Iowa Basketball: 2018-19 season preview for the Hawkeyes

By Adam Childs | Nov 3, 2018

NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 28: Tyler Cook #5 of the Iowa Hawkeyes works against Greg Eboigbodin #11 of the Illinois Fighting Illini in the second half during the Big Ten Basketball Tournament at Madison Square Garden on February 28, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /

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NEW YORK, NY – FEBRUARY 28: The Iowa Hawkeyes bench reacts in the second half against the Illinois Fighting Illini during the Big Ten Basketball Tournament at Madison Square Garden on February 28, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /

Iowa Basketball went just 14-19 last year and 4-14 in the Big Ten conference, but they return their top nine scorers and lots of experience. Can Fran McCaffery save his job and get Iowa back into the NCAA tournament?

Iowa Basketball was not picked by many to be very good last year but even then they probably did not think they would be as bad as they were. The Hawkeyes could never get it going and fell to the bottom of a mediocre Big Ten conference last year.

The good news for the Hawkeyes this year is they return almost everybody and that experience should help them make strides in what looks like an improving conference. They should not have any problems scoring this year but they need to prove they can play defense. They gave up a staggering 78.7 ppg last year. That will not be good enough to win many games this year.

Head coach Fran McCaffery is definitely on the hot seat and he hopes that bringing back so much scoring and the experience that comes along with it will help the Hawkeyes get back into the NCAA tournament and finally reach some goals they have set. If they can not get back into the big dance then this will probably be the farewell season for McCaffery.

Here’s a full breakdown of the projected starters, key reserves and non-conference schedule, along with where they stand nationally and in the conference as we preview their season.

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