Locked On Hawkeyes - Daily Podcast On Iowa Hawkeyes Football & Basketball - How Iowa Has Stunned Ohio State in the past & Caitlin Clark Takes Rookie of the Year

Episode Date: October 4, 2024

On this episode of the Locked On Hawkeyes Podcast, host Trent Condon takes a trip down memory lane, revisiting some of Iowa's most surprising victories over Ohio State. What’s the common thread in these upsets? Trent uncovers one key element that has been crucial to Iowa’s success against the Buckeyes.Then, stay tuned as Trent welcomes David Eickholt from Hawkeye Insider and 247 Sports to dive into both Iowa football and basketball. From the latest updates on the gridiron to the hardwood, they break down the current state of Hawkeye sports and what fans can expect in the coming months.Finally, we shift our focus to an exciting achievement for one of Iowa's own—Caitlin Clark. The WNBA star wins Rookie of the Year, but in a surprising twist, it’s not an unanimous vote. Trent discusses what that means for Clark's future and why some voters may have been on the fence.Tune in for all this and more on the Locked On Hawkeyes Podcast!For your next listen, check out the Locked On College Football podcast! From NIL deals to never ending conference realignment rumors, Spencer McLaughlin gets you ready for an exciting season on the gridiron! Click HERE to listen now. Part of the Locked On Podcast Network. Your Team. Every Day.Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!ROYDownload Roy for iOS or Android and enter referral code LOCKED ON and you’ll automatically be entered into a sweepstakes to win $5,000 cash. Visit JoinRoy.com for additional details. No purchase necessary, void where prohibited. Get off the sidelines and into the NIL game with Roy.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.FanDuelYou can start the season with a big return on FanDuel. Place your first FIVE DOLLAR bet and you’ll get started with TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS in BONUS BETS - guaranteed ! Visit FANDUEL.COM to get started.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)

The anatomy of an upset. Yes, Iowa has beat Ohio State before. What's it going to take for them to pull off the upset on Saturday? We look back at some past games and one key element to almost every single one of those wins against the Bucs. We'll talk with David Eicholm a whole lot more. A busy edition of Locked on Hawkeyes. You are Locked On Hawkeyes, your daily podcast on the Iowa Hawkeyes. Part of the Locked On Podcast Network, your team every day. Hey, welcome in. I'm Trent Condon, and this is the Locked On Hawkeyes podcast.

Thanks for making Locked On Hawkeyes your first listen every day. We're available wherever you find podcasts. You can also watch us on YouTube. Make sure you hit that subscribe button while you're there. Or if you're on the podcast side, five-star reviews helps us get in front of more Hawkeye fans. Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel Sportsbook. Place your first $5 bet. You'll get started with $200 in bonus bets guaranteed. Visit FanDuel.com to get started. So as we look at this monster matchup this week and

the huge hill that Iowa has to climb if they're going to be able to beat this Ohio State team, a couple of things. I went back and looked at, historically, some of the games that Iowa has won against the Buckeyes. And most of those wins were not against the best of the best of Ohio State teams. 1986, 1991. Those were teams that were not vintage, certainly Buckeye teams. Even here in recent times, you kind of look at those squads. 2004, 2013, hanging around in the woodshed game, 55, 24 in 2017. We're not talking about elite contenders. And that's what this Buckeye team is. So we start right there. Look, we know all the

adages that go into an upset and the way Iowa has to win football games. They have to be in there. I was going to have to hang around. They're going to have to win the turnover margin. But what makes this one different? When you look at some of those past upset wins that I was had, at least in recent history, is a lot of low scoring affairs. 24-23, 15-13, games like that, and that's not how they're going to be able to beat it. They're going to have to score. They're going to have to put points on the board. Now it'd be aided if you can get something, a defensive score, special teams do something that way. That I think has to be a real possibility. But if you think you're going to be able to pull an offset here against this Ohio State team and win 17-12, it's just not going to happen.

