Locked On Hawkeyes - Daily Podcast On Iowa Hawkeyes Football & Basketball - Iowa Hawkeyes' coaching shake-up: Betts to NFL, Chad Leistikow joins the show

Starting point is 00:00:00 Iowa football hit by a blow Liddell Betts is back to the NFL this time as a coach Where does Iowa turn and catch Ferris go? New bad coach we break it down today 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 while you're there Hit that subscribe button just takes a moment and helps us get in front

Starting point is 00:00:45 of more Hawkeye fans. If you're listening on the audio side, listen on Apple, hit us up with a five star view, give us some nice comments there. If you enjoy the show would really appreciate it helps us with the analytics. Let's get into it today. We got football, we got basketball, we have Chad Leistigow from the Des Moines Register, he'll be stopping by and talking Hawkeye a little bit of everything with him coming up here in just a little bit.

Starting point is 00:01:08 But we begin with the news from yesterday, Liddell Betts is leaving the University of Iowa and the football program as he is taking a job with the New York Giants. We go back four years ago when Liddell Betts got this job after a great career at the University of Iowa. You remember he was part of that bridge between the Hayden-Fry era and into the Kirk Farrance era.

Starting point is 00:01:32 A guy that was tremendous behind some bad offensive lines. I think a lot of people remember you go back to the end of the Hayden into the early Kirk Ferentz era just how bad those offensive lines were and Liddell Betts was able to make it happen. Played eight years then in the league in the NFL, did a great job, continued coaching after he finished up his career, but it was at the high school level. And when he was tabbed as the next running back coach at the University of Iowa, I think there were some questions about Liddell Betts But a guy from Kansas City a lot of connections there a guy that played in the league for eight years a lot of connections There then was a high school coach for a number of years in South Florida

Starting point is 00:02:14 We saw how good he was in the recruiting side of things But maybe most importantly when you look at Liddell Betts Caleb Johnson You saw the season that he put together a lot of credit obviously needs to go to Liddell Betts. Caleb Johnson, you saw the season that he put together. A lot of credit obviously needs to go to Liddell Betts. But the thing that I think is maybe the number one thing about Liddell Betts as a coach and what he was able to do this past season was not making Caleb Johnson an All-American, but was keeping all these guys around for a season at the running back position. We came into last year. Caleb Johnson, remember, was not at the top of the depth chart.

Starting point is 00:02:46 He was suspended for the first half of the game a season ago, and then obviously thrust onto the scene what he did against Illinois State, and then from there, in putting together one of the most outstanding performances of the season. But coming into last year, keeping Caleb Johnson in the fold. In today's environment, to have a guy that talented that went through a very Disappointing sophomore year after an outstanding freshman campaign that is difficult to do yet Liddell Betts was able to do it, but it wasn't just him You also look at what he was able to do with a guy like Jazzy on Patterson, right?

Starting point is 00:03:20 Jazzy on came into last year had a couple of good stretches had a couple of good Games a season ago against Iowa State but kept him around for another year That's not easy. Kamari Bolton a lot of people thought he was gonna be the guy this year You bring all those guys back TJ Washington's another guy. We saw the Sean Williams was coming into the season Obviously injuries derailed it and he was never able to get started But he at least started the season with Iowa you couple that with the freshman with Williams coming in from Indianapolis Brevin doll This was an incredibly deep running back room He kept the guys healthy. He kept them around for the season that says a ton

Starting point is 00:04:00 I believe about what you get out of Liddell bets I believe about what you get out of Liddell bets This is a blow and this is a blow because you also have a guy that's not just leaving right not just leaving But when you look at it where he's going We'll get to the NFL component because that is a piece. I'm sure however When you go through and you see that he's going to the Giants He is leaving University of Iowa looks to be a very solid situation going and

Starting point is 00:04:34 Taking it. Excuse me taking a job That has a coaching staff that likely is gonna be on their way out unless they make the playoffs this year Dayball and company that's gonna be tough for him to come back from. And it's incredibly difficult to envision a scenario where that's going to happen. You're going to see him out there for another season. So it's odd. I think it says something though, also about the NFL. And when you look at a guy like Liddell Betts, like myself, he's in his mid forties, family considerations and the time that now is invested to be a college coach.

