Locked On Hawkeyes - Daily Podcast On Iowa Hawkeyes Football & Basketball - Iowa Hoops: Molly Davis injury update, Bubble Watch for Hawkeye men, wrestling, baseball & football too

Episode Date: March 6, 2024

Trent Condon is back with another edition of the Locked on Hawkeyes Podcast.It begins with a look at the injury to Iowa women's basketball player Molly Davis and what Lisa Bluder had to say about the ...injury anb the potential of her returning to the team this season. Some thoughts on Caitlin Clark and another Big Ten Player of the Year award and what awaits the team going forward.The Iowa men's basketball team is getting help around the country as bubble teams continue to loss. What Iowa has to do in order to be an NCAA Tournament team. Wrapping up with thoughts on Iowa wrestling and the preseeds given out by the Big Ten as the Big Ten wrestling tournament is coming up, the proposed 14 team college football playoff and Iowa baseball getting a midweek win and the importance of the next week for the Hawkeyes.  Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Amazon Fire TVFire TV recently created Fire TV Channels to deliver a constant supply of the latest videos from your favorite sports brands, all for free. That includes all of us at Locked On and most of the big pro leagues and college conferences as well. To Learn More, visit www.amazon.com/LockedOnFireTVNissanOur friends at Nissan have a lineup of SUV’s with the capabilities to take your adventure to the next level. Take the Nissan Rogue, Nissan Pathfinder, or Nissan Armada and go find your next big adventure. Shop NissanUSA.com.LinkedInThese days every new potential hire can feel like a high stakes wager for your small business. That’s why LinkedIn Jobs helps find the right people for your team, faster and for free. Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/lockedoncollege. Terms and conditions apply.GametimeDownload the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase.FanDuelNew customers, join today and you’ll getONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS in BONUS BETS if your first bet of FIVE DOLLARS or more wins. Visit FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON to get started. eBay MotorsWith all the parts you need at the prices you want, it’s easy to turn your car into the MVP and bring home that win. Keep your ride-or-die alive at EbayMotors.com. Eligible items only. Exclusions apply. eBay Guaranteed Fit only available to US customers.FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

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Starting point is 00:00:00 Well, looked on Sunday like it was going to be the end of the career for Molly Davis after she was injured against Ohio State. Not the case. We'll talk about her chances of coming back. Iowa looking for a number one seed. The men's team on the bubble. We got football. We got basketball. We got baseball.
Starting point is 00:00:17 We got wrestling. We have it all today. Locked on Hawkeyes. You are locked on Hawkeyes. Your daily podcast on the Iowa Hawkeyes. Part of the 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 Lockdown Hawkeyes podcast.
Starting point is 00:00:46 Thanks for making Lockdown 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 here. It helps us get in front of more Hawkeye fans. Today's episode is brought to you by GameTime. Download the GameTime app, create an account, and use code LOCKDOWN for $20 off your first purchase. Well, Sunday, the win against Ohio State in a rousing environment at Carver Hawkeye Arena.