It's not reality. The reality is that I was going to have to do some things and they're going to have to get some scores when you don't expect it. But these are a couple of the angles that jumped off to me. Yes, win turnover margin, get probably a fluky score. Caleb Johnson has to have a monster game, need to get more out of Cade McNamara. The defense cannot allow the big plays that we've seen throughout the course of the year.

All the things that we've talked about, and I think all the things that each and every one of you already know coming into this matchup. But I found this interesting. I went back through history and talking about some of those victories. Go back to 1986, 1987, excuse me, and the Marv Cook game. Fourth and 23 from the 29-yard line, basically the final play, and Chuck Hartley hits him, and he barrels his way to the end zone,

and Iowa gets out of Columbus with the victory. Well, it wasn't just one play by Marv Cook in that one. He had nine catches for 187 yards and that touchdown that proved to be the difference in a 29-27 win in Columbus. You go back to 1991, the Gang Lu game, 16-, the final in that one. And Alan Cross had a big game. Another tight end. Three catches, 86 yards, and a touchdown. A lone touchdown for the Hawkeyes that day. 2004, the win in Kinnick Stadium. 33-7 was the win in that one.

Scott Chandler had a touchdown in that game. You get where I'm going here? 2017, the Woodshed game, 55-24, one of the most fun, exhilarating, wildest scenes in Kinnick Stadium. It was just a weird aura that was over the stadium there, started with the hooker pick six, and went from there as we saw Nate Stanley throw for five touchdowns. Well, what happened in that game?

Tight ends dominated. T.J. Hawkinson and Noah Phan both had two touchdowns in that game, and even the game that they didn't win recently, 2013. Remember, it has the tight end game as they employed a three tight end set and confused Ohio State all over the place, tied going into the fourth quarter in Columbus. It was not a great Iowa team by any means, and it was a pretty good Ohio State team, and Iowa was right there with the chance to win in the fourth quarter. Jake Dusey, six catches, 138 yards and a touchdown. Had the long one up the sideline. Vidorowitz also had a touchdown that game. George Kittle had a catch in that game as well as they employed something. So that's where

I'm leading to a position that we just have not seen a ton in terms of yardage this season, the tight end position. Luke Lachey, if you don't know, his dad was a Buckeye great. His dad's been on the radio broadcast for years. And this one means something, obviously, for Luke Lachey. We have not seen the year that I think most people anticipated out of Luke Lachey this season. You look at the numbers overall, pretty pedestrian. Addison Estringa, though he's piling up some catches,

there just isn't a ton there in terms of yardage. There's been a lot of dump downs, a lot of check downs, those kind of things, a little throws out to the flat, and there just hasn't been a ton of yardage that has gone along with it. Luke Lachey this year has 12 catches. Okay. For 97 yards. Averaging 8.1 yards per reception.

They need Luke Lachey to have a monster performance. They need to have him have one of those eight catches, 95 yards and a touchdown. That's what they need. And then Estrenga to have another four or five. But not four or five for nine yards. No, four or five catches for not four or five for nine yards. No, four or five catches for 50 yards. That's what they need out of the tight end position. They cannot allow Ohio State down in the box and Caleb Downs to be down there and everybody else and those linebackers to get exhilarated

because the defensive line is incredibly good. This is a talented defensive line. And I don't think they're going to tee off on Caleb Johnson, but they're going to be ready to go. I mean, they're going to be geared up. And speaking of past games, 1997, Tavian Banks goes in to Ohio State and Andy Katzenbauer and company had something else waiting for Tavian that day. So what I'm getting at is you need more. And the passing game still has its warts. Is there something from Caleb Brown, the former Ohio State Buckeye himself, we talked about last time out against Minnesota.

