When was the last time Iowa was in the NCAA Final Four? Meet the 1980 Iowa Hawkeyes

When was the last time Iowa was in the NCAA Final Four? Meet the 1980 Iowa Hawkeyes originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

It has been 46 years since the Iowa Hawkeyes reached the Final Four in men’s basketball. The last time came in 1980, when a balanced, experienced group put together one of the best tournament runs in program history.

The 1980 Iowa Hawkeyes at a glance

The 1979-80 Iowa team finished 23-10 overall and 10-8 in Big Ten play, placing fourth in the conference. They averaged 73.0 points per game while allowing 65.6, shooting nearly 49 percent from the field. This is a team that made their run late to get to the biggest stage.

Head coach Lute Olson led a team built on balance, with five players averaging double figures and strong ball movement across the lineup.

Key players and production

Ronnie Lester (G): 14.8 points, 4.2 assists

Kenny Arnold (G): 13.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 4.3 assists

Steve Krafcisin (C): 12.3 points, 6.4 rebounds

Kevin Boyle (F): 11.8 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.1 assists

Vince Brookins (F): 11.0 points, 4.6 rebounds

Steve Waite (C): 8.0 points, 5.9 rebounds

Bob Hansen (G): 5.6 points

Mark Gannon (F): 5.6 points, 3.8 rebounds

The NCAA Tournament run

Iowa entered the NCAA Tournament as a No. 5 seed in the East Region.

They opened with an 86-72 win over VCU, then defeated NC State 77-64.

In the Sweet 16, Iowa upset No. 1 seed Syracuse 88-77. They followed that with an 81-80 win over Georgetown in the regional final to reach the Final Four.

More: How Geoff Alexendar quietly turned Illinois into March’s most unique team

Final Four results

The Final Four was held in Indianapolis.

Iowa lost to Louisville 80-72 in the national semifinal. Louisville went on to win the national championship.

Iowa then fell to Purdue 75-58 in the third-place game, finishing fourth in the nation.

Historical significance

The 1980 team remains the most recent Iowa squad to reach the Final Four and one of the most successful teams in program history.

The 2025-26 Iowa Hawkeyes: A modern run back to the doorstep

Forty-six years later, the Iowa Hawkeyes are back in a place that does not feel familiar for the program.

The 2025-26 team, led by first-year head coach Ben McCollum, finished 24-12 overall and 10-10 in Big Ten play. It was a quick turnaround after a coaching change and a roster overhaul, with multiple transfers forming the core of the team.

Iowa opened the season with seven straight wins and captured the Acrisure Classic, showing early signs of cohesion. The Hawkeyes spent three weeks in the AP Top 25 before settling into the middle of a deep Big Ten.

Their postseason run is what changed everything.

As a No. 9 seed in the NCAA Tournament, Iowa beat Clemson 67-61 in the first round. Two days later, they delivered one of the biggest wins in program history, knocking off No. 1 seed and defending national champion Florida 73-72 on a late three-pointer from Alvaro Folgueiras. It marked Iowa’s first NCAA Tournament win over a No. 1 seed since that 1980 run.

They followed that with a 77-71 comeback win over Nebraska in the Sweet 16, taking their first lead in the final minutes and closing it out. That victory sent Iowa to the Elite Eight for the first time since 1987.

Now, the Hawkeyes are one win away from ending a drought that stretches back to 1980.

It’s Iowa. It’s Illinois. It’s the Elite 8.

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When was the last time Iowa was in the NCAA Final Four? Meet the 1980 Iowa Hawkeyes

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