Starting point is 00:01:13 There were so many feel-good stories. Obviously, Kate Clark playing her final regular season game in a Hawkeye uniform before the NCAA tournament, the Big Ten tournament on tap, Senior Day festivities. But it was, in a way, all overshadowed by the injury to Molly Davis. And Molly Davis went down after a steal, another hustle play out of Molly D, as she's been dubbed by Gus Johnson, and just doing the things that you want. And listening after the game, seeing her in the wheelchair, and just hearing her
Starting point is 00:01:47 talk about being a player short of stature. Look, I was a 5'7", two guard at the North Iowa Conference a million years ago. I feel for the short people. But we saw her a year ago transfer in from Central Michigan. She had a small role on the team, but she was an impact player. She wasn't anybody that, after looking at her statistics the year before and playing in the MAAC, that was a huge part of the team on the team, but she was an impact player. She wasn't anybody that, after looking at her statistics the year before and playing in the MAAC, that was a huge part of the team on the floor. And yes, she kept working on her game and kept building herself up
Starting point is 00:02:13 to be not just a Big Ten player, but a starting Big Ten player, a starting player in a top five team in the country, and doing it with her short stature, she's easy to root for. And now to see that way that went down and what looked at the time to be a season ender. Well, that's not the case. And Lisa Bluter talked about this both in her press conference on Tuesday and on Monday night on the Hawk Talk radio show. And she said it was a kneecap injury. So we talked about this and speculate a little bit on the show earlier this week, every day, as you remember, because it was just so odd. You know, you see that kind of non-contact injury. Yes, I know there was a
Starting point is 00:02:48 little bump in the back. Look, you slow down the tape and it looks terrible. That's not the play. Look, contact's going to happen in a game. There was not contact that led to that kind of injury. She played it, you went wrong, and it was a dislocated kneecap or something along those lines. Now, Coach Bluter has not said officially what the injury is. She did mention a kneecap, though, and it leads you to look at some of these past injuries. I think the most prominent one that is in the same vein would happen to Patrick Mahomes when he was trying to do the quarterback sneak. They don't do quarterback sneaks anymore with Kansas City, and he was out for a few weeks. So there's 26 days between last Sunday's game against Ohio State
Starting point is 00:03:28 and what could be the first Sweet 16 game, or even if they play a day later, which would be on Saturday. So it's Friday through Monday for the Sweet 16 Elite Eight games. And if you push it back, she's not going to play this week in the Big Ten tournament. And as Iowa awaits the winner of Penn State and Wisconsin, likely Indiana then in the next round, and then finish up if Ohio State comes out of the top side of the bracket, we're not going to see Molly Davis play in that.
Starting point is 00:03:53 But then, because the Big Ten tournament is early, before we get to Selection Sunday, it is going to be more, obviously, time for her to heal, for her to go out there. And it goes from her looking like it was a torn ACL. I think that's where a lot of people's minds went, myself included. But then you saw the way that she was carried off the floor. That's odd. Normally with an ACL injury, you can put pressure on it. You can still walk on it. Then you're on crutches right afterwards. They had the big leg wrap on her.
Starting point is 00:04:23 They had the wheelchair that was out there she wasn't on crutches and it led to the speculation and though i went to school for a long time i'm not a doctor not even close to it it was just so different than what we normally saw that the good news comes out there we know how impactful she can be and you go back to some of their victories the first win against indiana this year i mean she was absolutely monstrous in that game. Her ability off the bounce, her ability to run the point, have Kaitlin then play the two-guard position and do things and get her involved in different ways
Starting point is 00:04:53 than just as a facilitator. That's a huge help. And you really look at the depth of this team. There aren't a bunch of strong ball handlers that are part of that group. I anticipate you're going to see Kate Martin kind of filling that role that Davis did at times, running the point with Clayton,
Starting point is 00:05:08 playing the two-guard position, kind of go that route from time to time when they go there. The good news is, A, that our season's not over, or at least there's an opportunity that it's not over. I mean, that's a great part of it, and we'll see how rehab goes, and we'll see what Iowa does, too. I think we still have to remind ourselves
Starting point is 00:05:24 that there are no sure things. A couple of years ago, we thought this team was destined for a date with Iowa State in the Sweet 16. They get beat by Creighton in the round of 32. Last season, oh, this will be easy right in the Sweet 16. Wasn't the case. It was a battle to get by Georgia in the round of 32. Hell, you're supposed to play Stanford in the lead eight.
Starting point is 00:05:44 If you play out to seeding, they get beat in the round of 32 by Ole Miss. By the way, who's one of the teams? I believe in ESPN and Charlie Crean's bracketology. Who does he have Iowa facing off against if both teams win in the first round? That's right, Ole Miss. So there are no sure things even to get to a Sweet 16. I think we have to remind ourselves about that from time to time. This team is
Starting point is 00:06:05 clicking. They're playing well. We see the improvements of Gabby Marshall getting that shot back. Feerbach has been a revelation over the last couple of games. We know McCabe can knock down shots. The play of Hannah Stolke and just how good she was against that talented front line of Ohio State when she's right and everything's clicking. And Kaitlyn's throwing those throw ahead passes and she's rim running and beating everybody down the floor with her great speed and athleticism. How good she can be. Kate Martin, the glue of the team. All these different things.
