Locked On Hawkeyes - Daily Podcast On Iowa Hawkeyes Football & Basketball - EXPOSED? Iowa Hawkeyes OUTMUSCLED at Breslin Center—Recruiting Class SHINES, Hoops FALTER

Episode Date: December 3, 2025

Iowa Hawkeyes secure a top-25 football recruiting class, but face a harsh reality check on the basketball court after a blowout loss to Michigan State. Is the new era under Ben McCollum ready for the Big Ten's relentless physicality, or do major adjustments lie ahead?Trent Condon spotlights standout football recruits like Train Bessinger and Carson Nielsen, outlining potential early-impact players in Iowa’s promising class. Shifting to hoops, Wade Lookingbill offers insider perspective on Iowa’s struggles with rebounding and firepower against Tom Izzo’s Spartans, plus breaks down key issues with Bennett Stirtz and Brendan Hausen's roles. The analysis extends to upcoming clashes with Maryland and the always-intense Iowa State rivalry. Can the Hawkeyes regroup and secure a vital Big Ten win before the road to Hilton Coliseum? Don’t miss this candid breakdown of Iowa’s future on both grids and hardwood.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!Omaha SteaksSave big on unforgettable gifts with Omaha Steaks. Visit https://OmahaSteaks.com for 50% off site-wide and an extra 20% off select favorites during their Cyber Sale.And for an additional $35 off, use promo code COLLEGE at checkout. Aura FramesFor a limited time, save on the perfect gift by visiting https://AuraFrames.com to get $35 off Aura’s best-selling Carver Mat frames - named #1 by Wirecutter - by using promo code COLLEGE at checkout.GametimeToday's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONCOLLEGE for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply.FanDuelToday's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Football season is around the corner, visit the FanDuel App today and start planning your futures bets now.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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Great news today as Iowa has on the top 25 recruiting class for football. Bad news on the basketball hardwood. Iowa blown out by Michigan State. You are Locked on Hawkeyes, your daily podcast on the Iowa Hawkeyes. Part of the Locked on podcast network, your team every day. Welcome in. I'm Trent Condon and this is the Lockdown Hawkeyes. podcast. Part of the lockdown podcast network, your team every day, now the number one

sports podcast network. I've been covering the Hawkeyes for over 20 years on the radio here in the state of Iowa. You can hear me currently on the Iowa Sports Radio Network each weekday from noon to two. We got stations all across the state, Quad Cities, Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, Des Moines, and Sioux City. You can hear me there each and every day. Today's episode of Lockdown Hawkeyes is brought to you by Fandul. If you want to be, And right in the middle of the action this season, visit fanduil.com and place your NFL live bets all season long. Today, we get into Iowa basketball, their first big performance of the year in the Big Ten. It's an opener at the is zone, the Brezlin Center, and it does not go well against Michigan State.

We're going to talk some football. It is signing day for Iowa football. We'll talk about a number of the prospects and some of the guys that I like in this class, guys that can be difference makers, both early and long term in this recruiting class. ranked in the top 25 nationally this season. Plus, we're going to be joined by Wade-looking Bill, the former Hawkeye basketball player, as it will get his look at what happened last night against Michigan State. Let's react, though, to what we saw in a frustrating game against Michigan State.

And a game that went, like I think a lot of people anticipated that it would, we know what Michigan State's going to do. And when you walk into the Breslin Center, you're working from behind, they're going to clutch and they're going to grab and they're going to mall and they're going to whine and complain about every single call because that's what Tom Izzo and his teams do. It's not just Izzo, it's his team. They don't believe that they fall inside that building.

It does happen. But you know, that's the case. And that's going to be the style of basketball that we are going to see now under Ben McCollum. They're going to do the same thing. They're going to guard with intent, with physicality, and a little grabbing on top of it. That is the new reality. And after Iowa jumps out to an early seven to three lead, starts hits a three-pointer,

grinds to a halt after that, but you're thinking, you know, this just might be one of those games. In fact, I had a friend that mentioned maybe this is going to look like the Licklider win,

4336, and then the onslaid happened. Now, when you look through this game, and there were a couple of different moments where Iowa would get it back in the second half within a dozen, but can never get enough going offensively. And there's a myriad of issues

that cropped up in this game, probably the biggest, though. And it was the concern for most people coming into the year with this Iowa basketball team. How were they going to be able to rebound? How were they going to be able to handle the size of the opponents that they were going to face throughout the course of this year? Manwa, good, but he's not a seven-foot behemoth in the middle.

