Locked On Hawkeyes - Daily Podcast On Iowa Hawkeyes Football & Basketball - Can Iowa Hawkeyes' Kirk Ferentz land Mark Gronowski? Women's Hoops Falls vs. Maryland

Episode Date: January 6, 2025

Can the Iowa Hawkeyes football team secure a game-changing addition with quarterback Mark Gronowski? As the Hawkeyes eye a potential transfer from South Dakota State, the stakes are high for their off...ensive strategy. This episode dives into the latest recruiting updates, including the commitment of defensive tackle Bryce Hawthorne, and explores the challenges facing Iowa's men's and women's basketball teams. With insights from guest Scott Dochterman of The Athletic, listeners will gain a deeper understanding of the Hawkeyes' current dynamics. Discover how Kirk Ferentz's NFL connections could influence Gronowski's decision and what lies ahead for Iowa's athletic department. Don't miss this chance to explore the future of Iowa Hawkeyes sports and the pivotal moves that could reshape their path to success.Follow Trent Condon on X: https://twitter.com/trentcondonLISTEN TO THE PODCAST: APPLE: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/locked-on-hawkeyes-daily-podcast-on-iowa-hawkeyes-football/id1441592240SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/0GTyz5ygevcGXdTF6QSoEoYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/LockedOnHawkeyesSupport Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Rocket MoneyCancel your unwanted subscriptions and reach your financial goals faster with Rocket Money. Go to RocketMoney.com/lockedon today.Turbo TaxReady for stress-free taxes and the most money back, guaranteed? Head over to TurboTax.com today and get matched with your Expert. Only available with TurboTax Live Full Service. Real-time updates only in the iOS mobile app. See guarantee details at TurboTax.com/guarantees. GametimeDownload the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONCOLLEGE for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Download Gametime today. What time is it? Gametime.FanDuelFrom big upsets to game-winning drives, the NFL Playoffs are better with FanDuel new customers can bet FIVE DOLLARS and get TWO HUNDRED BUCKS in BONUS BETS - GUARANTEED - Win or Lose. Visit FANDUEL.COM to get started. Make this playoff season unforgettable with FanDuel, an official sportsbook partner of the NFL.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)

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Starting point is 00:00:00 Mark Granowski watch continues. Can Iowa land the coveted quarterback? Plus, Iowa women's basketball falls for the first time in a long time at home. Carver Hawkeye Arena and Big Ten play all today. Locked on Hawkeye. You are locked on Hawkeyes. Your daily podcast on the Iowa Hawkeyes. Part of the Locked On Podcastkeyes, your daily podcast on the Iowa Hawkeyes.
Starting point is 00:00:29 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. You can also watch us on YouTube. While you're there, hit subscribe. Just takes a moment and helps us get in front of more Hawkeye fans.
Starting point is 00:00:52 Today's episode of Lockdown Hawkeyes is brought to you by GameTime. Download the GameTime app, create an account, and use code LOCKDOWNCOLLEGE for $20 off your first purchase. Lots to get into here today. We're going to talk some Iowa women's basketball as they fall against Maryland on Sunday evening. A frustrating game overall. Got down by 25. Came back.
Starting point is 00:01:10 Got it within a five-point deficit, but never could get over the hump in that one. Freshmen continue to impress. We'll talk about that. Also, Scott Dockerman from The Athletic. He's going to be joining us coming up here in just a few moments. But we kick things off with the weekend that was in Hawkeye Athletics. And yes, it was a brutal defeat on Friday night from the men's basketball team. That was ugly.