Starting point is 00:06:31 Roles are going to be different. This team is going to look a little bit different. But huge, huge news there. Molly Davis with the potential of coming back and helping this team. That is at least a chance to breathe because she is absolutely an important part. And if I was going to make another run, everybody is going to have to pull their weight. Ultimately, it comes down to Kaitlyn Clark. We know that. That's how this team is built. That's how they
Starting point is 00:06:54 go. As she goes, Iowa goes. And we've seen that throughout the course of her career, her four years. Also today, Kaitlyn Clark has been named the Big Ten Player of the Year. Shocker, I know. For the third straight time, she is the Big Ten Player of the Year. Likely the National Player of the Year is going to be following. You can't see any other direction that this thing is going to go, but it's about ramping up now and playing your best basketball. Great news also is what Iowa has done and how good Iowa is at this time of year. And Lisa Bluter has done such a great job of pushing the right buttons,
Starting point is 00:07:26 getting everybody clicking at this time, just elevating their game throughout the course of the season, and then peaking at the end of the year. You go back to even before Kaitlyn was here, and the run to the Elite Eight, first time we'd seen that since the 1990s. And we saw, obviously, Megan Gustafson and how good she was. Iowa in the Big Ten tournament over the last five years is 12-2. 12-2 with three championships over the last five years.
Starting point is 00:07:51 That shows you how good they play in this event. It's going to be a decided Hawkeye fan base up there in Minneapolis. You're going to see upwards of 80-85% of the fans in the building are going to be Hawkeye fans. A lot of people there to watch Kaitlyn Clark and a lot of people there to watch this team. This is going to be a home court advantage for the Hawkeyes. They will have the same in the first and second rounds of the NCAA tournament.
Starting point is 00:08:14 Now, when we get to the Sweet 16 and an Elite 8, if they advance that far, it'll be either in Albany or Portland. A little bit more difficult, but go back to a year ago and the way that the fan base traveled out to Seattle and were able to do some huge things in terms of just attendance there. And it was the growth that we saw of women's basketball and the TV numbers. Speaking of TV numbers, the numbers are in from the Ohio State game and they are monstrous. The sixth most watched basketball game of the whole season. No, no, no. Not women's basketball game. Basketball game. There was a Thanksgiving game.
Starting point is 00:08:49 Michigan State Arizona, I believe. Men's basketball. Well, it had a lead in from the NFL. That helps on Big Fox. You have some Christmas Day games, a couple of others, NBA games, but it is higher than any other men's basketball game. Duke Carolina earlier this year did not have as many viewers as Iowa women against Ohio State on Sunday.
Starting point is 00:09:10 Just absolutely monstrous. 3.34 million people tuned in to watch Caitlin Clark and the Hawkeyes get the win against the second-ranked Buckeyes. It's incredible. At times, you just run out of things to say, but they're so much fun to watch. They're so entertaining, and you get to watch Caitlin Clark. We're in good shape.
Starting point is 00:09:29 We got a lot more going on, though, in the world of the Hawkeyes. We're going to talk about a great night on the bubble for Iowa tonight. A lot of things going the way of the Hawkeyes here this evening into Tuesday night. I'm looking forward. Iowa, it's not just a vacuum about what they do. It's what's happening across the country, and it was a pretty good one. We got Iowa baseball to talk about after another tough weekend against Ole Miss. They bounce back, get a midweek game.
Starting point is 00:09:53 The seeds are out for the Big Ten wrestling tournament, and I got a rant on football. Yeah, we got a busy one. We continue. This is Locked on Hawkeyes. This is Locked on Hawkeyes. You shouldn't have to worry when you buy tickets for your next big event. Game time is the fast and easy way to buy tickets for all the sports, music, comedy, and theater events near you.
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Starting point is 00:11:32 guaranteed. Trent Conant back with you once again here on the Locked On Hawkeyes podcast. As always, thanks for making Locked On Hawkeyes your first listen every day. Let's get into the men's basketball team, and the resume is what it is at this point in time. Not a whole lot of changes.