There's not a whole lot of depth as a traditional center. We saw Trevin, Your Rock. In fact, start the second half of the game. And when they're built like this, Cooper Koch is not at this point in his career, a mauler at the power forward spot when he's playing the fourth. but when you get it beat up on the boards like they did and you get out rebounded 37 to 18 how about this i will finish as a game with 12 defensive rebounds 12 not good 13 offensive rebounds for michigan state yikes so you have that component and then bennett starts certainly early after he hit that initial step back three wasn't good we talked about this yesterday what was it going to take? Bedditt Sturts had to play like an All-American, and he didn't. And there were flashes, there were a few moments, but four turnovers against four assists, a long stretch where he's

not shooting the ball, a couple of air balls, one that he bricked off the side of the backboard, just ugly. Fulgaris had some shots, got to knock him down. There was a nice pick and pop, I really like with Cooper Cotch. Open look, got to knock it down. And this team offensively is challenged. There aren't a whole lot of difference makers offensively against good defenses like this. And short of Bennettster, and he can put the team on his back

and we've seen that already this season, like against Old Miss. But if it's not happening, who are going to be those secondary scores? I think Bullgaris definitely has to be towards the top of that less. And one guy that we saw off the bench that didn't look scared,

didn't look afraid of the moment. And there were a few guys that looked afraid of the moment. Was Brennan Hassen. So Hassan comes in, hits a three, had a couple of other looks, and at minimum probably should have knocked down at least one more of those. That's the reason he's out there. But I thought he also competed on the defensive end of the floor, put it on the deck, was able to get to the free throw line,

one of the few guys that could actually hit a free throw in the first half of the game. And as Bennett Sturt starts one of four at the free throw line. I was surprised not to see him out there in the second half of the game. I thought he gave them a solid, productive seven minutes, and I just think they need him. because of the way that this team is built, because of the limitations that they do have offensively, that you need a player like that.

You have a guy that can, at minimum, shoot the basketball. I understand he lost plenty of time before camp began. He was banged up a lot in the summertime. I know when the beat guys had a couple opportunities to go and watch them practice, I think one of them he didn't play at all. The other time, he was limited if memory serves. I know he's banged up. But now we're here.

A big time play continues. on Saturday against Maryland and then you go next week to Iowa State and he thought the isone was difficult thought the Brezlin Center was loud just wait until you walk into Hilton next Thursday that is going to be a rabid fan base that's going to be fired up and going to be ready

and he also looked through and you look at this group last year those Drake guys obviously played the NCAA tournament beat Missouri in the first round pushed Texas Tech in the second a fool Garris he was on that Robert Morris team last season that had Alabama on the ropes for a while in a 215 game.

But those were neutral-court environments. This was different. And it's one thing to go to Peoria and take on a good Bradley team. It's another to walk in there. And to see Tom Isso on the sidelines and see him hopping around in the zone, it's different. And for the first time these guys face that kind of environment, that size gym, and they're going to see it again on Thursday. But it was a good learning process.

And I do like the way that as we heard from Ben McCullum after the game and what he said about this and using this as a teaching moment and a measuring stick to see where they are. I think we learned. They got a long ways to go. There's a lot that they still have to do. But at minimum, you know now where you have to get to. And it's got to be a whole lot better than what we saw,

really in all phases of the game last night. If this team is going to be a tournament team, put themselves in a spot to maybe win a game in the NCAA tournament. Who knows after that? But it has to be a whole lot better than what we saw Tuesday against Michigan State. We continue. Let's talk some football. It is signing day for Iowa football.

We'll get you some thoughts on some of the big prospects for the Hawkeyes. It is a top 25 recruiting class, something that doesn't happen very often for Iowa football. How good is this class? We'll talk about that next. It's locked on Hawkeyes. NFL Sundays move fast, one big play, and suddenly everything feels different. That's what makes live betting with Fanduil so exciting. You're not just watching the game.

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Banduel, the game moves fast, and so can you. Trent, kind of back with you once again here on the Lockdown Hawkeyes podcast. Thanks to our everyday listeners, our everydayers out there with us each and every day. If you're watching us on YouTube, hit subscribe if you're on the podcast side, five-star reviews. All that helps us get in front of more Hawkeye fans. We continue and we shift over to the football side of things as Iowa football has their signing day ceremony.

So we're going to give you some targets here, some of my favorite prospects in this class. Iowa ranked 23rd in the country by On Three Rivals. That's where the recruiting class is ranked. A big jump up for them. They're 25th in the country from 24-7 sports. It gives you a pretty good baseline of what this program is and what they continue to do, even with a 70-year-old coach, still doing it at a pretty good level, certainly for Iowa and what we've been used to. Start with the class at the quarterback spot as we normally do.

