Locked On Hawkeyes - Daily Podcast On Iowa Hawkeyes Football & Basketball - DARKHORSE? Hawkeyes Quarterbacks BATTLE—Can Tradon Bessinger PUSH Hank Brown & Jeremy Hecklinski?

Starting point is 00:00:00 Everyone's talking about the quarterback competition between Hank Brown and Jeremy Hecklinski for Iowa football. But another candidate we need to talk about that could impact the 2007 season. 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. Trent Condon, and this is the Lockdown Hawkeyes podcast. Thanks for making Lockdown Hawkeyes your first listen every day. Daily Iowa Hawkeye podcast.

Starting point is 00:00:39 And we have you covered here as we break it down. Today, we're going to be looking for some answers for Iowa men's and women's basketball, media availability coming up this week. We'll talk about both the men and the women and some of the big questions we're looking to answer on that front. We'll also be joined by Elliott Club from Hawkeye Insider.com. Elliott will break down a little football conversation as we inch closer and closer to football season.

Starting point is 00:01:01 That's coming up here in segment number two. But we begin today at the most important position in sports. It is the quarterback position and, of course, the continued conversation. Who is it going to be? Will it be Hank Brown? Will it be Jeremy Hedglinsky? Who is going to be the guy that commands the Iowa offense this year? The likelihood is we're going to see both of these guys.

Starting point is 00:01:20 And kind of the springboard of this one. Yesterday we had a mailbag episode and there was a question I didn't get to because I wanted to dive a little bit deeper into this. This comes in from Jake Marks. He says, I'm super pumped about trading Bessinger. Do I need to pump my own breaks? I'm saying I think about getting him. reps in the first three games. I know that will happen, but I'm pretty excited about him. Go Hawks. Thanks for the question, Jake. And I think something that is intriguing at the very

Starting point is 00:01:45 least with Bessinger coming in. A big time prospect, a top 200 player, regardless of position over at 24-7 sports. This is a guy that had some big-time accolades coming out of high school as he comes in from Utah. Was committed to Boise State was also involved with BYU, UCLA, Minnesota, some of the other programs that were involved with him. The 24-7 composite rankings had him ranked 155th overall in the country. 24-7's individual rankings had him at 187, the number 12 quarterback in the country, number 11 on the composite, a big time prospect in a guy that you would normally think, no, this isn't going to happen, this is Iowa football.

Starting point is 00:02:23 These kind of things don't happen, but I do want to remind you of a couple of things. First, what we've seen over the last four seasons at the quarterback position for Iowa football, we have seen so much that has happened and so many injuries. And you hate to talk about injuries and you don't want to talk it into existence or anything like that. But the reality is the quarterback spot has been injury prone lately for Iowa football. It is something that has definitely changed. We go back to a season ago. Mark Grinowski made it through the whole year and was able to start every game.

Starting point is 00:02:52 But we remember him exiting the game against Indiana. That was Hank Brown getting the opportunity in that football game. Then what happened in the backup role with Jeremy Hecklinsky taking over as a backup from Brown in the middle part of the season. Still an injury there. He was a little bit hobbled, but obviously powered through it and had a very good season for the Hawkeyes a year ago. But that happened. And we did get to see Hank Brown for basically half of football against Indiana. We get to see Hank Lensky then in a backup role after that going forward.

Starting point is 00:03:22 So it did happen. And that was a quarterback that obviously ran the football was built like an absolute tank. You go back to two seasons ago, Cade McNamara had the injuries, Brennan Sullivan, splitting time, coming into the red zones, goal line situations. They used him in that fashion, then eventually taking over as a starter. He gets injured then, and that leads to us having Jackson Stratton out there. And Stratton then, I mean, the controls, had the win against Nebraska late in the season and did it on a single swing pass out there. Do Caleb Johnson that went the distance to tie things up as Iowa eventually pulled that one off against the Huskers.

Starting point is 00:03:54 So we saw three quarterbacks throughout the course of the year in 2024. 2003, Cade McNamara injured. Deacon Hill comes in. We also got to see Marco Lyones, who. played in the bowl game that season. So three different starters in that year. And even in 22 with Spencer Petrus out there, we saw Alex Padilla. He had the good game against Minnesota and got the victory in that one.

