College Hoops Top 50

Last Year: 19-14; Fifth (11-9) in the Big Ten Conference, lost in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament

Head Coach: Fran McCafferey (14th Year; 261-176 at Iowa, with seven NCAA Tournament appearances)

Projected Starting Lineup

G Dasonte Bowen – 6’2″, 183 – Sophomore

G Tony Perkins – 6’4″, 205 – Senior

F Patrick McCaffery – 6’9″, 212 – Senior (5th)

F Payton Sandfort – 6’7″, 215 – Junior

F Ben Krikke – 6’9″, 245 – Senior (5th)

Projected Starters’ 2022-23 Stats

Dasonte Bowen: 3.1 ppg, 0.9 rpg, 1.0 apg, 0.3 spg – 47.5% FG

Tony Perkins: 12.3 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 2.8 apg, 1.4 spg – 44.0% FG

Patrick McCaffery: 9.8 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 1.0 apg, 0.8 spg – 40.9% FG

Payton Sandfort: 10.3 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 1.5 apg, 0.6 spg – 40.4% FG

Ben Krikke: 19.4 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 2.1 apg, 0.8 bpg – 55.2% FG @ Valparaiso

Experienced Reserves

F/C Even Brauns – 6’9″, 245 – Senior

G Josh Dix – 6’5″, 200 – Sophomore

F/C Rilvey Mulvey – 6’11”, 245 – Junior

Experienced Reserves’ 2022-23 Stats

Even Brauns: 7.0 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 1.2 apg, 1.4 bpg – 58.3% FG @ Belmont

Josh Dix: 2.0 ppg, 0.9 rpg, 0.9 apg, 0.2 spg – 40.0% 3FG

Riley Mulvey: 0.9 ppg, 0.9 rpg, 0.4 bpg – 50.0% FG

Freshmen

F Pryce Sandfort – 6’6″, 205- Freshman – Consensus Top 100 recruit

G Brock Harding – 6’0″, 162 – Freshman – Consensus Top 150 recruit

F/C Owen Freeman – 6’10”, 235 – Freshman – Consensus Top 150 recruit

F Ladji Dembélé – 6’8″, 250 – Consensus Top 200 recruit

So, who is the next breakout star going to be in Iowa City? Where the lore book of Iowa basketball is concerned, the Hawkeyes have gotten good at closing the chapter on one program-changing star and beginning a fun new chapter every year or so. And while the huge chunk of that tome dedicated to Caitlin Clark is still being penned, over on the men’s side there is need of a new all-conference-type star player to step forward as the face of the program. 

Roy Devyn Marble. Jarrod Uhtoff. Peter Jok. Luka Garza. The Murray Brothers. Hawkeyes head coach Fran McCaffery has developed so many of them over his decade-plus at the helm. So who will it be this year?

It’s an interesting question because this winter, the answer requires a longer pause than has become usual. Not that there aren’t some quality contenders. It’s more that, after a cavalcade of recognizable names lately, this appears to be a Hawkeye team less focused upon pure star power and more upon a collective of rising players who will combine forces to get wins this season. 

The even more interesting question, inextricably hitched to whichever group emerges to lead this team is: will this team be the one to finally make a resounding statement in March? Despite all of the accolades won by all of the previous stars, the Hawkeyes haven’t played past the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament since the 1998-99 season, and everyone around the Hawkeye program feels like that was way too long ago. 

Ben Krikke and Tony Perkins are the presumed leading contenders to emerge as Iowa’s Top Cob, and whoever on the roster emerges as this year’s leading scorer, Coach McCaffery will lean heavily upon both of them. Perkins has done nothing but improve since he arrived in Iowa City, and now he’s ready for a turn in the spotlight. Last year, Perkins scored 10 or more points 20 times and averaged 14.4 points over Iowa’s final 16 games. He scored 32 on just 11 shots in a key late-season win over Illinois, and Perkins hit for 22 or more points in a game five times over Iowa’s final 15 contests. Perkins can do a little bit of everything, and is an effective playmaker even as he’s hunting for his own shot. Perkins is strong enough to outmuscle other guards for a rebound, and can score against larger players on the block with his quickness. He’s also a strong defender who can guard 1-3, but Iowa would love not to use him up at both ends of the floor each night. 

