Locked On Hawkeyes - Daily Podcast On Iowa Hawkeyes Football & Basketball - ALERT: Kirk Ferentz's CONFIDENCE in 2025 Squad | Is a PLAYOFF Run Within Reach?

Starting point is 00:00:00 A deep dive into Iowa football. David Eicholt joins us. It's a busy one. What we saw after a busy weekend today, Locked on Hawkeyes. You are Locked on Hawkeyes. Your daily podcast on the Iowa Hawkeyes. Part of the Locked-on Podcast Network,

Starting point is 00:00:22 your team every day. Hey, welcome in. I'm Trent Convin, joined today by David Eicholt, and this is the Lockedon. Hawkeyes podcast. I've been covering the Hawkeyes for over 20 years on the radio. David, he's been on the beat for well over a half decade now. Getting old over there. And we're glad to have you aboard with us here today. Today's episode of Lockdown Hawkeyes is brought to you by Monarch Money. Take control of your finances with Monarch Money. Use the code Lockdown

Starting point is 00:00:48 College at Monarchmoney.com for 50% off your first year. Eichol, good to see you. And hanging out today. We do this a lot of times on radio, but good to see that mug over there. and out and getting ready for football season after, boy, those three days that we get, Media Day, Into Kids Day, and then BTN, just the way the schedule fell this year coming up on Monday. We get a lot of content out of those three days. I mean, it's going to take us through the next, what, two and a half weeks, right? And you're right, man, it didn't really connect with me until now. I'm closer to a decade on the beat than I'm a half decade now, and that's kind of scary.

Starting point is 00:01:24 So that'll be a nice fun realization. I'll have to deal with after, after we wrap up here. But no, man, it's nice to actually have some sort of evidence behind what we're saying instead of saying, hey, well, it looked this way, you know, three or four months ago, this is what I'm hearing. But now we actually have something that we put our eyes on and now we can kind of at least give a good guess about where we think things are going to end up. So it's nice to have some sort of something else to base it off of other than comments and behind the scenes conversations. It's crazy, too, you know, the conversations that both of us have with people and your sources are a little bit. deeper than mine. I just got a couple of people that I hear from time to time, but a lot of the things are starting to marry with what we've heard in this offseason and the things that I

Starting point is 00:02:07 see with you over at Hawkeye Insider that you're putting up there in 24-7 sports, it feels like a lot of the things coming in. I want to start with this. We were in Las Vegas hearing from Kirk sitting there for what, the 35 minutes that we kind of had that side, another side conversation with them. Kirk, you've got to know him. I've been listening to him for a long time. It's not that he's cocky because that's never his personality, but you can tell he really likes the makeup of the team, even with all the question marks. And he's also put that out there every time he's talked. It feels like he really likes this group. The way I phrased on my board and in my podcast as well, Trent, is there's two things Kirk does. He says nothing and tells you everything

Starting point is 00:02:48 or he says nothing and he tells he nothing, right? And it was one of those things where when we were in Vegas, he really seemed like he told us a lot. And honestly, when he, at the Iowa Media Day, it felt like the exact same thing. I think he really, really likes the potential of this team. And I think if you're an Iowa fan that has to be encouraging, because again, you look at, look at the schedule they got. I mean, they're playing Indiana. And I think Indiana is going to be an eight to nine win team.

Starting point is 00:03:11 I don't think they're going to quite hit the double digit mark again, but they're going to be good, right? Oregon, Penn State, both at Kinnick. They go on the road to USC, even Nebraska. It's always going to be tough over there. Drew Stevens has already had experience knocking them off. in the last second field goal. Not there, but it might be a nice little redemption tour up for him.

Starting point is 00:03:31 But there's going to be a lot of coin flip games. And what does that usually come down to? Can you get a stop with little details and quarterback? I think a lot of this conversation goes back to quarterback and really what the potential of this team is going to be. The one thing I will say that's a little bit different this time is I think there's some genuine confidence with Kurt Farrants about the wide receivers. And I do think that he's still.

Starting point is 00:03:55 a little bit. I don't want to say tense is the right word, but just not fully sure where the defense is going to line up. He thinks the defense is going to be good, but I do think the obvious question marks like we've continued to talk about Trent. And especially when you look at the injury situation right now at corner, I still think there's a little bit more room to pause, but you're right. I think Kirk Farrantz really likes this team. And ultimately, when he likes the team, two things are going to happen. One, he thinks that they're going to be able to win the close games, and that's very typical of Iowa football under Kirkparents, but two, they're going to go into every single game thinking they actually have a chance. This isn't going to be one of those,

Starting point is 00:04:33 hey, you know what, by golly, we're going to go in and we're going to give it all we got. This is not, with all due respect, like a Deacon Hill version of this team. This is not an injury riddled team, knock on wood, to this point. And you look at the schedule and who they line up against. It does go in their favor from a standpoint. They get all the elite teams for the most part in Kinnick Stadium. And that's going to give them. a chance. You know, you look at the way the schedule breaks out. And I think you're exactly right.

Starting point is 00:04:59 I think this team is going to have to outscore some opponents. They're going to have to win a game 34, 31. There's going to be one of those moments. Maybe it is against Indiana. Hell, maybe it's against Iowa State early on the way that they have some question marks, I think defensively in their front outside of Dom Orange. And that could be more of a shootout than what we've been used to recently. And that goes hand in hand.

Starting point is 00:05:17 So let's get your perspective. We had Elliott on earlier this week over on the radio side of things. He gave his perspective. mentioned Garnowski, though, just what you saw on Saturday from him and your takeaway, finally get to see him in action for the first time. I understand why people are a little bit nervous, but at the same time, did he not flash the best quarterback play we've seen in seven, eight years? Seriously, there were throws that were incomplete, but if you really look at some of the detail

Starting point is 00:05:43 on those throws train, he only put it in a position to where the receiver could get. And the most important thing that really stood out to me, he threw 50-50 passes. He instilled trust in the receivers to be able to go up and go grab it. I think about one specific play. I think it was a second or third pass. He threw it to the right front corner to Asson Ostranga. And Ostranga caught the ball, but he just couldn't quite get the foot down. There was a great throw.

Starting point is 00:06:08 It was a great catch. But it was just one of those, you know, maybe Grinowski puts it a little bit lower. But that's a play where I think you're 50-50 on. But not from the standpoint of the receiver. The DV is going to be able to pick that off. Our linebackers get bad away. And there were a handful of those. throws there's another one where jacob gill kind of got it in the end zone in the back corner

Starting point is 00:06:25 gill can haul it in but again it was out of the db's range and only where the receiver could get it if you have a quarterback that understands ball placement can do those things i think you have reason to be encouraged now there's a couple of negative things obviously he's got to get some of those stickum gloves he's got to do something he has to you know maybe covers hands and butter and get used to just taking shotgun snaps just learn just to overly catch the ball right. But at the same time, I think Kirk kind of summed it up best. I guarantee you this happens a lot of different practices. At this point in the year, this is not exactly uncommon. If it happens the week of the game, then I think you're getting really, really nervous. But you're talking

Starting point is 00:07:07 about a guy who hasn't played real, he has not played healthy football since his junior season. Because remember, he played all last season hurt. And he opted into it. He didn't have to get the surgery. He opted into it to be at 100% health. So, I think reps are going to solve everything. And I think when you listen to Tim Western, you think about Kurt Barron's the way they described his camp about how far he's already come from the first camp. So I think it was like day eight or day nine was the actual open practice that we got to see. They said that's the type of progress they want to see and that's sort of upside.

Starting point is 00:07:40 The other part is obviously the pick six. I think there's two sides of the coin here. One, I think Grinowski throws that way in the game situation. Two, I don't think that was specifically on Grinowski. it was on Grinowski with a throw. I thought the left tackle released off the block way too late, and I think the defense sniffed out the screen, and that's what really made it play.

Starting point is 00:08:00 So again, Conan Intrigger, who's one of my breakout players, made a hell of a play. But at the same time, I would challenge there were different components rather than just a quarterback making a bad throw. So I think there's just other aspects of that play where that really needed to work. But, you know, I look at Grinowski, and again, I just think you see all the world, the potential in the world.

Starting point is 00:08:20 And again, I think you see the best point. quarterback play in the last eight years. And I'm not saying that's like a crazy high bar. That's exactly what Iowa needs, right, in order to have a chance against some of these elite teams because Trent, you know as well as I do. Have you seen the numbers of the last nine games they play against ranked opponents? I mean, they're getting beat by 20 plus, minus 60 in the turnovers. And that was my big rant last year.

Starting point is 00:08:44 It's the point where they have not been competitive. They can't afford to have that this year, especially with all the opportunities that they have. And they're going to be big. And if, yeah, you get blown out by Penn State, Oregon this year. Here's the other thing. If Iowa goes out there and goes 10 and 2 this year, yet they're blown out by both Penn State and Oregon at home, they might be on the outside looking in for a playoff bid. And that shows you the importance that they're going to have. Now, we're getting way ahead of ourselves. A couple of other offensive notes I want to get into. You mentioned Addison Estranga. So I come out here, one of my big takeaways from Saturday. Well, the tight end. We saw

Starting point is 00:09:15 Lechay had 29 catches last year. I know he was never 100% last year. You can see that. But With the Tim Lester offense, look at what happened with the Fleur and Green Bay. They just don't throw it a ton to the tight ends in comparison to some of the other iterations of the Shanahan offense. And maybe tight end was becoming depleted. And then Monday, what is the BTN crew? They talk nothing, but it felt like tight ends for like 10 minutes there. So what do you believe is closer to what we're going to see, at least for this season? Tight end, a big part of the offense still, I think it's going to be diminished of what some past years are.

Starting point is 00:09:46 But I also think that goes hand in hand because the wide receiver room, actually deep for once? I think it's just going to be a balance. And I think if you're an Iowa fan that's music to your ears, again, obviously Iowa loves the tight end to you. And I'm of the opinion where it's not close. Everybody should know who tied into you. It's three of the top ten tight ends, the NFL are Iowa tight ends.

Starting point is 00:10:06 They were all great in college. Now, Kittal is a little bit of a different story. Obviously, he didn't realize his potential until he got there. I think Ostrang is going to be a really good player. I think he's going to have over 450 yards or so. I think he'll have about maybe four touchdowns. or so. But that's, again, that's not a bad thing. That's pretty common across the board when you think about some of the other big 10 teams and top programs. When you look at

Starting point is 00:10:27 and this all goes hand in hand, right? They're not going to have a Caleb Johnson. They're going to have three different running backs. So doing running back by committee. Lester and Kirk have kind of said it themselves. And even Omar Young, when we got the chance to talk and we said, I'd like to have a ringback by committee because guys will be ready and you don't have that sort of workhorse, right? But then I also think you look at the wide receiver play. I think they're going to play six or seven wide receivers, man. Like Dayton Howard had three catches at one point in the single drive. We know what Jacob Gill can do.

Starting point is 00:10:55 Reese Vandersey looks like a grown man right now and what he did. I was really impressed with him and obviously with Hank Brown. I think Ashton Estringa is going to be tied in one. That was one of my big question marks, not from the standpoint of, you know, what can't, like what can he do? But we just haven't seen like an Iowa tight end sort of break out over the last couple of years. And Estrangeas had flashes, but can you put together consistently? because, again, the flashes tell it all.

Starting point is 00:11:20 But if you have a guy like, you know, Jake Butt, complimenting, assing a straining guy and thinks he can be a big breakout guy, I'm going to believe him because he knows a thing or two about being a damn good college tied in, especially in the Big Ten, right? So I do think that he'll play a part, but at this point, I don't know who's going to play a significant part outside Mark Grinowski because everything else we're being told right now, it's all going to be a balance. And I think we're just going to see guys that end up breaking out. The other one, I will say, that it's probably Reese Van der Zand.

Starting point is 00:11:47 I think Reese Sanders is in for a monster year. Definitely right there with you, and we've seen him show up a lot in those practice clips that we've been getting out there on social media. We continue lockdown Hawkeyes. One more big question remains on the offensive side of the ball. Who's going to be the left tackle? We'll get David Eichold's thoughts on that.

Starting point is 00:12:05 Plus take a look at the defense, what we saw over the weekend as we react. Plus, what little basketball coming up later on as we continue on the lockdown Hawkeyes podcast? Today's episode is brought to you by Monarch Money. Most people can't name all their financial accounts or even what they're worth, whether it's 401Ks, properties, or investments, and when you don't have the full picture, you can end up leaving money on the table.

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Starting point is 00:13:02 Having them all there helps out me and helps out my family and figuring out where the money is coming and where it's going. Don't let financial opportunities slip through the cracks. Use the code locked on college at monarchmoney.com in your browser for half off, your first year. That's 50% off your first year at monarchmoney.com with the code Lockedon College, monarchmoney.com. Trent, kind of back with you once again on the Lockdown Hawkeyes podcast. Join today by David Eichold. Thanks to everybody out there for making Lockdown Hawkeyes, your first listen every day,

Starting point is 00:13:40 your daily Iowa Hawkeye podcast. Well, David Eichold, he's turning out content daily at Hawkeye Insider.com. one more on the offense from over the weekend, and that is left tackle. So you were there, as I asked the question to Kirk when we were in Vegas, about left tackle. And I asked specifically about Bryce George.

Starting point is 00:13:57 He said, well, we wouldn't have brought him in. We didn't think he could play. And then we see Saturday, and he didn't play very well. I get it. He's learning. This is a big transition. It does look like the speed of Big Ten,

Starting point is 00:14:09 and certainly the Iowa defense events, I think play a part of that there. Maybe it's too quick, too early here. If we're going to see Bryce, George is more likely we see him inside before outside? That's what I think. Yeah. I mean, I think he's going to be challenging for that left guard spot, if anything, because I think Kate Peeper is going to hold down that right side. By the way, for anybody asking, I know this is kind of a given, but Jang's Dunker is not flipping from right tackle and left tackle

Starting point is 00:14:33 in any sort of circumstance. He has not practiced that I confirmed with George Barnett about that. But, yeah, I think Bryce George could be a very key rotational piece. He does continue to need to catch up to the speed of the game. And if you're Iowa right now, you can't afford to wait because I have a column coming out about this next week, Trent, that Iowa State game could very well determine the entire season. And what I mean from is this standpoint. I think Iowa is two gimmie games.

Starting point is 00:15:00 I think they beat Rutgers. I'd be stunned if they lose the Rutgers, the success they've had over there when they travel over east. Then you're looking at Indiana. And if you beat Iowa State, you're looking at Indiana, 4 and O, homecoming. You beat Indiana. Guess what? You're 5 and 0.

Starting point is 00:15:13 and at that point, you're talking about a potential playoff run at that point, right? Especially if you beat Iowa State in Indiana early. And, you know, who knows what's going to happen with that Iowa State game? I still haven't made up my mind about it. But my point is you cannot wait for Bryce George to really be ready. If you need another guy, you can throw him in there. But if he's not really ready for Big Ten action, then you're not going to be able to force him in. But right now, I think George Barnett, I think both line scrimmages feel really good about the standpoint.

Starting point is 00:15:40 Hey, you know what? they got seven or eight guys that they're not going to hesitate to go throw in there. With that being said, though, I think four of the five spots are pretty well locked down. Maybe that left guard spot, though, is going to be up just for contention. I'm with you there,

Starting point is 00:15:57 and I love the upside of Lalkin, what we saw. Yeah, there were some moments that leave you scratch your head that's going to happen, even with the redshirt sophomore that doesn't have a lot of game reps. But a reason for that is on the other side of the football, too. that defensive line they are deep they are hungry and i said this a week or two ago david i think if i was going to be back to the level of defense that maybe we anticipate that defensive line has to be at a high level i mean they have to be maybe one of the best five or six defensive lines in the

Starting point is 00:16:26 country yeah and am i crazy to think that they have that kind of upside a lot's got to happen i get it but if if alan starts to hit and he's able to be that third round in a rush specialist and playing inside and outside and erin graves takes another step and of course herket louis and on the outside, and then the depth pieces that we've talked about. Is it crazy to think that Iowa can get to those heights on the defensive line? I think Iowa is the highest floor of a defensive line is in the big 10, at least. I mean, I think we know what to expect out of them. But I also think if that Iowa defense is going to get back to that elite sort of stats,

Starting point is 00:16:57 that defensive line can't be above good. They can't be good. They have to be great. They have to be borderline elite. Do they have potential? Absolutely. Am I still good? Question market?

