What was your favorite game of Iowa’s run to the Elite 8?

what was your Favorite game?

  • Florida

    Votes: 56 73.7%
  • Nebraska

    Votes: 24 31.6%
  • Clemson

    Votes: 3 3.9%

  • Total voters
    76

JerseyCityHawk

All-Conference
Jul 6, 2025
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What was your favorite game of Iowa’s run to the Elite 8? The Illini not on this list of course as that sucked …
 

HAWKNESS

Senior
Jul 6, 2025
219
414
63
Florida, Nebraska, Clemson, in that order. Beating the defending national champions and a #1 seed--man, it doesn't get much better than that--especially when you do it with an undersized, mid-major roster.
Broke the 2nd weekend curse too. I know E8 had long drought too but S16 is kind of first big accomplishment checkpoint in a tournament. It was just shocking too. Honestly I never thought they could win that one. With Nebraska I gave us about a coin flip shot. There's nothing better as a sports fan when you win a game where you have no expectation to
 

Hawksfor3

All-American
Dec 5, 2016
6,122
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Broke the 2nd weekend curse too. I know E8 had long drought too but S16 is kind of first big accomplishment checkpoint in a tournament. It was just shocking too. Honestly I never thought they could win that one. With Nebraska I gave us about a coin flip shot. There's nothing better as a sports fan when you win a game where you have no expectation to
Yeah. Just getting to the SW 16 was great! E8 was gravy. ;)
 

HawkBall23

All-American
Oct 6, 2001
4,732
8,985
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Same as Duke's order of favorite games from the '26 NCAAT.

Although I disagree somewhat with HAWKNESS. It was great reaching the Sweet16 again for the first time in 27 years, and watching Iowa playing an extra NCAAT game was awesome ... but it would have bummed me out for a while if they had lost to Nebby.

I don't much like Nebby, so losing to them instead of advancing would have been a lot bigger kick to the gut than losing to Illinois was.


Reaching the regional final in the first season, with a 90% mid-major roster, just proves we're likely in for some real excitement down the road with BMC. And I'm here eagerly awaiting for it.
 

iahawkeyes17

All-Conference
Apr 22, 2014
728
1,912
83
Same as Duke's order of favorite games from the '26 NCAAT.

Although I disagree somewhat with HAWKNESS. It was great reaching the Sweet16 again for the first time in 27 years, and watching Iowa playing an extra NCAAT game was awesome ... but it would have bummed me out for a while if they had lost to Nebby.

I don't much like Nebby, so losing to them instead of advancing would have been a lot bigger kick to the gut than losing to Illinois was.


Reaching the regional final in the first season, with a 90% mid-major roster, just proves we're likely in for some real excitement down the road with BMC. And I'm here eagerly awaiting for it.
I felt same way about Nebraska game. Making sweet 16 after such a long time was such a great feeling but then seeing we had Nebraska made it so much more nerve wrecking leading up to that game.

Before game I was thinking if Nebraska had lost and we were playing Vandy instead it won’t hurt as much if we lost. By losing to a Nebby team that had never won a tourney game before this year, end our season and be a game from final 4 with their fan base would be unbearable. Flip side knowing that if we win to destroy Nebby fans spirit again makes it a little bit sweeter than if we played most anyone else. All I can say is thank you Hoiberg for pulling a Norman Dale with 4 players at the end because ending of that game was cherry on top to such a great victory.
 

Hawksfor3

All-American
Dec 5, 2016
6,122
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Flip side knowing that if we win to destroy Nebby fans spirit again makes it a little bit sweeter than if we played most anyone else.
Point Up GIF by Kiwi of the Coast
 

TampaHawkFan

All-Conference
Aug 6, 2025
633
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The Florida game. It was easily the biggest upset of the bunch and Iowa had the lead throughout much of it. Plus the late dagger and it went down to the final buzzer.

Although the Nebraska game was a round deeper, it was a more frustrating game to watch because Iowa was behind the entire game and couldn't seem to get the lead until about 2 minutes remaining. The last 2 minutes were obviously pretty thrilling, though. The stress factor at the end was much lower than the Florida game lol.
 
Last edited:

MacMiney

Senior
Jul 3, 2025
270
516
93
Florida my fave.

And bundled into that - I'm including the pregame and halftime shows with all the expert analysis. 😂
 
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HawksRule73

All-Conference
Jun 26, 2025
605
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Florida game obviously will be the most memorable because of the shot.

But the Neb game was the better overall game in my opinion. Plus, giving the Neb basketball team the same treatment our football team usually does was extra sweet.
 
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HawkBall23

All-American
Oct 6, 2001
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Florida game obviously will be the most memorable because of the shot.

But the Neb game was the better overall game in my opinion. Plus, giving the Neb basketball team the same treatment our football team usually does was extra sweet.
This is a tough one for me. Gotta give the UF game the slight nod on this one.

Beating the Bugeaters in the Sweet16 will never not be a highlight, in any season or situation.

But beating a 1 - the previous national champ, to boot - as a 9 to reach the second weekend for the first time in 27 years is pretty damn hard to rank another game above it.
 

Max Rebo

All-Conference
Dec 31, 2022
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The obvious answer is Florida. Great win. Great upset. Dramatic finish.

Nebraska was also a great win, because it got us to the the Elite 8, and because f*** Nebraska.

But I am going to go off-script and say my favorite game to watch in the tournament run was Michigan, for the simple fact that I got to watch that game with my Dad. He passed away about a month ago.

I am already missing getting to talk Hawkeye sports with him on a regular basis.
 

Hawksfor3

All-American
Dec 5, 2016
6,122
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The obvious answer is Florida. Great win. Great upset. Dramatic finish.

Nebraska was also a great win, because it got us to the the Elite 8, and because f*** Nebraska.

But I am going to go off-script and say my favorite game to watch in the tournament run was Michigan, for the simple fact that I got to watch that game with my Dad. He passed away about a month ago.

I am already missing getting to talk Hawkeye sports with him on a regular basis.
Sorry to hear about your dad. :(