Locked On Hawkeyes - Daily Podcast On Iowa Hawkeyes Football & Basketball - POWER MOVE? Jan Jensen's Iowa Hawkeyes BOOK Marquee Vanderbilt, UConn Games To DOMINATE Schedule

Starting point is 00:00:00 The Iowa women's basketball team has scheduled another huge non-conference matchup. This time they're dipping into the SEC as Jan Jensen is going to be certainly making things tougher squad this season. 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. Thanks for making Lockdown Hawkeyes, your first listen every day. We are your daily Iowa Hawkeye podcast.

Starting point is 00:00:40 Well, countdown to kickoff is upon us. We are 95 days away from kickoff. We're going to talk about 99, 94, 98, 97, 96, 95 as we're just jumping in here this week. But we're countdown to kickoff here leading up to the football season. We'll talk to some Iowa football a little bit later on. We're also going to be joined by Elliott Clough from hawkai insider.com. We'll talk to Elliott, all things basketball. We'll take a deep dive into men's basketball this off season and what is in front

Starting point is 00:01:06 of them, including a couple of players that could take a big step forward coming up this season. But we begin today's program with a look at Iowa women's basketball and more news made by Jan Jensen's squad as they have scheduled yet another big time non-conference game. A week ago, it was the announcement that Iowa had signed a home-and-home agreement with Yukon, the 12-time national champion Huskies, the Blue Blood of Blue Bloods amongst Women's College Basketball, Gino Oriama squad. And another great component to that was that I wouldn't make that first phone call. It was Yukon, in fact, that made the phone call to Iowa, Jan Jensen and her staff in order to get this to happen.

Starting point is 00:01:46 You love the fact also that those games are going to be played on campus. It'll be coming up this year in Connecticut. And then next season, they'll play the game at Carver Hawkeye Arena, which is obviously huge. And to get a program of that stature that wants to schedule a home and home with you, just again, show signs that the sustainability, the staying power of Iowa women's basketball. is definitely there. And then today we find out that there is even more now on the schedule for this season. This will be a neutral court affair as Vanderbilt will be the squad from the SEC of Vanderbilt team that is incredibly good, has had a lot of success throughout the few years.

Starting point is 00:02:20 And I know a lot of people think of Vandy. They think of the doldrums that that football program has been until recently as they have started to dig themselves out of that deep hole basketball team that certainly has not had a whole lot of success historically, though another one that has had a lot of great, great games throughout the past. But Vanderbilt a great academic institution, certainly the top academic institution in the SEC, their women's basketball team, though historically has been very good. Now, they play a weird court. That's also something that always jumps out.

Starting point is 00:02:52 You got the N-lines, that's where the benches are. And they've renovated that place, the huge swath of area that is back behind the far baseline. as you're watching on television. Well, we don't have to worry about that because this game will not be played in, what is it, Veterans Stadium, Veterans Memorial, Veterans Arena, regardless. Doesn't matter because Iowa's not going there. This is a one-off game, a one-year contract that'll be played in Sioux City.

Starting point is 00:03:15 That's right inside the state borders of Iowa up in Sioux City and a giving back to the community up there in Northwest Iowa that obviously supports Iowa Athletics so, so well. We've seen a bunch of games that have been played up in Sioux Falls. And with the Sanford Clinic up there, the amount of money that they've invested, they've been able to bring in not just Iowa, go back to that Iowa-Gonzag a game, Iowa, Colorado on the men's side. The women have played there. We've seen Iowa State play there.

Starting point is 00:03:41 But this is something different. This is going to be played actually inside the state of Iowa in Sioux City at the Tyson Events Center. Now, I didn't know Sioux City until some almost 20 years ago, I guess. Now, when my now wife and I first met and went to Sioux City for the first time in 2009, I guess it would be, knew nothing about the city, knew nothing about the area. My wife is rubbed there. And this one's pretty fun.