Starting point is 00:05:07 Yeah, the money's good. And when the money's good, you can go through and you can change some things. You cut some corners. You can talk yourself into different things when the money's good. Well, Lidl Betts also had a pretty good career in the NFL, and he made some money. So money is not the only object remember he was coaching high school before that and because of that you kind of look at his NFL earnings coupled with the salary that he's made here over the last four years it's probably more about just life and that component to it you know what you're going through, what you're looking at with

Starting point is 00:05:46 your personal life also goes hand in hand. How many coaches now have we seen recently that have left the college game, left big jobs, head coaching jobs to go to the NFL? And though it looks a little flukey on the surface, what is he doing? What can you possibly be doing going to what looks to be a sinking ship with the Giants. I think that's the reason that you're looking at as well. It's just quality of life. And in college coaching right now, it is not a fun one. We'll see what this is going to be.

Starting point is 00:06:15 And here's the likelihood too. Look, if he goes to the Giants this year, they have a devastating year. They get fired. It's not like Liddell Betts is going to be out of work. After what he did at Iowa, he's going to have a job in college coaching He's likely get his foot in the door in the NFL a lot of times when you get that foot in the door That's all it takes and you're gonna be there for a very very long time Might be moving cities a lot might be bouncing around a little bit. That's also a component, but a very real possibility We'll talk with Chad Leistokow about this

Starting point is 00:06:43 I will football talk with the columnist from the Des Moines Register on the Iowa Hawkeye beat. We will talk with him. We'll get into basketball talk about the women's game against UCLA What is next for them and of course Iowa as they get ready for the matchup Can the Hawkeyes pull the shocker tonight against the Illini? We'll talk about that as we continue locked on Hawkeyes I will talk about that as we continue locked on Hawkeyes March basketball is here and there's no better way to get in on the action Then with prize picks the best place for daily fantasy sports with prize picks you pick more or less on at least two player Projections and if you're right you can win up to one thousand times your cash

Starting point is 00:07:27 It's fast easy and keeps every game exciting this week I'm taking a look Jason Tatum more than 29 points and we're gonna go more rebounds. How about 12 rebounds for Anthony Davis? I love how making picks can take less than 60 seconds and keep you engaged all game long When I win my money hits my account and as little as 15 minutes no more waiting around plus Price picks offers weekly promos like taco Tuesday where you get discounted player projections for even more value Download the price picks app today and use the code locked on college to get $50 instantly after you play your first five dollar lineup. That's code locked on college for $50 instantly first $5 lineup that's called Lockdown College for $50 instantly after you play your first $5 lineup. Price picks run your game. Let's talk to Chad Leistico shall we covers Iowa for the at the Des Moines register calling

Starting point is 00:08:20 missed over there. Hello, Chad Trenton Ken. Thanks for giving us a few minutes. How are you? I'm doing well. Thanks for giving us a few minutes. How are you? I'm doing well. Thanks, guys. Good to talk to you. Good to talk to you. I guess let's start with the news that came out today. We'll get to the basketball men's and women's, but Ladele Betts, Trent and I ended the first hour of our program talking a little bit about that. Going to an organization, there's only 32 of them, I get it, that clearly has to win and win now and Brian Deball and that staff with the Giants but the opportunity to get to the NFL obviously outweighed the

Starting point is 00:08:51 staying in college and just the uncertainty that Deball and his staff what the what he's walking into. Yeah, I think first and foremost from the Hawkeyes perspective, this is a really significant loss I feel like I mean he was Ladell Betts was in four years, this is a really significant loss, I feel like. I mean, he was, Ladell Betts was, in four years on staff, was a really good coach. I think the thing he probably did the best was keep his room engaged and together. I mean, Caleb Johnson, he easily could have transferred