Starting point is 00:17:06 Yes, because I need to see one guy that can go break out. there, right? And be that double-digit sack guy. I think if Brian Allen was healthy in this offseason, I think he'd have a better year. I still think he could be a six, six and a half sat caliber guy. Love Maxwell. But let me throw a name at you. I've heard a lot behind the scenes. Now, he still might be a year away, but I think he's going to be a key rotational piece this year. And I think he's going to be poised to be a monster next year. Bryce Hawthorne. Like the stuff I've been hearing about Bryce Hawthorne is ridiculous, how violent of hands he has, how much of just a problem he's been in the trenches and guess what who better to go up against every single day

Starting point is 00:17:42 than a logan jones then some of those guys man and he's going from the fcs level i get it remember he's an fcs all-american he's got the size he has the football IQ and kelvin bell raved about him when we got the chance to talk to him so i throw him in that category but you're exactly right man if they can have an elite defensive line i don't think linebacker's going to be a very big strength for this team you know just based on what i've seen so far i think that can step up and be surprises, but all they got to do is their job. Like, they just have to be suitable. They just have to be formidable.

Starting point is 00:18:16 They just have to do their job. I think at times, Jay Higgins, Nick Jackson, some of those guys, I think they covered up some holes from an elite defensive line. Not that Iowa's defense line was bad by any means, but they covered them up for not being great, right? I think that's a key part of it. But the defensive line also has to get to the quarterback because we're unsure about secondary right now.

Starting point is 00:18:36 you know iwas usually has the cooper de jean usually has a desmond king has those guys that can sit back there and cover for six seven seconds i was got to be able to get to the quarterback in four and that's going to be a big big key for me so you mentioned that defensive backfield and i think that still remains my biggest concern because what we saw from carson shire that dude as long as he's healthy he looked the part in a big time he was the breakout player yes thank you i'm happy he brought him up because he made a handful of plays and even I think Kirk Farrant said the other day, he's been kind of the surprise breakout player.

Starting point is 00:19:11 They need those stories. In the middle, they're going to be fine. And I think I told you a week ago, Montgomery, I continue to hear it is neck and neck with him and Harold. Harold's more than likely going to get the first nod, but Montgomery's right behind him. And then, of course, he got the young guys there. I think they're going to be fine that linebacker eventually.

Starting point is 00:19:28 But cornerback now, T.J. Hall, dealing with the bone bruise. Watson, he's had a soft tissue thing here during camp. It feels like Barros, the South Dakota, transfer hasn't quite click for him. We saw Deshawn Lee. We've seen Deshawn Lee, and it doesn't feel like he's made any kind of big leap here. I still have big question marks at cornerback.

Starting point is 00:19:47 Yeah, I mean, I couldn't phrase any better than that. Your guess is as good as my at this point. I think, and this is kind of what I asked Kirk Farrant still, right, after the open scrimmage. I said, how do you balance feeling like you've made progress on offense versus defense when it comes to the wide receivers and defensive backs? when you have you know the wide receivers just haven't been as good in recent years we know that the db room is struggling with entries like how do you honestly assess it and he just said we go by technique we just look back to where they started where they come and they said they have a whole

Starting point is 00:20:19 different evaluation for every little thing and they know they have to keep that in mind so i i said fair enough i get it he probably didn't want to go too much as the exes and nose but what he said makes sense but the same time also i think you look at the defensive backs it's one of those things where are you going to trust Phil Parker? And I feel like we're in a little bit of a paradox from this standpoint. I feel like I know more about the offense, what we're going to get out of the offense than the defense. I think Iowa's offense is going to be pretty good.

Starting point is 00:20:49 Now, what's pretty good? That's relative, right? Like I think they can be top half in the country, including a passing offense. Hallelujah, successful year. Right? You bring a Mark Grinowski, you take that step from a passing standpoint. I still need to see it to believe.

