Florida Basketball Faces Deliberate Iowa in March Madness Clash

Pace of play could be a key factor as the up-tempo Gators take on the slow-paced Hawkeyes in the NCAA Tournament

Mar. 22, 2026 at 9:03am

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The upcoming March Madness matchup between No. 1 seed Florida basketball and No. 9 seed Iowa is set to be a clash of contrasting styles. Florida likes to play at a fast tempo, ranking 29th nationally in adjusted tempo, while Iowa is the fourth-most deliberate team in college basketball, ranking 361st out of 365 Division I teams in adjusted tempo. Iowa coach Ben McCollum says his team's slow pace is not entirely by design, but rather a natural result of their style of play. Florida will look to push the pace and get out in transition, while Iowa will try to slow the game down and limit the Gators' easy scoring opportunities.

Why it matters

This game will test whether Florida's up-tempo offense can overwhelm Iowa's methodical approach. The outcome could hinge on which team is able to dictate the pace of play. Florida has shown the ability to shut down elite guards in the SEC, but Iowa's senior point guard Bennett Stirtz presents a new challenge. The contrast in styles makes this an intriguing March Madness matchup.

The details

Iowa is led by 6-foot-4 senior point guard Bennett Stirtz, an All-Big Ten and honorable mention All-American who is averaging 19.9 points and 4.4 assists per game. Florida will counter with a strong defensive effort, led by guards Boogie Fland and Xaivian Lee. The Gators' frontcourt of Thomas Haugh, Alex Condon, and Rueben Chinyelu can also get out and run the floor, putting pressure on Iowa's defense.

  • The Florida-Iowa matchup is scheduled for Sunday, March 22 at 7:10 p.m. ET.
  • Iowa defeated Clemson 67-60 in its NCAA Tournament opener on March 20.

The players

Ben McCollum

The head coach of the Iowa Hawkeyes, known for his team's deliberate, slow-paced style of play.

Bennett Stirtz

A 6-foot-4 senior point guard for Iowa, an All-Big Ten and honorable mention All-American who is averaging 19.9 points and 4.4 assists per game.

Boogie Fland

A guard for the Florida Gators who will be tasked with defending Iowa's Bennett Stirtz.

Xaivian Lee

A guard for the Florida Gators who will also contribute to the team's defensive effort against Iowa.

Thomas Haugh, Alex Condon, Rueben Chinyelu

Florida's frontcourt players who can get out and run the floor, putting pressure on Iowa's defense.

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What they’re saying

“It's irrelevant. It's just a matter if we can put the ball in the basket more than they do.”

— Ben McCollum, Iowa Head Coach

“We would all like to play fast, but I think our advantage is playing slow and getting the best shot we can. But if we need to play fast, we can. I just think it helps us win more games, just playing that pace really gives us an advantage.”

— Bennett Stirtz, Iowa Senior Point Guard

“Boogie (Fland) is going to do a great job on him, I'm going to do a good job on him when I get my chances. Yeah, I mean, it's just our team defense, I think. We're built to succeed in these games.”

— Xaivian Lee, Florida Guard

“When we're playing at our best, we get out in transition and get those easy buckets. That's the main goal for us, take care of the ball as well while we're in transition. Last night we got a lot of easy buckets out in transition, a lot of dunks. I think Iowa is going to try to limit that but we're gonna have to play at our pace, our style, play our way.”

— Alex Condon, Florida Frontcourt Player

What’s next

The winner of the Florida-Iowa matchup will advance to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament.

The takeaway

This game will showcase a classic clash of styles, with Florida's up-tempo offense looking to overwhelm Iowa's deliberate, slow-paced approach. Whichever team is able to dictate the tempo and rhythm of the game will likely have the advantage in this intriguing March Madness showdown.