Starting point is 00:04:16 Joey Labus in the bowl game. So this is something that has become, unfortunately, more of the norm for Iowa football is multiple quarterbacks after they had what it felt like a decade straight run where injuries at minimum were not an issue at the quarterback position. That has changed here recently for Iowa football. And you also have to remember. I think all of us would be excited for a more mobile quarterback, a guy that can move, a guy that showed some of the things we've seen with the dual threat quarterbacks of the past. We saw that obviously last year with with Grinowski. We saw it a little bit with Brendan Sullivan and his running ability that he had.

Starting point is 00:04:50 Well, a guy that runs, it's going to lead to more hits. And when it leads to more hits, more potential injuries that can happen. So we've broke down Hank Jeremy back and forth, Brown versus Hecklinski. it's going to be something that continues. But who is going to be that number three guy? And if disaster strikes, either because of ineffectiveness from both of those guys or injuries start to crop up. Who else is in the mix at the quarterback spot?

Starting point is 00:05:16 Well, Jimmy Sullivan now has been in the program for a couple of seasons. Good things, live arm. He was a guy that was committed to the previous offensive coordinator and Brian Ferrence. But after Tim Lester had an opportunity to watch him throw, he decided, yes, we'll keep the offer there and we'll bring him on to campus. Ryan Fitzgerald, who came in as a walk-on, the son of Pat Fitzgerald, now the Michigan State head coach, of course, longtime coach at Northwestern. You got Fitz there, heard some good things for a walk-on, at minimum, a decent candidate, a good guy to have on the roster, but you get to Bessinger, and that's where the intrigue starts to build. We've seen in the past

Starting point is 00:05:52 that we have seen Iowa football that has been willing, at least in a backup role, to play a quarterback. And with the new five-for-five-year system that is in place, you have five years of eligibility. You can play as many games over those five years as is possible, but that's it. No more red shirts. If that changes the equation, Bessinger, he gets on campus and says, boy, this guy is open in eyes. This guy, he does look different. And maybe we do have our future quarterback also in this one with Bessinger. And it does make sense for him to maybe elevate to a backup role, injuries, those kind of things happen that you go.

Starting point is 00:06:28 that direction. So I don't think it's a crazy thing. Now, we also know he's not going to come in and suddenly be the starter in game one. We're not going to see Trayton Bessinger come in and be the guy from the first moment. That's not going to happen. But at minimum, gives you a little bit of intrigue of what could be possible and it got to be excited about it feels like with Trayden Bessinger. We continue here, lockdown Hawkeyes. Let's get into some different football topics. Elliott Clough is going to join us from 24-7 sports. We'll talk some football. And I'm going to pose a question I asked you last week. Who leads the Iowa men in scoring coming up this season?

Starting point is 00:07:03 We'll get Elliott's thoughts on that one as we continue. Stay right there. This is Lockdown, Hawkeyes. Support for today's episode comes from Indeed, sponsored jobs. When workplace chaos hits, you need to the right hire. Indeed, sponsor jobs helps connect employers with candidates who match specific needs, life skills, certifications, and locations. So less time gets spent searching and more time gets spent finding the right

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Starting point is 00:08:59 You see him over at Hawkeye Insider.com part of 24-7 sports. Elliot, good to see you once again. It's been in the past on the radio, but good to have you here. Live and I get to see your face. So when I ask a stupid question, I can see you roll your eyes. Sure, there you go. Yeah, Trent, good to be with you. Glad to hear things are going well behind the scenes.

Starting point is 00:09:18 And yeah, everything that has transpired, it's your guy that's easy to root for. Always been fun to hop on stuff like this with you. So easy yes this morning. Absolutely. Well, let's get into a couple of football things. And I opened the show today. and trading Bessinger, a guy that obviously, you know from the recruiting world very well, reopened his sheet after being committed to what Boise State for quite a while and ends up with the Hawkeyes.

Starting point is 00:09:45 Take us back a little bit to the recruitment of Bessinger, a guy that also, and I should have mentioned this earlier, just arrived on campus. He was not in an early enrollee. So definitely puts him behind the eight ball in terms of jumping up there, maybe even become, say, the number three quarterback early on. That's going to be difficult to do with just August camp in front of them. him. But take us back to him as a recruit, a top 200 player, both in the composite rankings and you guys over at 24-7. Yeah. Initially, a guy that Iowa was looking at to flip when they offered him, and it was very tentative at the beginning.

