Locked On Hawkeyes - Daily Podcast On Iowa Hawkeyes Football & Basketball - 3 Hawkeyes heading to Indy for B1G Football Media Days, Is Iowa Basketball in Tournament team in 2025 with Chad Leistikow of the Des Moines Register

Episode Date: July 13, 2024

Trent Condon is back with the latest Locked on Hawkeyes Podcast. The show opens with some thoughts on Iowa football as they prepare for Big Ten Football Media Days including the decision to bring Luke Lachey and Jay Higgins to Indianapolis for the second consecutive season and Quinn Schulte also getting the honor for the Hawkeyes and some players that Trent would have liked to see.Then a conversation with Chad Leistikow of the Des Moines Register on Hawkeye football and basketball going into next season. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!GametimeDownload the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONCOLLEGE for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply.eBay MotorsFrom brakes to exhaust kits and beyond, eBay Motors has over 122 million parts to keep your ride-or-die alive. With all the parts you need at the prices you want, it’s easy to bring home that big win. Keep your ride-or-die alive at EbayMotors.com. Eligible items only. Exclusions apply. eBay Guaranteed Fit only available to US customers.FanDuelFanDuel, America’s Number One Sportsbook. As playoffs wind down, the sports stop sporting like we want them to. But this summer, FanDuel is hooking up ALL CUSTOMERS with a boost or a bonus, DAILY! That’s right, there’s something for everyone, every day, all summer long! Visit FANDUEL.COM and add a big win to your summer bucket list!FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

Iowa has named its three players that will be making its way to Big Ten football media days, accompanying Kirk Ferens. Did they get it right? Plus, we talk Hawkeyes, football, and basketball with Chad Leistekow of the Des Moines Register. All today, Locked on Hawkeyes. You are Locked on Hawkeyes, your daily podcast on the Iowa Hawkeyes. Part of the Locked On Podcast Network, your team every day. Hey, welcome in.

I'm Trent Condon, and this is the Locked On Hawkeyes podcast. Thanks for making Locked On Hawkeyes your first listen every day. We're available wherever you find podcasts, and you can also watch us on YouTube. While you're there, hit the subscribe button. Helps us get in front of more Hawkeye fans. If you're on the audio side of things with the podcast, five-star reviews. Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Make every moment more. As the playoffs have finished up, the sports just have stopped sporting like we want them to. But this summer, FanDuel is hooking up all customers with a boost or a bonus daily.

That's right. There's something for everyone every day all summer long. Visit FanDuel.com to get started. We get started today with the news that Iowa has announced the three players that will be making its way to Indianapolis for Big Ten Football Media Days. Now, I'm on the heels of getting back from Las Vegas and Big 12 Media Days. Indianapolis doesn't have quite the draw. Plus I got state baseball going on that week.

So I will not be able to unfortunately make it to Indianapolis and I'll be in Cedar Rapids calling the state tournament games from the local teams here in central Iowa. But I will have a close eye on things as I always do. And I'm sure plenty of information will be coming that way. I will be on the second day of the gathering. Now, a three-day event as they will go through. They will be with the second group involved in there.

Nebraska, with their weird media. Well, they're not even media. They're fans. They're fan media. Penn State, which is a group of media members that just complain about everything. USC, UCLA, we'll get to meet them and learn a little bit more about those writers. And then, of course, Michigan State and Old Guard in the Big Ten. So that will be the second day of coverage.

Day one kicks off. Ohio State will be in the spotlight that day. They're joined by Wisconsin, Purdue, Rutgers, Northwestern, and Illinois. And then the third and final day, we'll have newcomers Oregon and Washington, along with Michigan, the headliner, Minnesota, Maryland, and Indiana. So that's the setup there. And each and every program brings three players along with them. Who did Iowa bring?

Quinn Schulte is the newbie. Great for Quinn coming back for his extra COVID year of eligibility. A guy that is a story of Iowa football, right? Walking on, dad, a longtime coach in Cedar Rapids, a name that people certainly have known throughout the years, and another tryhard guy that turned himself into one heck of a safety,

and the walk-on legacy for safeties continue. Anticipate, we'll hear a lot about that. Now, the other two guys, I don't want to say it's disappointing because that has a negative connotation to it when you're talking about these two players. But we get to hear from both of these guys last season during Big Ten Football Media Day. Luke Lachey, the tight end, and Jay Higgins. Now, both of these guys are incredible players. Both of them are already

garnering All-American honors preseason. Expectations for both of these players are huge. I just like the chance to hear from some new guys. Here's something different. Now, Jay Higgins, you got the dad. That's fun. He gets to go back home to Indianapolis. I mean, that's a really cool angle personally for him. Both those guys are great leaders.