Starting point is 00:11:52 We've talked about the potential of the Minnesota road victory turning into a quad one victory. One other aspect you do also, I think, have to realize is not all these quad one victories are obviously measured the same. A road win against Minnesota is a whole lot different than beating Purdue at home. I mean, it just, it goes without saying. And though they're both quad one victories, then they both would be quad one victories. One, I think rates a little bit higher. There's been a lot of talk by bracketologists about quad one A victories. And those are instead of just quad one victories,
Starting point is 00:12:22 about quad 1A victories. And those are, instead of just quad 1 victories, wins against NCAA tournament teams or teams that are expected to be NCAA tournament teams. Well, as Iowa's won four of their last five, they have road victories against Michigan State, against Northwestern, the home win against Wisconsin. Those are those quad 1A victories, I think, that could go even further for this team.
Starting point is 00:12:42 If Iowa goes out, beats Illinois over the weekend, wins their first Big Ten tournament game, I think they're go even further for this team. If Iowa goes out, beats Illinois over the weekend, wins their first Big Ten tournament game, I think they're in great shape. I think a minimum, if that plays out in that fashion, that they're going to be going to Dayton and maybe even a little bit higher than that. And the reason for it is not just because the resume looks good,
Starting point is 00:12:58 you're adding another quad one victory, you're doing it against an Illinois team that's incredibly talented, and now you add that one to your resume, but it's also what's happening across the country. As I'm flipping on 612 on DirecTV tonight, watching the ACC Network, watching Wake Forest, excuse me, against Georgia Tech, as that one comes down to the wire in that one.
Starting point is 00:13:18 And it was a hideous shot, but Georgia Tech got it done. Well, Wake Forest is one of those bubble teams, and they fall by the wayside in that one. Boy state goes down loses at home to steve alford steve alford helping us out oh man exactly k state gets blown out by kansas no surprise there but kansas state i think further down the list than iowa still it's not in a vacuum it's about what else is happening across the country cincinnati goes down there's another team that at least was on the fringes of the bubble. There's a whole lot going the way of the Hawkeyes and these bubble teams that continue to fall by the wayside, that continue to just fall further and further back.
Starting point is 00:13:54 Syracuse, another team that felt like they were inching their way up. I think they'd won eight of their last 10, something like that. They get blown out by Clemson here this evening. There are just a lot of these games that continue to go Iowa's way. And as these teams continue to falter or add some more warts to the resume, that's only going to help Iowa get into the NCAA tournament. If this happens, if Iowa gets to the NCAA tournament, I don't think there's any doubt this is one of Fran's best coaching jobs
Starting point is 00:14:21 and maybe his best ever. Now, I don't. I get the caveat that everybody wants to throw in there with Fran McCaffrey. It's the second weekend. I pose this to you because I hear that a ton. I think people overlook the difficult nature of the Iowa basketball job, how he has brought it back to really the level that Dr. Tom Davis had it in. And people just want to see that success.
Starting point is 00:14:47 Yes, Dr. Tom made a sweet 16 in his final year. He also had a decade in between taking over a program in a lot better shape than certainly what Fran walked into and didn't get there. And I'm left with this. And Fran McCaffrey would have won that overtime game five years back against Tennessee. Down 18, come roaring back, J-Bow's knocking down shots, they force overtime, Nicholas Bear
Starting point is 00:15:13 was on that team, they get to OT. If Iowa would have won that game into the Sweet 16 and then lost the next game, would people still be fine with things? No, they wouldn't. I think it's silly. It's a convenient excuse for people that don't like Fran, don't like the style, don't like the lack of defense. Whatever your issue is with Fran McCaffrey, I think it's just something easy to point to. Yes, would the next coach maybe be able to do that? Possibly. But the likelihood that Iowa's next coach
Starting point is 00:15:44 is going to have the sustainability and the success that Fran McCaffrey has, I don't think is realistic. Could it happen? Absolutely. You can catch lightning in a bottle. You can make that happen. You can elevate the program. But the likelihood is you are what you are. And there's no guarantee that the next coach
Starting point is 00:16:01 is going to get you to a Sweet 16. Hell, would you rather be Oregon State? Oregon State made a run to the Elite Eight, what, four years ago now. They made one NCAA tournament in the last two decades, but they made a run. They got it to the second weekend, right? Because apparently for a lot of people, that's all that they care about. And it's so short-sighted.
