Locked On Hawkeyes - Daily Podcast On Iowa Hawkeyes Football & Basketball - Iowa Hoops survives Penn State, but apathy remains, Scott Dochterman talks Hawkeyes & wrestling rolls over Ohio State

Starting point is 00:00:00 Iowa hoop survives over the weekend against Penn State. Is it enough to realistically talk about this team in the tournament? Big win for the wrestling team on the mat. Plus, we talk with Scott Dockerman, a busy 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

Starting point is 00:00:38 You can also watch us on YouTube while you're there Make sure you hit that subscribe button helps us get in front of more Hawkeye fans Super Bowl 59 is here And there's no better way to make every play more exciting than with fiend dual sportsbook new customers can bet just five dollars And if you win you'll score 200 bucks in bonus bets download the app or head to fiend dual.com To get started we get started today with some basketball talk. We're gonna talk a little Iowa wrestling, not only the win against Ohio State over the weekend,

Starting point is 00:01:10 Gabe Arnold adding a little bit of fuel to the fire as Penn State will be the matchup coming in this week. We got a lot of coverage coming up for you this week. Zach Saco from Lockdown Nittany Lions is going to be joining us. We will preview that matchup a little bit later on in the week and what should be a real Fun one and has that gap closed at all

Starting point is 00:01:29 We'll talk about that a little bit more coming up later on in the week But we got some wrestling coming away, of course Lots of basketball plus Scott Dockerman from the athletic is going to join us. So here we sit today And as I'm with you talking about this football team talking about this basketball team talking about the wrestling team Baseball softball gymnastics soccer no matter whatever we're getting into to Hawkeyes. There's always an endgame, right? There's always something that is a realistic expectation for each and every team and coming into the season I believe that the Iowa men's basketball team was going to be an NCAA tournament team that I thought enough ball team was going to be an NCAA tournament team that I thought enough of what they brought in of the talent that they had accumulated of the new additions.

Starting point is 00:02:10 I thought fell while it was going to be good and he has, I thought Sadie Troy was going to be an impact player and he has at times just not as consistently and injuries may be a part to do with that. But I also forgot about some things, right? And watching the way it plays out on Friday night against Penn State, Iowa controls this game. I was running away. I was going to put it away and should easily win. And they got the win. 76-75. And that's all that matters, right? They got the victory. Don't complain, Condon. They got the win. We hear enough negativity We hear enough of the bad side of things. Let's just celebrate a victory and most times I am with you, but that

Starting point is 00:02:53 It didn't feel like a win one to seven at the free throw line down the stretch Miss front ends and then the defensive sequence in the final moments of the game Leading to Penn State getting look after look after look To win the game Now they missed them all so you do get the win 76-75 if they would have lost that one If they would have lost to a very middling Penn State team at home after losing to a middling Minnesota team And yes, I understand the gophers beat Oregon. It was a nice win and Minnesota's playing better.

Starting point is 00:03:26 Still, you're gonna be an NCAA tournament team. You can't afford losses like that. And if you do have a loss like that, it means you had a lot more work to do. And not just picking up a win, maybe multiple wins. But that aside, it was a win that didn't feel like a win. It was a win that just left you remembering why we get so frustrated, why the frustrating

Starting point is 00:03:46 parts about this team and this program just continue time in and time out the way it plays there. But let's take away the final moments and look at what this squad did really slowing down Ace Baldwin. I think you start right there and making it very difficult and nice Baldwin to get much of anything. He's two of eight from the floor. Does have seven assists in the game. Also turn it over though, three times for the fine point guard for Penn State and credit the defense of Thelwell and what

Starting point is 00:04:12 he was able to do. I don't think there's any doubt. He was the MVP of this game, Drew Thelwell of what he did, not just offensively knocking down three, three pointers, finished the game with 16 points time for the team lead with Owen Freeman. But it was also what he did on the other end of the floor and just how good he was there He did in a game where Brock Harding again the turnovers were piling up three assists or turnovers. That's not good enough because of the Inefficiencies at time of Brock Harding and the struggles that he has on the defensive end of the floor when you have games like that It's not good enough Brock Harding has to be better. He's got to be tighter with the handle