Starting point is 00:09:19 after his sophomore year. And Ladell Betts, I mean, gets, I would say, 80% and 90% of the credit for keeping him at Iowa, keeping him on the right track. You know, Caleb obviously comes back and has an unbelievable year. And you know, the same could be said for a jazz guy like Jazz Patterson. Here's a guy that was shuffled four back maybe in the rotation this past year. I mean, and he stuck with it and he's been a contributor and

Starting point is 00:09:49 Kamari Molten and he's kind of building into something we think. And so it's, I do think it was a big, it's a big loss for Iowa. I know that it sounds like it was kind of a later developing thing this past weekend here. So a little bit of a surprise developing thing this past weekend here. So a little bit of a surprise. It's pretty late to have an opening on a college staff. So you know, not really sure where Iowa goes, you know, from here, but you know, it's going to be really difficult to replace somebody like Ladell who has that NFL experience too. The guys believe when he talks to them, you know, they believe in like, yeah, you'd be

Starting point is 00:10:24 patient, you know, the ball can only go to you once, you know, only one ball to go around type of thing. And, um, he understood that too, as an NFL running back, you know, he was never really a starter and, uh, he still had a nine year, 10 year career in the NFL. So, um, yeah, again, big loss. So is this going to be Tim Lester, maybe more involved bringing in a new offensive coach after kind of getting his feet underneath him a year ago? How much sway is he going to have in the room or is this Kirk when it comes to hiring assistants?

Starting point is 00:10:53 This is all Kirk Farrant's. Yeah, I would hope that Tim Lester has quite a bit of say here. I mean, I think that, you know, he really hasn't had a chance to kind of create some of his own staff. So to speak, I mean, they have a decent staff out in offense. I mean, George Barnett, I think was, was, uh, you know, kind of proven to be a really good coach and had, I had small season opportunities too. And, and stayed with Iowa. So, um, yeah, I hope so.

Starting point is 00:11:21 I don't know. Um, usually, you know, parents is, this is kind of his thing, you know, to bring in the coaches he sees as fits and certainly he's not going to bring in a guy that he doesn't think is a fit. But also from what I've kind of gathered of the last year since basically Lester took the job is they really are on the same page and he really has, you know, turned over the keys to the offense here. So I'm sure it'll be collaborative, but but Ferentz for sure will have the final say. And knowing Kirk's timeline, we'll have this wrapped up by what, July? Yeah, I mean, I wouldn't be even shocked

Starting point is 00:11:53 if things went through spring without a running backs coach. They probably got, you know, plenty of grant assistance analysts, whatever they can get the job done this spring. And Kirk does. I mean, I respect that about him. He does take his time to get the right fit. I remember, I think we were in, in fact, I'm almost a hundred percent sure I was covering the NCAA tournament

Starting point is 00:12:13 or the Big Ten tournament during the COVID year when Ladell Betts was hired. You know, and it was just like, God, when are they gonna hire somebody? And I think he was sitting there covering, I think it was like, whoever they played first, I think it was Wisconsin, maybe in the big 10 tournament, um, Lucas senior year. And then it happened. You can look, if you do a Google search, it'll be around that day. And, uh, so he does wait, you know, uh, but it gets the right fit. And in that case it did pay off. So, um, yeah,

Starting point is 00:12:44 I don't know. I don't know what the timeline will be. I'm sure I think their heads are kind of spinning a little bit on this one. Yeah, it's because he came out of nowhere. Well, let's get to the basketball. Start with the ladies yesterday. Gotta give them credit. Play both California teams very, very difficult, obviously winning one. USC that remarkable day a few weeks back in UCLA. They had a, what looks like a really good team.

Starting point is 00:13:06 Uh, Jensen's bunch had them on the ropes. Um, and obviously everybody's talking about that call at the end of the game, which, you know, officiated officials had an awful week across men's and women's sports in all conferences, seemingly. Uh, but that one stuck out yesterday. But, uh, um, look, I don't think it's going, it's turning out the way anybody thought it would being 500 this point of the season, but still some positives from yesterday even then it didn't go their way, Chad.

Starting point is 00:13:33 Yeah. I really do feel like the season as a whole has been successful. It's just like, because you look at just how close they are in these games, but now it's getting to the point where, and I kind of wrote this in my column today was, you have at just how close they are in these games But now it's getting to the point where I kind of wrote this in my column today was You know you have to win these close games at some point I mean they're now 0 and 5 in games decided by one possession or they go to overtime So three points are last or overtime their own five and if you just flip two of those I mean, they're they could be 20 and 70 flip three They're 21 and 6 and you're probably talking about, you know,

Starting point is 00:14:05 in the hosting seat range almost. So they really, you know, in that sense, they aren't far off. But yeah, it was a little bit, I feel like the way they, you know, they were up 12 in the third quarter on multiple occasions yesterday. And, you know, Jensen just was, she was, you know, she was normally very positive, but yesterday she was not. She was disappointed in a lot of the shots they were taking. She didn't really articulate this, but they didn't want to try to shoot over Betts, and they kept doing that after they got that big lead. That was a mistake.

Starting point is 00:14:37 They should have just kept going with the threes or other alternatives rather than trying to take it to bats because that's just the losing strategy and that's kind of when UCLA started to chip back get some confidence get some rebounds gave them some life and carver when they you know i had a chance to take it out of them but two games left here in the regular season big one here at michigan 6 p.m wednesday btn plus so get your subscription ready. You know, get the student announcers going over there in Ann Arbor. But I think if they won one they could maybe work their way you know past that first day at the Big Ten tournament but they're

Starting point is 00:15:15 a dangerous team. I mean I think they're probably fifth or sixth best team in the Big Ten at least right now but yet they might be seated like 11th in Indy. Yeah it's just crazy how different the women's and men's is this year. I mean, the bottom of the women's this season is just so bad. And we've got a bunch of below average teams kind of fighting it out just to get into the Big 10 tournament on the men's side. Let's say they win these final two, maybe pull an upset in the Big 10 tournament. What's the ceiling unless, of course, they run the table in the Big 10 tournament. What's the ceiling, unless of course they run the table in the Big 10 tournament, what's the ceiling

Starting point is 00:15:46 do you believe seeding wise for the women's team? I think if they, well, I do think they can win these two games this week. At Michigan, you know, they're 10 and six in the Big 10, Iowa's eight and eight. So, you know, Iowa could, and then Michigan's finishing at Illinois. So that's a team you could jump up and pass or tie,

Starting point is 00:16:04 win the tiebreaker there. And right now, I mean, going into I think this week, Michigan was a sixth seed on Charlie Cream's bracketology. So if you can win some of these tiebreakers and then Iowa gets Iowa has four quad one wins. If they can get some some they have no bad they have no bad losses, like zero bad losses, um, no losses by more than, um, 10. I mean, that was a Tennessee game. I think there was one with like a minute to go. Um, and so, you know, I think you get to the benefit of the doubt.

Starting point is 00:16:36 So I think six is probably your absolute ceiling. Um, probably got to work with both this week and maybe, maybe even make a run to the semis in the big 10 tournament, which I guess not that impossible. Um, you know, that if they could, you know, it is, they can at least get to the quarters and maybe, you know, maybe they run into USC UCLA again, fight and lose or something like that, but, um, let's say they do that there at 21, 22 win. Um, you know, seven probably at that point, but I think eight, nine range right now. So they got a little work to do to maybe climb. You'd like to stay out of eight,

Starting point is 00:17:12 nine obviously that's the tough spot to be in because you're going to go visit the number one campus site. I mean six to me is the sweet spot if you get there just because then those three seeds typically are you know they're not going to be the South Carolinas, the Notre Dame's, you know, you might be able to go into a little bit of a listless home court, maybe even have a home court advantage in both cases, you know, and sneak your way into the sweet 16. Who knows? Well, the men are trying to sneak their way into the Big Ten tournament period. They took a step forward this weekend. That was a nice one over Washington.