He got one snap. And in that one snap, he didn't run his route correctly, and it would have been a touchdown. Can't do that. You just can't. You would think this would be a game that he'd be geared up, he'd be ready to go. He would be all locked in to do the things that he needs to,

to take the talent that he has. And he's a talented kid. And get out there. We'll see on that front. So there is a little bit of the anatomy of an upset. At least I was past upsets against Ohio State or victories against the Buckeyes in past years. Tight end has been a huge

part of that, and I believe it's going to be a huge part if Iowa's going to have any chance of hanging around. The likelihood, I don't believe, is high. Yes, do sometimes I get a little too negative. I get that. But this Ohio State team is a different animal. They haven't been tested. That's something if Iowa can hang around, maybe they do get a little bit tight. I like Will Howard. I love Will Howard. He's all right. Surprised that they didn't find somebody better with all the money that they were spending. But that aside, this team has ridiculous weapons on the offensive side of the football. That offensive line that was much maligned a year ago has really shored up, including in the middle with the transfer that they got from Alabama

that was having all kinds of troubles himself a year ago, if you remember in that Rose Bowl game against Michigan. Also brought in a tackle from San Diego State. He's been pretty good for them overall. It's just, it's so hard to find words. I mean, you go through the statistical profile of this squad. It's just absolutely nuts. There's nuts. There's, there's two things that, uh, I saw that. Okay. Net punting, net punting. They're 58th in the country. Punt returns are only 67.

Everything else go through total offense, Ohio state's fifth in the country, rush offense, 14th pass offense, 14th scoring offense, fourth in the country. Rush offense, 14th. Pass offense, 14th. Scoring offense, fourth in the country. Second total defense in the country. Rush defense, their third. Maybe you can get them through the air. I don't know. There is nine passing yards allowed this year. Number one in scoring defense.

Have only given up 6.8 points per game. It's going to be tough. David Eicholtz is going to join us. We'll talk more about this. Plus a little Iowa basketball as well. Get into the hoops as we start to get ready for basketball. Of course, Big Ten media days over the last couple of days. David Eicholt will join us as we continue.

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when you place your first $5 bet. And not just the NFL. MLB playoffs are going on. Of course, college football. Iowa, a 20-point underdog against the Buckeyes. That point spread's been moving around a little bit. One thing is certain, Ohio State is a big favorite in this game. You can also play a team total there. You think Iowa's going to get over 12.5 points in this football game? You can bet on just that or go the other direction with the under. You'll get started again with $200 in bonus bets guaranteed when you place your first $5 bet with FanDuel. That's FanDuel.com is where you can find all the information. FanDuel.com

David Eichel joins us right now as we take a look at the Hawks. Big Ten media days, basketball media days are underway. We'll touch that as well. And David joins us. David, Trent, Ken, thank you for coming on. How are you? Press conferences yesterday as the Hawks come off their bye off to Columbus. Water gets a little deeper.

Clearly this weekend with Ohio State on the other side of the field. Good to talk to you, David. How are you? Doing well, guys. Yeah, I mean, I think this is going to be, obviously, Ohio State's biggest test of the year. This is going to be Iowa's game of the year as well. But a lot of interesting factoids going into this one.

Obviously, the spread opening up at 23.5 and going down nearly four points. I believe it's down to 19.5. It is big movement. And yeah, I think there's a lot of belief from Vegas that Iowa's at least going to be able to find a way to keep this thing close, but I'll be honest with you guys. I think this is the most complete and most

talented Ohio State team that's ever put on the uniform. I am very, very high on this Buckeye squad. They are a complete team State team that's ever put on the uniform. I am very, very high on the Buckeye squad. They are a complete team, and that's not always been the case here, even as great as these Ohio State teams are. Are we sold on Will Howard? He's the weak spot. I mean, he's the one at least that maybe has the most questions about them.

Probably that linebacker, I guess, would be the two. Linebacker, yeah, yeah. Those would be the two spots. But, I mean, we're picking it. Yeah, we are. We really are. Walking in there, David, I'm sure you've been out there before. It is as loud of a stadium as I've been in.

I've been in Bryant-Denny for Alabama-Tennessee. I have been to all the big stadiums here across the Midwest and across the country for big games. This is as loud of an environment as I can be. Is this Iowa offense ready for that? Is Kate McNamara, is Tim Lester and company, are they ready for not just the talent, are they ready for this environment? I mean, if they're not, they're going to have to be.

