Your Favorite Hawkeye Basketball Teams (men)

joelbc1

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1) 1960-61, Sharm Scheuremann, this team had 4 starters “flunk out”at semester and still finished 2nd in the conference with only Don Nelson returning after semester tests….
After this team, 4 in no particular order….
1979 -80, Lute’s Final 4 team…
1986-87, Tom Davis 1st Iowa team….
1992
-93, Tom Davis’ “Chris Street team”(for sentimental reasons), Chris Street’s last team
2025-26, Coach McCollom’s team this year…they play hard and are fun to watch!
 

eyesofhawk

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Interesting that you describe these teams by their coaches. They won and lost by how the players performed.
As well as how the coaches performed.

And by how well prepared, developed, trained, organized, unified, and motivated the coaches had them to perform
 
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Kirbs

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Jan 8, 2023
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1) 1960-61, Sharm Scheuremann, this team had 4 starters “flunk out”at semester and still finished 2nd in the conference with only Don Nelson returning after semester tests….
After this team, 4 in no particular order….
1979 -80, Lute’s Final 4 team…
1986-87, Tom Davis 1st Iowa team….
1992
-93, Tom Davis’ “Chris Street team”(for sentimental reasons), Chris Street’s last team
2025-26, Coach McCollom’s team this year…they play hard and are fun to watch!
I would put the ‘22 b10 tournament champions right up there, with Keegan dominating, big shot J-Bo, Filip Rebraca and Connor M as the coach on the floor. That was an entertaining team.
 

Palmerhawk

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I liked the 2005 horner,bru,haluska 2nd place in BIG team a lot.
Luka's teams his Jr and sr. seasons.

All-time?
Ralph Miller's 6 pack undefeated in BIG team with JJ,Freddy,Calabria,stick,jensen,mcgilmer...most entertaining Hawkeye team no one ever saw on TV....averaging 104.pts/ game? Get out.
 

joelbc1

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As well as how the coaches performed.

And by how well prepared, developed, trained, organized, unified, and motivated the coaches had them to perform
And I left off Ralph Miller’s teams. And in my opinion, Ralph was probably the best BB coach I witnessed at Iowa. But Ralph’s teams generally fulfilled their expectations (except for 68-69). They were what they were…those I listed were teams that generally surprised me by what they accomplished.
 
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RuggieC

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Mar 30, 2014
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I liked the 2005 horner,bru,haluska 2nd place in BIG team a lot.
Luka's teams his Jr and sr. seasons.

All-time?
Ralph Miller's 6 pack undefeated in BIG team with JJ,Freddy,Calabria,stick,jensen,mcgilmer...most entertaining Hawkeye team no one ever saw on TV....averaging 104.pts/ game? Get out.
I remember going over the BIG PEACH when I was a kid reading stories on Iowa games......did not get to see them much...in fact one of the few I remember was the Jacksonville tourney game (ugh) and one home game where I think it was Chad who had a 7 point play. Actually it was a 7 point possession(Made shot, foul, 2 techs on the other team)

BUT I have to go with Lute's Final 4 team. (I was a student at Iowa then). Another "what could have been" in the history of Iowa as well. Lester's knee finally giving out in the semifinals. We will just never know but that was a gritty, tough team. Arnold also had a broken hand. Hanson was a freshman. Waite and Krafty....Waites drive and finish to beat Georgetown. So many great memories. It put Iowa basketball back on the map.
 
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MAKhawks

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Nov 3, 2001
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I would put the ‘22 b10 tournament champions right up there, with Keegan dominating, big shot J-Bo, Filip Rebraca and Connor M as the coach on the floor. That was an entertaining team.

2001 winning four games in four days. Got to the tournament and won a game.

2006: undefeated at home but a horrible ending.

2022: JBo’s near half court buzzer beater and just beating Purdue from start to finish with a total team effort.

1997: Should be mentioned. Defacto B1G Champs.

1999: Sweet 16 and Dr Tom’s last year
 

MacMiney

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Jul 3, 2025
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1987 - I was there as a student / fan except for the tournament games. Even friends who didn't follow basketball were admittedly depressed after UNLV. Still too soon.
1980 Lute final four - why I first noticed and started liking the Hawkeyes. One of the few times I saw my dad display a gleeful emotion of any kind - when a certain shot was hit in the final moments of Georgetown.

