{"id":25378,"date":"2026-03-23T13:08:14","date_gmt":"2026-03-23T13:08:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/iowa-upset-florida-march-madness\/"},"modified":"2026-03-23T13:08:14","modified_gmt":"2026-03-23T13:08:14","slug":"iowa-upset-florida-march-madness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/iowa-upset-florida-march-madness\/","title":{"rendered":"Iowa stuns No. 1 Florida 73-72, caps dramatic March Madness opening weekend"},"content":{"rendered":"<article>\n<p>In a shock finish that closed out the NCAA Tournament\u2019s opening weekend, No. 9 Iowa edged No. 1 Florida 73-72 to eliminate the defending champions. The Hawkeyes rallied from a second-half deficit of as many as 12 points and took the lead on a corner 3 by Alvaro Folgueiras after a quick inbounds sequence. Florida had tied the game on two Isaiah Brown free throws with under 10 seconds remaining but failed to get a final shot off after a turnover on the last possession. The result ends Florida\u2019s bid to repeat and punctuates a weekend notable for few upsets, strong Big Ten showings and high-profile prospects exiting early.<\/p>\n<h2>Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Iowa defeated No. 1 Florida 73-72 in the second round; Alvaro Folgueiras hit the game-winning 3 after an inbounds sprint by Bennett Stirtz.<\/li>\n<li>Florida briefly led 72-70 following two Isaiah Brown free throws with under 10 seconds left but lost possession on the final possession, failing to attempt a shot.<\/li>\n<li>Head coaches reacted with praise and disappointment: Florida\u2019s Todd Golden called it &#8220;a tough way to go out,&#8221; while Iowa\u2019s Ben McCollum highlighted his squad\u2019s resilience.<\/li>\n<li>The Big Ten will send six teams\u2014Illinois, Purdue, Michigan, Michigan State, Nebraska and Iowa\u2014to the Sweet 16, its largest total since 1975.<\/li>\n<li>Several top NBA prospects left early: Kansas (seed No. 4) fell 67-65 to St. John&#8217;s on a buzzer layup by Dylan Darling; Darryn Peterson averaged 24.5 points across two games and logged 36.5 minutes per contest.<\/li>\n<li>BYU\u2019s AJ Dybantsa scored 35 in a first-round loss to Texas, removing another projected top pick from title contention.<\/li>\n<li>The first weekend saw relatively few surprises: seven of the top eight men&#8217;s seeds remain, and the lowest remaining seed in the men\u2019s bracket is No. 11 Texas.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Background<\/h2>\n<p>Florida entered the tournament as the South Region\u2019s No. 1 seed and as the reigning national champion. The program had been attempting a repeat\u2014something it last achieved in 2006\u201307\u2014and was one of only two teams in the 21st century with recent back-to-back titles, alongside Connecticut\u2019s consecutive championships in 2023 and 2024. As a top seed, the Gators began the weekend with high expectations from fans and bracket pools alike.<\/p>\n<p>Iowa arrived in the second round as a No. 9 seed with a reputation for disciplined defense and late-game poise under coach Ben McCollum. The Hawkeyes\u2019 path through the bracket relied on balanced scoring rather than a single superstar, and their roster structure allowed them to rally from midsecond-half deficits. The matchup was also framed by broader tournament narratives: conference strength, the influence of NIL on roster construction, and the pressure on highly touted NBA prospects to perform in a brief, high-stakes window.<\/p>\n<h2>Main Event<\/h2>\n<p>The game\u2019s final minutes produced the decisive sequence. After Florida took a 72-70 edge when Isaiah Brown sank two free throws with fewer than 10 seconds remaining, the Gators&#8217; defense failed to track Iowa\u2019s inbound guard Bennett Stirtz. Stirtz sprinted the length of the court and found Folgueiras in the right corner, where the forward drilled a go-ahead 3-pointer to put Iowa up 73-72.<\/p>\n<p>Florida\u2019s last possession broke down under pressure. Guard Xaivian Lee drove under the rim but encountered heavy traffic and threw a desperation pass that became a loose ball as the clock hit zero, meaning Florida did not get a final shot attempt. The sequence underscored both Iowa\u2019s hustle on transition and Florida\u2019s inability to execute under intense, end-of-game circumstances.<\/p>\n<p>Postgame, Florida coach Todd Golden acknowledged the defensive lapse and the narrow margins that decide tournament outcomes, calling the finish \u201ca tough way to go out.\u201d Iowa coach Ben McCollum praised his players\u2019 persistence, saying the group embodied resilience and the competitive habits he\u2019s prioritized while building the program. On-court emotion alternated between elation for Iowa and stunned silence among Florida supporters.<\/p>\n<h2>Analysis &#038; Implications<\/h2>\n<p>Iowa\u2019s victory immediately removes a clear favorite from title conversation and reshapes projections for the South Region. The upset opens the bracket by eliminating a program that other teams were preparing to meet as a presumed benchmark, and it injects momentum into Iowa\u2019s run heading to the Sweet 16. For Florida, the loss raises questions about late-game execution and whether the rotation can sustain postseason intensity against disciplined defensive squads.<\/p>\n<p>The wider tournament picture points to conference strength shifting toward the Big Ten this season. With six Sweet 16 slots claimed, the league demonstrates depth and balance across multiple programs. That concentration of remaining teams could affect seeding considerations and the perceived difficulty of potential Final Four paths, giving the Big Ten a strategic advantage in matchups where familiarity and scouting depth matter.<\/p>\n<p>On the player-evaluation side, the weekend was consequential for NBA prospects. Darryn Peterson\u2019s two-game sample (21 points in the Kansas loss; 24.5 ppg average reported across two games) and AJ Dybantsa\u2019s 35-point outing in a first-round loss will be parsed by scouts, but small sample sizes and opponent quality complicate straightforward draft projections. Early exits can both preserve an injured player&#8217;s spotlight or amplify concerns about consistency\u2014teams and analysts will weigh those factors in upcoming evaluations.<\/p>\n<p>The opening weekend also reignited debate over NIL\u2019s effects on competitive balance. With relatively few Cinderella runs, some commentators will argue that NIL-heavy programs should produce more volatility, while others note that coaching, depth and matchup fit remain dominant determinants of single-elimination outcomes. Expect intensified coverage and analysis on NIL only insofar as it can be empirically linked to roster changes or competitive outcomes.