One month later. Yup, still champions.
Iowa is still the Big Ten champion. Some of the questions asked to the players in between their win over Purdue and the game with Richmond were along the lines of soaking in the championship. Was there enough time? Could you embrace the fact that you just won it all? I do hope the Hawks were able to take it all in before the early exit in Buffalo.
Over the past few weeks, as my broadcast season has come to a close, I started to ask myself that question. I was not in Buffalo. But I was in Indianapolis. 4 games, 4 days. All wins. I’m not sure I had the time to take in the run. I’ve had to rely on YouTube highlight segments to remember so many of the details of those 96 magical hours. Of course, I have the full broadcasts saved onto my computer from each game.
Could it be?
It wasn’t until the early afternoon on Quarterfinal Friday that it really felt magical. Illinois had just lost to Indiana. The reigning champion Illini were probably the biggest obstacle, at the time, in front of Iowa and a title game appearance. My broadcast partner and I just sort of looked at each other and let out a “hmm…” when the Hoosiers won. Rutgers was up next for Iowa, a revenge spot. The players had to be focused on that. But the fans and a couple of college broadcasters? Ha. Yeah, we could feel it. Iowa shook off a slow start and smoked Rutgers. On to Indiana on Saturday.
I am a superstitious person. I like a schedule, a routine. For the 5 days in Indianapolis, I had taken enough dress shirts and ties to have a new combination for each game. First day against Northwestern, I went with a gray shirt, gray pants, gold tie. WIN. Next day for Rutgers, black shirt, black pants… gold tie. WIN. Okay come on you can’t mess with anything now. Semifinal Saturday. White shirt, gray pants… gold… tie. With about 6 minutes left in the game against Indiana, I thought maybe the luck had run out. Indiana looked like they were strengthening their grip, and the hometown crowd was helping them out. Trayce Jackson-Davis had just sent down a monster slam. Place was nuts. Timeout Iowa.
But like we had seen so many times before from this group, Iowa didn’t fold. Keegan and Jordan hit, I don’t know, what felt like 10 3’s in a row. All of a sudden the game was tied. Then it wasn’t. It was over. The Banker from Bohannon. The shot to break the tie, to win it for the Hawks. White shirt, gray pants, gold tie. WIN.
The next day was a total rush. So much anxious energy. The only thing I was sure of was that I was wearing that gold tie. Iowa hadn’t had much luck against Purdue during the season, although competitive. Another road game for the Hawks. Pretty even start, even though Iowa never trailed in the first half. The Boilers turned it over like no other in that first half. Iowa made them pay. Back and forth in that second half, but Iowa’s level never dropped. The rest is history. Iowa. Champs. Confetti time. Jubilation.
CHAMPIONS!
To see that team celebrate and be at the top of the mountain was something I will never forget. I was so happy for those players. Bohannon, the Murrays, Pat and Connor, the Double-A Battery Austin Ash. The team. Champions. I’m still not sure if it ever hit that team, or the fans, or me. Our team won the title.
Sports are cruel. Highest of highs, lowest of lows. Iowa experienced that within the span of less than a week. Sure, people can make their spider jokes about losing to Richmond, complain about the “lack of post-season success” (despite the team being as successful as possible in the conference tournament), and curse the program for how the season eventually ended.
Or… an alternative thought. People can try and remember the run that took place in Indy. Even before that. Iowa went to Ohio State and Michigan and won. Had Illinois on the ropes. Destroyed Michigan State. Arguably went from the bubble after the Penn State loss, to a shoe in regardless of Big Ten Tournament placing. THAT is what I will think about with this team.
Still champions.