The Iowa Men's Basketball program struggled during the final few seasons of the Fran McCaffery era. The program had seven consecutive winning seasons under McCaffery, but could never advance in the NCAA Tournament.
The Hawkeyes managed only one Big Ten Tournament Title (2022) and despite their seven NCAA Tournament appearances under McCaffery, never made it past the Sweet Sixteen.
During the 2024-2025 season, McCaffery's last season as head coach, the Hawkeyes had their worst win total (17) since 2017 and failed to make the NCAA Tournament for the second consecutive season.
Following a disappointing ending to the season, McCaffery was fired and replaced by Drake Head Coach Ben McCollum.
After the season, the Hawkeyes had very little to celebrate outside of a fresh start with a new team and new head coach. One of the bright spots of last season's squad was the emergence of Even Brauns.
When Iowa's best player and leading scorer, Owen Freeman, suffered a season-ending injury, the coaching staff tried everything and everyone to make up for his loss.
Brauns was sparingly used early on, but when he was given more opportunities, he took advantage of them.
After providing a spark off the bench for the Hawkeyes last season, Bruans is taking his talents overseas to continue his basketball career professionally in Japan.
A new chapter begins for @EvenBrauns & @DrewThelwell
— Iowa Men’s Basketball (@IowaHoops) July 7, 2025
Pro #Hawkeyes 🤝 pic.twitter.com/fktYEZGY7p
Brauns announced he is joining Yamaguchi Patsfive in the Japanese B. League in the third division. Brauns joins fellow Americans Deandre Abram, Jelan Kendrick, and Kamron Valerio in Japan.
The Yamaguchi Patsfive are a new team that was formed in 2020 and recently underwent a name change from "Patriots" to "Patsfive."
Before joining the Hawkeyes during the 2023-2024 season, Brauns was a standout for Iowa City West High School in Iowa City, Iowa. ESPN and 247 Sports ranked him as Iowa's No. 2 overall prospect in the 2020 recruiting class, and he committed to Belmont.
Brauns joins his former teammate Drew Thelwell by heading overseas to continue playing basketball at the professional level.