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NCAA Tournament: Iowa Hawkeyes a No. 8 seed, draw No. 9 Auburn Tigers

riley donald
·2 min read
2

After a tumultuous regular season, the Iowa Hawkeyes have completed one of their largest goals in making the NCAA Tournament. The Hawkeyes were projected to be in the field for most of the season, but their seeding was often a roller coaster ride.

With the bracket officially announced, the Hawkeyes are a No. 8 seed in the Midwest Region. They will be taking on the No. 9 Auburn Tigers in the first round in a Big Ten versus SEC matchup. They will play in Birmingham, Ala., which is a bit of an unfortunate draw for Iowa as that is extremely local to the Auburn faithful.

While the draw of a No. 8 seed is always a tough one should you win your first matchup as a No. 1 seed is almost guaranteed to be waiting, they are in and that is what matters.

Here is a look at the bracket, the Auburn Tigers’ season, their best players, and what the rest of the bracket holds for the Hawkeyes.

Selection

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  • No. 8 seed

  • Midwest Region

  • Birmingham, Ala.

Auburn Tigers' record

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  • 20-12 overall

  • 10-8 SEC record

Key players

Andrew Nelles / Tennessean.com / USA TODAY NETWORK

  • F Johni Broome: 14 points, 8.4 rebounds, 1.4 assists

  • G Wendell Green Jr. : 13.8 points, 3.3 rebounds, 4.2 assists

  • F Jaylin Williams: 11.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists

  • G Allen Flanigan: 10.1 points, 4.7 points, 1.4 assists

  • G K.D. Johnson: 8.8 points, 1.9 rebounds, 1.3 assists

Sweet 16 fate?

Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Should Iowa be able to take down Auburn, a matchup with No. 1 Houston is likely awaiting them in the Round of 32. Of course, that assumes Houston can take down No. 16 Northern Kentucky.

If Iowa can upset the Houston Cougars, a Sweet 16 matchup would be against one of No. 4 Indiana, No. 5 Miami, No. 12 Drake, or No. 13 Kent State.

Rest of the Midwest Region's bracket

  • No. 1 Houston versus No. 16 Northern Kentucky

  • No. 8 Iowa versus No. 9 Auburn

  • No. 5 Miami versus No. 12 Drake

  • No. 4 Indiana versus No. 13 Kent State

  • No. 6 Iowa State versus No. 11 Mississippi State/Pittsburgh

  • No. 3 Xavier versus No. 14 Kennesaw State

  • No. 7 Texas A&M versus No. 10 Penn State

  • No. 2 Texas versus No. 15 Colgate

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Story originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire