Busting Brackets
Fansided

Iowa Basketball: Projected starting lineup and depth chart for 2023-24 season

By Cole Amundson

Iowa Hawkeyes head coach Fran McCaffery talks with his team from the bench as Auburn Tigers take on Iowa Hawkeyes in the first round of NCAA Tournament at Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Ala., on Thursday, March 16, 2023.
Iowa Hawkeyes head coach Fran McCaffery talks with his team from the bench as Auburn Tigers take on Iowa Hawkeyes in the first round of NCAA Tournament at Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Ala., on Thursday, March 16, 2023. /
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Payton Sandfort #20 of the Iowa Basketball (Photo by Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images)
Payton Sandfort #20 of the Iowa Basketball (Photo by Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images) /

The last time Iowa Basketball missed the NCAA Tournament (excluding 2020 COVID cancellation) was the 2017-2018 season. In the span of the next five seasons, Fran McCaffery’s club has averaged 22 wins per season along with earning accolades such as Luka Garza’s 2021 Naismith Player of the Year and the 2022 Big Ten Tournament Championship.

Although McCaffery has yet to take the Hawkeyes on a second weekend NCAA Tournament run, the Hawkeyes have been very solid over the past five seasons and the entirety of his tenure in Iowa City.

Last year, the Hawkeyes were good, but certainly not great. Iowa started the New Year at 8-6 (0-3) including a home loss to Eastern Illinois in late December, but would end up finding their footing en route to a 19-14 (11-9) season where they fell to Auburn in the Round of 64.

Gone are the likes of Kris Murray, Filip Rebraca and Connor McCaffery. Ahron Uhlis has also left as he transferred to Nebraska, but his eligibility is currently in question.

Entering the fold in Iowa City includes six new players — two transfers and four freshmen. Fran McCaffery was able to land two big men via the portal with Ben Krikke (Valparaiso) and Iowa City-native Even Brauns (Belmont). His freshman class includes Pryce Sandfort (Peyton Sandfort’s brother), Molinee High School high-low duo in Brock Harding and Owen Freeman and Ladji Dembele.

Although the expectations for the Hawkees may not be as high as they have been in the past five seasons, the overall talent and versatility of this team leaves plenty of room for optimism in Iowa City. Many of the newcomers will need to play a critical role and the expectations surrounding the dynamic trio of Tony Perkins, Peyton Sandfort and Patrick McCaffery will need to be met to see the Hawkeyes dance for the fifth consecutive season.

Let’s take a look at the potential rotation for the Hawkeyes.

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