Starting point is 00:10:18 I remember I messaged him because that's kind of what you got to do when you're covering recruiting his, is shoot messages to these kids. But I messaged him and said, are you planning on taking an official visit, anything like that? he wasn't sure at that point in time was still stuck with and not stuck with, but sticking to his commitment with Boise State and then Iowa offers, but also BYUu offers and Minnesota offers. And when that happens, you really got to take your time and consider where you're at at that point in time. But BYU, it really looked like there was a strong possibility that that might happen. They did get the top quarterback in this recruiting class, but he will be going on a mission his freshman year. so they did want to bring in somebody and start working with them.

Starting point is 00:11:01 But, yeah, I don't know if you listen to the ANF podcast with Tim Lester that they just did. And, I mean, having a kid on an official visit, you can put the Green Bay Packers head coach in front of him. And he says, go to Iowa more or less. That's a pretty solid recruiting pitch. And, you know, I do a draft every year with the ANF guys. And I don't want to spoil anything, but I'm very high on Bessinger. for a lot of reasons. I think his ball placement is, if it's not elite, it's damn close.

Starting point is 00:11:33 I mean, the effortlessness that he throws the ball. I can't remember the exact stats, but he threw something like 45 touchdowns into maybe four or five interceptions as a senior, really just airing it out. There are some mechanical things that you can work on, some things that Lester referenced in that interview. But I think that Lester getting his guys, in the room, right? And he's done that at least to a degree via the portal, right? But getting guys out of high school is different. You really can mold them for that extended amount of time.

Starting point is 00:12:05 And I think that's a big win for Lester in a lot of ways to big win for Iowa in a ton of ways. Highest ranked recruit that I was had, and I think almost 20 years, not 25 years, it's a quarterback position, received a big boost at the end of his recruitment in terms of the rankings and being the second ranked guy in the class behind Darian Jones for Iowa. but just a lot of things. It's not the old ways of Brian Farrants of, oh, you're a quarterback and you want to play here? Come on down.

Starting point is 00:12:36 It's, they really wanted it. And they showed it. And Bessinger, I really think he's legit. Could he leapfrog and end up number three leapfrog, Jimmy Sullivan? I've heard some good things about Jimmy Sullivan from behind the scenes, making strides. He's not going to be a guy that's going to be in competition with Hank and Jeremy

Starting point is 00:12:55 Hicklinsky. My concern around the quarterback position, particularly with Bessinger, at least this year, is that people, I mean, it's not going to happen, but people will start saying, why not put the four-star out there after Hinklinsky and Hake Brown have some struggles? It's like, well, he's probably not ready. We can start having that conversation, maybe a little bit more in 2027, 2028, but the the talent is there. Some of the mechanical things that you clean up would be really positive. And I mean, this might be the biggest recruiting win for Iowa,

Starting point is 00:13:30 probably, I don't know, since Wampa maybe. I'm a big fan of Bessinger. So as we look at the quarterback spot for this year, I think we're both in agreement. And it's going to be incredibly difficult for a guy like that that just arrived on campus in the beginning of June that he's suddenly going to cat to

Starting point is 00:13:48 pull himself into, even the conversation to be the starter unless what we've seen happened in the last four years. Injuries start to strike and all of a sudden you're getting down there and we don't have to worry about the red shirt rule anymore. It's now five for five and that could play out. But let's bring it back to more reality. And this year, Hank Brown versus Jeremy Heglinsky. We've been having a conversation for seven months now and it continues.

Starting point is 00:14:09 But kind of the latest, the guys are going through workouts. They're doing different things and what you've heard because I know everybody is enamored with Hecklinski. he can move around. We've, the excitement of Brendan Sullivan a couple of years ago, of course, Grinowski and his running ability last season and getting back to more of that dual threat element. Are we maybe overrating though, Heglinsky's dual threat ability just because he's a little guy.

Starting point is 00:14:33 They're like, well, he's got to be quick and be able to move around because, you know, I've heard Hank Brown at least straight ahead speed is actually faster than Jeremy Hedflinsey. But just end that right on that form, Hecklinski, what kind of a runner is he? I was going to say the same thing on that, that interduct. I was like, I don't know about that. Brennan Sullivan was kind of a different beast when it came to that. And obviously compared to the other quarterback at the time.

Starting point is 00:14:58 But, heck, Linsky, I think he's got a little bit of twitchiness to him, a little bit of agility, so to speak, in the pocket. I think that's really what you're going to get. Is he mobile? Mobile enough. He's not Grinowski. Iowa, I think the next best shot at Grinowski is actually Iowa's 2027 commit in Brayden and Santibanyes.

Starting point is 00:15:18 That's probably the closest comparison to Grinowski. We're not going to see those type of numbers on the ground. We're not going to see those type of numbers in terms of like the rushing scores, especially. Camari Moulton will be scoring the bulk of rushing touchdowns this year. I would bet anyway. But yeah, you know, I think it's going to be something where if it's third and short, not third and short, but like third and medium and he's got a lane,

Starting point is 00:15:44 he can run, slide kind of thing. not it's he's not going to be dynamic right but he can use his legs i i would say um to compare the two i mean i honestly don't think that we've necessarily like the public and the media even has gotten enough of a sample size to really explicitly say one is faster than we're just regurgitating information right um now in terms of the competition it's funny i are actually hearing different things at 24 7 They're very slightly different, but they're different. I had heard from a source recently that Heklinsky had the slight edge going into camp,

Starting point is 00:16:26 whereas Sean heard that Brown had the slight edge. And again, it's a very slight difference, but you're rolling with the punches when it comes to a quarterback competition and reporting what you can. But, I mean, it's a lot of the things that you've heard from me is that Hecklinski has kind of that wow factor where he'll just make a play in you're like, whoa. But then, you know, might turn it over on an attempt to make a similar play, has those arm angles things that he can really, I mean, just the ability to pop it in there, too.

Starting point is 00:16:57 That's really fun. And I think that's why a lot of Iowa fans really favor him as opposed to Brown. But at the same time, what I'm hearing about Brown is everybody trusts, you know what you're going to get from Hank Brown. And that's kind of similar to what we've heard about a few other quarterbacks that fan base didn't love. So we'll see. That's what it is. And I think I've said it to you on the radio before, too, is that I don't think Kirk Ferrence knows who his quarterback is.

Starting point is 00:17:25 I don't think Tim Lester knows who his quarterback is. So your guess is as good as mine and our guess is as good as Kirk Ferrence is at this point. Over in Chicago, I don't think we're going to suddenly, Kirk's going to name a starter. It's not going to be anything like that. It's going to be something that's going to go through camp. And I said, I think we're going to see both guys in the first game. And maybe even both guys in the first half of the first game, I think it's that close.

Starting point is 00:17:47 51, 49. I don't see separation coming during August camp, at least at this point. We'll see. And we'll keep an eye on it. And you keep an eye on it over at Hawkeye Insider.com where you can find Elliott, Sean Bach and David Eichold doing great work over there. Elliot, one more football question for you. I've talked defensive tackle ad nauseum.

Starting point is 00:18:06 I don't think there's an argument. It's the biggest question. I was won a lot of football games with mediocre and below quarterback players. They've won football games, but it's very rare that Iowa and the Iowa defense is able to hold up if they don't get good play out of defensive tackle. But I want to move outside to the defensive end position. And you have Jose Epinessa, the bloodlines, saw him a little bit last season. Mary Weather at minimum, he's gotten some snaps. You feel at least confident that this guy's going to be competent over there.