<\/p>\n<h2>Comparison &#038; Data<\/h2>\n<figure>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Category<\/th>\n<th>Count \/ Detail<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Big Ten teams in Sweet 16<\/td>\n<td>6 (Illinois, Purdue, Michigan, Michigan State, Nebraska, Iowa)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Top-eight seeds still alive (men&#8217;s)<\/td>\n<td>7 of 8<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Lowest remaining seed (men&#8217;s)<\/td>\n<td>No. 11 Texas<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Notable buzzer finishes<\/td>\n<td>Kansas 67\u201365 loss to St. John&#8217;s on Dylan Darling layup<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><figcaption>Conference representation and upset indicators after the tournament\u2019s first weekend.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The table shows the dominant statistical storylines: strong Big Ten representation and a surprisingly chalky men\u2019s bracket. While individual upset narratives still exist\u2014such as Iowa over Florida and St. John&#8217;s over Kansas\u2014the overall balance favors higher seeds advancing, at least through the first two rounds.<\/p>\n<h2>Reactions &#038; Quotes<\/h2>\n<p>Florida\u2019s coach reflected on the sequence that decided the game and on the broader sting of an early exit for a returning champion.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>&#8220;We weren\u2019t able to take it and they knocked it down, so credit to them for that. Just a tough way to go out.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><cite>Todd Golden, Florida head coach (postgame press conference)<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Iowa\u2019s coach framed the result as validation of a long-term culture rebuild and praised the players\u2019 competitive character.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>&#8220;They fight. They compete. They stick with it. They exemplify everything that we\u2019ve wanted in Iowa basketball.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><cite>Ben McCollum, Iowa head coach<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<h2>\n<aside>\n<details>\n<summary>Explainer: seedings, single-elimination dynamics and NIL<\/summary>\n<p>Seed numbers reflect the selection committee\u2019s assessment of team strength entering the tournament; higher seeds are expected to advance but single-elimination format makes every game a high-variance event. A low seed winning a single game can produce a major bracket upset narrative, but consistent deep runs typically require depth, reliable defense and efficient late-game execution. NIL (name, image and likeness) deals have altered recruiting and retention strategies by allowing players to monetize while in college; its measured impact on upset frequency is still contested and depends on specific program deals and roster construction.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n<\/aside>\n<\/h2>\n<h2>Unconfirmed<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Whether NIL deals directly reduced the number of upsets this weekend remains unproven; causation is not established by the early-round results.<\/li>\n<li>Long-term effects on draft positioning for players like Darryn Peterson and AJ Dybantsa are speculative after only one tournament appearance and require broader scouting context.<\/li>\n<li>Any internal Florida roster or injury issues affecting the late-game breakdown were not formally disclosed by the program at the time of reporting.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Bottom Line<\/h2>\n<p>Iowa\u2019s 73-72 upset of top-seeded Florida is both a singular game story and part of a larger weekend narrative: the men\u2019s bracket largely favored higher seeds, while the Big Ten emerged with disproportionate Sweet 16 representation. The outcome removes a favored program from title contention and hands momentum to a hungry Iowa team built around collective effort rather than a single star.<\/p>\n<p>Readers should watch the Sweet 16 for matchups that test the Big Ten\u2019s depth against other conference powers, and scouts will continue to weigh weekend performances alongside season-long tape when assessing NBA prospects. The tournament\u2019s compressed timeline guarantees new storylines each round\u2014expect further implications for seeding, draft chatter and NIL discourse as the field narrows.<\/p>\n<h2>Sources<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/sports\/college-basketball\/ncaa-tournament-iowas-stunning-upset-no-1-florida-caps-thrilling-weeke-rcna264669\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">NBC News<\/a> \u2014 news media report and game recap<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncaa.com\/brackets\/basketball-men\/d1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">NCAA<\/a> \u2014 official tournament bracket and statistics<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mens-college-basketball\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">ESPN<\/a> \u2014 sports media coverage and player\/prospect analysis<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/article>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In a shock finish that closed out the NCAA Tournament\u2019s opening weekend, No. 9 Iowa edged No. 1 Florida 73-72 to eliminate the defending champions. The Hawkeyes rallied from a second-half deficit of as many as 12 points and took the lead on a corner 3 by Alvaro Folgueiras after a quick inbounds sequence. Florida &#8230; <a title=\"Iowa stuns No. 1 Florida 73-72, caps dramatic March Madness opening weekend\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/iowa-upset-florida-march-madness\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about Iowa stuns No. 1 Florida 73-72, caps dramatic March Madness opening weekend\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":25376,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rank_math_title":"Iowa stuns No.1 Florida in 73-72 upset \u2014 SportsBrief","rank_math_description":"Iowa beat No. 1 Florida 73-72 to end the Gators' title defense, highlighting a chalky opening weekend, Big Ten depth and notable early exits for top NBA prospects.","rank_math_focus_keyword":"Iowa,Florida,March Madness,upset,NCAA Tournament","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-25378","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-top-stories"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25378","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=25378"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25378\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/25376"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=25378"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=25378"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=25378"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}