For the first time in 39 years, the Iowa basketball program is back in the Elite Eight following an exciting 77-71 win over Nebraska on Thursday night.
It was another fairytale chapter in what’s been a magical NCAA Tournament for the Hawkeyes. After stumbling into the dance, losing seven of their past ten games, this team has turned things around. A first-round win over Clemson got things started. A second-round victory over Florida showed their ceiling. And the most recent Sweet 16 win over Nebraska was another indication of just how tough this team is.
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They represent everything that Iowa basketball is. Very similarly to the last Hawkeye basketball squad to make the Elite Eight: the 1987 team. Just like this year’s team, the 1987 Hawks were led by a first-year head coach in Tom Davis, who went on to have a legendary coaching career at Iowa. Here’s a look at that 1987 roster and their journey in the NCAA Tournament.
1987 Iowa basketball roster
|
Number |
Name |
Class |
Hometown |
|
3 |
Gerry Wright |
Sr. |
San Bernardino, California |
|
5 |
Bart Casey |
Jr. |
Iowa City, Iowa |
|
10 |
B.J. Armstrong |
So. |
Bloomfield Hills, Michigan |
|
11 |
Michael Reaves |
Jr. |
Milledgeville, Georgia |
|
14 |
Bill Jones |
Jr. |
Detroit, Michigan |
|
20 |
Jeff Moe |
Jr. |
Indianapolis, Indiana |
|
23 |
Roy Marble |
So. |
Flint, Michigan |
|
24 |
Michael Morgan |
Jr. |
Haughton, Louisiana |
|
25 |
Ed Horton |
So. |
Springfield, Illinois |
|
32 |
Mark Jewell |
Fr. |
Lafayette, Indiana |
|
35 |
Kevin Gamble |
Sr. |
Springfield, Illinois |
|
40 |
Kent Hill |
Jr. |
Wichita, Kansas |
|
44 |
Al Lorenzen |
Jr. |
Cedar Rapids, Iowa |
|
51 |
Les Jepsen |
Fr. |
Bowbells, North Dakota |
|
54 |
Brad Lohaus |
RS Sr. |
Phoenix, Arizona |
NCAA Tournament run for the 1987 Hawks
Round of 64: 99-76 win vs. No. 15 seed Santa Clara
Round of 32: 84-82 win vs. No. 7 seed UTEP
Sweet 16: 93-91 overtime win vs. No. 6 seed Oklahoma
Elite Eight: 84-81 loss vs. No. 1 seed UNLV
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While the similarities between the two teams are striking, the 2026 Hawkeyes have a chance to do something the 1987 squad didn’t: make the Final Four. Iowa was close to making it in 1987, leading by 16 at halftime before a huge comeback from UNLV. This year’s team will look to avoid a similar fate and clinch the program’s first Final Four appearance since 1980.
It’s going to be a challenge, but Ben McCollum’s team is used to that. And they’ll be ready to fight for Iowa. Tipoff between Iowa and Illinois is scheduled for 5:09 p.m. on Saturday. The game can be seen on TBS and TruTV.
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This article originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire: 1987 Iowa basketball roster: Who led Hawkeyes’ last Elite Eight run?