The others I'm ambivalent about. This years not on the list because there was optimism during the first Alford year at around this same stretch. But I believe this team will be turn out shockingly better. Lots of final year players on this team not wanting this season to end. Gonna be fun.

Fran's team that won the B1G tournament would be 3rd. That was great, and also proved how valuable each teammate was despite all the criticism they may have gotten that year. A good mix of skills that all meshed together. Of course a defensive philosophy fix would have been needed to do much more.
 
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DukeSlater

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1) 1960-61, Sharm Scheuremann, this team had 4 starters “flunk out”at semester and still finished 2nd in the conference with only Don Nelson returning after semester tests….
After this team, 4 in no particular order….
1979 -80, Lute’s Final 4 team…
1986-87, Tom Davis 1st Iowa team….
1992
-93, Tom Davis’ “Chris Street team”(for sentimental reasons), Chris Street’s last team
2025-26, Coach McCollom’s team this year…they play hard and are fun to watch!
That 1960-61 Hustlin' Hawkeyes team was the first time I followed Iowa basketball. I think they lost to league champ Ohio State by one point, which is all that kept from at least tying for the conference title despite losing FOUR starters at the semester break. And the semester ended in early January in those days, about 2-3 weeks earlier than it does now. Can you imagine ANY team losing four starters halfway through the season and finishing second in their league?
 

DukeSlater

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I remember going over the BIG PEACH when I was a kid reading stories on Iowa games......did not get to see them much...in fact one of the few I remember was the Jacksonville tourney game (ugh) and one home game where I think it was Chad who had a 7 point play. Actually it was a 7 point possession(Made shot, foul, 2 techs on the other team)

BUT I have to go with Lute's Final 4 team. (I was a student at Iowa then). Another "what could have been" in the history of Iowa as well. Lester's knee finally giving out in the semifinals. We will just never know but that was a gritty, tough team. Arnold also had a broken hand. Hanson was a freshman. Waite and Krafty....Waites drive and finish to beat Georgetown. So many great memories. It put Iowa basketball back on the map.
All true, BUT Lester's knee didn't "give out." Lester was tackled from behind on a break-away. It was a dirty play, but it handed the game and the national title to Louisville. I was there and saw it in person. That play still makes me sick.
 
Dec 4, 2001
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1) 1960-61, Sharm Scheuremann, this team had 4 starters “flunk out”at semester and still finished 2nd in the conference with only Don Nelson returning after semester tests….
After this team, 4 in no particular order….
1979 -80, Lute’s Final 4 team…
1986-87, Tom Davis 1st Iowa team….
1992
-93, Tom Davis’ “Chris Street team”(for sentimental reasons), Chris Street’s last team
2025-26, Coach McCollom’s team this year…they play hard and are fun to watch!
I wasn't an Iowa fan until 1993 or so when I attended, so my history is relatively limited. Perhaps it is recency bias but I am enjoying this team more than any I can remember, as they are exceeding all of my expectations and laying the groundwork for future ascension. I was a huge fan of the team where Dre almost beat Kentucky on his own in the tournament. The 2005 team was entertaining too, and I did really like the team with Garza and the Murry boys. But I just feel like right now we are in a great spot and it feels good.
 

joelbc1

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That 1960-61 Hustlin' Hawkeyes team was the first time I followed Iowa basketball. I think they lost to league champ Ohio State by one point, which is all that kept from at least tying for the conference title despite losing FOUR starters at the semester break. And the semester ended in early January in those days, about 2-3 weeks earlier than it does now. Can you imagine ANY team losing four starters halfway through the season and finishing second in their league?
50 years ago I often walked the neighborhood I lived. One day walking I met up with a fellow walker and we conversed m. It was Joel Novak. He abd I would often share morning constitutionals and conversations about his playing days as a Gawk. Great sense of humor. He told me that Don Nelson set (and native today stillholds the UIowa offensive rebounding record for one season…He told me he was probably primarily responsible for Nellie getting all those offensive rebounds! Every once in a while Nelson would send him a note thanking him for helping him set the record.
He was really a nice man. We remained first name acquaintances (we shared the same first name) until he passed several years later.
 
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Kirbs

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Jan 8, 2023
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1995-96. I just loved the roster. Easily my favorite team.