Starting point is 00:17:47 They were essentially in the same spot, both trying to claw their way, uh, into the big 10 tournament, but, uh, but doing that, getting that win, when you look at what's left on the schedule, I mean, all of a sudden, I think this Illinois game tomorrow night, the Hawks look live in that one Northwestern is big as far as to try and earn your way to Indianapolis because they're right there with them. But there's a couple of opportunities, even the final game over in Lincoln. Although I like this Nebraska team better than I like the Iowa team, but I was very much, I think, not out of the

Starting point is 00:18:18 conversation, but certainly looking like they've solidified their spot and avoided the embarrassment of being left out of this tournament overall? Maybe, I mean, I think they still got to win one more. And that's not a gimme here. You know, three road games and then your home games against Michigan State, which has never really been a pleasant experience. Yeah, I think the Northwestern game, I may have to win that. That would be probably, that would probably get them in.

Starting point is 00:18:47 That would get them to what? Seven wins, right in the big 10? Or six and 10 right now. So yeah, I mean seven, seven and 13. I do think, you know, when you cover these guys, you get to, you get to know them a little bit and you like them. And, you know, they're just, you know, Peyton Sanford, first and foremost, just an unbelievably quality individual. You would hate to see him having come back and then have his season end in Lincoln, Nebraska

Starting point is 00:19:15 on March 9th. Like that would be a tough way for him to end when he came back to take the team to the tournament and it's not his fault. I mean, it's just been a lot of circumstances this year. So yeah, I'm not, I don't think they're quite in yet though. I mean, it's, you know, they've, what do they got like a one game lead on this thing? So yeah, they're gonna have to do a little more work and,

Starting point is 00:19:40 but yeah, weird lineups are getting done. I don't know, like, I kind of think Fran did something kind of genius here. They put guys out there that they had never scouted. You know, scouting or boarding on Riley, Mollier, Carter, Kingbury. And they got it done. Potential path that we're going to see a rematch right afterwards with Nebraska, Iowa in the opening round of the Big Ten tournament could play out.

Starting point is 00:20:00 But a lot of basketball still to be played after it concludes. And Lincoln in the Big Ten tournament, in a postseason tournament, and Vegas, like Ken is hoping for myself as well, wherever it ends, is this also, are we treading towards the end of days for Framon Caffrey? I mean, yeah, I mean, Beth gets is, you know, kind of laid out her decision in the article that I wrote this past week. It's good read, by the way. Yeah, thank you.

Starting point is 00:20:30 Yeah, I mean, the feedback has been so heartwarming because everyone, pro-Fran, anti-Fran, like, wow, that was really balanced. It made me think of some things. That's kind of the goal, you know? And so, yeah, it's when Beth looks at, you know, just kind of where the momentum of the program is, I think it's going to be difficult to stay with the status quo. But she, you know, she has a little more knowledge too of that maybe we do on, you know, who might come back if Fran, you know, stays and who might leave if Fran goes, you know, I

Starting point is 00:21:03 mean, you know, there's a lot more factors going on and certainly money is a big deal as you're trying to pay athletes a 20 plus million in rev share starting on July 1st. Now Beth says they're gonna max that out. Most Big Ten schools say they are, but then you gotta maybe come up with another 10 million on top of that.

Starting point is 00:21:25 I talked to a lot of people off the, all of it off the record background more so, so I could write that piece. And one person kind of just spoke to me about it from a business perspective. And then when you look at the business, say you're a CEO of a big company, if one sector of your company really isn't working, it's your job as that CEO to find out why and then go make a change if you need to make a change. And so just because maybe the women's team and the football team and the wrestling team are all selling out doesn't mean you just sit pat on men's basketball

Starting point is 00:22:05 and let it rip it out another year. You try to fix it. And so, I definitely wouldn't be surprised if there's a move. I also don't think there's any chance that there's gonna be any negotiated buyout. I mean, Grant's not gonna walk away from 4.6 or $4.2 million just because