Train Bessinger, a guy that they got very late in the recruiting process, made his commitment. Iowa here just about a month ago, was previously committed to Boise State. I know he's a top 150 player by rivals, has him 146 in the nation. He is one of seven players that are four stars from the recruiting realm for them. Really good grade from him. He is not as athletic as a Brendan Sullivan, certainly not the runner that we saw from Mark Rannowski, but more of a traditional passer. He's athletic.

People say athletic enough, I guess that leads me a little bit concerned because we've seen what a running quarterback these last couple of years. how important that is, certainly to Tim Lester and what it is unopened, definitely for this Iowa team. Next up on the list is Julian Manson. Jason Manson, former Hawkeye quarterback, his son, who's part of the staff at Iowa. Julian watching him a couple of times at the high school level, he's just built different. I mean, the athleticism that he has, really special guy. I think he can play a myriad of different positions, excited about that.

I had an opportunity in round one of the playoffs this year to see Carson Nielsen in person for the first time out of Waterloo West. And they came over to Waukee, didn't win the game, but him and his mate on the left side of that offensive line, a huge kid. They were really fun to watch running the ball and what they were able to do. Nielsen, remember this is the guy that committed very early to Iowa. Remember he serves, he might have been the first recruit there that made his verbal commitment a couple of years back. But he had some big time offers and some big time opportunities that were out there. What do you have Alabama and Notre Dame sniffing around? What do you have a kid that early in their career get offered from Missouri, Tennessee, Penn State?

Wisconsin. I think that says a lot. I think Carson Nielsen definitely going to be a guy that's going to be maybe the heir apparent at that left tackle position after Trevor Lout finishes up still more two years of eligibility. A big, big get in this class was over at quarterback and Darian Jones. His older brother has got one that played in Nebraska, other one that was over here in Iowa. He grew up a Hawkeye fan. Really cool story. If you remember what we talked about that, every day, as you certainly will, about Darian Jones what he made his commitment. He's a guy, though, that I think if you're looking at somebody that can play early,

Darian Jones is that kind of candidate that he can help out. From Sioux City, up at Heelan, Thomas, seeing him at the high school level, just a special kind of athlete. I know Michigan got involved with him, was trying to flip his services, didn't happen. He'll be a hawk guy. That offensive line class, Rairdon, Parliament, a couple of others as well. We talked earlier about Nielsen, Bedrock, right? And we've seen these classes how they come together.

Luke Brewer is really intriguing. He's the tight end out in Norwalk. I saw Luke a year ago in person. He is a player playing up now as they moved up to the big school class. He reclassified. He would have been a class of 2000, well, 27 kid, but reclassified he'll be coming in this year. This tight end position is definitely getting an upgrade.

And Luke Brewer is going to be a part of that. Another guy I really like in this class at the linebacker spot is Billy Wavoda. Who they got out of Georgia, you remember old miss michigan and the wolverines knock it off michigan i started sniffing around super athletic guy i mean sideline to sideline good speed he's got to add some size to him uh that's another one i got my light pile at the very least marcella vitty a kid from up in michigan not real big but he is physical listed at five foot 10 going to be a safety more than likely he

brings physicality though to his game and then saviors stinson another one of the late additions to this class that they got very recently he's a wide receiver yeah here's perk up right he's six two okay but not only that this is a guy that chose to come to iowa that had offers from all kinds of programs across the country virginia kentucky cincinnati arkansas pitt michigan state indiana west virginia wisconsin in Illinois, NC State, and a wide receiver chose Iowa. Can Xavier Stinson come in right away and help out? But hope so, because as we know, that is a position.

They definitely could use some help. And that one definitely has some of the spotlight there. Also brought another wide receiver, DeAndre Smith, another kid from down in Florida. He's a different build. He's more that small guy, like 5'10, something like that. A class that's interesting. Feel good about the offensive line class because you normally do. feel good about what they've done at linebacker again as they're so deep at that linebacker's spot

feel good about the future of the defensive backfield we'll see though wide receiver mentioned quarterback bestinger how does he fit and he moved they didn't bring it a running back so some highs some lows but overall pretty good recruiting class here we'll talk more this week when tom kaker joins us on friday about that recruiting class there it is it's in the books Iowa top 25 definitely will take that every single time and a quick glimpse around some of my favorite prospects in this class in the class of 2026 signing day on December 3rd it's weird this calendar is all kinds of messed up but it is our reality we just figure it out as college sports fans don't we we come back here on the other side and one more look back

at the loss to Michigan state we'll get a former hawkeyes perspective wait looking bill we'll join us on the other side we continue locked on hawkeyes Our next guest joins us well weekly during college basketball season, particularly when they get to conference play, which I guess we're in, at least for this week, is Michigan State and Iowa played last night. Maryland and Iowa will do so on Saturday afternoon. He's former Hawkeye Wade-lookingville.

