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What Fran McCaffery said following Iowa’s loss to Oregon
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Iowa’s hopes of reaching the Final Four came to an end on Monday afternoon in Indianapolis. Despite scoring 80 points, 36 coming from Luka Garza, the Hawkeyes had no answer for Oregon.
The Hawkeyes dropped a 95-80 contest to the Ducks, ending their season in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Iowa finishes the year with a 22-9 record and Garza’s career also concluded.
Many considered Iowa a Final Four-caliber team throughout most of the season. But the Hawkeyes battled through injuries this season and ran into a red-hot Oregon team that had success from behind the 3-point line and was able to get out in transition.
After the game, head coach Fran McCaffery spoke with the media about the game. He gave plenty of credit to Oregon’s performance, talked about the special year his team enjoyed and the incredible career Garza had in a Hawkeye uniform.
Here’s what McCaffery said following the game:
Fran McCaffery on Luka Garza:
"I appreciate so much who he is more so than what he's done. It's been an honor … we may never see another one like him."@IowaHoops | @LukaG_55 pic.twitter.com/6YrdRthmmN
— CBS Sports HQ (@CBSSportsHQ) March 22, 2021
Fran McCaffery said CJ Fredrick has been a lot of pain since coming back with plantar fasciitis and it caught up with him today
Connor McCaffery has torn labrums in both hips and will have surgeries in offseason
— Rob Howe (@RobHoweHN) March 22, 2021
"I think we have really good core of young guys who have experienced what it's like to have winning people in the program. I'm really excited for the future."
Fran McCaffery on the state of the Iowa program.
— Jarek Andrzejewski (@Local4Jarek) March 22, 2021
Fran McCaffery says he'll remember this season by the perseverance of his team and the celebration of two of the best players to ever wear the Iowa jersey.
— Jarek Andrzejewski (@Local4Jarek) March 22, 2021
"I wanted them to know how much I appreciate them, how proud I am of them, and how much I love them."
Fran McCaffery's message to his team after the loss.
— Jarek Andrzejewski (@Local4Jarek) March 22, 2021
Fran McCaffery: "It was incredibly emotional. This team had to experience something totally and completely unique in the history of college basketball. I'll say again how proud I am of their commitment to one another and the sacrifices they took to get here."
— Jarek Andrzejewski (@Local4Jarek) March 22, 2021
Fran McCaffery: "We tried man, zone, pressing them; had moderate success with all three not enough with any one." Moderate seems a generous description.
— Dan Wolken (@DanWolken) March 22, 2021
Dustin grew up in the heart of Big Ten country and has been in sports media since 2010. He has been covering Big Ten football since 2014. You can follow him on Twitter: @SchutteCFB