Starting point is 00:04:05 Sioux City, actually getting a Hawkeye game, something I know the people up there. It's a different area. I know we got plenty of listeners up there as well in Sioux City. And you have the border right there with plenty of Nebraska fans. In fact, if you kind of pulled it, definitely would say it went Iowa, Nebraska, then Iowa state in terms of fandom over there in that area. But regardless, a huge coup. And a great idea, great opportunity for the people of Northwest Iowa,

Starting point is 00:04:31 not have to travel the extra hour to have to get up to Sioux Falls, but actually to be there, it's a building that's actually bigger than the Pentagon is at the Sanford area up there in Sioux Falls. So just great. Love the idea. Love the thought process. It goes along with it. And this is a big time team also that is coming in.

Starting point is 00:04:49 This is Vanderbilt Squad. Big expectations coming into the year. In fact, the Commodores came in at number six in the way to, early rankings that came after the season from ESPN. We know the Iowa side of things. They're preseason number 11 from those same rankings. So a big time opponent have to anticipate there's going to be some good television coverage that also comes on with this game as it'll be played early in

Starting point is 00:05:13 the year on November 15th. So part of the schedule that we know right now, November 8th, that'll be the matchup in Connecticut against Yukon. That'll either be played in stores or in Hartford as Yukon. does things a little bit differently with their scheduling and playing games at both areas. Then the Vanderbilt game in Sioux City. We know they'll play the big four matchups against you and I against Drake. And of course, Iowa State coming up this season.

Starting point is 00:05:39 One road tilt this year will be a matchup at Drake. They'll get both you and I and Iowa State coming to Carver this season. But commend Jan Jensen putting the schedule together. You look historically as well. If you're maybe somebody just recent to Iowa women's basketball, you jumped aboard with Meg Augustison and her final season or, of course, the Caitlin Clark ears, you might not realize just how good year in and year out the Iowa women have done is scheduling and not just going out there and playing name opponents and doing games like this,

Starting point is 00:06:08 but also the way they schedule their buy games. There's always a really good thought process behind it, going back to Lisa Bluter, enjoy the way that they do and they've set themselves off going back to the RPI system and now in the net system of getting themselves a good chance at the NCAA tournament and good seeds when it comes to that. historically the Iowa women have done a really, really good job. They're challenging their squad. And Yukon, Vanderbilt, two top 10 matchups to begin the season for the Iowa women.

Starting point is 00:06:35 Iowa State, though, they're retooling. We know that's always a difficult matchup and should be a good one in Carver coming up this season. And a team with Danny Carnegie coming in, the expectations, Eva Hayden, can she take her game to another level? The move that we've seen also from this squad of going out there and doing some different things in the way they're going to play offensively. Jan Jetson has also talked about that here during the offseason circuit that they're going to go back to more what we're used to on the offensive end. With Hayden and Stolke this year, it made sense to try to change things up, try to go to that triangle look that they employed, never loved it, didn't think there was enough different options that they ran out of it throughout the course of the season.

Starting point is 00:07:15 But they played to the strengths of their squad and what they had this season. That's going to change this year. And what we're going to see offensively from this squad from Chit Chat Right, no. year now getting her feet underneath her going with her former running mate and Danny Carnegie who played together as freshmen. He also saw obviously that group together and what they were able to do going back to even the AAU circuit as those two played together. Another step out of somebody like a Taylor Sremlo.

Starting point is 00:07:39 We've heard a lot of good things about her and the way that her early off season has gone. There's a lot to be excited about the Big Ten is going to be loaded once again this season. But Iowa, they're going to be in the mix. And it starts in the middle with Ava Hayden. a lot of good pieces there and a challenging non-conference schedule to this point. Still waiting the full details of what it's going to look like. Don't have any names in terms of any by opponents that they're going to be going up against at this point in time. Exempt tournaments, other neutral court games that still could be out there on the horizon.

Starting point is 00:08:08 One thing we do know, I will women's basketball. Still certainly people are excited about what Gene Jensen squad is putting out there on the floor. Well, we go from the women over to the men. And Elliot Clough is going to join us from hawkeye insider.com. A breakdown of the offseason for the Iowa men's basketball team. Plus some football talk coming up as we're 95 days away from kickoff. That's all coming up next as we continue. Stay right there.