Starting point is 00:22:28 he wants to be a nice guy, you know, retire. So I don't think there's necessarily a happy ending here from one way or another. Money-wise. So you haven't heard the retirement word that hasn't popped up as far as any of the conversations you've had? No. I mean, it would surprise me. I mean, if they try to couch something like that, I don't even know if that would be a reality in that case. My understanding from the work I've done is that, yeah, that dude's a basketball coach. He wants to keep coaching. He'll be 66 in May, but he's not done yet. As I kind of poured out in the article, I mean, he really is a

Starting point is 00:23:09 good coach. It's just, you know, you know how it goes. Like, it's just, sometimes you just wear thin at the end of a rain. I mean, heck, Ference is wearing thin on a lot of people right now, you know? Like, it just happens. And so, you know, it's not that even if they do make a move, it's not that some horrible coach or anything like that. It's just sometimes it's, sometimes it's time. Everything runs its course. Yup. Yeah. It may be time. Yup. Um, Beth gets good. Uh, and I actually talked to, um, I talked to Gary Barta, you know, I don't mind saying this the other day, it just at the game and, um, you know, just said, Hey, they'll love what predicaments she's in.

Starting point is 00:23:45 She's like, yeah, that's gonna be all. When you're in the ADC, that's all your call. You don't have a committee, like you're on the island on this thing. It's your decision what to do in this case. So when we say it's Beth Getz's decision, it is Beth Getz's decision. And not going to be an easy one.

Starting point is 00:24:05 Definitely you can talk both sides of that one. When you look at the athletic department as a whole going forward, we know changes. You mentioned the amount of money that's going to be put in and going to student athletes and how that's going to break down. Is Iowa in a good spot? The university and the athletic department as a whole, are they in a good spot or you're a little bit tepid about the future and how it's going to look? I think they're in a good spot in terms of the revenue sharing. I'm curious to see how it all plays out in terms of you know what the what each sport gets etc.

Starting point is 00:24:38 You know the one area that worries me which I pointed out in the article did not worries me but good worry fans would be, you know, just the NIL situation for men's basketball and whether a new coach, you know, kind of can revive that or not, you know, like is that? Because as my article pointed out, they're in the very bottom of the Big Ten in terms of what they're paying their roster. Maybe not the very bottom, but the bottom three to five teams. And so, you know, if you make a move, does a new coach all of a sudden get all this new

Starting point is 00:25:13 NIL money at the Swarm? Or where's that coming from? I get the sense there would be some enthusiasm for certain coaches out there, maybe, but you don't know. You know, that's another thing that Beth gets us to wrap her head around too, is, you know, if I make a move, you know, are we going to be able to pay a roster? Or is this just, you know, cause Fran's done a good job, honestly, winning with, you know, about paying players for 12, 15 years.

Starting point is 00:25:41 So, um, that's not, it's not as easy as just moving on necessarily. Have you figured out, I can go back to this Vegas thing. If there is a change, would they, do they have to accept this? Do you know that crown tournament that they're going to take three from the big East, three from the big 12, three from the big 10, and they go, they have to turn down an NIT. The first choice for the conferences is this crown tournament. Would I go to that, do you think? Man, that's a good question. I mean, Fran's the type that would want to keep going. I mean, those guys would probably want to keep playing as much as they could. I don't know. Do you guys know? I don't know if that's the type of thing where you got

Starting point is 00:26:26 to pay to play in it or do you know what I mean? Like sometimes they see B. I know I don't think that I don't think this is a pay. Okay. You don't like the universe. Right. Correct. Correct. Yeah. In that case, then I wouldn't be, you know, I would think they would probably want to try to play as long as I can just because I don't know, like they didn't say for a juice that well, you know, those guys are want to try to play as long as they can just because I don't like They didn't say it for a truth that well, you know guys are gonna want to play as long as they can and um, so I would I would be surprised if they turned it down, I guess unless there's just an instant move at the end of the season or something but um I don't know. Uh, just knowing him though that he likes to keep playing as long as they can. Good stuff. Chad Leistico from the Des Moines Register column is for the Hawks.