Hello, Wade, Trent and Ken, how are you? Good to talk to you again. Really good, guys. Thanks for having me on. I wish you would have talked 24 hours ago, but happy for some basketball. Yeah, we were more optimistic at that time. You know, if anything, Wade, it just goes to prove, you know, just how physical, how good the Big Ten is. And this, let's be honest, this is a really good Michigan State team.

I believe at this point, they've got some marquee wins, Madison Square Garden over Kentucky. They pasted North Carolina last week, and they did so against an Iowa team that just looked overmatched last night. When you were watching it, Wade, I guess what's going through your mind? What was your takeaway after watching 40 minutes of Sparty basketball? Yeah, you know, Michigan State's playing as well as anybody in the country. You know, you mentioned all those marquee wins, neutral sites at home, on the road. It's just, you know, I think it's something where we kind of thought this was going to happen or could happen. We were hoping, especially with that start, we are hoping it wouldn't happen.

I don't think we can read too much into it. Michigan State's really good. Iowa did not play well. Let's move on to Saturday. You look at one of the big concerns we had, not a real big team, obviously, and definitely showed up against Michigan State. There's not many teams built like Sparty,

but is that something that does leave you kind of back to maybe where we, the conversations we had this summer, that how is this team going to be able to rebound? How are they going to be able to hold up throughout the course of a rugged 18, 20 game, Big Ten schedule? It's going to be tough.

Because you look at Purdue has size, their physical. Illinois is huge the way they play. Michigan's got big bodies. So it's something where they got to find a way, they can't get doubled up on the board. You know, I think they're not going to out rebound a lot of teams, but if they can keep it within that five to even 10 differential, and then don't turn it over, make free throws, knock down some shots, all things they didn't do last night, I think they'll be okay.

You know, again, I think 10 and 10 gets you in the big 10 gets you in the tournament. And then once you're in the tournament, who knows what happens. Yeah, I think that'd be successful. That would be something to shoot for in McCollum's first year. Your thoughts on what the coach has done so far. Wade, from your perspective, when you see what Wade McCullen's done leading up to last night, obviously that didn't go well. But how would you, I guess not great, but to what are your takeaways on the McCollum era

thus far, both off the court and on the court. I think it's been unbelievable. I mean, you look at, so Cooper Cots was the only returning player from last year's team, and he played six games. So really, everybody is new to the team. I

understand there's six straight players, and, you know, I think four of them play significant minutes, and those guys are really good, but you still got a piece together the team. And when they went out to, it was Palm Springs, you know, Ole Miss, that's an SEC team.

That Grand Canyon team is probably not very good, but those are still wins against big programs. So, you know, I think he's been great. I like the system. I was really surprised those first five or seven games, how much they did score, walking the ball up the court. Now, in Palm Springs, it really slowed down a lot. But, hey, that's his system.

And I think, you know, this year especially, until they get more talent, more athleticism, that's how they got to play, which I'm okay with. I just want to win games. Find it anyway. Absolutely, Wade. Wade, one guy I wonder about is Brennan Hassan.

He, I think Ken and I both had him penciled in as a starter. That has not been the case. He hasn't started a game this season. Didn't play in the game against Grand Canyon. Played seven minutes last night all in the first half. Didn't get out there in the second. It feels like they're going to need some more scoring punch. And Hassan's one of the guys that I think Ken provided.

What do you think's going on there? I know he was banged up during the summertime, wasn't fully maybe ready for the start of the year. What do you think's happening with the sharpshooter from Texas? I was shocked. He didn't play in the second half. You know, he had those six with even seven points that first half. He was the only guy that didn't look,

