championship and more. The Hawkeyes are trying to win their way into the Big Ten tournament.

Iowa can’t storm through tournament with three wins in three days as it did the last three years. Just reaching Friday’s quarterfinals will require two wins, starting with an instant rematch with Wisconsin.

Hawkeyes and Badgers somehow have never before met in the current incarnation of this tourney

Eagles are 29-0 as they make a run at second-straight national-championship and 10th overall

Iowa drops to 16th-place at 6-12 after falling to Wildcats in Evanston, and needs to win one of its final two games to have a chance to advance to the Big Ten tourney.

Two teams go into the cage with 6-11 Big Ten records. One comes out ... at 7-11.

The loser in this matchup of teams with 6-11 Big Ten records will be in danger of being excluded from the conference’s tournament.