Perkins grew his game so much coming into last season that he actually posted a stat line that looks sort of similar to that of a former Hawkeye great who could also do a little bit of everything. In 2011-12, Roy Devyn Marble posted 11.5 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.5 steals, shooting 61% near the cup, 36% from mid-range, and 39% on low volume from the land of trey. Last year, Perkins posted 12.3/4.1/2.8/1.4 on a slash line of 59/36/33, on low volume from three. It’s not to say that Perkins is definitely about to become an all-conference star…but if he does, you heard it here. “I’ve been doing this a long time. I haven’t had too many guys go off like that,” McCaffery told reporters after Perkins went for his career-high 32 points in that close win over Illinois in February. “That was impressive.” It’s likely that Perkins is going to impress quite a few more folks this winter. 

If he could duplicate the numbers he posted last year at Valparaiso, Krikke would definitely be the go-to guy in Iowa City for his one season. The graduate transfer stretch-4 is a three-time All-Missouri Valley selection and has scored 1,596 career points before even taking the floor for Coach McCaffery. Last season, Krikke was better than ever, scoring 20+ points 15 times while playing nearly 36 minutes per game. While Krikke has shown that he can knock down jumpers with regularity, he does his best work by far around the basket. Last season, Krikke shot 77.3% there; sixth best among all Division I basketball players with at least 100 attempts near the rim, per Bart Torvik. “He’s a very unique forward. I’d say he has a throwback game. He has an old man’s game. He’s been very successful in our league. (Iowa) has had success with guys similar to him. His game is unique, man,” Illinois State coach Ryan Pedon told 247 Sports when describing Krikke this summer. “He’s a pick-and-pop guy, but to 2, not 3. He’s crafty.” 

“Krikke from Valpo is really good. He gave us fits”

– Missouri State coach Dana Ford

Missouri State coach Dana Ford was even more succinct, saying “Krikke from Valpo is really good. Gave us fits.” When he catches the ball within about 15 feet from the basket, Krikke can score virtually any way he so chooses, and has a variety of hook, fallaway and leaning shots that he will employ if he can’t simply maneuver his way right to the hoop. The Canadian scorer has terrific poise and doesn’t get sped up in the lane; he has an idea how to attack the defense each time down court, and if that plan doesn’t work out, Krikke can improvise. Defensively, Krikke doesn’t have great lateral quickness, and he’s not an overly physical player. The last couple of years, though, Krikke has largely played as the biggest guy on the floor for his team, and has had to absorb a lot of abuse from larger players. While Coach McCaffery will surely use Krikke at the 5 in smaller, scoring lineups on occasion, the chance to play most of his minutes at the 4 spot should keep Krikke more fresh and, maybe, effective on the boards and defensively. 

Not to be forgotten among Iowa’s top players is the coach’s younger son, Patrick McCaffery. His brother Connor has exhausted his eligibility, but after a tumultuous season last year, Patrick is hoping to finish off his Hawkeye career on his own terms. Patrick McCaffery isn’t quite the playmaker that his brother was for the Hawkeyes, but he’s a long and versatile scorer who can get buckets inside and out. The former 4-star recruit has averaged 10.2 points and 3.5 rebounds on 34% shooting from deep over the past two years, starting 45 games in the process. In January of last season, Patrick McCaffery stepped away from the court in an effort to address his mental health. “It might be two games, it may be four games, it may be more, but I will return when I feel like myself,” Patrick McCaffery said at the time. In the end, he was away from the team for six games, and upon returning to the lineup, Patrick McCaffery wasn’t as effective as he had been. Over Iowa’s final 13 games, he averaged just 6.6 points. Now, he’s feeling solid and confident to be his best this winter, and should earn plenty of minutes with his reach, versatility, and outside shooting.

The Murray’s may have moved on to the NBA and West Coast, but the latest pair of Iowa siblings are just getting started. Payton and Pryce Sandfort are a couple of sweet-shooting forwards in their own right, and they will be a major part of Iowa’s next few offenses. Payton was named B1G 6th Man of the Year last year in his second season, and may repeat the feat this winter – unless, more probably, he starts instead. It took Payton a bit to find his footing last year, but once he got comfortable, he started raining three’s. Over Iowa’s final 19 games, Payton averaged 12 points and 4.5 rebounds on 42% shooting from downtown. He wasn’t particularly efficient shooting jumpers inside the arc, making just 35%, per Bart Torvik; but when Payton got to the rim, he finished 62% of his attempts. The hot finish to his season hints at Payton’s long-term potential; and though he’s a bit limited defensively, he will make up for it by getting plenty of buckets.