I mean, right? I do think that was at least a little bit of an advantage for Iowa and a very good thing for Iowa that two things happened. One, that they've already played one Big Ten road game. Yes, it's Minnesota. We know that stadium and the fan base, but it was a sold-out game. They did not commit many penalties. The offense ended up firing, especially in that second half.

They didn't take too many big risks. But number two, they got the bye week. But the other side of it is I don't think Iowa's particularly been sharp coming out of the bye week over the last decade or so, and they need to put together a complete game. Their best players need to play their best game of the season in order for Iowa to have a chance. But I'm kind of with you guys.

I think the two big question marks for Ohio State are probably quarterback and linebacker. I think Iowa has the edge at linebacker. I mean, I think Che Higgins, Nick Jackson, Sebastian Castro are arguably the best linebacker trio in college football. But the other side of it is when it comes to Will Howard, I don't think Ohio State needs a lot out of him. It's not like the past Ohio State teams where you have C.J. Stroud,

you have guys that go in there and throw five touchdowns. They don't need to when you have a two-headed monster in that backfield and all the weapons that you have a wide receiver. Will Howard just doesn't have to. As long as will howard doesn't lose them the game they're going to be fine so iowa's gonna have to be as ready as it can be and uh they cannot afford a lackluster first half which we've kind of become accustomed to seeing for the first four games jeremiah smith is already talked about in the same category, if not even better than, Olave and Wilson and Harrison and all the great Buckeyes that have come before him.

Jeremiah Smith is getting this type of hype put on him. And from what we've seen so far in the games that we've seen him play, I think it's warranted. I mean, he's built differently than all of these other guys, right? He's bigger already. What'd you say, Trent? He's 18? Just 18-year-old kid, for crying out loud. And Iowa has had some problems with their secondary. It's not like it's a weakness by any means, but it seems like there's been more there than there happened in the previous years, which is, I guess, why we talk about them getting beat deep.

And here comes Jeremiah Smith. I mean, you're exactly right. I mean, I think that's been my big key to kind of watching, heading into this game. And I'll say, too, Jeremiah Smith is the first recruit, first wide receiver recruit ever to be number one overall by the 24-7 sports rankings coming out. Not a quarterback.

He's not a quarterback. He's not a quarterback. He is not a quarterback. He was a wide receiver, Jeremiah Smith. He is a freak athlete, and this is the big deal for me hanging this one, right? I believe Jermari Harris is going to guard Mbuka. That cornerback two spot, man. Somebody has to step up.

And Deshaun Lee, I believe, is going to get the start. We've been kind of waiting to see if that CB2 can separate himself a little bit I'll tell you if Deshaun Lee ends up limiting you you're not going to stop Jeremiah Smith if you limit Jeremiah Smith Deshaun Lee needs to be the start of the rest of the season this kid is an absolute freak athlete I don't think it's overhyped I've've been scouting high school football players for a decade now. Man, I'm getting old. Holy moly. Jeremiah Smith is arguably the most complete player

I've ever watched up close and scouted. The only other guy I would probably put in his category that I've seen first hand is Micah Parsons. Pretty good country elite group. Not bad. Hey, were you surprised, speaking of the cornerbacks,

I know it's the depth chart, it's Iowa football and the depth chart, but T.J. Hull was still listed as the starter. Were you surprised by that at all, or is it just chalking up to Kirk Ferentz and depth charts? You mean Kirk Ferentz depth charts? You know, I do love overanalyzing depth charts, and it's ironic.