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Starting point is 00:09:38 podcast right now and support our show by saying you heard about Indeed on this podcast. Indeed.com slash podcast terms and conditions apply. Need to hire. This is a job for Indeed, sponsor jobs. So let's talk to Elliot Clef, a hot guy insider.com, Elliot. We thought we might have some kickoff times. It sounds as though we're going to have to wait until 2 o'clock. Before we get into football, Elliot,

Starting point is 00:10:04 I do want to pick your brain, not pick your brain, but just to get you to opine on your colleague, Sean Bach, who did a piece on Andrew McKeever. I've not read it. I'm excited to see his fit at the University of Iowa. I think he's going to, he's got a chance, I think, to play obviously a major impact in what's left of his career.

Starting point is 00:10:24 Your thoughts, and what did Bach discover when it comes to McKeever and his potential fit? Yeah, well, Ken, I was working this morning myself, so I haven't read it either. But it, you know, I think it's one of the primary things that is going to be different about Iowa this coming season. I mean, when you look at Cam Mannyow and what he did in the front court, pretty impressive for his size, but moving to a position where he'd come off the bench, much more advantageous for him and Iowa. When you look at McKeever, I may have said it to you guys before, but the thing that sticks out to me

Starting point is 00:11:00 and that I remember for my first year on the beat was going to watch the Hawks play at Purdue when Back Eadie was there, and Peyton Sanford telling me about how much space Eadie took up. And that's such a positive towards the team that has the big guy, and now that's Iowa, having McKeever in the middle. I think he was, I can't remember the exact number,

Starting point is 00:11:25 but he was one of the top players in the country in rebounding percentage, which again, that's huge for this team going into next season. Just the guy that takes up a ton of space that you can go to in the short pick and roll as a passer. Those numbers that he put up as a passer. And in a small sample size are really good. So just a guy that, you know, he's going to provide some serious. size. That's what they needed. That's what they wanted out of the portal. Underrated Passer and a guy that can overwhelm, overwhelm opposing offenses with his ability to

Starting point is 00:11:59 take up space in the middle and in the paint. So just an ad that Iowa really needed and that they got, and that's a big win out of the portal for Ben McCollum and his second year leading the program. Speaking about the portal, Tyree Coleman, his fit, another guy. You look at some of those numbers from Synergy, they're really good in the pick and roll game and something that you think he could strive on. Do you see him and Kail Combs playing a bunch together next year or maybe a little bit, maybe a stretch of five to eight minutes a game? Do you think they're going to be the back court together or more of a combo, each of them running the point at different times? Yeah, that's a good question. I would imagine just because of the usage of the, those type of

Starting point is 00:12:45 guards in McCollum system that they'll play quite a bit together. It would probably be interchangeable, right? I mean, those two are combo guards with some positional versatility in terms of, in terms of their size and defense for that matter. That'll be two guys that play some really good perimeter defense for Iowa next year, whether it's on, you know, a point guard or a shooting guard. I think what you want more from Combs is consistency in terms of shooting the three. Coleman brought that last year for Illinois State.

Starting point is 00:13:21 My concern, honestly, guys, is the immediate expectations for Coleman out of the portal because he was good for Illinois State last year. I think his best basketball is ahead of him, but he's not going to be all big 10 first year, right? He averaged 10 points per game last year for Illinois State. So I think that's something maybe to tamper some expectations from the fan base. at least, and you know, a lot of that expectations and stuff you see from a standbases on Twitter. So maybe I'm overreacting because Twitter is not the real world, right? Yes.

Starting point is 00:13:50 But it'll be really interesting to see how McCollum balances those guys out. How much does Isaiah Howard factor into that rotation in the back court going into the next year because he's one of the better defenders on the team and a really solid athlete. But he needs to be much more consistent as a shooter. to see more consistent minutes this coming year. But, I mean, honestly, your guess is the good as fine. I think that's going to be one of the more intriguing pieces about this team this coming year. And where does stage factor in as a guy who plays on the ball this coming year?

Starting point is 00:14:25 Is he going to play on the ball more? Because he is a guard, right, despite his size and kind of fitting into that hybrid size of being a 6, 7 wing. He does identify himself as a guard. So will he be on the ball? this coming year and how much does that factor into how much the ball is in Coleman's hands in kale Combs hand. It's really, really interesting. If I had to guess, they probably start together. Coleman and Combs, that's my guess right now. But it'll be really interesting as to how they split those roles, how Colms grows in this coming year with with Sturt's having moved on and how

Starting point is 00:15:05 much on-ball responsibility each of these guys is going to get because that, I mean, that's a fact of McCollum and the way he likes to play the ball. He has liked to have a dominant on-ball guard. And his Colms, does he have that star power to take over that role and play at a high level? Or could Coleman, you know, blow my expectations out of the water and play at a really high level after just one year of mid-major ball? Do you know the answer to this when it comes to see? I guess one of the things I want to watch is the season ticket renewal and when deadlines are, because look, we know that the women have sold way more tickets over the last few years than the men have.

