Iowa in the Final Four?

With the circumstances surrounding Iowa basketball as depressing as they are, it seems a good time to reminisce about the glory days. Let’s pretend it’s 1980 again.

Lute Olson is leading the Iowa Hawkeyes and the whole state of Iowa is gripped, in fact, they’re going bonkers over Iowa basketball--remember it’s 1980, not 2009.

Olson’s squad, while playing its home games in the Field House (Carver doesn’t come until 1983), goes 19-8 during the regular season, notching a 10-8 Big Ten record. Hardly an incredible season and certainly not a hint of what was to come. But it was good enough for Iowa to garner a No. 5 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

The 1979-80 Hawks were about to do something special behind the leadership of standouts Ronnie Lester and Kenny Arnold. Arnold paced Iowa with 13.5 points per game during the season. Lester, Iowa’s most talented player, was hobbled by injury and managed to play in only 17 games. He average 14.8 points per game.

In round one Iowa drew Virginia Commonwealth. VCU was no match for the Hawkeyes. Olson’s team shot 55.0 percent from the field and raced out to an 11-point half-time lead. The final: Iowa 86, VCU 72. Arnold scored 23 to lead Iowa. Four others added 17 points apiece for the Hawks.

Round two brought fourth-seeded North Carolina State. The Wolfpack took a 29-26 lead to the half, but Iowa responded by dominating the second half. The Hawks won 77-64. Once again, Arnold shined. He poured in 18 to top all scorers. Lester added 17 and junior Vince Brookins scored 17 as well.

On to the Sweet 16. Next up: the heavily favored No. 1-seeded Syracuse Orangemen, coached by Jim Boeheim. Boeheim had led the ‘Cuse to a 25-3 regular season record and No. 6 national ranking heading into the Tournament. Syracuse could not slow down Iowa’s hot shooting, however, and the Hawks rolled to an 88-77 victory. They shot 52.7 percent. Brookins led with 21.

Here comes the Elite Eight! Iowa versus John Thompson’s No. 3-seeded Georgetown Hoyas. The underdog Hawks struck again. This time they shot 60.8 percent, with Brookins pouring in 22. Current Iowa radio color man Bob Hansen chipped in 8 points off the bench in helping Iowa squeak by, 81-80. The Hawks were headed to the Final Four in Indianapolis to take on Louisville, a No. 2 seed.

The Cardinals, the eventual national champ, ended Iowa’s improbable run. The Hawks shot only 43.9 percent from the field and bowed down to coach Denny Crum’s club 80-72. Arnold netted 20 points in keeping the game close, but Lester could only manage 12 minutes after tearing his ACL. The key injury likely ended Iowa’s hopes at a national title run at that very instant.

The Hawks then went on to lose the third-place game to another surprise Final Four team in Purdue.

Regardless, the run to the Final Four was amazing. It came out of nowhere and established Lute as a hot coaching commodity. The handsome Olson, who had been an unexpected hire, turned into gold for the Hawkeyes. It’s unfortunate he didn’t stay longer.

Olson’s 1980 team was the last Iowa team to get to the Final Four. The program had only been to two Final Fours prior. Thus, this team won’t be soon forgotten by Iowans who lived to experience it. I only wish I had.

From Hawkeyesports.com:

1979-80 Starting Lineup
F Steve Waite (Jr.) - 8.0 ppg
F Vince Brookins (Jr.) - 11.0 ppg
C Steve Krafcisin (Jr.) - 12.3 ppg
G Kevin Boyle (So.) - 11.8 ppg
G Kenny Arnold (So.) - 13.5 ppg
Key Reserves
G Ronnie Lester (Sr.) - 14.8 ppg in 17 games
G Bob Hansen (Fr.) - 5.6 ppg
F Mark Gannon (Fr.) - 5.6 ppg

(Image shows Kenny Arnold talking to a crowd gathered at the Field House a short time after Iowa had just advanced to the Final Four; photo courtesy of the Cedar Rapids Gazette).