Basketball <\/p>\n
After trailing by 3 points at halftime, the No. 9-seeded Iowa Hawkeyes put it all together in the second half to upend the No. 4-seeded Nebraska Cornhuskers 77-71 in a Sweet 16 contest in the South Region at Toyota Center in Houston on Thursday night.<\/p>\n
Iowa head coach Ben McCollum has been pushing all the right buttons, getting his team into the Elite 8. And the college basketball world was going wild after the game ended.<\/p>\n
Jon Rothstein, College Basketball Insider for CBS Sports, was fired up after watching the Hawkeyes dispatch the Cornhuskers. Rothstein simply posted a four-word message in a post on X<\/a> on Thursday night. He wrote, \u201cTHIS IS ****** MARCH.\u201d<\/p>\n THIS IS ****** MARCH.<\/p>\n \u2014 Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) March 27, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n But Rothstein wasn\u2019t done when it came to offering some context around what McCollum accomplished with Iowa, who goes to 24-12 overall with the Sweet 16 victory.<\/p>\n Rothstein also posted on X<\/a>, \u201cTwo years ago, Ben McCollum was the head coach of Northwest Missouri State (Division II). Today, he\u2019s got Iowa one win away from the Final Four. Anarchy? Nope. Just College Basketball.\u201d<\/p>\n Two years ago, Ben McCollum was the head coach of Northwest Missouri State (Division II).<\/p>\n Today, he\u2019s got Iowa one win away from the Final Four.<\/p>\n Anarchy?<\/p>\n Nope. Just College Basketball. https:\/\/t.co\/zXIHhqvmJU<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) March 27, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n ESPN College Basketball Insider Jeff Borzello also wanted college basketball fans to know just how impressive McCollum\u2019s march to the Elite 8 really is at this time.<\/p>\n Borzello posted on X<\/a>, \u201cBen McCollum\u2019s last five NCAA tournaments at the Division II level: three national championships. Ben McCollum\u2019s first two NCAA tournaments at the Division I level: 4-1 (and counting) as an 11-seed and 9-seed.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben McCollum\u2019s last five NCAA tournaments at the Division II level: three national championships.<\/p>\n Ben McCollum\u2019s first two NCAA tournaments at the Division I level: 4-1 (and counting) as an 11-seed and 9-seed. https:\/\/t.co\/ZLl490QS2f<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Jeff Borzello (@jeffborzello) March 27, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Borzello couldn\u2019t contain his excitement<\/a> about Iowa\u2019s victory over Nebraska. He also posted after the game ended, \u201cIOWA IS IN THE ELITE EIGHT.\u201d<\/p>\n IOWA IS IN THE ELITE EIGHT.<\/p>\n \u2014 Jeff Borzello (@jeffborzello) March 27, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Chris Vannini, Senior Writer for The Athletic covering college football, was really impressed by how hard Iowa played against Nebraska in Houston on the court.<\/p>\n Vannini shared his thoughts<\/a> on X: \u201cThis Iowa team is so, so tough, man. Banged with Florida inside and pulled the upset. Hung in there when Nebraska was red hot and worked their way back. Ben McCollum is such a good coach.\u201d<\/p>\n MARCH MADNESS:<\/strong> Fill In Your Bracket Now!<\/a><\/p>\n College Basketball Report\u2019s account on X<\/a> offered some historical perspective on what McCollum and Iowa accomplished with this victory.<\/p>\n The account posted, \u201cBEN MCCOLLUM HAS THE IOWA HAWKEYES IN THE ELITE 8 IN YEAR ONE\u2026THE HAWKEYES HAVE NOT BEEN TO THE ELITE 8 SINCE 1987.\u201d<\/p>\n BEN MCCOLLUM HAS THE IOWA HAWKEYES IN THE ELITE 8 IN YEAR ONE \ud83d\udc24<\/p>\n THE HAWKEYES HAVE NOT BEEN TO THE ELITE 8 SINCE 1987. pic.twitter.com\/i2DcUy4fv9<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 College Basketball Report (@CBKReport) March 27, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n College basketball analyst and consultant Matthew Winick, who provides content for Basket Under Review, posted this on X<\/a>: \u201cWhether Iowa hangs on or not\u2026 there is no disputing that Ben McCollum is one hell of a basketball coach.\u201d<\/p>\n Bennett Stirtz led Iowa with 20 points while teammate Tate Sage added 19 off the bench. With the loss, the Cornhuskers finish 28-7 for the season.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Iowa now awaits the winner of the No. 2-seeded Houston vs. No. 3-seeded Illinois matchup, which played in the nightcap at Toyota Center in Houston.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n
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