Pryce has yet to suit up officially for the Hawkeyes, but is the jewel of this season’s freshman class and a Top 100 national prospect. Pryce has more of his brother’s outside shooting, a good handle, and is a smart passer who can create opportunities for himself and others within the flow of the offense. He’s going to have to get stronger to play right away in the Big Ten, but Pryce has a feel for the offensive side of the game that’s beyond his years – and he’s quick enough to play on the wing. Pryce beat out 5-star Iowa State signee Omaha Billiew to win Iowa’s Mr. Basketball award, and arrives in Iowa City as a consensus Top 100 prospect who should become a big scorer in the near future.

That’s most of the scoring sorted out for Fran McCaffery, but he’ll need more of everything else from his supporting players this year. There is a combination of veterans and newcomers up front, while the point is in comparatively new hands. Dasonte Bowen played a fair bit during the first half of the season; before the calendar turned to 2023, Bowen was averaging 13 minutes, 4.7 points and 1.6 assists each game. Down the stretch, though, Fran McCaffery chose to go with his more experienced players to run the Hawkeye offense, and Bowen’s minutes became sporadic. He will have another chance to show what he can do this season, especially because Fran McCaffery prefers to utilize multiple ballhandlers and playmakers. Bowen did a great job of both getting to the basket and converting there as a freshman, converting 57% of his shots in close. There are shooters to fill the wings, and if Bowen can keep control of the ball and open up good looks off the bounce, his skills should get a chance to shine all year. 

Bowen will get a challenge from Brock Harding, a freshman signee who McCaffery thinks has the game and the moxie to make up for any size limitations. “You just had to watch him play. He was really good in every area, no weaknesses. Gets where he wants to go on the floor, makes threes, makes pull-ups, finds people. Wreaks havoc on defense, great feel for how to play, great at the end of the game. He’s a winner.” Coach McCaffery told Sean Bock for 247 Sports after signing Harding. “I think after a while it was like, that kid, he helps you win no matter who he plays for.” Harding is a heady and consistent ballhandler who doesn’t seem to get sped up or rattled; and like more than a few previous Iowa guards who didn’t necessarily wow the scouts athletically, Harding may be a great fit with the Hawkeyes. Harding has looked good and made clever passes in fall practices. If he runs the offense smoothly, Harding will play right away. 

Five Stats Which Tell The Tale (with national ranks)

80.1 – Team Points Per Game (11th)

16.4 – Assists Per Game (11th)

14.5 – Opponent Assists Per Game (299th)

53.3% – Opponent Effective FG Percentage (308th)

+5.4 – Average Score Margin (64th)

Josh Dix is a bigger guard who can play on or off the ball and brings even more shooting ability. As a freshman, Dix’s minutes were more spread out, though he played about the same on average as Bowen. When Dix plays under control and takes good shots, he looks very much the part of a Fran McCaffery guard. With great size and good court vision, Dix is comfortable playing a shooting role on the wing, but also can put his head down and get to the rim; and being able to generate looks for his teammates certainly doesn’t hurt. 

Like the rest of the bigs Iowa has had lately, the new post players McCaffery has added can move. “You can tell,” McCaffery said at Big Ten Media Day. “We watch a lot of film. Ben Krikke, he really runs…Those two guys (Krikke and Even Brauns) are athletes, they just happen to be 6-9.” Iowa plays, as a general rule, faster than pretty much everyone in their conference. “If you want to play in our system, you better run,” McCaffery said. “You better sprint every time. We don’t call it running, we call it sprinting. You’re sprinting the floor every time. And you’ve got to get back on defense…I think we have an opportunity to be a really good defensive team because we’re a little deeper than we’ve been.”

Brauns spent three years at Belmont working to earn both a starting role and the chance to go home. Now, he’s accomplished both goals, and the next goal for the Iowa City West grad will be to earn a key spot in the Hawkeye rotation. “Getting the opportunity to come home and play for the Hawkeyes is one of the proudest moments of my life…I am thankful for this opportunity and eager to give all that I have to the University of Iowa,” Brauns told Hawkeye Sports. Brauns had only scored in double figures twice over his first two seasons; last season he stepped forward into a key role. Brauns is a strong, tough post player who is an effective rebounder and a highly effective shot-blocker. He is not some futuristic ball-handling, jump-shooting big. He plays a classic post game, and is most effective catching and quickly, aggressively going to the rim. Brauns knows what he’s good at; he attempted 151 shots last season, and 118 of them came from right around the basket, per Bart Torvik. Seeing as he made 69% of those attempts, with 37 dunks, Brauns is sure to continue doing his work in close. “I think of the big guys (in our league), he’s the most Big Ten-esque. He’s got a fairly-quick jump. He’s pretty much low post. He’s got good activity, good footwork. He’s not a high-volume guy. He doesn’t need the ball a lot,” Illinois State coach Pedon said after facing Brauns for years. “He brings a motor, plays hard, moves well, jumps quick. I don’t know if he’ll start but if you’re bringing a guy like him off the bench, you’re pretty good.”

