Iowa Men's and Women's Basketball Teams Earn NCAA Tournament Bids

Both programs reach March Madness for the first time since 2023

Mar. 16, 2026 at 3:20am

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The Iowa men's and women's basketball teams both earned NCAA Tournament bids on Selection Sunday, marking the first time since 2023 that both programs have danced. The men's team received a 9 seed and will face 8 seed Clemson in the opening round in Tampa, while the women's team earned a 2 seed and will host Fairleigh Dickinson in the first round at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

Why it matters

This is a significant accomplishment for the Iowa basketball programs, which have struggled to reach the NCAA Tournament in recent years. Making the Big Dance is a major milestone that will energize the fan base and provide valuable postseason experience for the players.

The details

The Iowa men's team will take on Clemson on Friday evening at 5:50pm CT in Tampa, with a potential second-round matchup against top-seeded Florida looming. The Iowa women will host Fairleigh Dickinson in the opening round at their home arena, Carver-Hawkeye, continuing their strong run of hosting NCAA Tournament games.

  • The Iowa men's and women's teams learned their NCAA Tournament fates on Selection Sunday, March 16, 2026.
  • The Iowa men will face Clemson on Friday, March 21, 2026.
  • The Iowa women will host Fairleigh Dickinson in the opening round on an unspecified date in March or April 2026.

The players

Iowa Men's Basketball Team

The Iowa men's basketball team earned a 9 seed in the 2026 NCAA Tournament, their first appearance in the Big Dance since 2023.

Iowa Women's Basketball Team

The Iowa women's basketball team earned a 2 seed in the 2026 NCAA Tournament, and will host the opening round game at their home arena, Carver-Hawkeye.

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What’s next

The Iowa men's team will face Clemson on Friday, March 21, 2026, with a potential second-round matchup against top-seeded Florida. The Iowa women's team will host Fairleigh Dickinson in the opening round at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in late March or early April 2026.

The takeaway

Making the NCAA Tournament is a major accomplishment for both the Iowa men's and women's basketball programs, as they look to make deep runs and compete for national championships. The excitement around the Hawkeyes' return to the Big Dance will energize the fan base and provide valuable postseason experience for the players.