Starting point is 00:16:21 He took this group that multiple times this year. We called dead. Everybody called him. Even the most ardent Hawkeye fan couldn't see this team pulling themselves out of the bucket. And yet here they are. Now there's still work to do. And there's still a real possibility that this team doesn't make the NCAA tournament. You lose to Illinois, you get bounced in the first or second game at the Big Ten tournament. I don't think it's going to be enough to get a bid, even to Dayton, and to get in to the round of 68. That's a real possibility. But to take this group, to see the way that they have elevated behind Josh Dix,
Starting point is 00:16:59 what Tony Perkins has turned into now as a point guard, really changing their style of offense. I was still good offensively this year, but not good for their standards. Not what we're used to. You go back just over a month ago, they were 21st in the country in offensive efficiency. They're up to 10th. That is a huge leap that deep into the season.
Starting point is 00:17:20 And a reason for that has been Josh Dix. Instead of going through Ben Crickey a lot with the offense, it's been more with the guards and doing things on their hand. The pull-up jumpers, the long twos, something that are not great basketball shots, and certainly with what teams do defensively, that's what drop coverage is. I mean, they're either going to force you off the three-point line
Starting point is 00:17:39 and keep you away from the rim. That's what the defense that most everybody in the country now plays, that's what you're trying to do. The problem for them is that's where Iowa's at our best. Sanford, Dix, Perkins. Crikey is good on those long jumpers. Those long twos is something that Iowa is one of the few teams in the country that actually thrive in that kind of situation.
Starting point is 00:18:02 And it's worked out well. Keep it going. We're going to talk a little bit more later in the week about the matchup against Illinois. We saw that game. Iowa had plenty of opportunities. I think they let one slip away when you look back. The starters got benched early
Starting point is 00:18:14 in the second half of that game by Underwood. He put all the Illini down there. Shannon and company all went to the bench and Iowa wasn't able to take advantage, had a seven point lead inside of 10, and very quickly it dissipated. It's a possible winnable game. The way that they're playing, Carver hopefully is going to be fired up once again. We're going to see a great crowd.
Starting point is 00:18:35 It's sold out, and hopefully there's not a bunch of orange in there. Keep those pumpkins outside of the building. We'll talk more about Iowa, Illinois. We've got plenty more here on Locked On Hawkeyes. I want to talk a little baseball with you. Bounce back win against St. Tom's. In the grand scheme of things, doesn't mean a whole lot for Iowa baseball,
Starting point is 00:18:51 but potentially a sign of things to come. They have a huge opportunity in front of them, but they have to start playing some really good baseball here over the next week. We'll get into that. We'll also talk a little Iowa football as it pertains to the college football playoff. There's something out there that frustrates me.
Starting point is 00:19:08 Plus wrestling, the seeds are out and did the Hawkeye wrestlers get screwed? We'll talk about that as we continue. This is Locked on Hawkeyes. Today's episode is brought to you by eBay Motors. Passion, drive, and patience. What brings home the winning trophy is also what keeps your ride or die alive ebay motors has everything you need to maintain
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Starting point is 00:19:59 it's easy to turn your car into the MVP and bring home that win. Keep your ride or die alive at ebaymotors.com. Eligible items only. Exclusions apply. eBay guaranteed fit only available to U.S. customers. Trent Conant back with you one final time on the Lockdown Hawkeyes podcast. As always, thanks for making Lockdown Hawkeyes your first listen every day. All right.