Starting point is 00:18:34 They get Kamari Brown coming in. They got some dudes out there at defensive end. When you look at that defensive end spot, could, I don't want to see an upgrade because that's not fair. I'm speaking more of getting to the quarterback because holding up against the run is a different conversation. But do you look at this group with a potential from what we've seen the last couple of seasons and maybe with a guy like Brown with a guy like Epinessa that we see these defensive ends get to the quarterback a little bit more, meaning maybe they don't have to bring the blitzes and

Starting point is 00:19:01 all the blitz packages. And I think Bill Parker used all of them a season ago. Yeah. And I don't know. The talent is evident with a guy like a guy. Epinessa, right? The thing that I've said and that what I said with him coming out of high school is like it looked like he was a bear on the football field compared to other high school guys, right? And five-star bloodlines, like you mentioned, recruited by all the biggest programs in the

Starting point is 00:19:30 country. So the talent is evident. It's about, I think, fitting in with what Kelvin Bell wants them to do. I think he's still, I mean, like he's Bill, right, but he still has more. more room to fill out on that frame if that's something that Iowa wants. And man, iron is sharp and iron from what I've heard between he and Trevor Lough. Oh, talk about a competent, like to set Yose up for what it's like to play in the Big Ten, matching him up with preseason All-American. Like, that's, he's learning. We'll say that.

Starting point is 00:20:06 And then with Brown, I've heard a lot of good things about him as well. actually a guy that has really quickly earned the respect of the room. He's very driven, really embracing the opportunity to play at a place like Iowa. Had those 12 sacks last year at Elon. I would not be surprised. I don't necessarily, I'm not saying that I necessarily think this is going to happen, but I would not be surprised if Brown is the starter opposite of Merriweather as opposed to Vanessa. At the same time, I wouldn't be surprised if Appanessa.

Starting point is 00:20:39 So, you know, and Epinessa is a guy that you can kick in in that NASCAR package and play as your other defensive tackle. He's a guy that could play that three tech just because of his size. So I don't necessarily see that for Camari Brown or just a true defensive end. I could be wrong. Very easily could be wrong. But, yeah, it's a solid competition. Lots of bodies, lots of names. I just wrote about five things I think about the defense.

Starting point is 00:21:06 and just like type of name, name, name, name, Drew Campbell, Joe Anderson, like all these guys in this class are in this group of defense events. So they at very least have the bodies, and it's a competition that is very real. Joseph Anderson's the guy that I have circled. Just love the frame, the track background that he had down there,

Starting point is 00:21:30 bloodlines, all the different things that go into. Drew Campbell, and a lot of people are excited, getting him healthy, most importantly. One more on the defensive line, and specifically a defensive tackle. Bryce Hawthorne, I think, might be the most important guy. I think he's going to have to play at a minimum, like, second team, all Big Ten level for that defensive tackle position to hold out. Have you heard anything about Devin Kennedy?

Starting point is 00:21:51 Another guy in that sophomore class or Redshirt sophomore class now, their third year, is that what we consider is a five-year thing. As Devin Kennedy, his dad, Jimmy Kennedy, was an absolute stud of Penn State in the NFL. He's not nearly as big as his dad was, but size-wise. And if he's ready at minimum to be a rotational piece of detackle. Yeah, he and Brad Fitzgibbon kind of get lumped together pretty frequently as young guys that are on the way up in terms of playing at that defensive tackle spot. I would imagine, you mentioned Hawthorne, I would imagine he and Bryce Stevenson are going to be more of the staples. Stevenson had a bit of a trouble adjusting from what we heard, but is really starting to get a flow of things and feel more comfortable.

Starting point is 00:22:36 at Iowa and in the defense. So I think those two guys are going to be more of the staples on the defensive line. But I just, I have trouble buying into Emmanuel Olaq Bajou just for the lack of production. Yes. Looks like a freak, right? Just somebody's told me looks like the Hulk, which is kind of funny. And I think the tools are there, but it's about production. And if you can put it on the field after not doing that so much at North Dakota.

Starting point is 00:23:06 and I don't know his history in terms of health or anything like that. So maybe that's a positive for going into this year at Iowa. But then there's Fitzgibbon and Kennedy. And I heard starting at the end of last season that those two guys were going to be a legit part of the rotation going into this season. And then they've gotten the spring and now they've gotten summer workouts and then they'll get fall camp. So if I were to guess, I don't know that they're going to get a ton of snaps. And I don't even know that like a guy like Fitzgibbon will play in every game. He's in his second year, right?

Starting point is 00:23:45 Second year, didn't enroll early. I would venture to guess Kennedy would be a guy that's more of a staple in the rotation. But Fitzgibbon will probably get his share of snaps too. And it's dipping his toe in the water at this point. But he was a guy that I've just kind of referred to as, you know, he might not have racked up a ton of stats in high school. But there's this off stat sheet thing that's called F in the playup. And he's one of those guys. So, and I know Kelvin Bell.