Starting point is 00:15:47 I think that gap narrows this year, Elliot, obviously based on the elite eight run and the feel around the program and seemingly men's basketball fans who may have, you know, checked out during the end of McCaffray era, I think if they were on the fence, I think they're totally going to be back in. Do you know when there are any deadlines as to as far as renewing your season tickets or where they're going to be at for men's basketball? basketball? Unfortunately, I don't off top my head, Ken. I know that some messaging was sent out by the athletic department just recently. As far as I know, I think it was just a reminder to sign up for your ticket. But yeah, I would imagine that those numbers are going to be way up relative to last year, especially with the portal addition and that success that they had at the end of the year. It'll be intriguing to see how Iowa does in the non-con against their high major opponents.

Starting point is 00:16:47 And I think that will really help dictate how things go in the Big Ten. And, you know, at the beginning of Big Ten play, it'll be interesting to follow. I imagine, you know, well, there will be more sellout this year than there was last year. And Iowa will have an opportunity to write the wrong of what happened. against Purdue at home during that one sellout this last year. That was a brutal one. But I think they'll be much more prepared for that and be ready to go in big games like that at home. Was announced yesterday that season ticket holders.

Starting point is 00:17:20 The renewal deadline is July 31st for that. There you go. People can renew and then we'll get the new ones that'll go in there. It's going to be a good environment in Carver. One guy, Elliot, I don't think we've talked much about, is Cooper Cotch. and the ascension we saw for him. I played golf with Jess Settles and his pops yesterday. That's not too bad, right?

Starting point is 00:17:38 That's a good day out on the golf course, playing with Jess and with JR. So we saw the shooting finally start to improve in the back third of the season, kept him in a couple of games, really shot the ball well. Is there more to him skill set-wise, offensively?

Starting point is 00:17:52 Is he a guy, not consistently, but a little bit more that can put it on the deck when people are closing out hard, that can finish at the rim a little bit better. Offensively, we saw the emergence on the defensive end. what more can he do on the offensive end to become maybe a more complete player this season? I think one thing that went super underrated about Cooper coming out of high school was his ability to score at all three levels. That hasn't necessarily translated so much at this point anyway.

Starting point is 00:18:20 Would not surprise me if McCollum and staff, one of their big focuses, is getting him in a position to handle the ball a little bit more. Granted, that hybrid position, I mean, like we started off this conversation, talking about Combs and Coleman, in terms of how heavily on ball they are in this system, if you can get your hybrids to be a little bit more consistent on ball in terms of attacking the rim and such, that'll be really interesting. It'll be interesting, too, to see how McCollum combines these lineups and how often, like, how he uses the hybrids in relation to McKee. in that you don't want to clog the lane, right? You don't want to cause turnovers by getting too bunched up inside. So with McKeever as a scrainer, how often are you going to use your hybrids in a thick and roll, or is that going to be primarily your guard? So, yeah, I think if the next step, if there is a next step in Cooper's game,

Starting point is 00:19:22 it is putting the ball on the deck, maybe doing a little bit of creation rather than just a catch and shoot guy, which he was really, really good at towards the end of the season. And it was just a matter of time before that started to, you know, his shot started to fall. And luckily it happened towards the end of the season for Iowa. But yeah, I think it's putting the ball on the deck. I think it's scoring at the rim specifically. You know, you talk about a three-level score. McCollum is not one to go for mid-range jump shots by any means.

Starting point is 00:19:52 So I think it's putting the ball on the deck, maybe creating a little bit off the dribble on the outside. and then getting downhill and attacking the rim. Finishing through contact, right, going for those and ones because Coop's a really good free throw shooter too. So you want to score, right? You want to score at the rim. You want to score from the free throw line and you want to score for three. McCollum's all about efficiency.

