Iowa uses stunning run to join three other state teams in NCAA Tourney

In four days, the Iowa Hawkeyes went from bubble team to Big Ten champions. The Hawks completed an unlikely run through the Big Ten Tournament with a 63-61 victory over Indiana in Chicago. Iowa coach Steve Alford says they went through some adversity and never lost hope.The Hawkeyes got a lift from Indiana native Brody Boyd. The freshman guard finished with 22-points, including four of eight from three-point range.Boyd says he was excited by the chance to play the Hoosiers. He says he was hyped up before the game and came out gunning.Iowa earned the seventh seed in the East regional and will open in New York City against Missouri Valley Conference regular season champion Creighton at around 1:40 p.m. Thursday.Despite a loss in the quarterfinal round of the Big Twelve tournament the Iowa State Cyclones gained the second seed in the west regional and will open in Boise, Idaho against Hampton at about 9:20 p.m. The Cyclones are 25-5 after winning the Big 12 regular season title. On the women’s side, Iowa State is a two seed in the Midwest and will host the opening round on Friday against Howard. The Cyclones claimed their second straight Big Twelve post season tournament title. Iowa is the fourth seed in the Midwest and will open against Oregon Saturday in Salt Lake City. as the fourth seed the Hawkeyes should have hosted the opening round but that become impossible with the NCAA wrestling meet in Iowa City this weekend.The Drake Bulldogs are the 12th seed in the East regional and will take on Villanova in the opening round Friday in Raleigh, North Carolina.