Iowa Hawkeyes 1979-1980 Retro Shorts
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From unranked to the Final Four! The 1979-1980 Iowa Hawkeyes entered the season outside the Top 25 before rattling off 9 wins in a row and climbing to #10 before the Big Ten season started. Led by a balanced attack that saw 5 players average double digits in points per game, the Hawkeyes went 10-8 in the Big Ten and entered the NCAA Tournament as the 5-seed in the East Region.
Easy wins over VCU and NC State put Lute Olson's squad in a Sweet 16 matchup with 1-seed Syracuse. Powered by Vince Brookins 21 points the Hawkeyes blew past the Orange 88-77 putting them one win away from the Final Four.
Unlikely hero, Steve Waite, played the perfect Elite 8 game against Georgetown not missing a FG or a FT including the ones that would put Iowa up for good in the final seconds and into the Final Four.
After Ronnie Lester scored 10 of Iowa's first 12 points in the Final Four game against Louisville he crumpled to the floor with an injury and Iowa was never the same losing 80-72 putting the dream run to bed. Leaving fans across the state and nation to wonder "What if?"
“We would have won had he been healthy. That was a special group.”
-Lute Olson, Head Coach
- Modern Standard-Length Fit - SIZE CHART
- Material: Double Ply 100% Pro Aero Mesh
- Elastic Waistband with Drawstring
- Sublimated Team Graphics
- Officially Licensed
- Made in America
- All Designs are trademarks of 19nine, LLC.
