Big Ten Daily (Feb. 21): Iowa Making Late-Season Push for NCAA Tournament Spot

For most of the season, the Iowa Hawkeyes have looked like a team destined for the NIT. But after back-to-back Big Ten wins over Wisconsin and Michigan State, Fran McCaffery's team might have a shot to return to the NCAA Tournament.

Don't count out Fran McCaffery and the Hawkeyes just yet. On Tuesday night, Iowa scored a huge road win in East Lansing, defeating Michigan State 78-71, securing back-to-back wins for the first time since early January.

Over the weekend, Iowa got an important 88-86 overtime victory over then-No. 20 Wisconsin at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. McCaffery's club is now 16-11 on the season and 8-8 in Big Ten play.

Is it time to acknowledge that Iowa might be nudging its way into the NCAA Tournament conversation?

For much of the season, Iowa has looked like a team destined for the NIT. While it still has one of the hottest offenses in the Big Ten, inconsistency and poor defensive play has hindered this team throughout the year. But maybe victories over the Badgers and Spartans in consecutive games can provide the necessary spark to get the Hawkeyes back into the March Madness picture.

"I think a great deal, because of the respect we have for the two teams you just mentioned," McCaffery said, when asked what wins over Wisconsin and Michigan State do for his team's confidence.

"Not a lot of teams come in here and win. ... The fact that we were able to fight through an overtime victory against Wisconsin, who was ranked, and then another Quad 1 win for us here, on the road. Obviously, on the road, it's always gonna be harder. I think in many ways more indicative of your team's ability to come in and compete."

Iowa probably still has some work left to do to prove it belongs in the NCAA Tournament. But there's plenty of meat remaining on the schedule.

The Hawkeyes still have to play No. 12 Illinois twice (home and away), Penn State (home) and Northwestern (away) in the final four games of the season.

Plus, the Big Ten Tournament is just ahead. 

Wins over Wisconsin and Michigan State are undoubtedly huge. McCaffery believes there are other quality wins on the resumé. And there's still a few more games ahead that give Iowa a chance to make its case.

"I feel like we've got other wins that are really good. The Seton Hall win was really a good win. Close to a Quad 1 win if it's not. Neutral site game," McCaffery said. 

"Our guys have performed well against really good teams, and we got really good teams the rest of the way."

Worst charge call in history?

Leave it to an officiating crew in a Big Ten game to get the internet riled up. A charge call on Maryland's DeShawn Harris-Smith was the talk of social media on Tuesday, near the end of the Maryland-Wisconsin game.

The Badgers owned a 58-53 lead with less than 3:30 to play in Tuesday's Big Ten clash. Harris-Smith drove to the basket and converted a layup to cut the lead to just three points. Well, at least that's what he thought.

Instead, Wisconsin's Chucky Hepburn did his best version of the "Electric Slide," creating slight contact with Harris-Smith and falling to the floor. Officials called a charge.

Maybe it wasn't the only reason the Terrapins lost Tuesday night, but the call undoubtedly came at a pivotal point in the game.

Below is the clip from Tuesday's game. You be the judge:

One of the worst calls you're going to see. Absolutely astounding. pic.twitter.com/DVkMbtfSlp

— Dave (@TestudoDave) February 21, 2024

Big Ten in NFL mock drafts

We're starting to get deeper and deeper into mock draft season. With the NFL Scouting Combine coming up, more pundits are beginning to release updated first-round projections for the 2024 NFL Draft.

Five former Big Ten football players are projected first-round selections, according to NFL.com draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah. Three of those are expected to go within the first 10 picks come late April.

The five players from the Big Ten projected as first-round picks, per Jeremiah's latest mock draft:

• No. 3 (New England Patriots): WR Marvin Harrison Jr., Ohio State 
• No. 7 (Tennessee Titans): OT Olu Fashanu Penn State
• No. 8 (Atlanta Falcons): QB J.J. McCarthy, Michigan
• No. 25 (Green Bay Packers): DB Cooper DeJean, Iowa
• No. 28 (Buffalo Bills): EDGE Chop Robinson, Penn State

Related Big Ten stories

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• PENN STATE DISMISSES KANYE CLARY: Kanye Clary, Penn State's leading scorer this season, has been dismissed from the team, per coach Mike Rhoades. The sophomore guard was averaging 16.7 points, 2.9 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game. CLICK HERE
• BIG TEN POWER RANKINGS: With Purdue losing to Ohio State and Illinois going 2-0 last week, the race for the Big Ten regular season title is heating up with only a few weeks left in the season. Plus, Wisconsin continues to stumble and Michigan State is surging. CLICK HERE