NCAA Tournament Paths Revealed for Iowa Basketball Teams

Podcast breaks down March Madness journeys for Ben McCollum's and Jen Jensen's squads

Mar. 16, 2026 at 3:56am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The Des Moines Register's sports reporters Chad Leistikow, Tyler Tachman and Dargan Southard analyzed the NCAA Tournament paths for the men's and women's basketball teams from Iowa after the March Madness brackets were announced on Selection Sunday.

Why it matters

As two of the top college basketball programs in the state, the NCAA Tournament berths for the Iowa men's and women's teams are highly anticipated events that generate significant local interest and media coverage.

The details

The podcast discussion covered key factors like potential matchups, seeding, and regional locations for both the Iowa men's and women's teams as they prepare to compete in the 2026 NCAA Tournament.

  • The NCAA Tournament brackets were announced on Selection Sunday, March 16, 2026.

The players

Chad Leistikow

Sports reporter for the Des Moines Register.

Tyler Tachman

Sports reporter for the Des Moines Register.

Dargan Southard

Sports reporter for the Des Moines Register.

Ben McCollum

Head coach of the Iowa men's basketball team.

Jen Jensen

Head coach of the Iowa women's basketball team.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

The takeaway

The NCAA Tournament berths for the Iowa men's and women's basketball teams are highly anticipated events that generate significant local interest, and the podcast discussion provided valuable insights into the teams' potential paths to success in March Madness.