Starting point is 00:20:24 We got a little potpourri here to finish up. We're going to hit a little bit of everything. We're going to bounce around a little bit. I do want to start first with the seeds coming out for the wrestling team and what they have coming up when you look forward to what's around the corner for them. So, all right. We know Penn State is a behemoth, right? I mean, Penn State, the gap between them and everybody else in collegiate wrestling,
Starting point is 00:20:45 it's significant, it's frustrating, but it is the reality. And when you look at the seeding process, Real Woods gets a three seed. All right, not real good, right? Not what you want from a guy that came in as the number one guy at 141. Drake Aiella is the top seeded wrestler at 125.
Starting point is 00:21:03 He is the number two seed and certainly hope for a big performance out of him coming up this season. Caleb Ratchie gets the number three seed at 149. Good to see that. Franek, number four. Caliendo gets number three. Same for Patrick Kennedy and Glazer at number three. The ones though that are probably the most difficult to swallow, and I think the biggest one is that 133 and brody tesky so tesky it's been in and out obviously want to have him right and in his final go around in a hawkeye singlet and the seating's not a huge issue on the surface all right you got
Starting point is 00:21:41 to win some matches but when you are seated that low first of all, you're going to be taken on a hammer in your first match for Teske. It's going to be up against the number three seed. And if you lose that match, the amount of work that you have to do just to qualify for the NCAAs is going to be incredibly difficult. I don't think there's any doubt
Starting point is 00:22:01 that Brody Teske should not be a 14 seed. More than likely something probably in that 10 seed range, I think would have been more fair for the accomplishments that he's had this season, coupled with what he's been, even though during an injury play career, starting with his days back at Penn State. But that one, I think was definitely frustrating, seeing him down at that one. And then at 184, Aidan Rangens gets the 13. Again, it's going to be so difficult coming back. You're going to have to win three matches to feel really good
Starting point is 00:22:30 about your chances on the backside of the bracket if you lose in the opening round of the Big Ten tournament. Brands was playing a little coy with what they're going to do with Keeter and Arnold. I think this is the right decision as a hand in their lineup to have those guys redshirt. You're not going to track down Penn State this year. It's just, it can't happen. It just is impossible to beat them this season.
Starting point is 00:22:54 And it sucks. And it's not the wrestler mentality. And I get all that, but it's reality. You're not beating Penn State this year. Play for the future. Play for the next four years and see if there's going to be a way that you can use NIL money
Starting point is 00:23:07 and bring in some transfers, build this roster up very quickly, have the young guys come in and you can compete again with Penn State. Because what they've continued to build and put out on the mat every single year, it is tough. And that gap is big,
Starting point is 00:23:20 but it's not happening this season. One other note, I got to bring up the college football playoff and my frustration with what's happening here. So as we know, the next two years is going to have the 12-team college football playoff. And we've talked about Iowa's opportunity this season with the schedule, even with the Big Ten West going away, that there's a real chance that Iowa can be in a 12-team playoff.
Starting point is 00:23:45 They really can get there. They can play for another Big Ten championship and hopefully with a competent offense, actually have an opportunity in that game. Something that hasn't been the case over the last couple of years. The defense has a chance to be a lead again. The offense can't go anywhere but up. There's going to be some excitement of getting some new looks and new style, obviously out there with Tim Lester, what he wants to do with the offense, which should be, at minimum, a veteran offensive line, and you hope a pretty good one, good running game, a veteran quarterback in McNamara. I don't know. We've talked about this, but my problem is a 12-team playoff makes sense. That four-team gets buys. All right, away we go. The run to 14 and the push to get to a 14-team playoff
Starting point is 00:24:27 and leading to only two teams getting buys. And the SEC and the Big Ten together trying to flex their muscle and say, we're the only ones that can get buys. That aside, whatever. But the likelihood that Iowa's going to finish first or second in the country is incredibly low. Now, could Iowa win a Big Ten title and get one of those buys? It'd be great, but it's the money grab.
Starting point is 00:24:48 And it's a money grab that's not that much money. In the grand scheme of things, you're talking about ESPN values two more opening round playoff games, which would be the number three seed taking on the number 14 seed and the four seed going up against the 13. Three versus 14, four versus 13. That's what you'd have. And ESPN values it at like $25 million.
