Iowa has traveled this route too many times. This feeling of disappointment, one all-too-familiar for Fran McCaffery, has stopped the Hawkeyes at a crossroads.
In the opening round of the 2022 men's NCAA tournament, 12th-seeded Richmond upset No. 5 Iowa 67-63. While the outcome certainly stings the memory of a 26-win campaign, it was mostly a terribly timed poor showing—the worst of the season, by their own admission—with a semi-controversial finish.
The loss itself is not a long-term problem. The real issue is the continuation of an unfortunate trend for the program.
Since 2014, Iowa has appeared in March Madness six of the last eight seasons (excluding the canceled 2020 tournament).