It's not even a leadership thing. And I know this is something that is a huge component to it. This was also voted on by the players. This is something that the players committee that is part of the team that they put together, they make the vote. And that's how this plays out. I think probably the right way to do it is going that route. Just because these guys were there a year ago, I would have liked to see a little bit

more. A guy that I want to see more than anything and hear from more than any was Cade McNamara. The questions going back to his days at Michigan, the injuries the last two seasons, where he is health-wise. There are so many things, and it's the quarterback. And it's the most important position in all of sport, the quarterback position. Having him there, having him at the forefront, I thought would have been a good thing. Alas, that's not going to happen. And there's plenty of other people, you know,

that you could talk about and giving them another opportunity. We've talked about Deontay Craig. And in fact, Deontay Craig potentially wants to get into this business, the sports media business after his playing career wraps up. That would have been a really good one, I think, to hear from. Maybe one of, you know, the senior offensive linemen, a guy like a Connor Colby that started tackle, moved to guard. Mason Richman and what he went through last year. Listening to George Barnett earlier this week with Chad

Leistakow, he mentioned that he's played on one leg for basically three games and his way back and thinking he was going to shift and have to move with Caden Proctor coming in and that changing. I think that would have been a lot of good storylines coming. A guy like Sebastian Castro or even a Nick Jackson who transfers there in a year ago from Virginia and has the potential to leave his final year at the University of Iowa as the all-time leading tackler in college football history. A lot of different guys.

That's not to knock the guys that were selected, but some storylines that, at least for me, I think would have been a little bit more interesting. But if there's any Hawkeye content, we're excited for it. And we got you covered here. Locked on Hawkeye. Speaking of Chad Leistakow and his conversation with George Barnett, we are going to talk with Chad.

We'll do that as we continue here. This is the Locked on Hawkeyes podcast. Passion, drive, and patience. The formula for winning championships is also what keeps your ride or die alive ebay motors has everything you need to maintain your vehicle and level it up to peak performance superchargers roof racks exhaust kits led headlights and more whether into speed power or style ebay motors has you covered with over 122 million parts for your number one ride or die you'll always find exactly what you're looking for over 122 million parts for your number one ride or die, you'll always find exactly what you're looking for.

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Let's get Chad Leistakow in here. Well done by Chad Leistakow. Des Moines Register had an opportunity to really get inside the Iowa men's basketball program in early July, which is quite a treat for the rest of the media as we get to opine on what Chad heard, saw, and wrote about. Chad Elasticao joins us. Chad, Trent, Ken, thanks for coming on. Well done on this.

Almost scoop as you had an opportunity to get inside the Hawkeye practice, etc. How are you, Chad? I'm doing good. I mean, it wasn't just me. There was other media there. But I wanted to learn about this program and kind of coming out of it. I know we're going to talk about it. But I just felt like a little bit of energy and excitement about this program more than I've felt in a long time.

It just feels like a little bit of a turning of the page and maybe not the same old, same old, you know, and with that, I'll, I'll say the quiet part out loud for the first time in almost a decade, he's going to be coaching a team that doesn't have one of his sons on there.

And Connor, I loved him as a player, but I know it was derisive. I know that he was because of some of the limitations offensively. Some people just couldn't get past it and couldn't get back past maybe the name on his back and Patrick and all the struggles that he had during his career maybe because of that it's just a renewed sense of it's just a different field not having one of your sons there that's how I see it how about you Chad well I mean it has been Trent, you know, seven years of his 14. So half of his tenure, he's had a son on the team.

No question about that. And it has been the last seven. You know, that's, you know, there's been, you know, we all know about the sweet 16 droughts and everything. And but, you know, let's not forget, there's been some some really nice moments in there, too. And a lot of upper division finishes. In fact, I think every year it's been upper division, except for 19 or 18. And, um, you know, they win the big 10 tournament a couple of years ago and Patrick and Connor,

you know, were instrumental in that run. I mean, I believe the second leading scorer on that team. So, um, you know, these guys, you know, all credit to them, but I think at the same time, you know, we didn't get to talk to fran mccaffrey yesterday but i think if you gave him some truth to him i think he'd probably say there's a little bit of you know i don't want to say relief but just a freshness for him too that he's not juggling that dynamic because you know even if you're not you know even if you're greg mcdermott and your son'sott, there's still a family dynamic there.