Starting point is 00:01:32 Mentioned the disappointment of what happened on Sunday from the women's program. However, I don't think I was alone with many of you that were waiting. What was happening with Mark Gronowski, the South Dakota State transfer quarterback? What was happening on his visit? Was there going to be any update? Were we going to get a commitment? What was going to happen on that one? I was on, I don't want to say pins and needles,
Starting point is 00:01:57 but I was hitting refresh on social media a couple of times, jumping over the message board, seeing is there going to be anything that eventually was going to come out of this one and we didn't so reading a couple of uh comments from brad heinrichs who runs the swarm collective the arm of iowa athletics now that helps pay the players and he said that mark granowski after his visit this weekend, traveled back home. So they first didn't get the commitment that they wanted maybe before he left on campus. But one thing that Brad mentioned is that they were giving him time. This is not a situation
Starting point is 00:02:36 where Iowa is after a bunch of quarterbacks. That the Hawkeyes have a group of two, three, four guys that they're looking at to come in here and be the guy, and they're just waiting for the first commitment, or they have a certain pecking order that they want to play out, and because of that, they need an answer now. It's Mark Gronowski or probably nobody at this point at the quarterback position.
Starting point is 00:02:59 They're still out there recruiting cornerbacks. They're still out there looking at wide receivers. Maybe some good news on that front with Sam Phillips on the UT Chattanooga, a wide receiver that was rumored to possibly be visiting USC. That didn't appear to happen this weekend, but you see, you have that. And that makes it much easier. One other thing that I heard is that the staff put their best foot forward. I mean, that's no surprise. Tim Lester laid out the vision of why this was going to be different. He's not making a choice of coming into just some decrepit offense, passing game that has no chance of getting better,
Starting point is 00:03:32 why it was going to be better, and why a guy like Mark Gronowski can improve it. But the other thing that I heard was that Kirk Ferentz did a very good job of not just relaying his connections to the NFL, and we know they're immense, and one of the best things about the Iowa program and one of the reasons that when they do have success recruiting with some top-end guys is selling just that, right? The ability not just to get to the league, but the path to get there at a place like Iowa
Starting point is 00:04:01 is easier than programs of similar ilk. The reason for that is Kirk Ferentz and his connections and the respect that he has built. And I think a lot of people miss that part of it. It's not just that he coached in the NFL, what, 30 years ago. That's not what it is. It's the connections that he has made. It's the respect that people have, both former, both coaches and evaluators, scouts, GMs, all the people that really matter when it comes to the decision-making.
Starting point is 00:04:33 They believe in Kirk Ferentz and what he says, and that he's going to tell the truth about his guys, that he is not going to sell you 11. He's going to give you everything that you need to know to make an informed decision about these guys about these players and eventually it works out incredibly well so that goes hand in hand so what kirk ferris did is not just say come here my connections will work but already starting that and the evaluation process and talking to a few more people in the evaluation space and we talked about now if he's a fourth, fifth rounder,
Starting point is 00:05:07 that choice for Mark Gronowski in the NFL draft, I think is going to be a little bit more difficult. And the more that I've heard, the more that I've read, and talking to a few people that know a little bit better, maybe even later than that. Like fourth round's probably the absolute tip top of the sphere where Mark Gronowski would would go and likely more in that sixth seventh maybe even undrafted free agent range and that changes the equation because
Starting point is 00:05:34 you're talking about getting a pretty good chunk of change to come to be iowa's quarterback for a year you couple that with an ability maybe to improve your stock, doing it against Big Ten defenses as opposed to against the FCS. Now, I've seen a lot out there, and there's some comments being made. Well, he sucked against Iowa when he had the chance three years ago. Okay. He was coming off an ACL tear. It was his first start in over a year. He was doing it in a Big Ten stadium.
Starting point is 00:06:03 And remember that Iowa defense is pretty dang good. One game does it in a Big Ten stadium. And remember that Iowa defense is pretty dang good. One game does not make a career. And we have seen guys that have got a lot of reps be able to do a lot of good things. Look, I'm excited. If Iowa gets a commitment for Mark Gronowski, I will be excited.
Starting point is 00:06:20 Do sometimes I get too enamored with these guys that are coming out of the portal? You could probably argue that. He just seems like he is such a fit for Iowa, for Tim Lester, just the right guy at the right time. That's hyperbolic. And there's nothing you can back it up with numbers or statistics or anything like that. And I'd like to have usually some kind of math involved instead of just going strictly
Starting point is 00:06:43 feelings, right? Not just all feelings here. It has to be something substantial. Normally, I don't have anything that you could point to. His numbers are incredible at South Dakota State. His numbers were ridiculous. This is a change. I just think it's a marriage that makes a whole lot of sense, and I will be excited if it happens. I would,, they were not alone over the weekend in getting South Dakota guys on campus. They had another one, and they got a commitment. So a commitment is incredibly important in that defensive line,
Starting point is 00:07:17 and we've talked a lot about the defensive line and what they need to do inside. They have the bodies outside. They feel like they're in good shape there. Llewellyn's going to step in and hopefully improve upon what we saw from Deontay Craig this year. But it was the middle. It was the depth in the middle that remained a concern. What they were going to do after Aaron Graves coming back for another season of football.
Starting point is 00:07:40 What they were going to do. Jeremiah Pittman has proven this year at minimum. He's a competent reserve. Can there be more? Can we see a senior step forward? That's what you're hoping for for Jeremiah Pittman. But at minimum, he can give you 10, 12, 15 snaps a game, and you feel okay with that.
Starting point is 00:07:58 But they wanted more. So they went out and got one of their first guys that they were after in the portal in Jonah Pace. Then they add it now with Bryce Hathorne. Now, Hathorne was not a starter at South Dakota State. He was a rotational piece. Still, as a redshirt freshman, he put up some big numbers, four and a half sacks, six and a half tackles for a loss. He was a guy that showed an ability to get off the line,
Starting point is 00:08:18 6'3", 285, want to add a little bit more size to it, but you're building depth now at defensive tackle. And remember, after the guys this year, and after Pittman is the number three, we're talking about some long shots, walk on guys, and we're getting opportunities, things like that. So you've added the depth of defensive tackle. You got to add a wide receiver. You have to add cornerback depth, I believe, and we still await quarterback. Left tackle doesn't appear that there's anybody that they're enamored with, and they're likely going to go with Trevor Lauch as the left tackle next season
Starting point is 00:08:49 on the offensive side of the football. Look, the portal season, though it's coming to a close, remember, we still got time before classes begin. There's still guys in there. In fact, there's guys still in the playoff that still can enter, and if there's any kind of coaching change, wacky things happen from time to time, that's going to lead to another possible domino effect.
Starting point is 00:09:09 That's going to go there. And then we have the spring season on top of it. Bryce Hawthorne, like it, good depth piece. Adding that depth at the defensive tackle was needed. And we needed more, do more, excuse me, defensively on that front. Let's talk with Scott Dockerman from the athletic little Iowa football talk.
Starting point is 00:09:26 Also going to talk some basketball with him, and then we'll get into the Iowa women's game. Frustrating one on Sunday night as Iowa falls to Maryland. We continue. This is Locked on Hawkeyes. From big upsets to game-winning drives, the NFL playoffs are better with FanDuel. Because right now, new customers can bet $5. You're going to get $200 in bonus bets, guaranteed.
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Starting point is 00:10:54 Sound like they laid out the plan incredibly well. If anything, what have you heard on his visit last week into Iowa City and the chances he becomes a Hawkeye? And what was it that just said, felt to you that this was such a good match together? Yeah, I mean, I think everybody's kind of on the same type of thing here that, you know, they really, you know, made a strong pitch this weekend to make him the face of the program, the offense. And now it's really, it's up to him whether it's going to be Iowa or the NFL. And, you know, so they're they're
Starting point is 00:11:25 playing the waiting game I think everybody you know is feeling the same way who knows it could happen while we're on the uh on the show right now talking but I think what what I really came away with from watching him is he he combines on-field production in a way that kind of justifies the the swagger and leadership that he has you know is he he's not necessarily the best passer in the country but he's very accurate he's got a strong enough arm he's a pocket guy but he could also run and he's a good athlete and he's tough and he does he kind of presents himself in all those areas and um you know and you know of course he was the walter payton award winner last year you
Starting point is 00:12:06 look at minnesota and what it was able to do with max brosmer this year there's you know they i look do the same thing and then likewise you know curtis work is kind of was kind of in the same situation at ohio remember he was the one who beat iowa state a couple years ago at ohio um and he could again elevate this offense mark Mark Gronowski could. Now, you know, Iowa's playing the waiting game. If he can come onto campus, if Iowa can plan another receiver to go along with him, I think he's got a chance to really turn the face of this passing game. And I've seen some strong negative Nellies out there, like it's not going to matter. Why would he come to Iowa?
Starting point is 00:12:45 Iowa's offense sucks. Well, when you look at every statistical measurement outside of total offense and passing offense, I mean, they were much improved this year. And if that's what you need as a quarterback in a scheme like this, I think it's really valuable. And likewise with him, I get the sense that he'd probably be a late-round draft pick at best, and that's not an easy way to make a living. A lot of times you're living on the practice team and floating around.
Starting point is 00:13:15 This would be an opportunity for him to solidify himself in that position, go to a Big Ten school that has struggled recently in the passing game. If he elevates it, he could really strengthen his pro potential as well and get paid probably more guaranteed than he could as a low late-round draft pick. So I think this would be a win-win for Iowa in a lot of ways. It's not over, certainly, but I think he's been target number one for me once South Dakota State went out. And I think he would be a perfect fit for the Hawkeyes. Did you have a chance to ask Dane Brugler the athletics NFL draft?
Starting point is 00:13:56 Nick, if you will, he's really good at what he does. Where he has Gronowski as far as kind of a range of picks uh rounds that he thinks that he could be picked should he enter the draft this year i haven't talked to him about it i mean it is kind of a a weaker class if you will um you know but he's he you know from what i've seen and this is just so preliminary right now we gotta wait for the echo chamber to stabilize a little bit on quarterbacks but but you know that he is more in that sixth, seventh route. And, and that, and you're taking, again, if you're an NFL team, you're taking a real risk if you put them any higher than that, because,
Starting point is 00:14:34 you know, the level of competition and, and, and stuff. So he, you know, he would have to really wow people at the combine it to be in a good spot. So, I mean, I think this is a healthy decision for him to go to the next level now or go to the Big Ten after being so successful at South Dakota State. So I think this is, you know, whether we find out today or tomorrow, I think one way or the other, it's going to be a real important move for him and for Iowa.
Starting point is 00:15:03 Year number one, we saw a great improvement in the run game, the offense overall, but the passing game didn't take a big step forward. Regardless if it's Gronowski, Sullivan, maybe Hank Brown hits in year number one, whoever it turns out to be, what else needs to be done with the passing game? You know, we talked a lot in the past about route concepts, and it just, it didn't felt like it always kind of married. What did you see from that part? And does it give you hope
Starting point is 00:15:25 that there is going to be a lot more to this passing offense, regardless of the quarterback going forward? Oh, for sure. I mean, some of the numbers are really good. I mean, for instance, I think one of the biggest moves that they made was red zone efficiency with touchdown percentage this year. I mean, you're looking at last year, last year under Brian Ferentz, I mean, they're 132nd.
