Illinois basketball head coach Brad Underwood was quick to praise Sandfort for his efforts, and for what he's done as a four-year player for the Hawkeyes. "So much respect for Pay

In its second-round game of the 2025 TIAA Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament, Iowa head basketball coach Fran McCaffery received double technicals and was ejected with 13:33 remaining in the second half and the 15th-seeded Hawkeyes trailing No. 7 seed Illinois, 69-60.

Iowa men's basketball player Payton Sandfort received honorable mention All-Big Ten status by both coaches and media on Tuesday. The Big Ten announced its postseason honors following the conclusion of regular-season play.

It’s just a game. Payton Sandfort tells himself these words. Or at least, he tries to. His grandfather always repeated the mantra. His father echoes the message whenever he can. But sometimes the message reverberates like a dribble on a barren court amid an empty arena  — hollow.

Payton Sandfort’s final season with Iowa men’s basketball “hasn’t been what I dreamed of,” but he takes pride in his continued fight.

Payton Sandfort's Iowa men's basketball legacy? Someone who chose the Hawkeyes — and stuck with Iowa — when he had so many reasons to do otherwise.

Illinois basketball ended one last Big Ten Tournament run for Payton Sandfort Thursday. The decorated Iowa forward left the game near the one minute mark of the second half, then became filled with emotions.