Starting point is 00:21:02 it when it comes to defense everything tells me i need to be concerned about the defense but iowa's defense has really never been that bad under phil even last year by the numbers outside of a couple games we know about the couple games right but by the numbers trend we thought they had an off year they still are pretty damn good so at the same time the same breath i'm sitting here saying well i'm not going to not trust phil parker until i see it so until iowa's offense is good i'm not going to believe it until Iowa's defense is bad i'm not going to believe it so it's just sort of it's a very weird circumstance but i think only if you're an iowa fan or if you follow iowa does that i think make any sort of sense but you're right i think concerns about the secondary are

Starting point is 00:21:48 legit to the standpoint but at the same time i'm very curious how much t j hall has progressed because i've heard a lot of things behind the scenes that he had a really great offseason his guy who's really taking it personally. He's a guy that really has sort of attacked the wide receivers and really pushed that defensive backroom. But again, we've seen low lights at DJ Hall. Did he piece it together over the last seven months? I guess based on what we know right now, we'll see week one, week two. I'm not buying anything week one. We're waiting until week two and then I'm really going to start drawing conclusions. We're going to overreact to it. You know what's going to happen. You know what's going to happen after week one because that's what we do. Hey, before we let you go, got a couple of basketball

Starting point is 00:22:28 questions for you. We'll get into those as we continue. David Eichold, joining us from Hawkeye Insider.com on the Lockdown Hawkeyes podcast. Back with you one final time. Lockdown Hawkeyes as we're joined by David Eicholt. Trent Condon here with you as I am each and every day during the course of the week, your daily Iowa Hawkeye podcast. All right, Icult. A little basketball for you. And there's been some swings and misses. Kate Harpering over on the women's basketball side, makes their commitment to North Carolina over the weekend. I know a couple of Iowa's bigger targets for class of 2026 on the men's side have gone away. And somebody that covers recruiting like you do, just give us your takeaways.

Starting point is 00:23:12 I used to follow recruiting a whole lot more. Boy, in today's environment of the transfer portal, it just feels so different to me. It's impossible. And I mean that from like the nicest standpoint ever because of how many different factors there are. I'll say this. And again, you never want to be the bridesmaid. You always want to be the bride, right? Iowa was very close with Kate Harper.

Starting point is 00:23:35 I have three different sources that informed me that Iowa made her final three in Iowa, arguably finish number two. I got told by one person. The North Carolina fit makes sense. I think the proximity, based on her family being able to attend games, would be a lot harder from Iowa City. Because remember, she's from Georgia. but the things I've been told about Iowa's efforts from coast to coast recruiting wise trend they're doing in all caps a great job like Iowa is continuing to look to establish itself and I hate being that guy that said it's a make or break on one recruit for this 26th class

Starting point is 00:24:12 and I think you know I'm going with this it's all about if Iowa can get McKenna Willits go if Iowa gets Willits go I think the floodgates open and I think Iowa will get potentially another five-star along with bullets go. There is that sort of potential. And you talk about following recruiting. A month ago, I was told Iowa was completely owned Jenica Lewis. Yeah. Well, Jenica Lewis officially has an official visit plan now for October 24th.

Starting point is 00:24:40 So, you know, and I think that's great news of your Iowa, considering that you didn't hit on Kate Harper. The other thing I will add, and this is going to be a teaser, and I'm sorry to do this to you, but Sean Bach put up on her board about two hours ago. Iowa's men's team might not be done in this year's roster. There was a player that was recently given another year, and Iowa is doing homework on it. Now, if it doesn't happen, then Iowa's roster is done from my understanding.

Starting point is 00:25:11 But there was a situation that has arisen where Iowa is going to look at this guard to potentially add. And I would call it a significant addition. I don't even want to put my odds on it right now, Trent. Yeah. But I also think if you're an Iowa fan and you look at this roster right now and you look at the past and how Iowa's approach thinks, I think you're feeling very encouraged that Ben McCollum and his staff

Starting point is 00:25:36 are keeping the freaking doors open on Wednesday, August 13th, to potentially add another big playmaker to the roster. Not a lot of coaches would do that, even with an open scholarship. So I think given the way everything's kind of unfolded, I think you feel pretty darn encouraging. But the other part is, too, Iowa's going to have a handful of 2026 and 2027 official visitors on campus here over the next two months or so. So they're going all in, man.