You've got to struggle within the rest of the locker room. And so that no longer is the case. And I think that, again, that's not what the players are saying, like, oh, we're so glad there's no McCaffrey's anymore. But you kind of get a fresh start. Everyone's got to kind of make their own identity. And I think that's what I felt. I want to talk about Owen Freeman, who looks as though he's improved his body.

He's getting ready for a second go around in the Big Ten. I thought he got a tough whistle a lot of games last year, Chad. I don't know if it was just, you know, you got to pay your dues. You're a freshman. You're not going to get that call. Or he just, you know, was deserved that he's just kind of a bull in a china shot. I don't think it was the latter. Do you think that the respect comes maybe more so to Owen Freeman?

Because I think he's poised for an incredible season in year number two at Iowa. Yeah, he's one of those guys that if, you know, if he has a big year, you know, somebody like Kansas is going to, you know, come coming off him a million and a half next year. He's poised for something really, really big. I was lucky that he stayed. He absolutely looks different just standing right next to him. He says he's put on 20 pounds, and you believe him. He looks different.

I think that was part of the problem last year with the foul trouble, too. You put a skinnier freshman up against Zach Eaddy or whoever else in the gauntlet of the Big Ten big men, and you might not get the benefit of the doubt on those things. But I think he showed so much ability to finish near the rim and just really refined big man type of game that I think you're right. I think he's probably the one guy that's maybe ready to make an even bigger jump because if he was able to stay on the floor last year, he was so effective, so efficient. So yeah,

I think that's really exciting. And the big question for me is who's going to be behind if he does get in foul trouble. They didn't really add anyone there. They've got Evan Bronze and Riley Baldy still. But that's kind of the one question mark that I felt coming out of yesterday. That's the one position I think they've got to figure out, and I don't know if they have an answer. That's a fair point. Well, one of the guys that you talked about a lot yesterday was say to Trey or the

got something there. The athleticism we saw, you know, looking at the numbers, the ability that he has didn't shoot it great from the outside, but a pretty good free throw shooter. There's a lot to like about him, the added athleticism. And no, is there a way that in a pinch owen freeman foul trouble that they can go small you know play trail six seven six is that what he is trey or and then you know some of the new guys the other power forwards and basically instead of playing a center you're playing three power forwards out there something like that yeah maybe um i mean treyory certainly wouldn't be

the five i mean he's not he's not that tall, but he was, of all the new guys, I felt like, I mean, honestly, like Cobra Cotch really looks good. Like, and sounds really, really good. Chris Tadjo, incredibly athletic. Like Sherm, I put this in my article, but Sherm Dillard said, he's the best dunker we've had since tyler cook and he's just but he's just not going to be there as a true freshman with the outside shot but i think you can expect some around the rim athleticism which i would need you know they need rebounding um blodgie dembele might be in my mind you know the most likely guy to maybe potentially be a backup five just because he's thicker, has a year of experience.

Like you said, could go small there. But I think Cooper Koch is going to be a three or four. Same with Traore. I think Traore is probably going to start at the four, be my guess. He really looks, he looks the part to me. I'm surprised. I didn't, he came in with not much fanfare from Manhattan. I think Drew Thelwell came with a little bit more excitement

just because he's a point guard and he's experience proven. But this Traore kid is legit. He looks like a polished Division I player, and he's only a sophomore. It's not like he's a one-year rental either. I mean, this is a guy Iowa, you know, can have. I mean, it's a great recruit. I mean, honestly, like, if you think about between Tajoh, Koch, and Traore and Thelwell, I mean, Fran McCaffrey did a really good job

adding to his roster this year. No, he really did. And he got another addition late in the NBA process with one of his own coming back in Peyton Sanford. So where's Sanford's head? What did he glean, I guess, from his experience? And I'm guessing he's ready to go and he would say that, but what did he learn and how much of a leadership role that he had last year has he got another level of that? Yeah, I think that's the other thing. A point there, Ken, is because he is the unequivocal leader now on this team. As I put in my article, he's the only one on the whole roster that's played three seasons in Iowa City. I mean, you think about nine of the 12 are going into their

either first or second year. The other two are Josh Dix, who's going to be a true junior, and Riley Mulvey, who really has not been a factor in redshirt last year. So Sanford's really the one veteran guy, and he is, from what other people said about him, and he's taken a step in his game. And I think he talked about going against, you know, guys with similar size to him in the NBA draft process and just how that helped him out, helped him improve. And so it sounds like he's really taking a jump too.