Starting point is 00:04:49 He has to be able to do those things We continue to see say do Traore play at a high level another guy that we have to mention in this one is The player Riley Mulvey it was just five minutes in the game I've been talking about this for a while, and it goes back to the beginning of the season why We didn't see Riley Mulvey playing over Evan bronze. I will never understand look Riley Mulvey. He's got a goofy, right? You look at him. He's gangly out there He's a kid that it works his butt off though and you can tell that he puts in the work and when he goes in there Yes, there are going to be certain guys that just physically dominate him.

Starting point is 00:05:25 There are going to be certain matchups that aren't the best for him. However, on the defensive end of the floor, he knows what he's doing. He knows what to do. He knows how to actually hedge correctly and when to drop when a screen roll comes. He is at minimum a decent rebounder, a pretty good defender. Is he great offensively? No, but that's okay. I get it. Iowa basketball is built on the offense So that's how frame of Caffrey has built this team and is going to build it going forward I get all that however Riley Mulvey has a place in the rotation

Starting point is 00:05:59 We're going up against bigs. We're going up against a seven-footer like I will was Riley Mulvey can give you good minutes. I think that he did one guy that was knocking down some three-pointers, but still just if he's not hitting the threes is price sanford and Price has had some good games this year, but there are times you wonder he played 20 minutes prairie played 13 Is it time to flip-flap that? Is it time to flip-flap that is the time to switch that over I? Think so I think we're there if you're really tightening up that rotation I think that's something that needs to happen One other guy also have to mention Josh Dix who had just another one of those floor games didn't shoot a great from the outside

Starting point is 00:06:40 Just one of five Finishes with 11 points as we talked about a a ton, you want to be more aggressive. However, 8 assists against 1 turnover. Also had a block and a steal. Iowa gets the win. Look, there's a ton more to do. And I believe that Iowa probably has to win tonight against Ohio State. When you look at this matchup against Ohio State,

Starting point is 00:06:58 Iowa at FanDuel right now is a 7.5 point underdog. Yes, it's a road trip. And until Iowa can prove they can do anything on the road, it's hard to believe it will. Short of the Michigan game, and remember they got down big early in that game before battling back, this team has been putrid on the road. Drilled by Wisconsin, just absolutely embarrassed, run off the floor at USC and UCLA. This team has been awful on the road.

Starting point is 00:07:22 And until that, you can't believe they're going to do it. Let's hope that they do. Now this Ohio State team themselves, they've run into their own set of issues. They got the win last time out against Purdue. But before that, they've lost four out of five. The only win came in overtime against Minnesota. Lost to Michigan State, Oregon, Wisconsin, Indiana, all solid, talented teams. Ohio State's probably looking at this much like Iowa.

Starting point is 00:07:47 They have to win this game. Now the metrics like the Buckeyes much more than they like Iowa. You look at other net, you look at quad one victories, you look at the way that the resume is built much better than Iowa. This team with a lot of new faces, a lot of guys that weren't there the last couple years. One guy you will remember, Bruce Thornton, who was a cog in the side against Iowa. Was that a year ago where he had the big performance against the Hawks? I think it was.

Starting point is 00:08:13 Yeah. I'm looking back here at the, there it is. He had a 14 points, went three or five from three in that game. Wasn't shooting a very well coming in, of course went off against Iowa. Also had nine assists in that game and six rebounds. So he's a guy that you'll remember Bruce Thornton in his third year with the Buckeyes. very well coming in, of course went off against Iowa. Also had nine assists in that game and six rebounds. So he's a guy that you'll remember, Bruce Thornton in his third year with the Buckeyes.

Starting point is 00:08:29 But Dieblert got the job. It was a surprise that he got it, but he is there. And they're fighting for their NCAA tournament lives. This is not gonna be a team that's gonna be overlooking Iowa. They know the importance of this one. They're built in a way, pretty good defensive team, top 30 team nationally in defensive efficiency.