Jess Settles
Russ Milliard
Andre Woolridge
Chris Kingsbury
Kenyon Murray
Ryan Bowen
Mon'ter
JR Koch
Kent McCausland
Russ Millard had so much potential. 6’8” 240lbs, had good handles, decent shot-would love to have him on this years team! He was the best pickup player in the south gym court not named Andre.
 

eyesofhawk

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Apr 17, 2011
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Russ Millard had so much potential. 6’8” 240lbs, had good handles, decent shot-would love to have him on this years team! He was the best pickup player in the south gym court not named Andre.
Had back problems most of his career at Iowa too.

You should have seen Russ' explosiveness prior to that! Literally was shattering backbaords in high school
 

TampaHawkFan

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Aug 6, 2025
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86-87: Do I really need to explain?
92-93: That team was Top 10 or close to it when we lost Street. They were leading the nation in rebounding margin and it wasn't close. Love that.
96-97: Andre Woolridge carried that team and gave #1 Kentucky all they could handle in the NCAA 2nd round.
21-22: As exciting of a team as I could remember since probably the late 80s. Keegan Murray was $$$. BTT title. Unfortunately, Richmond...

Regarding 96-97 and the "Big Ten Title" - As much as I'd like to, I can't count that. Vacate all of the Minnesota games you want, Iowa didn't do it on the court.
 

FanInBlack

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Nov 9, 2001
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Russ Millard had so much potential. 6’8” 240lbs, had good handles, decent shot-would love to have him on this years team! He was the best pickup player in the south gym court not named Andre.
I loved that roster. I wish Bartels could have played one more year. Jess did everything. Russ was force. CK the bomber. Dre running the show. Murray was a athletic and could D. Bowen too. Those two busted a$$ on both ends. JR was a talented FR. Glasper a perfect backup PG.
 

oldxbbc

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Sep 19, 2013
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1) 1960-61, Sharm Scheuremann, this team had 4 starters “flunk out”at semester and still finished 2nd in the conference with only Don Nelson returning after semester tests….
After this team, 4 in no particular order….
1979 -80, Lute’s Final 4 team…
1986-87, Tom Davis 1st Iowa team….
1992
-93, Tom Davis’ “Chris Street team”(for sentimental reasons), Chris Street’s last team
2025-26, Coach McCollom’s team this year…they play hard and are fun to watch!
How many remember Reddington, Novak from #1? Also Zager(sp)?
 

Hawksfor3

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Dec 5, 2016
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'86-'87. "Three Headed Monster". Marble, Horton, and Armstrong. 30-5 that year. Lohaus, Gamble, and Lorenzen. Can still see the Shark gnawing on his towel.
 
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joelbc1

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How many remember Reddington, Novak from #1? Also Zager(sp)?
Matt Szykownwy the QB of the FB team started, I believe.. and did Fred Riddle ( another Iowa QB) Play with these guys or was he a few years later?
 
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Hawklove

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Jul 11, 2018
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All of the ones everyone mentioned. Thanks all for bringing back great memories. I have to say Dr. Tom’s first team was special, maybe for the emotional hangover that followed that last game.
 

HawksRule25

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All true, BUT Lester's knee didn't "give out." Lester was tackled from behind on a break-away. It was a dirty play, but it handed the game and the national title to Louisville. I was there and saw it in person. That play still makes me sick.

Go to 26:26 of this video. Lester gets the steal and drives down the floor. There are 2 Louisville players near him - he is not tackled by either one. He gets fouled by #34 while #35 makes no contact. Lester's knee did basically 'give out'. It was unfortunate, but not a dirty play IMO.

 

oldxbbc

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Matt Szykownwy the QB of the FB team started, I believe.. and did Fred Riddle ( another Iowa QB) Play with these guys or was he a few years later?
Those two ring a bell, think you are correct.
 

DukeSlater

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Matt Szykownwy the QB of the FB team started, I believe.. and did Fred Riddle ( another Iowa QB) Play with these guys or was he a few years later?
You are correct. Matt Szykownwy and Fred Riddle were starters the second semester for the basketball team, and both also played QB for the Hawkeyes. And not only that, Szykownwy also was the starting second baseman on the baseball team. Yup, Matt S. lettered in three sports. That was back when college sports had seasons, not much different than high school. The baseball and basketball teams had a head coach and an assistant, and that was it. Look at the vast number of assistant coaches in every sport now. I know the early 1960s was a long, long time ago, but still, the difference between then and now in college sports is almost incomprehensible.
 
