Big Ten Offseason Evaluation Series: Iowa Loses Four Starters, Adds Six Newcomers

In our Big Ten Offseason Evaluation Series, we'll break down what each team lost and gained this offseason, then provide analysis on the team's outlook for the upcoming 2023-24 season. Next up, we'll discuss the Iowa Hawkeyes, who lost four starters and bring in just one top-100 recruit entering year 14 under coach Fran McCaffery.

Jack Ankony | Jul 4, 2023

Big Ten Offseason Evaluation Series: Iowa Loses Four Starters, Adds Six Newcomers /

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Iowa Hawkeyes

Iowa is coming off a 19-14 season in 2022-23, its lowest win total since 2017-18. Still, coach Fran McCaffery led the Hawkeyes to a fifth-place finish in the Big Ten and No. 8 seed in the NCAA Tournament, where they lost to Auburn in the first round.

Iowa leaned on first-team All-Big Ten bucket-getters Keegan and Kris Murray the past two seasons, but both are off to the NBA now, along with starters Connor McCaffery, Filip Rebraca and Ahron Ulis.

In our Big Ten Offseason Evaluation Series, we'll break down what each team lost and gained this offseason, then provide analysis on the team's outlook for the upcoming 2023-24 season.

Let's take a look at the Hawkeyes.

(player rankings per On3 Industry Average)

What they lost

Pro/no eligibility: F Connor McCaffery, F Kris Murray, F Filip Rebraca
Transfer portal: G Ahron Ulis (Nebraska), F Josh Ogundele (Middle Tennessee)
By the numbers: Iowa lost four starters and a major chunk of scoring, including Murray (20.2 ppg), Rebraca (14.1 ppg), McCaffery (6.5 ppg) and Ulis (6.1 ppg)

What they gained

Transfer portal: F Ben Krikke (19.4 ppg at Valparaiso), F Even Brauns (7.0 ppg at Belmont)
Freshmen: G Pryce Sandfort (No. 93), F Ladji Dembele (No. 163), PG Brock Harding (No. 175), F Owen Freeman (No. 191)

Roster

Payton Sandfort, 6-foot-7 junior guard
Tony Perkins, 6-foot-4 senior guard
Patrick McCaffery, 6-foot-9 senior forward
Ben Krikke, 6-foot-9 senior forward
Even Brauns, 6-foot-9 senior center
Riley Mulvey, 6-foot-11 junior forward
Dasonte Bowen, 6-foot-2 sophomore guard
Josh Dix, 6-foot-5 sophomore guard
Pryce Sandfort, 6-foot-7 freshman forward
Ladji Dembele, 6-foot-9 freshman forward
Brock Harding, 6-foot-1 freshman guard
Owen Freeman, 6-foot-11 freshman forward
Scholarships available: 1

Iowa forward Payton Sandfort, left, gets a high-five from guard Tony Perkins after making a 3-point basket during a NCAA men's basketball game against North Carolina A&T, Friday, Nov. 11, 2022, at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa :: Joseph Cress/Iowa City Press-Citizen / USA TODAY NETWORK

Biggest concerns

Iowa lost over half its scoring with starters Kris Murray, Filip Rebraca, Connor McCaffery and Ahron Ulis gone. Murray, a first-team All-Big Ten player, was Iowa's go-to scorer anywhere on the court last year, and Rebraca was one of the conference's most improved players. While they didn't score as much, McCaffery and Ulis were important role players last season. With all those departures, Iowa enters the season with just three established Big Ten players – Payton Sandfort, Tony Perkins and Patrick McCaffery – and a handful of question marks. And in a conference that typically boasts physical and talented forwards, Iowa severely lacks Big Ten experience in the paint.

Reasons for optimism

Payton Sandfort and Tony Perkins have steadily improved throughout their Iowa careers, and they'll have the keys to the offense next season. Sandfort, a 6-foot-7 guard, doubled his scoring, rebounding and assists last season, and he's a career 35.1 percent 3-point shooter. The 6-foot-4 Perkins took control of Iowa's point guard duties last season, upping his scoring by five points to 12.3 points per game. There's certainly better guards in the conference, but the Perkins-Sandfort duo is a solid start to build from. Iowa typically doesn't bring in the conference's highest-ranked freshman classes, but coach Fran McCaffery has proven to be able to develop players that fit his system. It seems he's found a group that fits that mold this year, too, with four players who can all knock down 3-point shots. Ben Krikke was a highly-productive player at Valparaiso, averaging 19.4 points and 5.9 rebounds with ability to stretch the floor, and he likely steps into a major role for the Hawkeyes.

The bottom line

With all that Iowa lost, all signs point to regression in year 14 under coach Fran McCaffery. Does Iowa have any All-Big Ten caliber players? It's possible Sandfort or Perkins make it, but life without a Murray brother will take some time to adjust. Iowa has been a high-floor, low-ceiling team under McCaffery, with at least 18 wins in 11 of 13 seasons but zero Sweet 16 appearances. Iowa's three-year NCAA Tournament streak seems at risk.

On Wednesday, look forward to the next part of our Big Ten Offseason Evaluation Series, featuring the Maryland Terrapins.