Starting point is 00:08:46 And one thing that they do really well in the defensive end is they run you off the three point line. This is gonna have to be a game where Iowa cannot just hope that you're knocking down three pointers. They're gonna chase you off the three point line. Gonna have to do it. That means Freeman inside, getting him going a little bit, doing it that direction,

Starting point is 00:09:01 because this is not a big Ohio State team. It's one of the few games where Iowa maybe has a chance on the boards and if they can do that maybe they can pull off the victory. These are the games Iowa needs and yeah it's probably not realistic but you have to get wins like this. After that it's Purdue and Wisconsin coming up. They'll have a week break before the Boilermakers come in next Tuesday and then the return matchup against Wisconsin this time at Carver. I still believe that Iowa has so much work to be done. These next three games they got to go two-and-one at minimum. At minimum to even us

Starting point is 00:09:34 start considering this to be an NCAA tournament team. Yeah, and the losing streak great. That's about it. Still more that needs to be done. Let's talk to Scott Dockerman from the Athletic. Get Doc's thoughts on Iowa basketball. Also talk little Caitlin Clark and Cooper Dejean in year number one in the NFL. He is off to the Super Bowl. He still hasn't even turned 22 years old. Absolutely crazy what we're seeing from Cooper Dejean and just a great, great rookie campaign. We'll talk with Scott Dockerman, some Hawkeye talk with Doc coming up next. This is Locked on Hawkeyes. This is a message from sponsor Intuit Turbo Tax. Taxes are waiting and wondering and worrying if you are going to get any money back and

Starting point is 00:10:19 then waiting wondering and worrying some more. Now taxes is matching with a TurboTaxExpert who can do your taxes as soon as today. An expert who gives your taxes their undivided attention as they work on your return while you get real-time updates on their progress so you can focus on your day. An expert who will find you everything, every deduction possible, and file every form,

Starting point is 00:10:44 every investment, every everything with 100% accuracy, all so you can get the most money back guaranteed. No waiting, no wondering, no worries. Now this is taxes. Get an expert now on TurboTax.com, only available with TurboTax live full service real-time updates only in iOS mobile app. See guaranteed details at TurboTax.com slash guarantees. Doc want to talk some Hawkeye hoops with you. I know you're not on the Iowa basketball beat anymore and you keep an eye on things though. Certainly living in the community watching the games going every once in a while over there to Carver

Starting point is 00:11:31 You've been there for the good and the bad and the way this thing is cratered the attendance is cratered at a level We haven't seen anything like this game after game after game You got Minnesota in town and you're lucky to get actual four or 5,000 people actually in the building for it. It's just difficult. Give us the temperature over there as you see it. Is it just as simple as the fan base is just completely checked out of the frame of Caffrey era? Yeah, it is. And that's, that's a shame. And it's sad. It's the apathy is at a level I've never experienced before. And that includes,

Starting point is 00:12:03 you know, everybody wants to compare. Is this like the end of the Licklider era? In some ways it is, but I think there was more passion there. There was probably a little more anger, that I can't believe this is happening. And yeah, fair weather fan decided, hey, they're not good enough, I'm not gonna go. But this team actually is competitive. It is a good team, it's not a great team.

Starting point is 00:12:23 It's a team that's capable of getting to the NCAA tournament or the bubble at least and then IT. So it's way better competitively than what was at the end of the Licklider era. But I think that once you push the rock up that mountain so many times people start going, you know what I'm done here. And when you're looking at with Iowa's men is that they're first in the big 10 by a mile when it comes to scoring offense, but they're way in the gutter and last again in scoring defense. And they're worst in field goal percentage on defense. They're first on offense. They're last in rebounding margin. So you're saying that you can't defend and you can't rebound in the critical situations, which means you lose close games and important games. That's what everybody's seen for years.