Five Out-of-Conference Games to Keep an Eye on

@ Creighton – November 14

N – Southern Cal / Seton Hall – November 24

@ Iowa State – December 7

N – Oklahoma – November 23

vs Arkansas State – November 17

Joining the experienced bigs are a pair of very promising freshmen. Owen Freeman starred alongside Harding at Moline (IL) High School, amd now has joined his playmaking pal in Iowa City. “What immediately jumps out about Freeman is the way in which he runs the court. He covers the ground with long, graceful strides and never labors to keep up with the pace of the game. Not only can he run, he has excellent hands and does a great job of catching, gathering and making his way into a move while on the run,” Eric Bossi of 247 Sports has said of Freeman. The young post player was great during Iowa’s exhibition tour against French and Spanish teams this summer. Though Coach McCaffery spread the minutes fairly evenly among his players, Freeman averaged a standout double-double of 10.3 points and 12.3 boards over the three contests. “Owen is already 235 (pounds) and he’s pretty bouncy. And right now he’s just trying to figure out where to go in the offense. And I just keep trying to tell him to trust his talent, just move without the ball and don’t be afraid to shoot. His shot looks pretty good. He didn’t shoot it as much in high school from the perimeter as I think he should have. He’s worked on that and he’s making perimeter shots, too,” McCaffery told reporters at Big Ten Media Day. If Freeman is indeed as ready to roll as it has seemed, Iowa’s frontcourt will be strong for 40 minutes yet again. 

As if Krikke, Brauns and Freeman weren’t enough, Iowa is also welcoming touted forward Ladji Dembélé and returning Riley Mulvey from last year’s bench. Dembélé is a solidly-built young big who has the wide frame to be a highly effective interior player. “Instead, he is typically much more intent to prove his shooting ability and while he is plenty capable of knocking down open threes when he has room and rhythm, his best upside will require him to strike a better balance with his individual offense and to embrace a more efficient inside-out approach,” 247 Sports scouting director Adam Finkelstein has said of Dembélé. It’s great to have a multi-skilled player, though, and Coach McCaffery is excited to watch Dembélé’s development. Mulvey is also capable of operating a bit on the perimeter, but McCaffery needs the most physicality he’s seen yet from his team’s tallest player. Mulvey has averaged just under five minutes per game through his first two seasons, and if he’s going to carve out a larger role, the time would be now. 

Iowa is going to play fast, shoot three’s, and share the ball. The Hawkeyes ranked third in the nation in team assist to turnover ratio, and that is not unusual. Coach McCaffery is also likely to have an epic meltdown at least a couple of times over a call he doesn’t like during the course of conference play. That also won’t be unusual. These are traits which have become hallmarks of McCaffery teams. “We also have a team that’s built to be good defensively. We’re bigger. We can be physical. Sometimes when you’re not as deep, you can’t get in foul trouble. So you do the best you can without fouling and your level of physicality might be a little less,” McCaffery told the Cedar Rapids Gazette this fall. “But we have size, not only in terms of posts, but wings. We have big wings, big guards. I think we can be a really good defensive team.”

With plenty of youngsters and young veterans stepping up to bigger demands, this will be a different Iowa team. “I was surprised with just how well our freshmen played right away,” Payton Sandfort said at Big Ten Media Day. “Kind of seemed like they’ve been doing it for a while. They don’t seem like freshmen anymore.” 

Add it all up, and despite the lack of an obvious top dog, there are a bunch of good players in Iowa City who are going to stay in contention. Like usual. If this Hawkeye side is more malleable and less often exposed defensively, it’s possible that they can succeeed where some previous editions have come up short. Every once in awhile, that seems to be the trick for a program. Get a bunch of hungry, improving dudes and let ’em fly. McCaffery is a coach who knows enough after his many successful years to lean into what’s working. There are some excellent rosters in the Big Ten, but Iowa will hang. Because they always do; and Hawkeye stars will emerge, as they always do.