Iowa Hawkeyes Stun Florida, March to Sweet Sixteen

On March 23rd, Iowa men's basketball punched their ticket to the Sweet 16, with a stunning

upset over top-seated Florida.

The Hawkeyes pulled it off in a arena packed mostly with gator fans, beating the defending

national champions in the second round of the NCAA tournament.

This marks Iowa's first Sweet 16 trip since 1999, a huge milestone in coach Ben McCollum's

debut season leading the program.

McCollum, who brought success from Division 2 with four national titles, kept his team

focused despite the road-like atmosphere.

Fans and players soaked in the joy, but McCollum stayed all business, saying he's too

tired to reflect yet and just glad for his hard-working kids.

He praised Iowa supporters for embracing the new staff right away, calling it a big deal

for everyone involved.

Now the Hawkeyes gear up for a rubber match against Nebraska, after splitting their regular

season games with home wins both ways.

Neither team has reached the elite eight in decades, Iowa last in 1987, Nebraska, never.

McCollum's building momentum for consistent national runs, but his message is clear,

recover quick, stay in the process and fight for that next victory.