Starting point is 00:13:10 That's what they're seeing right now. So I don't know that there's anything that can be done. They could win a couple of games that might encourage a few hundred, maybe a few thousand people to come to these games, but I don't think you're going to encourage people to go to sell-outs anymore. And when you get to this point as a business decision, because let's face it, major college athletics is a business, you've got to make a decision. Is this fine? Being competitive on the floor or do you need to be competitive in the arena? And I would say in the arena is where they have so many problems that it's cultural now

Starting point is 00:13:46 and you've got to make a decision on how you want to change your culture. And usually that means change in leadership. Well, the only problem in the building Sunday is trying to find a ticket for the Caitlin Clark Jersey retirement. Just real quick on that, A, are you going over to cover it, Doc? And I mean, how big an event is this do you think? Obviously generational talent never seen anything like her. She's as she has mentioned on previous interviews that's gonna be different for her because usually when she's been honored she's been coming off of you know playing 39 or 40 minutes and it's it's a little bit different. How do you think she handles

Starting point is 00:14:22 it? Are you gonna go and see it in person, covered for the athletic? Yeah, I'm going to cover it for the athletic. And we'll have a story kind of from Chantelle Jennings, our national writer about Iowa women's basketball, about warning too. And as far as atmosphere, it'll be similar to what we saw in senior day last year, or maybe some of the other great games we've seen in recent memory, uh, as far as Caitlin goes, um, yeah, I imagine that now she's removed from it. She's not competing to see all these people. And then she can kind of embrace it too.

Starting point is 00:14:55 I mean, it was always in the moment, you know, last year, Michigan or, or whatever, you know, now she, she is removed. She's a spectator and to be around it and have all this acclaim and the stories, I know Iowa women's athletics has sought people to tell me your Kate McClark story. And some of them are just remarkable. And some that I've experienced, I talked to a woman whose daughter had cancer

Starting point is 00:15:21 and she had tickets to a game and was going to be her Christmas present, but then she couldn't go because of cancer. Well, Caitlin and they managed to get her tickets. And then not only after that, she went over as soon as the game was over and signed her shoes and gave it to the little girl and the moms and tears and, and there's so many stories like that, not just cancer patients, but little girls, you know, teenage girls, older women, men taking their boys, boys wearing 22 jerseys and sweatshirts, which has never

Starting point is 00:15:53 happened in the history of the world. All of them baseball players. Yeah, exactly. Out of nowhere. Tim McGraw, you know, just on and on. And it's, it's, it's remarkable. It's a game changer. She's the most impactful athlete we've seen of this generation across the board. And so it'll be a spectacle. It'll be something to behold. And, you know, I guess my hope for Iowa, you know, considering who they're playing that day and USC and Juju Watkins is That Iowa makes it a very competitive game

Starting point is 00:16:31 You would hope that they would win. I mean, you know, that would be the cherry on top, but I don't think you expect that That's a really good team I think what you hope for is they they put out an effort and a performance that's befitting of the person that they're honoring put out an effort and a performance that's befitting of the person that they're honoring that day. So who's closer to an NCAA tournament team or who's more likely to make it the women or the men? Good question. Couple of weeks ago, frankly,

Starting point is 00:16:56 before they went to the West Coast, I would have said the men. Yep. Because I thought they might have split on the West Coast. They would have beaten Minnesota and they would have sat there, you know, at six and what, four, six and three in the big 10 now and said they're four and five. Um, this team's capable of going about nine and 11 and probably missing it because of

Starting point is 00:17:13 their non-conference schedule. They just didn't play enough people there. I think the women, um, because they're still high in the net, they're still in the thirties and uh, you know, they've got at least three more wins on their schedule. This is the big deepest best league in the country that if they could steal a game or two and maybe win in the, in the big 10 tournament, I think they'll get in. They'll be kind of a lower seed, but I think the women are probably in a better situation as we say today.