Starting point is 00:24:16 He's like, you talk to him. It's like, oh, this guy's a Calvin Bell recruit. He's a little bit more mature. Same thing for Devin Kennedy. It's like when I was talking to him as a recruit, he sounded like he was a 40-year-old. So they're both, they're both classic Kelvin Bell recruits in that respect. and I think they'll both be part of the rotation this fall. I'm waiting for the Iowa football roster website to update and see Devin Kennedy listed

Starting point is 00:24:40 275, 265 for Fitzgibbon. How much weight those guys have put on and what the roster says about those two. Final thing for you, we're talking with Elliot Clough from Hawkeye Insider.com. Elliot, over to men's basketball. It's a question that just kind of popped under my head as I was talking last week during the podcast. And I think it's interesting, who leads the Iowa men's basketball team in scoring next season? and I think a lot of different direction you can go.

Starting point is 00:25:03 I laid it out. I think there might be as many as six, seven guys that end up being in that eight to 12 point range, something like that. Last year was easy. We knew it was going to be Bennett Sturts and that's what it proved to be. But you lose your three leading scores from a year ago, all have departed. So who's the guy? If you had to pick one, choose one, who's the guy that you're targeting to lead the Hawks in scoring? I'll tell you the first one that came to mind and then I'll tell you what I settled on.

Starting point is 00:25:27 First one that came to mind is Kale Combs because he's being thrust into that lead guard position where the ball is in his hands a lot, right? I think he has an opportunity to take a big step forward. He took a big step forward last year. I don't want to discount that. I think that gets overlooked a lot because he went from part of the playing a little bit as a sophomore at Drake to being a starter at Iowa, playing alongside Bennett. And then you give him the keys. and that's just a spot that has continued success under Ben McCollum. So that was the first one that came to mind.

Starting point is 00:26:01 But what I settled on was Cooper Couch. And Cooper as the starter, and I had Bennett Sturts on our podcast, on Swarmcast, before the NBA draft, and he said Coupe is just playing like, I'm that guy. And I think we saw a little bit of that come out in the NCAA tournament as well with the villain attitude that he took on and approached doing the chomp after. They beat Florida and stuff like that. And so I think it's Coop this year. I think not only has been had that success at that point guard spot,

Starting point is 00:26:35 but he's also had it at the hybrid spot. And I think Coop will have an opportunity to have the ball on his hands more this year to be more of that three-level score that he was in high school. And man, I just really think his confidence is through the roof after the NCAA tournament. Struggled for what, like three-fourths of the year, even as a starter. and then his shot started to fall and then we really got to see Cooper Cotch. And I think that carries over to this season.

Starting point is 00:27:00 And, you know, the third name that came to mind, honestly, Tate Sage. Yes. I mean, that's where I ended up, Elliot. Yeah. And it just feels like the sky's a limit for that guy. The athleticism, the shooting ability that really came on in the back half of the year. You know, with the guy like Koch, you just wonder, is he just a three-point shooter?

Starting point is 00:27:20 Can he add more versatility to his game and be off the bounce a little bit more? It feels like all the elements are there. And you saw it firsthand. Tate Sage, that dude is confident. He believes in himself. And that's, it might be 12.5 points per game. But I landed on Tate Sage. He is so, so intriguing.

Starting point is 00:27:38 He could take a big leap. Yeah. And he was awesome as a freshman. I mean, one thing I kept saying through that tournament run is we forget he was going to go to Drake. Yep. He was going to go to Drake. He didn't have any high major offers. Probably, it might have been a starter at Drake for all weeks.

Starting point is 00:27:53 know as a freshman. And his minutes kind of lulled in the middle of the season, came right back for the tournament. He really is not afraid of anymore. Went right at the basket against the teams like Florida and Nebraska. That shot, that three-point shot he made at the end against Nebraska, made it right in front of me sitting right there at the NCAA tournament. And the confidence, you can just feel it. He's very confident in who he is and what he can do.

