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Iowa Basketball: 5 reasons the Hawkeyes can win a National Title

By Joe Kipp

COLLEGE PARK, MARYLAND - JANUARY 30: Luka Garza #55 of the Iowa Hawkeyes huddles with teammates before a college basketball game against the Maryland Terrapins at Xfinity Center on January 30, 2020 in College Park, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
COLLEGE PARK, MARYLAND - JANUARY 30: Luka Garza #55 of the Iowa Hawkeyes huddles with teammates before a college basketball game against the Maryland Terrapins at Xfinity Center on January 30, 2020 in College Park, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /
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COLLEGE PARK, MARYLAND – JANUARY 30: Head coach Fran McCaffery of the Iowa Hawkeyes talks to his players during a college basketball game against the Maryland Terrapins at Xfinity Center on January 30, 2020 in College Park, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
COLLEGE PARK, MARYLAND – JANUARY 30: Head coach Fran McCaffery of the Iowa Hawkeyes talks to his players during a college basketball game against the Maryland Terrapins at Xfinity Center on January 30, 2020 in College Park, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /

3. The Hawkeyes are battle tested

This is one of the most experienced teams in the entire nation. The Hawkeyes return seven players with starting experience from last year. Iowa has two seniors (one redshirt) and five juniors (four redshirts) on their roster for this season.

It’s not just the experience, though. Iowa was tested several times last season by ranked teams, and it’ll be a similar story in 2020-21. The Hawks won seven games against ranked opponents in 2019-20, the most by any team in college basketball. You know what they say: iron sharpens iron. Simply put, these Hawkeyes are battle tested.

“I think it’s important that when you have older guys that have proven that they can be successful at this level, and we have won, the challenge is ‘can we win more?'” said Fran McCaffery. “Can we win more against a tougher schedule? That’s what competition is.”

Iowa’s best player, Luka Garza, has played in 96 games for the Hawkeyes and started in 87 of those. Starting point guard Jordan Bohannon returns as a fifth-year senior with 112 games of experience, including 102 starts.

Even Iowa’s first two off the bench, Joe Toussaint and Jack Nunge, have a combined 70 games of experience under their belt. Collectively, the Hawkeyes are a tenured roster, with plenty of youth to complement as the season goes on.

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