Starting point is 00:15:50 They only scored on 40% of their drives in the red zone for touchdowns and had 14 red zone touchdowns. This year, they're 57th in the nation, 53%, and 26 red zone touchdowns. I mean, that's a significant jump, and a lot of it has to do with play calling in the red zone, which was pretty good this year and which wasn't really good at all in the previous year. So I think that's an area that they can continue to improve on,
Starting point is 00:16:20 and that really comes down to having a better passing game. I mean, that was primarily because of the run attack so i i think the route concepts are good um it it means there needs to be growth in the past receivers among them um i saw some strides being made or that but they're not anywhere near the top half of the big 10 right now so it's about making sure that those receivers grow you get a quarterback who can make all the throws. And I think Tim Lester will have the type of offense that he needs to be successful and competitive among some of the elite games in the Big Ten. Have you got your marching orders for the rest of the week? Are you going to either the Cotton Bowl or the Orange Bowl? I'm not going to either one. I'm writing a story right now about the Big Ten's rise.
Starting point is 00:17:07 And so that's going to be, that's kind of what I'm working through now. And I've also got something written on Gronowski because it is a prominent player in the FCS who's going to potentially go to Iowa. And I think that's a really interesting story for everybody involved. So kind of working through those things.
Starting point is 00:17:24 I may actually take in a basketball game tomorrow night, see what happens there. I'm writing a little bit of basketball, not much, but I do eyeball it. That's kind of where I'm looking at right now. Of course, I will pay heavy attention this week to the CFP semifinals.
Starting point is 00:17:39 Going to be a great week of football. Of course, NFL playoffs right behind it. It's a nice game. Yes. Quarterback from Solon, Miller. It's going to be a great week of football. Of course, NFL playoffs right behind it. It's a nice game. Yes. With ties, right? That's absolutely. Quarterback from Solon. Yeah. Miller. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:17:49 Got the right last name, right? Kenny. And he can play too. He can. Trey Lance's little brother's his favorite target. Bryce. I think it's Bryce Lance. He's an elevator.
Starting point is 00:17:57 He's an elevator receiver. All kinds of connections. A lot of Eastern Iowa kids that make their way up to North Dakota state as well. That's going to be fun to watch. Hey, you mentioned basketball, doc. No, you're not on the beat anymore for basketball, but you did such a good job, and you were there from the beginning of Fran when you were back with the Gazette.
Starting point is 00:18:12 Boy, you see the attendance. You see how bad it's got there. That performance Friday night, the last 15 minutes of the game, was just deplorable. What are your thoughts, just big picture, on Iowa basketball? Yeah, they got a lot. I don't know. I think right now you're looking at a product that the fans aren't supporting.
Starting point is 00:18:33 And whether an apathy has certainly settled in. And it's because of the same old, same old. I mean, you look at the records. They've been okay. I mean, over the years they've gone to the NCAA tournament frequently. But then you look at, I five times since since 2018 iowa has allowed a big 10 team to hit at least 19 three-pointers jesus you know that's just unbelievable i mean four of those teams because purdue did it twice um four of those teams set their school record for three-pointers in a game you know that's just you know and to not identify it and allow it to happen over and over and over again
Starting point is 00:19:10 shows that you're not willing to make those steps to change anything, that you're fine. And what we've seen with Iowa, and this is compared to football, it's like the air-raid offense that can't stop anybody, and you wonder why you're going 8-4 every year. Well, that's the reason, because you can't stop anybody when it really matters, and you're not training them, and you're not coaching them well enough, and you're not working on defense in practice long enough.
Starting point is 00:19:39 So I think right now what you're seeing is peak Iowa. This is the Iowa that we've got for Fran McCaffrey since 2010. That is a really good offensive team, third in the nation in scoring offense, entertaining that way, but not a serious contender to win any kind of a championship in the Big Ten or NCAA, that's for sure. This isn't a hot take, Doc, but it's certainly been said over the last few months. Beth Guest has got a busy couple of years coming up as far as hires. One would think
Starting point is 00:20:08 that Kirk Ferentz isn't getting any younger, neither is McCabe. Hell, neither any of us. You get my point, though. Brand's probably on his... She's going to have some decisions that she and her... I don't know if she'll hire a committee or whatever, but there's changes afoot, I think, in the
Starting point is 00:20:24 athletic offices in the next couple of years. Yeah, they've had great stability. Without a doubt. Forever. You know, when everybody's looking at Fran as like the newest one and it's been, you know, 15 years now, I mean, that's pretty incredible. But, yeah, I mean, everybody's time kind of runs out. Kirk will be 70 this year.