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DukeSlater

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Go to 26:26 of this video. Lester gets the steal and drives down the floor. There are 2 Louisville players near him - he is not tackled by either one. He gets fouled by #34 while #35 makes no contact. Lester's knee did basically 'give out'. It was unfortunate, but not a dirty play IMO.


Wow. Thanks for that video. That's not what I remember at all, but you're right. Bergman (#34) hardly touched Ronnie. I'm not even sure it was a foul. It does, in fact, look like Ronnie's knee did just give out. I apologize and stand corrected. Not a dirty play at all. Thanks again for setting the record straight with the facts/evidence.
 

o_Terrykohawk

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Aug 21, 2002
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69-70 Ralph’s 6 Pack and it is not close. Best team I have ever seen Iowa have. Averaged over 100 pts/game most of the season without a 3 point line. Got burned by a buzzer beating tip in (over the back, no call) to Jacksonville in the National semifinals. Blew out Notre Dame in the consolation game. Great chance they beat UCLA in the final if they had gotten there.
 

joelbc1

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You are correct. Matt Szykownwy and Fred Riddle were starters the second semester for the basketball team, and both also played QB for the Hawkeyes. And not only that, Szykownwy also was the starting second baseman on the baseball team. Yup, Matt S. lettered in three sports. That was back when college sports had seasons, not much different than high school. The baseball and basketball teams had a head coach and an assistant, and that was it. Look at the vast number of assistant coaches in every sport now. I know the early 1960s was a long, long time ago, but still, the difference between then and now in college sports is almost incomprehensible.
Johnny Orr was hired as an assistant coach at UWisconsin back in the early 60’s… He was coaching varsity football for Milt Braun (ends), basketball asistant to Erickson ) and was the head baseball coach there, too…and I believe he said they paid him about $5k (and gave him married student housing) for working these 3 positions.
 
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DukeSlater

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Johnny Orr was hired as an assistant coach at UWisconsin back in the early 60’s… He was coaching varsity football for Milt Braun (ends), basketball asistant to Erickson ) and was the head baseball coach there, too…and I believe he said they paid him about $5k (and gave him married student housing) for working these 3 positions.
That sounds about right. Dick Schultz was the head baseball coach and THE assistant varsity basketball coach for the Hawkeyes around the same time. Schultz gave up the baseball job when Ralph Miller left and Schultz was named head basketball coach. That didn't go well . . . not at all. Schultz soon moved to Cornell (New York) as AD and, eventually, headed up the Atlanta Olympics.
 

joelbc1

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That sounds about right. Dick Schultz was the head baseball coach and THE assistant varsity basketball coach for the Hawkeyes around the same time. Schultz gave up the baseball job when Ralph Miller left and Schultz was named head basketball coach. That didn't go well . . . not at all. Schultz soon moved to Cornell (New York) as AD and, eventually, headed up the Atlanta Olympics.
My dad played summer softball with Schultz back in Pella (Merchants) in the early 50’s. Schultz was a good ol’ Central college boy. My Dad caught and Schultz played second base, I believe.
 
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DukeSlater

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69-70 Ralph’s 6 Pack and it is not close. Best team I have ever seen Iowa have. Averaged over 100 pts/game most of the season without a 3 point line. Got burned by a buzzer beating tip in (over the back, no call) to Jacksonville in the National semifinals. Blew out Notre Dame in the consolation game. Great chance they beat UCLA in the final if they had gotten there.
You're right. Iowa head coach Ralph Miller played six guys all season long (thus the nickname 6 Pack). That was it. Nobody else played until garbage time. And not only did that Iowa team blow #9 Notre Dame out in the NCAA consolation game, the Hawkeyes scored 75 points . . . IN THE FIRST HALF! Iowa led 75-42 at halftime and went on to win 121-106 behind 31 points each from All-American forward John Johnson and guard Chad Calabria.

Iowa might have had 90 points at the half and 150 for the game if there had been a three-point shot back then. That was one fabulous basketball team. That they didn't win the national title is another sad story in Hawkeye lore.
 