I'm kind of hypocritical because I love overanalyzing them. I also say don't take them seriously, right? Look, I think T.J. Hall also has the potential to be a really, really good player. I still think Jon Nestor is going to be a very good player for Iowa as well. But Deshaun Lee has a big opportunity, and I think he earned himself a lot more credit. Not credibility, but there was just a lot more to him I think especially after last week's game because if you remember Minnesota went after Deshaun Lee early they went after him often and I think he rose to the occasion and if I'm Ohio State with the explosive plays that Iowa

has given up this season I look at the wide receiver room. I look at Will Howard, and I say, guys, let it rip. Throw the ball downfield to Jeremiah Smith. Make Iowa's cornerback two step up. Make Iowa's safeties, who I don't think have particularly had the greatest year. I think they're still really good, but just not what we're accustomed to seeing. I'm not going to be surprised if Ohio State goes for the kill very, very quickly in this game. Is there more pressure this week on McNamara because he's had success against Ohio State

in the past? I think if he was still in the Michigan uniform, yeah. I just don't see how you can correlate that with this team. I mean, with all due respect to Iowa right now, I believe that Michigan team is better than this year's Iowa team from what we've seen to this point. I think Cade's going to be asked to do a lot more for this Iowa team than he was in that 2021 game against Ohio State as well. And on top of that, this is just a completely different Ohio State team.

I mean, as you guys kind of opened up with, we've seen Ohio State, we've seen their secondary struggle throughout the past few years at times. The defense not really hold up. The offense has been explosive. This is not your father's Ohio State team. This is, I believe, arguably one of the top five most talented rosters that has ever been assembled in college football. I mean, I'm not saying they're unbeatable,

but just from an on-paper standpoint, the collective talent is incredible. Now, does that directly translate to, oh, they're going to win the national championship? Does that directly correlate that they're going to beat every team on their schedule? No, it does not. Coaching matters.

Execution matters. But from a pure talent perspective, I think this Ohio State team is just loaded from top to bottom in nearly every single position. Caleb Johnson, one of the few remaining Ohio natives on the roster, did he provide some bulletin board material saying, even if they offered, I wasn't going to go there? Your takeaway for the press conference the other day, and Caleb may be fan of the Flames just a little bit.

You know, I want to give a big shout out to Caleb Johnson, not just for his on-the-field conference the other day and and caleb maybe fainted the flames just a little bit you know i want to give a big shout out to caleb johnson not just for not for his on the field play but you know two years ago he just it seemed like he did not want to be interviewed he was very not i want to use the term bland but he just really didn't provide as much substance didn't go in depth on certain things i think his maturity over the past couple of years has been really impressive i think he's just incredibly locked in And that's even showcased itself in interviews and talking to him. Like you said yesterday, you said, you know, I don't think I would have gone to Ohio State had I been offered by them. But the other thing that stood out to me that really made me feel like I understand why he

came to Iowa just from a fit standpoint, personality, coaching standpoint, is just when you said, I don't want to be with the top dogs. I want to be with my teammates and beat the top dogs. And I thought that was just really, really interesting from that standpoint. So, you know, and the other side of it, though, too, is if you're an Ohio State football player and you need bulletin more material for a big game on CBS, I can tell you one thing. You are not playing football in Ohio State.

You're not playing football in Iowa. That's just not the way it is. I mean, even talking to Iowa players yesterday when they talked about, oh, do you love being the underdog? Do you need extra motivation? They're like, you're not motivated to go play Ohio State. Don't even get on the bus. And I wholeheartedly agree with them.

I hear about, well, Ohio State might be overlooking Iowa, and maybe that's one of the reasons the line is coming down. I hope that's not the case because I don't think they are. With Oregon looming next weekend in Oregon, everybody had this game circled as the game of the year in the Big Ten. But look, this Iowa team has had success against them, not a ton, but they have in the past. There's no look ahead, I don't think.

The game's in Columbus. It's in front of their home fan There's no look ahead, I don't think. The game's in Columbus. It's in front of their home fan base. No look ahead, is there? I'd be a little bit surprised now if Ohio State had been tested early this season. Maybe I'd be a little bit kind of paying attention to that. But they played a cupcake, a toaster strudel, and a Pop-Tart, and then played Michigan State. Right, they played a continental breakfast from a hotel.

