If Iowa returns to the NCAA men’s basketball tournament next season, it won’t be because of a nonconference game that apparently has been added to the Hawkeyes’ schedule.
Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports tweeted Tuesday that the Bryant University Bulldogs of Smithfield, R.I., will play Iowa on Dec. 29.
Presumably, the game will be in Iowa City. Presumably, admission will be charged.
Bryant was 3-28 last season, 2-16 and in last place in the Northeast Conference.
Iowa has hosted the Bulldogs once before. That was in December 2008, when the Hawkeyes posted a 61-36 victory. The only time they’ve forced a number as low was in 2012, when they beat Howard, 63-36.
Bryant shot 29.7 percent from the field in its game at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. That didn’t get it done.
This will mark two Eastern cellar-dwellers of last season headed to Iowa later this year. Pittsburgh, which was 0-18 in the ACC, will play its ACC/Big Ten Challenge game at Iowa on Nov. 27.
The Hawkeyes’ nonconference slate as we know it so far:
Nov. 8 — Missouri-Kansas City
Nov. 11 — Green Bay
Nov. 15 — vs. Oregon in 2K Classic in New York
Nov. 16 — vs. Connecticut or Syracuse in 2K Classic in New York
Nov. 27 — Pittsburgh
Dec. 6 — Iowa State
Dec. 9 — Savannah State
Dec. 15 — vs. Northern Iowa in Des Moines
Dec. 29 — Bryant
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