Starting point is 00:17:38 But again, you know, a couple of weeks ago before that Indiana game, uh, you know, I thought, Oh, it seems dead. They beat Indiana by a lot. Men men do and then go on the West Coast and lay an egg. It's just back and forth both teams are what 13 and 7 so it's probably fitting that we're having this discussion. Last thing for me doc 13 days small town Iowa kids going to play in the Super Bowl. When you think back to Cooper

Starting point is 00:18:02 judging you're still covering the Hawks for the athletic on a on a weekly basis back then, not that you're overlooking them now, you're in the building, but you've gone more national. When did you, or was there a point when you thought he did something on the field, you thought, oh my God, Iowa might have something here. I'm going to pay attention to this Degene kid. He looks like he might be pretty good. Did you have any of those moments when you think back on his career covering him? Yeah. His high school career should not be overlooked. It was one of the most incredible

Starting point is 00:18:33 in Iowa history. Football and basketball. I mean, he had more points than Harrison Barr and he was an incredible basketball player. But I think on the football field, a couple of things that stood out for me was one they threw him in there against It was in the 21 season when they were on, you know undefeated and then they lost two straight when they were at Wisconsin he's out there returning kicks. I thought okay as true freshmen This is a big deal his play in the bowl game that citrus bowl against Kentucky where he runs across the field and tracks down Wondale Robinson They ended up scoring and winning Kentucky did but the effort that he put runs across the field and tracks down one day Robinson they ended up scoring and winning to get.

Starting point is 00:19:06 What is the effort that he put in the athletic ability to track down a really good for you across the field made me go and he was you know in a pinch i thought okay this is a guy that's got something and then of course. You know what it was able i think the rockgers play with the pick six really just showed you okay This guy's special and to see what he was able to do his last year the Minnesota non-return Just I mean, you know, he's special. He's he's out of this world. I mean when I think of Cooper de Jean at Iowa The names that come up that I got to like no, I can't go that far But it's Tim Dwight and Niall Kinnick. Pretty short list. Yeah, it's a short list.

Starting point is 00:19:50 He's that remarkable. And I think, yeah, you know, I think he might do something special in the Super Bowl. We shall see. Scott, talk to the athletic doc. So what can we look forward to as subscribers, which Trent and I both are, of the great site, the Athletic? Yeah, thanks. Me and a colleague of mine, Antonio Morales, are going over the Big Ten right now and looking at everything on the portals. Who's rising, who's falling, who's neutral.

Starting point is 00:20:14 And then also we did a mock draft of the first of many this spring that I'll do. And did one with Nick Baumgartner that actually that one will come out tomorrow. So I got two Hawkeyes in our two round mock and one cyclone. So it's first of many. Of course, people will complain about it, but in three months the real thing comes out. So officially Warren, the Penn State tight end, does he get past Indianapolis and his Loveland still there at 20, the Michigan tight end. I have him going to Indian at Warren, going to Indianapolis. He had 14, yeah.

Starting point is 00:20:49 And I have the Chargers taking Loveland. So he would be there at 20 then, if that's the way they, I think Denver is. Denver, I have them taking a Bucca. All right, yeah, that would work too, because they certainly need some help at wide receiver. Unbelievable. Doc, great stuff as always. Thank you, Scott Dockerman from the athletic will speak with you in a week. Thanks doc

Starting point is 00:21:10 Thanks so much. Have a good day. Good to talk to you Scott Dockerman as we check in on Hot guys and Big Ten and stuff and it sounds like he's gonna be doing a lot more draft Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel Sportsbook. Super Bowl 59 is here. One game, two teams, endless possibilities. And there's no better way to make every play more exciting than with FanDuel Sportsbook. Whether it's predicting the first touchdown, calling the MVP, or even betting on the coin toss, FanDuel makes it easy to get in on the action with live betting all game long

Starting point is 00:21:48 You can adjust your bets as the game unfolds and feel the thrill from kickoff to the final whistle The live betting feature lets you stay involved No matter what happens on the field in the app is super easy to navigate plus knowing that you can place a $5 bet and Potentially win $200 and bonus bets for the Super Bowl that's icing on the cake download the app or head to fan duel comm to get started bet just $5 and if you win you'll score 200 bucks in bonus bets that's fan duel comm bet with fan duel official sportsbook partner of Super Bowl 59. Frank Konda back with you one final time, Lockdown Hawkeyes. Thanks for being with us and making Lockdown Hawkeyes your first listen every day.