Starting point is 00:28:19 And Brennan Hossin said it after that game. He's like, he's a pro. I'm not surprised. He's a, he's a pro. And it might not be, you know, two second, third year at Iowa that he goes and becomes a pro. But with a little bit more development in year four, five, we might be having that conversation. That's awesome. And speaking of your interview, great job with Bennett Sturts. When you put him on his top five or his starting five for next season, he ended in the same spot as me with both McKeever and Manniow in the starting lineup as I did that the week before. So Bennett Sturts must be a listener of Lockdown Hawkeyes. It must be. He must be. Hey, Elliot, thank you so much for your time. Great catching up with you. We'll do it again soon.

Starting point is 00:28:57 Sounds good. Thanks, Trent. Elliott Club. Joining us, Hawkeye Insider.com was where you can find him, along with Sean Bach and David Eichold, part of the 24-7 sports network. We continue here, locked on Hawkeyes. Well, speaking of basketball, Tate Sage and Company with the men's hoops team, open availability coming up on Wednesday, the women on Tuesday.

Starting point is 00:29:16 A big question on both sides. We'll talk about that next as we continue. Stay right there. This is Locked-on Hawkeyes. Running a business shouldn't feel like you're trying to connect a bunch of systems that were never designed to work together. One app for accounting, another for inventory, another for sales, and somehow none of them talk to each other. That's where Odu comes in. Odo is an all-in-one business management software that brings every part of your business together in one powerful platform.

Starting point is 00:29:47 From sales and accounting to investing and marketing, everything works in one place, helping your team move faster, stay organized, and focus on growing the business instead of managing software. The best organizations know that success isn't just about talent. It's about having everyone work together toward the same goal. That's true in sports, just like it is in business. We're just talking with Elliot about a couple of freshmen from a year ago on the men's basketball team. Cooper Koch in his redshirt year and Tate Sage in his true freshman season. Both those guys had the lulls, but they stuck together.

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Starting point is 00:30:52 Trent, I'm back with you one final time on the Lockdown Hawkeyes podcast. your daily Iowa Hawkeye podcast. Thanks for being with us and making Locked on Hawkeyes, your first listen every day. Rapid things up. Availability coming up for the media over in Iowa City for the women on Tuesday morning

Starting point is 00:31:08 and then Wednesday for the men. One big question. My one big question on the women's basketball side is what does Danny Carnegie look like? After playing on the national three on three team, she's going to be coming in and just seeing how this looks with the women's basketball team. Her and Chit Chat, right,

Starting point is 00:31:23 the combination that those two have, and their background together, both at AAU and a season at Georgia Tech, what that possibly could be. Their connections going back and just knowing what those two players are, that's incredibly exciting. You have that component to it. Just want to see Danny Carnegie, what she looks like and how she's going to fit in. Anticipation, we talked about leading score on the men's side.

Starting point is 00:31:45 She might be up there along with Ava Hayden this year and leading the team in scoring. Over on the men's basketball side, I just want to see all these wings and how they fit together and how this looks with all the different combinations that they can have. From the incoming guys like a Jaden Coon and Evan, Ethan Harris, can either of those guys find a role coming up this season. Speaking of Cooper Cotch, is there another step to his game and more versatility that comes up this year? So it's the wing position for me, Tate Sage, the depth, the different guys.

Starting point is 00:32:15 Trey Thompson got to mention him. And there are just so many different ways and directions that they can go, not as much depth in the back court, not as much depth up front in comparison to what have in those wing positions and the way that they use them and ben mccullum uses them that's what i'm going to be keeping an eye on for that one when we get to wednesday we'll have it all covered here for you on lockdown hawkeyes a breakdown of what we here and see over in iowa city on both the women's and the men's side we'll continue talking football our countdown continues as we get closer and closer to football season cannot wait to get things started there thanks for being with us

Starting point is 00:32:51 and making lockdown hawkeyes your first listen every day here on the lockdown network your team every day. And also want to let you know, if you want to support our show, you can get your daily Lockheyes podcast fix completely ad free by joining the every day or club today. Start your seven day free trial right now and get closer to the Hawkeyes without the interruptions. You can click on the link in the show notes or just go to lockdown hawkeyes dot supercast.com. That's locked on hawkeyes.com to claim your free trial. We'll be back with you tomorrow. Little hoop talk to kick things up. Looking forward to We'll talk to you then. Until then, go Hawks.

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