Starting point is 00:20:42 Lisa already retired. You know, Brands has been around for a year lisa already retired um you know brands has been around for a long time i mean you know that there are going to be some changes um soon it's just i think when you look at men's basketball and you say okay football is sold out every game women's basketball sold out every game wrestling is sold out every match men's basketball you go in there and it's you know it's not the home court advantage it once was. And it shows that there is a, I mean, when I go out and about and I talk to people, whether it's about Iowa or anything, they, they want to talk about anything but men's basketball.
Starting point is 00:21:16 It just doesn't even enter their mindset anymore. And that's a shame because it wasn't that long ago when it went hand in hand with football. I mean, it was like a handoff, like a baton. Like, okay, now it's your season. People talked about it all the time. Now they just don't even care. Doc, great stuff. Appreciate you coming on. We'll look for those two pieces of your work coming up this week
Starting point is 00:21:35 at The Athletic, and we'll talk to you next week. Thank you, Scott Dockerman. Appreciate you coming on. All right. Have a good one, guys. Thank you. Scott Dockerman from The Athletic. coming on.
Starting point is 00:21:41 All right. Have a good one, guys. Thank you. Scott Dockerman from The Athletic. Today's episode of Locked On Hawkeyes is brought to you by Game Time. Look, taking a look at this new 12-team college football playoff field, the games have been just an amazing experience, bringing fans together like never before. We had home field, then neutral field, and now we get to the semifinals.
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Starting point is 00:23:04 Terms apply. Again, create an account and redeem code LOCKEDONCOLLEGE for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Again, create an account and redeem code LOCKEDONCOLLEGE, L-O-C-K-E-D-O-N-C-O-L-L-E-G-E for $20 off. Download game time today. Last minute tickets, lowest price guaranteed. Trent Conniff back with you one final time. Locked on Hawkeyes. Thanks for being with us.
Starting point is 00:23:26 Hey, hit that subscribe button if you're here. Just takes a moment and helps us get in front of more Hawkeye fans. If you're listening, podcast only side, five-star reviews. Greatly appreciate that from each and every one of you. Went over 4,000. Thank you for that on our YouTube subscribers. Let's keep pushing those numbers up. And a big shout out to everybody joining us
Starting point is 00:23:46 on the YouTube side of things. All right, let's get into what we saw last night, a frustrating game against Maryland. And as we talked about previewing the game, Maryland, Brenda Freeze, got some new faces, a lot of new faces there. They're going to be tough. They're going to be physical.
Starting point is 00:24:00 They're going to be athletic. That's what her teams do seemingly every single year. And you saw that show up again. The turnovers are a problem. We've got to the past the point now where we can just say, well, they'll figure it out. Now, it appears that this is going to be an issue really all season long with the turnovers. Now, I was been a turnover team. Caitlin Clark had plenty of them, some on her, some on her teammates,
Starting point is 00:24:25 but there were plenty that were credited to her. A couple of concerning things. The play, once again, of Hannah Stolke. One of eight from the floor. Two of four from the free throw line. Just so many times. And felt like she had the advantage. She'd get a step on somebody and just couldn't find the right angles.
Starting point is 00:24:43 Hitting off the bottom of the rim. Just one of those frustrating games. And again, that size and athleticism is going to give you problems. step on somebody and just couldn't find the right angles hitting off the bottom of the rim just one of those frustrating games and again that size and athleticism is going to give you problems i mentioned before the game sailor poff and barter boy she was good and didn't shoot it particularly well did hit a couple of three pointers but the difference was the three-point shooting of sellers and smikely and she was all over the place. They just were able to hit shots and balloon that lead out to 25. And when Iowa got it back, even when they're making the run, they got it to single digits. I think that was in a couple of stulky free throws.