And you can imagine that would be the case, you know, if you're being pushed as hard as he probably was and he probably wasn't facing anyone in Iowa practices that pushed him like that in the last several years so I think that's good too. Between Sanford Freeman and Dix I think you really like the base there and all the pieces around him really seem it's just excitement. And I'm sure we'll get to defense here in a minute,

but it just seems like there's a lot of positivity, a lot of just, I mean, you just look at the roster, they just look more athletic. They look thicker. They just look like a Big Ten team to me. All right. One more player, and let's go to the other Sanford. Let's talk about Price a little bit because that's the one guy that saw minutes a year ago. I just struggle to see with this increase in depth that they have in both the three and four positions, I don't see Price as a two, and you're kind of looking for more guard play. Where does he find minutes this year?

Yeah, that's going to be a good question. He's not one of the guys that talked yesterday. There were six players that talked. And I am curious to see what Price does in year two, because I did like the glimpses that we saw in him for sure. I think he's basically, you know, he's kind of the backup to his brother in a way. So I think he's probably your backup three, maybe to,

to Peyton potentially. So maybe you're just going to see a Sanford on the court, um, you know, all the time. Um, but, but yeah,

I think that's the one guy to me where I don't see as, you know, maybe he'll surprise, uh, you know, just because of the minutes. I just don't know if we'll see as big of a role for him, but could be wrong. I mean, they can move Peyton to the four. Peyton played a lot of four last year. You know, if they really love Price and maybe Traore isn't as good as we think he might be, you know, there's certainly a spot, but they just seem to have a lot of players now.

You don't see a lot of, you know, quote unquote, dead weight on the roster right now. And I think, I think that's exciting too. You just, it feels like a really solid roster. I think, you know, it might be the last real, who knows? It might be the last real good year. You know, we see for a little while, maybe not, but you know peyton

sanford's a senior what we'll own freeman move on after this year who knows you know uh josh dicks uh you know he's he's so solid who knows what he does next so uh i just think that this is an exciting year at least uh you know going into it you know for me uh to cover this team well let's talk about the defense. And it seems like there's more of a focus, I hope, that that's the case because certainly something has been lacking. How much better do they have to be, do you think, Chad, to reach towards the top of the league?

Because I'm with you. I think their roster is significantly better. I think McCaffrey did a great job it sounds like trey or he wants to uh he wants to be a guy that's also known part of his game for the defensive end of the floor what are you hearing as far as i know we're in early july but what are you hearing about their newly found hopefully focus on the defense yeah i think the thing that stuck out to me the most on all that, beyond increased athleticism, that's for sure. I mean, that's an obvious thing when you see these guys in person.

It's just you trade out Patrick McCaffrey and Ben Kricke, who did not play defense, let's be honest. They were not defensive players. And you add in a Todd Joe, you add in a Traore. Chris Thelwell was part of his hallmark coming from Moorhead State. I mean, a defensive-minded point guard who passes. I mean, it's a good fit there. And then you, you know, you give Owen Freeman more minutes

and he was a shot blocker. I mean, Cricky was just not a defender at all. It was just such a tough look when he was out there. And so you just automatically, they should be better on that front. But then the thing that stood out to me was that Brock Harding said, when these guys went into their exit interviews with McCaffrey, you basically begged him to, you know, let's focus more on defense this year

because we're tired of having 10-point leads in the second half and blowing them, and we're tired of, you know, letting these close games slip away. And they know that you have to be a good defensive team to go places. That's been part of the problem of not making it to Week 16. You have to get stops. You can't hit shots every night. That, to me, was the most encouraging. I feel like there's a team-wide buy-in on that. We'll see. Very skeptical, obviously, when you talk about that. I don't know if Iowa

has a defensive-minded coach on the staff. We'll see. But they all are buying in and want to be good on defense and create turnovers, create havoc, and turn that into offense. We'll see. It's just good

that you've got to acknowledge the problem before you can fix it. At least fix the knowledge. Yep. yep fair get you out on this a little football conversation with you we're at big 12 media days you'll be a big 10 media days coming up here in indianapolis who goes with kirk ferentz who jumps on the jet oh man i really hope they send kate mcnamara i think that would be a good story yeah i do too do too. And I think, you know, it would attract other, you know, obviously the Michigan media and probably others too. I think he kind of deserves that spotlight. He really hasn't talked since before he got hurt.