Starting point is 00:26:04 And I think it's a really exciting time to be, honestly, an Iowa fan. I think you look at the Iowa football home schedule. You look at the women's basketball and the trajectory they have. The things I've heard about Addie Deal, she might be arguably already a top two player on the team, maybe the best player on the team from time to time. And then you look at the men's roster and the way that's shaken out. it's going to be a really, really fun year. I mean, just from all three sports standpoint, Trent,

Starting point is 00:26:26 this is probably as excited as I've been covering the teams. Yeah, there's questions yet there's a lot of excitement about kind of what the depth is going to look like going forward. And I'm with you. I think this is going to be a really exciting year and really excited about what we're going to see on that front. Expectation-wise, football, men's basketball, women's basketball. Iowa, I still until we see it, they're going to be eight and four. kind of where I am. That's kind of right.

Starting point is 00:26:54 I'm leaning closer 9 and 3 than I am 7.5, though. And I think I'm with you. I think I agree with that. I think the baseline for the men's program, NCAA tournament team. You bring in a guy that is a preseason All-American, a potential lottery pick. I think your expectation at minimum has to be there. Maybe the most difficult for me right now is the women's basketball team. Tournament team, absolutely.

Starting point is 00:27:16 But how much higher than just being a tournament team are your expectations for this women's squad? my way too early guess is I think they're about where they were last year. I think they're borderline suite 16 team. I think they have more size. And I hate to dumb it down to two things, right? Can Hannah Stolke hit a jump shot? Right. And be consistent.

Starting point is 00:27:39 We know how good she's been for Iowa. She's won a lot of big games for Iowa. She's made a lot of key plays. So I'm not trying to demean her by saying that. She's got to be a four. She cannot be a five when you have Ava Hayden and Leila Hayes. because what Layla Hayes was able to do against Ava this summer and the matchups that we got to see Trent,

Starting point is 00:27:57 that girl is going to be ridiculously good. She's going to go through growing pains. Yeah. But man, that is the type of player where you get Jan Jensen, you know, she's just got our Starbucks in the hand, like nodding and smiling. Like, she's got somebody there.

Starting point is 00:28:12 And point guard play. Chit Chat Wright flashed at times last year, George Tech. She was right higher than Leah Guy in the recruiting class. man she's 5354 on a good day can she defend at the big 10 level and can she withstand the physicality of big 10 play if she can be an efficient point guard if hannah stokey can hit jump shot i think i'm leaning more toward a sweet 16 team like i i just think the team has that sort of potentially get kiley fearbach back you have a number of weapons of the two to three i love Emily Rodriguez. I think she needs to continue

Starting point is 00:28:47 to learn the system. But she is so strong. Her shoulders and her upper body are so strong. She's not getting bullied by anybody. I think her potential in Iowa system is really high. She might be a year away too. But I'd say Borland Suite 16

Starting point is 00:29:03 am I way too early guess? Got me pumped up. David Eichol 24-7 SportsA, as we get closer to football season and I know you guys are always putting together specials. People jump at aboard with you guys over at 24-7 sports. What's the latest and what are you working on that people can be reading this week? as I am reading on that update you just mentioned from Sean about the potential transfer on the

Starting point is 00:29:24 basketball front. At least some way they're monitoring, right? But yeah, we have 50% off an annual subscription right now. I mean, we got Elliott Clough formerly of the old rival site with us now. So it's been Sean, me, and Elliott. And the transition's been seamless. It's been a lot of fun. It makes a lot of sense. And I can tell you, like, I don't think we've ever had more preseason until than we've had this year. And the nice part for me, Trent, I could actually kick my feet up a little bit. It's so much nicer to have a third person. So I'm really stoked that that Elliott's award.

Starting point is 00:29:54 We got Hawkeyeinsider.com. Be sure check it out. We have fresh content every single day, fresh intel. Feels like almost every hour of the day. But we'll just keep that, man. I'm really, really excited for the next year. No doubt about it. We will be seeing you soon.

Starting point is 00:30:07 David Eichol joining us again, hawkye insider.com is where you can find David. A big thank you to him joining us here today. That'll do it for the program. We'll be back with you tomorrow. I will probably be digging into that basketball front a little bit deeper with the news that Sean had out there. And we'll do what we do here. That is speculate each and every day.

Starting point is 00:30:25 Your team every day on the lockdown network. We'll talk again tomorrow. Until then, go Hawks.

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