Starting point is 00:22:36 So as we wrap things up, we talked about Iowa-Ohio State on the hardwood coming up this evening. We'll be back with you with the Rapid Reaction Podcast after that one goes final tonight. But let's get into Iowa, Ohio State on the wrestling mat and a look forward to Friday. So we are taking a look at matching up with Penn State on Friday. Should be a fun matchup. Penn State, the gap is still significant, but going back in what we saw against Ohio State. Now I was surprised after Drake Iela was scratched from the lineup not dealing with the injury that he is The point spread plummeted which was really shocking to me. I was surprised to see that happen In fact, it went down to I think it was down to four at circa at least about 45 minutes before The match started up on Saturday afternoon. So we see what happened at 133 and that Ben Devino for

Starting point is 00:23:27 Ohio State, kids are stud, just a true freshman and has wrestled. I believe that was his fifth varsity match and now they have a decision to make there. But that dude, he's gonna score points come March. Definitely has that opportunity. He is good if they decide to go that direction and take the red shirt off of him but 125 Joey Cruz started off that was a really necessary win for Iowa to get off to the start that they did knowing the whole 33 that they had, what they're going up against 41. 41 continues

Starting point is 00:23:55 to be a sore spot. Ryder Block just couldn't get anything going against Mendez and that's gonna happen to a lot of people, but I know there's some frustration kind of building there. But then bouncing back, getting Timur back out there, that was absolutely outstanding. He looked good doing against a pretty decent opponent in Sammy Sasso for Ohio State. That was a nice victory from him, showing that speed athleticism and coming back after the hamstring injury. Great to see him back out on the mat. And then some of the other things, you know, Caliendo, what he was able to do against Gallagher,

Starting point is 00:24:22 a pretty good wrestler in his own right and get the major decision there. That was great to see. And then it all culminated, I thought, at the end with Ben Keeter against Nick Feldman holding him off. You could see just the elation out of Keeter in that match and how happy he was to get that one. That was a big victory for him. And you look at the way that he's built certain matchup that he's gonna go go with some of those bigger type of heavyweights and, and how he's going to

Starting point is 00:24:47 have to battle. Look, I don't think this team still has enough to take down Penn state. Obviously a big part of his Drake Ayala coming back and potentially you got to have these guys win. Now you're going to need three national championships, maybe four national championships, coupled with a bunch of guys wrestling over where they're gonna be and you're gonna need gay Bartle to make a strong push now. He's already calling out Mr. Ochi Something I wouldn't do but look at me. I'm not a wrestler, right?

Starting point is 00:25:15 We'll talk about that again more in the week But fun fun match at Carver on Saturday big weekend in front of us and Friday night against Penn State Again a lot more on that one. I willOhio State on the hardwood tonight. Women's basketball team was off this weekend. They'll get Northwestern their next match up on Tuesday. So we got a lot going on. Really busy time. We'll start talking a little more bracketology. Getting into a bunch of everythings. But we got you covered each and every day. That's what we do here on Lockdown. Lockdown Hawkeyes. Talking Hawkeyes with you each and every day. Plus your favorite team out there,

Starting point is 00:25:46 doesn't matter if it's the NFL, Chiefs fans, congratulations. Eagles fans, congratulations to you. Your favorite NFL team, NBA, MLB, NHL, we got you covered, plus Lockdown Big Ten, Lockdown Fantasy Football, Lockdown Betts, you name it, we got it here on the Lockdown Network with you each and every day.

Starting point is 00:26:04 We'll be back with you late tonight after Iowa hopefully gets that win against the Buckeyes and gives us a little bit of hope going into a big week back at Carver Hawkeye Arena. Thanks for being with us and making Lockdown Hawkeyes your first listen every day. We'll talk to you again tomorrow. Go Hawks!

Locked On Hawkeyes - Daily Podcast On Iowa Hawkeyes Football & Basketball - Iowa Hoops survives Penn State, but apathy remains, Scott Dochterman talks Hawkeyes & wrestling rolls over Ohio State

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