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uihawk82

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Nov 17, 2021
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1) 1960-61, Sharm Scheuremann, this team had 4 starters “flunk out”at semester and still finished 2nd in the conference with only Don Nelson returning after semester tests….
After this team, 4 in no particular order….
1979 -80, Lute’s Final 4 team…
1986-87, Tom Davis 1st Iowa team….
1992
-93, Tom Davis’ “Chris Street team”(for sentimental reasons), Chris Street’s last team
2025-26, Coach McCollom’s team this year…they play hard and are fun to watch!
My #1 in the 1969-70 team, 20-5 overall with two non-conf losses early, 14-0 in the Big 10, super exciting to watch with maybe the best passing and shooting around. One over the top tip-in away from possibly winning a Natty. This team had good height for rebounding and outstanding offense.

#2 Lute's Final Four team and really every team with Lester on it as he was also Magic. But the final four team had the two tall centers, top forwards and great guard play. They were a torn knee away from winning it all. Bob Knight said the hawks were the best team in the nation than year.

#3 Dr Tom's first team as they were amazing. I saw them at Drake and they flew up and down the court. They could almost move it up the floor as fast as Miller's 1970 team. Super team that was a couple of plays away from the final four, they had good height and offense, very good on defense.
 

HoggI74

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'65-'66 team was when I first got possessed with college basketball. Gerry Jones, George Peeples, Chris Pervall, Gary Olson and Ben McGilmer ( yes, that Ben McGilmer from the '70 team. ) Ben would take the next 2 years off to get his grades up and returned in '68 - '69.

We went 17-7, 8-6 in the Big X, good for 3rd place. Pervall was a Juco guy but it was Gerry Jones that was my favorite. At 6'4" he could jump out of the gym. He averaged over 10 RBs and 16 PPG over his 3 years. Peeples played center at 6'7". Gary Olson was also a favorite, almost a legendary local from Olds HS ( now consolidated WACO, I think there were less than 25 boys in the entire HS at that time ) Gary led small town Olds to the Iowa Boys BB tourney in 1962 where they came within an eyelash of beating might CR Regis, losing 60 - 62, the closest game Regis would have on their way to the state championship. ( only 1 class of boys basketball in Iowa from 1961 -1966. ) Olson scored 35 in that game and Iowa gave him a scholarship.

This was the first year KWWL in Waterloo began to televise just a few games and Michigan was one of them. They had all American Cazzie Russel who was the best player in college BB, averaging over 30 PPG.

This was the year Iowa started like 8-0 then went down to Texas to play a little school called UTEP and I remember listening to Zabel call the game as we got pounded. Of course UTEP went on to beat Kentucky to win the NC. So the other great memory was that the NCAA Regional was held in Iowa City, so we got to go see Cazzie Russel in person as Michigan played Kentucky. Pat Riley led Rupp's Wildcats past Michigan to go to the Final Four. Of course only the Big X champ got into the NCAA tourney back then...
 
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longliveCS40

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The '86-'87 team and nothing else comes close for me. A great team and really fun to watch. Raveling recruiting with Davis coaching was a winning formula.
 
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TopHawkeye

Sophomore
Jan 13, 2002
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I liked the 2005 horner,bru,haluska 2nd place in BIG team a lot.
Luka's teams his Jr and sr. seasons.

All-time?
Ralph Miller's 6 pack undefeated in BIG team with JJ,Freddy,Calabria,stick,jensen,mcgilmer...most entertaining Hawkeye team no one ever saw on TV....averaging 104.pts/ game? Get out.
Totally agree re the 6-pack = Creme de la creme. Fun stomping our feet in the old fieldhouse for that team (& others as well).
 

BayHawkeye

Freshman
Jul 12, 2005
62
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I was that very influential age of eleven when Iowa made their run to the Final Four in '79, so that team is one of my favorites and Ronnie Lester was exceptional. I later played for Coach Krafcisin who along with Steve Waite were key pieces of that team. The other team that really stands out was the year of Payne/Stokes as freshman ('81-82). Such a great, young team!
 

gojojo

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Jan 1, 2023
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Too young at the time to remember the 80 squad.

The 86-87 team was by far the best Iowa BB team in my lifetime; they should have won it all.

If you’re bored some night, pull up the Oklahoma sweet 16 game up on youtube. That’s a top 5 all-timer