That's been their schedule heading into this one. So I don't think they're going to overlook Iowa. I think they're just going to really try to perfect what they can control before they go play in that game of the year against Oregon. But I'll tell you this, too. I'm not sleeping on Penn State anymore. Iowa's not very high on Penn State. I think they were a little slow out the gate, but I think

Penn State's turned into a really, really good football team as well. But no, I mean, again, I think if they were on the road to Iowa, I think Iowa, you know, the odds might be a little bit, make more sense to me, but I'll just be completely blunt with you. I'm a little bit surprised

the line is as low as it is. I think Vegas and a lot of people are kind of expecting Iowa to continue to turn the corner a little bit defensively. Like the fact that the over-under is what, I believe 44.5, I want to say to this point. Maybe it dropped a little bit more. But I was a little bit surprised to see the line as low as it is. Again, I think Iowa has the potential to be a really, really good football team.

I don't think we're going to get an accurate assessment of where the Hawkeyes are based on this game. And I'm really not going to try to overanalyze anything that happens in this game. Unless Iowa finds a way to beat Ohio State, then I'll probably be sitting here thinking, OK, well, what's next, right? Does Iowa go 11-1? Do they have a strong chance to go 10-2? Are they back in line for a playoff spot? I don't know.

But this, I just don't see how Ohio State really overlooks them, especially because Ohio State really has not been in the national championship. They haven't gotten it done. So I think Ryan Day is completely locked in because if Ryan Day does not win the national championship this year, maybe I'm crazy. I don't think Ryan Day's job next year is 100% secure if they at least don't get to the national championship. Lower Michigan in the final week of the regular season. It's 44.5-45, so you're spot on.

Not a whole lot. I saw the team total for Iowa was 12.5. I think that was a fan duel that i saw that one uh not a lot of hope in this iowa offense at least in the betting markets david last couple of days yesterday was the ladies today it's the men with the big 10 basketball media days give us a takeaway on each side we find out sydney falter is going to be out until november with a knee scope and of course it course, his men's team. Could have been worse, I guess, right? Yeah, she'll be back. That's the good news. 11th for the men in the immediate poll there.

A takeaway on each side, both men and women. I'll be honest with you. I think Iowa's going to be better than the experts predict. I'm very high on this women's team. I think, obviously, it's going to be a drop-off post-Kaitlyn Clark. But I do think there is a chance that Iowa women make the Sweet 16. I think they could be aligned to be a potential asoff post-Caitlyn Clark. But I do think there is a chance that Iowa women make the Sweet 16. I think they could be aligned to be a potential as high as a four seed.

I think realistically they could be a five or a six seed in the upcoming NCAA tournament. I think that they have a very good team. I'm curious if Ava Hyden can really control the post as a true freshman, 6'4", moving Hannah Stolke back to the four. I think this is still going to be a really exciting team to watch. And I got to tell you, I was a little bit surprised to see them sell out the season. I thought they would get close. I didn't particularly think that, guarantee that it was going to be a sellout, but you

got to give Iowa fans a lot of credit. I think Kaitlin's kind of changed the course of the game, took Iowa to the next level, I should say. And for the men, the more I look into it, guys, the more I love the roster. I do, too. They've done a really good job with it. I think they bring a newfound athleticism, especially in the wing spots. They haven't really had in a while.

I think Owen Freeman has potential to take a big jump. I think Drew Thelwall fits in perfectly with the team. I think it's an NCAA tournament caliber team. The more I like it, the more I see it, the more I like it. But obviously, we need to see how it all translates on the court but just from an outsider perspective i'm not gonna be surprised if they end up you know eighth ninth yeah seventh eighth or ninth in the big ten i think that'd be a very good year for what they have you're preaching the choir trent and i both feel the same way i mean we were seeing projections from you know okay

granted uh you know a couple of months ago, some Adam picks 16th. It was a 15th today. The media poll came what Trent 11th, but you said, as you mentioned, as Trent mentioned, you know, the difference between probably seventh or eighth or 11th or 12th is one wind because there's going to be, you know, the middle is going to be so a bunch together, but we're with you. I think this roster is way better.