He hasn't had a true media session since before that. So I would love to hear from him a little bit more about his recovery. Sounds like he's fully cleared. But if I had – you know, I think you'd probably get another round of Jenkins, I'm guessing, just because he's so good with the media. He's from Indianapolis. I mean, absolutely a stellar guy with the media. You know, Luke Lachey went last year, which ended up being a kiss of death for him.

But if it's not him, I would probably vote for Mason Richmond, the left tackle. He's a really affable guy, and he could represent the offensive line. So he might be a pick. And then, you know, Deontay Craig is also. You know, Deontay Craig might be a good pick. He's from Indianapolis as well. You know, heontay Craig is also – he could – you know, Deontay Craig might be a good pick. He's from Indianapolis as well. You know, he represents the defense. I could see someone like that getting the nod because he's a fantastic young man as well.

Last thing for me, Chad, have you – and if you haven't, you know, spent any time diving into, you know, perhaps how the conference is going to play out in your mind. There's a lot of Ohio State love, obviously. Is it then Oregon? Would they be the team that is attracting most eyeballs? What's kind of your top of the Big Ten as we approach the early July? Yeah, actually, before I got on with you guys,

I just finished recording my uh legends and listeners show because scott's out this week and um we had dave revsman was my guest and we talked for an hour about oh nice and uh he's he's on the same page with he thinks oregon's right there with ohio state based on the coaches he's talked to and so yeah i think Oregon right there I think they're going to challenge the Buckeyes I think they're the clear one and two from what I've heard I think the race for number is going to be fascinating because that's probably a playoff spot and I think Iowa can be in that mix I'm not saying they're going to be, but I think they're in the hunt for three. Michigan's there.

Penn State's there. I don't know. Maybe USC. Maybe. I don't know. It's just hard to know with them. Huskers? Yeah. I think it's possible. Their schedule is so friendly. They could start 7-0 pretty easily.

It is Nebraska. It won't be that easy. 7-0 pretty easily. Yep. So, yeah, I mean. It is Nebraska. It won't be that easy. Yeah, I know. I mean, 7-0 would get them to a bowl game, right? Or finally. Yeah. Place they're not familiar with, possibly.

Chad, we're out of time, brother. Thanks for jumping on. Well done. Enjoy the coverage in the Des Moines Register, desmoineregister.com. Thank you, Chad. Appreciate it. Yep. Thank you, Chad. Appreciate it. Yep. Thank you.

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FanDuel, official sports betting partner of Major League Baseball. Trent Conant back with you one final time here on the Locked On Hawkeyes podcast. A lot of great stuff for Chad Leistakow, and I think anybody that's been listening to you every day or know I'm high on this Iowa basketball team. I was that way before the media availability going into last week, and there is nothing that dissuaded me coming out of that, hearing other people, I think, starting to jump aboard a little bit more with this group. It's an excitement, the opportunity to obviously have a team that is minus McCaffrey. And it's not a knock on Patrick or Connor.

Connor, as a player, was a favorite of mine. He did so many intangibles. He was such a good leader. And though the shot maybe never came around, and though there were a couple of glimpses at times, maybe it didn't turn out to be the top 150 prospect he was as a high schooler. He still did so many good things for the Hawkeyes. And Patrick, he had a lot going on. Another one that maybe didn't hit the aspect,

but just having that away, not having the extra concern that goes along with coaching your kid. I'm excited. Maybe a renewed sense of urgency for Iowa basketball coming up this season. Plus the cup, what we talked about defensively, the chance to be better on that end of the floor, I think is something to be very excited about. We got more coming up here on the basketball front, including the women's basketball team also had a media availability this week. We'll talk about that a little bit more and their chances of not just

coming back to the NCAA tournament. Can they make another deep run? Lucy Olsen taking off the point guard position. Some of the newbies, including players coming off injury, Guyton, maybe she has an opportunity to play a little bit earlier than we thought coming into the season. So a lot of excitement there. We'll talk about that. And of course, football, as we get ready for media day, we will get into a whole lot more and start going through the positions, talking a little bit and going in depth with each of the position groups for Iowa football.

That's coming your way next week. Thanks for making Lockdown Hawkeyes your first listen every day. I also want to let you know, Lockdown has launched the first ever national sports 24 seven streaming channel on YouTube, and now it's available on Amazon Fire TV in the free Fire TV channels app. Locked On Sports Today is here for you 24-7,

covering the top sports stories of the day with the local experts of Locked On, plus our national shows covering every league. Find Locked On Sports Today now available on the free Fire TV channels app. Hope everybody has a great weekend. We will talk to you again on Monday. Until then, go Hawks.