Starting point is 00:25:10 Well, $25 million. Come on, Condon. That's a lot of money. It's not a lot of money. It's not a lot of money when you are divvying it up between all the power conference schools, along with the group of five gets a cut, along with Notre Dame getting a cut. It's not a lot of money in the grand scheme of things. And you're screwing this thing up before you've even seen what a 12 team playoff does. That's one thing for a money grab for money
Starting point is 00:25:34 grab sake, right? And we've seen plenty of those. That's not what this is. It doesn't make sense. It's not good for the sport. I think they're getting this wrong. And I haven't heard anybody anywhere that's excited about a 14-team playoff compared to what we're going to have with a 12-teamer. You get to 16, everybody's got to play four games, win four games to win a national championship. Fine. But 14 for 14's sake, that's just dumb.
Starting point is 00:25:57 Absolutely dumb. As we get closer to spring football, we're going to be talking a whole lot more Hawkeye football here on Locked On Hawkeyes. And finally, the Iowa baseball team gets a win 9-3 against St. Thomas on Tuesday afternoon into the evening. Important to get that win. Iowa's wiggle room is in trouble. Losing the series to Ole Miss, what looks to be certainly a rebuilding Ole Miss team. The bullpen issues that have continued to crop up for them have been incredibly
Starting point is 00:26:25 frustrating. And what we've seen, you got to get it done now. You go down to Jacksonville State, not a real good team. I mean, they're okay, but they're not great. You have to at minimum win this series. You'd love to be able to take this one. The midweek game that they have coming up against Georgia elevates even more. Georgia has not played the most difficult schedule, but it's a good SEC team, a team that at minimum is going to be fighting to be an NCAA tournament team. Those are the kind of wins that you get
Starting point is 00:26:52 because in the Big Ten, in baseball, it's just not the same kind of quality. And even if you rip off an incredible season, you have to have shown that you did something at minimum even to get a number two seed out of the four-team region and not having to play in one of the top teams right away. And that's what Iowa needs to work to do. It still can get there. The bullpen, I am shocked it's been this bad. You looked at all the
Starting point is 00:27:16 names that they brought in, some of the arms that they brought in with a lot of talent, and you thought this thing was going to be cruising. We know the rotation's elite, and it's still been great. Brody Breck's been excellent. Morgan's been okay. Obermuller's been okay. You know you're in good shape there. The bats haven't quite come alive, as you'd hope maybe at this point in the season. Need to see more there.
Starting point is 00:27:36 Offense is going to have to help out. They're going to have to mash up games. Until they can figure out those dependable guys in the bullpen, that's going to be the case. But it has to start to happen now, or you're going to dig yourself too deep of a hole. Thanks for making Lockdown Hawkeyes your first listen every day. We're here for you
Starting point is 00:27:52 each and every day. Greatly appreciate each and every one of you being with us each and every day. Also want to let you know what we have going on on the Lockdown Network. Lockdown has launched the first ever National Sports 24-7 streaming channel on YouTube, and it's available on Amazon Fire
Starting point is 00:28:07 TV and the free Fire TV channels app. Lockdown Sports Today is here for you 24-7, covering the top sports stories of the day with the local experts of Lockdown, plus our national shows covering every league. Find Lockdown Sports Today now available on the free Fire
Starting point is 00:28:23 TV channels app. Coming up tomorrow, old friend Biz stops back in. We'll talk with Biz, everything going on and his perspective. He was in Carver-Hawkeye for the game on Sunday. We'll get his look back at that one and a look forward as Molly Davis potentially comes back to the team, working her way back from injury. A road trip up to Minneapolis.
Starting point is 00:28:42 We'll get ready for the first round game for the Iowa women and set the scene for what they have coming up this weekend up at the Target Center. And then, of course, the monster matchup for Iowa on the men's side as they take on Illinois, plus Big Ten wrestling, plus baseball. It's a busy time. Spring football right around the corner. It's always great to be a Hawkeye. That's great to be with you each and every day. We'll talk to you again tomorrow. Go Hawks.

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