the 1987–88 iowa hawkeyes men's basketball team represented the university of iowa as members of the big ten conference. the team was led by second-year head coach tom davis and played their home games at carver-hawkeye arena. they finished the season 24–10 overall and 12–6 in big ten play to finish tied for third place. the hawkeyes received an at-large bid to the ncaa tournament as #5 seed in the west region. after defeating florida state in the first round and unlv in the second round, they lost to #1 seed arizona in the sweet sixteen.