I wouldn’t say it’s quite the time to put on your dancing shoes yet if you are a fan of the Iowa Hawkeyes men’s basketball team, but it is definitely getting to the point where you can think about dusting them off.
If the Hawkeyes can continue to play as they have been, and possibly even better, under the leadership of head coach Ben McCollum as they work through growing pains, Iowa will be back in the NCAA Tournament. With a 10-2 mark on the year, Iowa is continuing to ascend in the latest ESPN NCAA Tournament Bracketology update.
Advertisement
With a break until December 29, when they host UMass Lowell, check out the Hawkeyes’ latest bracket updates from ESPN.
Dec 20, 2025; Iowa City, Iowa, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes head coach Ben McCollum reacts with fans after the game against the Bucknell Bison at Casey’s Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images
Bracket
Michigan head coach Dusty May reacts to a play against Villanova during the second half at Crisler Center in Ann Arbor on Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025.
No. 1 Michigan vs. No. 16 Lindenwood / No. 16 Long Island
No. 8 Georgia vs. No. 9 Seton Hall
No. 5 Texas Tech vs. No. 12 Butler / No. 12 Oklahoma
No. 4 Louisville vs. No. 13 William & Mary
No. 6 Iowa vs. No. 11 Tulsa
No. 3 Houston vs. No. 14 Arkansas State
No. 7 USC vs. No. 10 Villanova
No. 2 Vanderbilt vs. No. 15 Northern Colorado
Top Seeds
Purdue coach Matt Painter, left, greets Fletcher Loyer coming off the bench during a men’s college basketball game against Iowa State Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025, at Mackey Arena in West Lafayette, Indiana.
No. 1 seeds: Michigan, Arizona, Iowa State, UConn,
No. 2 seeds: Gonzaga, Vanderbilt, Duke, Purdue
No. 3 seeds: BYU, Kansas, Houston, Michigan State
No. 4 seeds: Louisville, Nebraska, Alabama, Illinois
Bubble Watch
Dec 22, 2025; Bloomington, Indiana, USA; Indiana Hoosiers head coach Darian Devries looks on during the first half against the Siena Saints at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. Mandatory Credit: Robert Goddin-Imagn Images
Last Four Byes: UCF, Villanova, Miami, Indiana
Last Four In: Baylor, Ohio State, Butler, Oklahoma
First Four Out: Oklahoma State, Boise State, California, Arizona State
Next Four Out: New Mexico, Virginia Tech, VCU, Wisconsin
Conference Breakdown
Dec 20, 2025; New York, New York, USA; Duke Blue Devils head coach Jon Scheyer talks to Duke Blue Devils forwards Cameron Boozer (12) and Maliq Brown (6) and guard Cayden Boozer (2) during the second half against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes and opinions. Follow Riley on X: @rileydonald7
This article originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire: Iowa men’s basketball continue to ascend in ESPN NCAA Bracketology