Ben and Sturts included, that didn't look overwhelmed, you know, with the situation in the atmosphere. I don't know, you know, they got to get more. size, more rebounding, which he does not do. But they're also, like you said, they're going to have to find a way to score some more points. And he can really shoot the basketball. I remember him for Kay State

last year in Ames just was, you know, unbelievable. You know, I think he needs more minutes and we'll see Saturday. Fulgaris is a guy as well that didn't have his best game last night. I don't know if it was just, you know, overwhelmed a little bit by the Big Ten

by Michigan State. He's never seen anything like that either. I don't think he has. Even playing Alabama in the NCAA tournament last year, it wasn't an environment like that. Yeah, but he's going to face more of them going forward. So, I mean, how does Fulgaris react out of last night? Is that a learning experience for him? Yeah, you know, I think you could include the entire team

has not faced anything like that. Even with the Drake guys, where's a road environment that they played like that? You know, last year in the Valley, you just don't see it. They played Missouri, but that was on a neutral. court. I think it's just something that Fulgaris is a really good player. I mean, he could be a pro. I mean, he was player of the year in that league. That's good basketball. That's really good basketball. And he's showing signs of, you know, come down the lane, dunk on people, stretch for, can really shoot it. I just think Saturday is extremely important because you're talking

about a Maryland team that's got some players. Buzz Williams is a great coach. not a good coach, great coach. And now you've kind of seen how to play Iowa and how to slow them down, be physical with them, kind of beat on them. That's a game they really need to win. You know, can they beat Maryland home? Can they win at Northwestern?

Can they win at Nebraska? And I don't know who they play twice and who they play once, but those are the teams they have to find a way to get those wins, especially at home. A lot of opportunities. and then we get the collision course. Thursday, Iowa State. Wade, take us back.

When you walked into Hilton in that environment back in your playing days, what it was like. You know, you played a lot of great Big Ten venues, but with the in-state rival, you being from up in that neck of the woods as well growing up in Fort Dodge, what was it like when he walked into Hilton

and playing on that hardwood? Yeah, so I tell people, too, I was really fortunate to play at a lot of great arenas. All the Big Ten arenas, I played at Carolina, played at Duke. The loudest arena I was ever in was Hill & Tonsia. How about that?

And I don't know if it was really even that close. And I think part of that is that Iowa State makeup. Now, that being said, it's something, I think those types of games, especially with what happened last night, I'm not saying I was going to go in there and get a win, but that's a game where Iowa can go in, slow it down, guard people. Maybe keep it close when something at the M. But I do remember my, my, my, my, my, my, my, my sophomore year.

We were playing at Ames. Ray Thompson loved, loved Raymond, love Ray T, had a little altercation down in Iowa City at the bars, got suspended the first half, and they were brutal for Ray. They got picked up for public, public intox, brutal on a ray, didn't play the first half, I didn't get 26 in the second half and was just unbelievable. and it was it was it was so much fun to play in those games and being an Iowa kid they met they meant a lot for me um but he'll call to see him loudest arena I was ever in and I watched Cameron indoor last night Florida and Duke and that building was absolutely electric what a cool place that is way great to have you back on board with us we look forward to your insight throughout the big 10 season perhaps we'll be able to run you down prior to that kicking off as we're well we know need a split, right? Hawk's got to get a split

in this thing, as Trent said yesterday. Don't want to start in the Big Ten, oh and two. You need the very least to be one and one. That's all that they've got left to shoot for. So hopefully put this one in the wind column on Saturday. Wade, thanks for jumping on with this. Go ahead. You bet. Any time, guys. You could call me any time.

I appreciate that. I'll appreciate all that you guys do. Thank you, buddy. Good to talk to your way-looking bills. We check in on the Hawkeyes with Wade. We'll do that throughout the Big Ten plays. Thanks, as always, to Wade, Looking Bill, for his time and a look at Iowa basketball, as mentioned, a huge matchup against Maryland. You know, Iowa has started 0-and-2 with these early Big Ten games so many times in the past,

and it's not a must win. It's a game in December, but dot, dot, dot. This Maryland team, not very good this season. They come in at six and three. They've got blown out by Alabama, blown out by Gonzaga, got beat by Georgetown. They have wins that maybe look okay. Marquette, this is bad of Marquette team as we've seen in a long time. Needed overtime to get past Mount St. Mary's.

They beat you and LV and I'll tell you what, Grandma, Ma, Larry Johnson, Stacey Ogman, a company, he's not walking through that door. This is a winnable game. They got some dudes. You got to play well. You get it done, though. And, you know, before the stretch began, going out to Cali, old miss in the opener, and then either Utah Grand Canyon.

matchup we saw last night against Michigan State, Maryland, and then Iowa State. As he went through these games, felt like you get to three and two, you'll be okay. You've got two in the bag. Make it easy on yourself. And then you play with house money, making your way to Ames next Thursday. And boy, what a matchup that will be. That'll do it for us today. Thanks for being with us and making Lockdown Hawkeyes, your first listen every day.

Part of the number one sports podcast network locked on your team every day. Thank you again to our everyday listeners. hit subscribe if you're watching on YouTube or a five-star review on the podcast side we will talk to with you tomorrow until then