IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Jarrod Uthoff and Peter Jok have dominated the headlines for the Hawkeyes this season.

But Iowa might not be headed to its third straight NCAA Tournament — a feat it hasn’t accomplished in over two decades — without senior point guard Mike Gesell.

Gesell, whose successful recruitment was a crucial building block in coach Fran McCaffery’s rebuilding job, has grown from a four-star prep to an unheralded star and a steadying presence for the 20th-ranked Hawkeyes (21-9, 12-6 Big Ten).

They open league tournament play Thursday against either Minnesota or Illinois.