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.

The fourth-ranked Kirkwood Eagles edged Iowa Central, 63-61, in an NJCAA region championship game Saturday at Johnson Hall. to clinch a spot in the National Junior College Athletic Associationl tournament.

Watch what you wish for,” Tom Izzo said. “I’ve seen this happen at a couple of football programs close to us. People better appreciate (him)."

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The modern landscape of college sports is transient in nature. That makes Fran McCaffery and Tom Izzo among outliers.

Hawkins has earned the respect of K-State fans over the past week. He has proven his toughness by returning from a serious injury after a three-game absence to lead the Wildcats to a gritty road win over Cincinnati. Then he gave K-State four points, nine rebounds and five assists in a losing effort against Iowa State.