And I give Fran McCaffrey a ton of credit, too, because he was seemingly late to get into the portal. Maybe he was just making sure of the fit. But once he started to, you know, do a little business in there, he kept filling up his cart. I loved what he did. But before the transfer portal closed, this roster is better, and I thought it had a chance to beat David.

Say to Traore. That's the guy. Yeah, me too. That's been my guy since I watched him on film and I heard I was going after him. I just think he's a different fit from what I was at. I think he can do a little bit of everything. I think he's a strong rebounder on both sides of the floor. And guess

what? He loves to play defense. He's a defender. He likes to play it and he likes getting in transition drew fell well if he can hit threes on a consistent basis is a really good passer he's a long athletic point guard and it's another guy who's the i believe is the winningest player in morehead state basketball history winning translates at every single level and with him and brock harding splitting the one i think it makes a lot of sense. That's David Eicholt from 24-7 Sports Hawkeye Insider. A little basketball talk there at the end and plenty of football with the Ohio

State matchup coming up on Saturday. Speaking of basketball, Kaitlin Clark with another honor rookie of the year, but not unanimous. We'll talk about that as we continue. This is Locked on Hawkeyes. Today's episode of Locked on Hawkeyes is brought to you by GameTime and the GameTime app. GameTime has a new feature called GameTime Picks that makes getting tickets for your favorite live events even easier. GameTime filters out the fluff to show you only incredible deals on great seats so you don't have to waste time searching through thousands of tickets. The app is absolutely set up for you, and you can set it up in your own way. What I love to do is toggle that all-in pricing, making sure you're going to know exactly what your total is up front for any ticket.

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Trent Conant back with you one final time on the Locked On Hawkeyes podcast. Shout out to all you everydayers out there. Always appreciate each and every one of you and maybe finding us for the first time. If you are, just hit subscribe. We'll pop up on your feed each and every time and appreciate that. All right, Caitlin Clark, Rookie of the Year. Shocker, right? I mean, roll your eyes. We knew it was going to happen, but it's not a unanimous selection. There was one voter that I don't know if they were taking a stand. I don't know what your thought process could possibly be. This is an avenue, though,

that the WNBA needs to figure out because there is a fine line between conversation, debate, and the ugliness that we continue to see permeate inside of this league the jealousy that is there of caitlin clark the jealousy of the indiana fever it's ugly at times it's ridiculous and as somebody that enjoys watching this sport now and even with indiana out of the playoffs they have something that they need to figure out in a big time way. Yes, as a league is growing and increasing by leaps and bounds from anything that it's ever been before. A league that was propped up by NBA ownership and without it, would not have been a league at this point, but it's still here. They're waiting for that star and they have it now in Caitlin Clark. But when those conversations, those debates, when they get as divisive and at times as ugly as they do, it's bad for the sport.

It's bad for the fan. It's bad for just the everyday person that just wants to enjoy a game. Enjoy a game. I understand there's a lot of social media warriors out there that are taking both sides of arguments and taking a lot of times conversations in places they probably really don't need to go. But for me, and I'm sure I'm not alone, there are parts of it that push me away.

And that's what the WNBA cannot afford that at this point. They need people like me. They need people like you. They need people that are going to be invested, invested for the next 10, 12, 15 years of Caitlin Clark and what goes with it. And hopefully more Iowa stars that are going to continue to make their way to Iowa City,

to try to become the next Caitlin Clark, and to create more success on the hardwood like we've seen the last couple of years. That's what we hope as Hawkeye fans. And that's what the WNBA needs. Keep an eye on that one. We are out of here. Done for the day.

We'll be back with you. One more episode coming up this week. We'll have Tom Kickert from Hawkeye Report joining us. Our final prediction and preview for Iowa-Ohio State. And we'll be back with you then on Saturday evening with an instant reaction podcast after Iowa shocks the world. We'll see. Thanks for making Lockdown Hawkeyes your first listen every day.

We'll talk to you again tomorrow. Go Hawks.