Starting point is 00:25:12 They got it there. They got it down to five. Just never could come up with that play. And credit Maryland. They came up with responses. Look, they got to play the pace that they wanted. Now, Iowa's dreadful second quarter, I think, also had a big piece to do with that. In fact, points off turnovers, Maryland scored 27, 23 for Iowa.
Starting point is 00:25:32 I mean, they basically kept that even, that stat points off the turnovers. But it was the inability to get shots up. And when you turn it over that many times, that's going to show up in a big-time way. Iowa won the rebounding battle 44-41. They were aided by 13 offensive rebounds in that, but just overall, Iowa didn't have an answer. The defense looked rough at times. How about the plus-minus? Eddie O'Grady, a minus-19, a minus-9 for Lucy Olsen. Those were the two lowest on there, but you continue to go back.
Starting point is 00:26:05 And the reason that you're still optimistic with this team, it's these youngsters. And what we've seen at different times from Stremlow, from Mulaney, from Hyden, from Guyton, and Jan Jensen is relying on them. They're playing minutes. They're playing important minutes. But it almost feels like there needs to be more.
Starting point is 00:26:26 In a year number one for Jan Jensen, in a transitional year for the program coming off of Caitlin Clark, when you lose a transfer-national player in Caitlin Clark, there's going to be growing pains. There's going to be frustration. Lucy Olsen is as good of a stopgap as you could possibly find. However, she's not Caitlin Clark. Nobody's going to be Caitlin Clark.
Starting point is 00:26:52 But you look at this group of freshmen, they're not scared of the moment. They don't back down. There's a toughness angle that I think this program needs. There's a lot of things to be excited about, but you're never going to be able to trust them until you really trust them. Now that's going to be the next step for Jan Jensen. How much more? What was it? 16 minutes for Guyton. I hadn't played seven, 10 minutes for Mulaney, 18 for Scrum low. I just think you need a little bit more.
Starting point is 00:27:19 Guyton, she's going to be a star. Remember, she's coming off an ACL tear. And you see just how confident she is. She goes in there. She doesn't back down. She's just ready to go. Is she a full-time point guard? I don't know. What I see from her, love it.
Starting point is 00:27:36 So, I remember Malaney not going to back down. Hyden, she's going to get there. And I think she maybe should have played a little bit more last night. But that's where we are. Exciting group. Real exciting group and excited about the future of them. The future can be now, too. Don't be scared just because they're freshmen.
Starting point is 00:27:52 I think it's time for Jan to take the trading wheels off this group and roll with them because there's times Sydney Fulcher has not looked 100% throughout most of this year, and I think she was better last night, but still maybe not what I thought she was going to be. Kyler Field, Bach, the inconsistency, even the in-game inconsistency. They got the steal, got the run out.
Starting point is 00:28:13 That was their only bucket of the game, though. You need more from her. You do. Need more from Lucy Olsen. Maybe more playmaking from her. The shot's there, and when she's knocking down threes, she's really good. We know the mid-range game that she has. The Richardson group, going to be a fun group.
Starting point is 00:28:29 Going to be difficult, though. You look at the slate coming up now for the Iowa women. They go Thursday to Illinois, ranked 40th in the net. Indiana after that, ranked 38th. Nebraska, 34th. At Oregon, number 35. At Washington, 53. The one breather, if you will.
Starting point is 00:28:46 It's the last game of January against Northwestern at home. It's going to be tough. It's going to be difficult. Now it feels like you need to bounce back and you got to do it against Illinois on the road. It's going to be tough Thursday night for the women. The men back in action on Tuesday night against Nebraska. We will preview that one tomorrow as we, again, continue to
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Starting point is 00:29:41 We'll talk to you again tomorrow. Until then, go Hawks.

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