Starting point is 00:27:09 Hawks Central, Wednesday night for you here? Yeah, Wednesday night. Yeah, you betcha. Good stuff. Anything you'd like to promote coming up with the registers that you're working on? Doing something on Lucy Olsen for Sunday's paper. So kind of what her first year has been like What her only year? Yeah, right has been like, you know It's been kind of wild all the expectations and kind of how it started how it's going now So yeah, I'm done with all the interviews just kind of write it now. Yep. Thank you. Chad. Appreciate you popping on

Starting point is 00:27:41 Thanks guys. Yeah, good to talk to Chad Low, columnist from the Des Moines Register. Trent Conn I'm back with you one final time, Lockdown Hawkeyes. Thanks for being with us and making Lockdown Hawkeyes your first listen every day. So it's Iowa, Illinois tonight. Can the Hawkeyes pull the shocker? It would be a shocking victory for Iowa. They're a double-digit underdog right now at Fandual. Ten and a half is the number. Analytically same kind of number. Eleven at Ken Pomeroy. They have Illinois winning this one. Ken Pomeroy does 91 to 80. Shows you Iowa's defensive depth at times this year.

Starting point is 00:28:23 174th in the country in defensive efficiency and what Illinois can do when they're right. Now the last time out, D-Lai and I were not right. Against Duke they got ran out of the gym, 110 to 67. Illinois shoots two of 26 from the three point line. Two of 26 was normally a pretty good shooting team. They just got ran out of the gym now apparently there were some tired legs Coming off of some flu some kind of illness going through the team at that point Remember, they're also blown out the previous game against, Wisconsin. I thought they were gonna bounce back and play well against Duke

Starting point is 00:29:00 Maybe it was just as simple as that they were sick This could be a get- game though for the Alina. This thing could get ugly in a hurry. But what we've learned throughout the course of the year, this Illinois team might be as befuddling, as crazy as anyone that we've seen throughout the college basketball season. When you go through and you look at

Starting point is 00:29:19 some of their inexplicable losses, they go in to a matchup in January against USC team that was absolutely reeling USC comes into assembly hall and wins that game they've lost home games against USC and Maryland and Michigan State road games against Rutgers and Nebraska Michigan State Northwestern it's just, they're an odd team. They're a talented team. It can go awry though in a hurry. You can get the ball from them.

Starting point is 00:29:52 They're a little bit loose with the ball. I was gonna have to play at pace, and this is gonna have to be another one where Peyton Sanford and Josh Dix both go off. You're not gonna win this one, 72-69. You're gonna have to score and score in a big way. I like what we've seen recently, of bronze out of Molde this is an Illinois team. That's going to be big the big guy

Starting point is 00:30:13 In 7 1 255 pounds, I mean they're a load and they play a lot of times with three tall guys in there when it's is sick human cheese and Riley when it's Isik, Humiches, and Riley, 6-8-6-9-7-1. They're a big team. And then you got a point guard that's 6'6 and Jaxi on it. So, it's a bad matchup for us. I'm gonna be rooting. I just don't have a whole lot of confidence that this one's gonna go well for our Hawkeyes.

Starting point is 00:30:39 Regardless, one way or the other, I'll be back with you. After the conclusion of this one tonight, Regardless, one way or the other, I'll be back with you. After the conclusion of this one tonight, we'll be with you with a rapid reaction podcast. Have you covered with Iowa, Illinois? Big recap of that one. Thanks to Chad Leistokow for joining us and thanks to you for making Lockdown Hawkeyes your first listen every day. We'll be back with you tomorrow. Until then, go Hawks.

Pet Camera - EBO Air 2

Locked On Hawkeyes - Daily Podcast On Iowa Hawkeyes Football & Basketball - Iowa Hawkeyes' coaching shake-up: Betts to NFL, Chad Leistikow joins the show

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Pet Camera - EBO Air 2

Locked On Hawkeyes - Daily Podcast On Iowa Hawkeyes Football & Basketball - Iowa Hawkeyes' coaching shake-up: Betts to NFL, Chad Leistikow joins the show

There aren't comments yet for this episode. Click on any sentence in the transcript to leave a comment.