Starting point is 00:20:13 Cooper Cotch, if he can get to the rim, finish with both hands, finish through contact. That would be a major step forward into games. Elliot Clough from Hawkeye Insider.com. As always, thanks to Elliot for his time. Great information from him. insider.com is where he can go part of 24-7 sports. Tim, Sean Bach and David Eichol doing great work over there covering the Iowa Hawkeyes. Well, if you want to get your daily fix of Lockdown Hawkeyes, you can get it completely ad-free

Starting point is 00:20:41 by joining the Everydayer Club today. Start your seven-day free trial right now and get closer to the Hawkeyes without the interruptions. Click the link in the show notes, or he can go to Lockdownhawkeyes. Dot supercast.com. Lockdownhawkeyes. Dot supercast.com right now to join to claim your free trial of the everydayer club. Coming back on the other side, the countdown to kickoff, we're 95 days away from football. Trent, kind of back with you one final time on the Lockdown Hawkeyes podcast.

Starting point is 00:21:16 Thanks for being with us and making Lockdown Hawkeyes your first listen every day. Well, as we wrap things up, we start our countdown to kickoff. Now, we jumped ahead a little bit here because we're now just 95 days away here early in the early portions of the week over the weekend, swing and a miss there. But we got you covered. So as we counted down today, it's 95 days away. And that is number 95, Lance Ingold. Ingold comes in a transfer from Northern Illinois. Now feels a little bit more like a developmental piece. We've talked about the concerns at the defensive tackle position. What kind of size is he going to be able to grow into and how much bigger is he going to be able to get now? Coming from the back to the Big

Starting point is 00:21:54 10 going through the Iowa Strength and Conditioning Program, that's going to be key also for him. 65, 255 pounds is how he is listed at hawkeyesports.com. But a guy that kind of looking down the road a little bit and what kind of impact he's going to make. I want to talk about a few other guys, though, that we missed. Number 99, Brad Fitzgimmitt. He is a redshirt freshman defense alignment. And don't be surprised if he is part of the rotation this season.

Starting point is 00:22:19 Another guy that needs to get bigger, certainly playing in the middle of the defensive line, how much size he has gained in the offseason. but he is a piece that's going to be an important one, I think, are the building blocks going forward. Number 97 is Ike's Spelt, who very well might be the long snapper for the Hawkeyes this season, 6-3-2-35, a local kid from Van Meter, played in a couple of state championship teams over there with Van Meter. And, of course, now the other number 97 is Yose Epanessa. Yose, big expectations for him to take a big step forward. Did play a little bit last season, but it's still considered a red shirt freshman as he has four years of eligible.

Starting point is 00:22:56 remaining for him. Number 96, you could argue, might be the most important player on this team. I'm not being hyperbolic at all. With Bryce, Bryce Hawthorne this season is his importance. The only guy that we have any kind of resume for at the defensive tackle position on this Hawkeye squad, the only guy that we've seen really play big time reps for this team. He was banged up during spring football. They love him. What he made his way in from South Dakota State, he was a guy right a way that was talked about. They also brought in Jonah a season ago, came in from central Michigan,

Starting point is 00:23:28 and he was maybe a little bit more buzzy initially out of the portal coming in, but it was Hawthorne that definitely proved that he can be a big time player. If he can take a big step, a huge ascension forward this year and maybe flirt with all Big Ten type of honors, which is hard to do a defensive tackle

Starting point is 00:23:45 just because of what you're asked. It's not just pin your ears back and go after the quarterback and go try to make tackles for loss. You have to be fundamentally sound, in order to do that. But Bryce Hawthorne, definitely up there. And as we are 95 days away from kickoff, what other thing I want to do here is also talk about some of our historic favorite players. Now, number 95 is easy. It's Nate Cating. Nate Cating Garza Award winner in 2002, a consensus All-American school record and points. A lot of honors, obviously, for Nate Caining, wearing number

Starting point is 00:24:17 95, the struggles early in his career, a guy that when it wasn't exactly in vogue to go to Iowa, Iowa State at that time in the transition from Hayden into the Kirk Barron's era. He decided to stay home from Iowa City West, an all-time great for the Hawkeyes. A couple other 95s, the bear mentioning, Carl Klug playing in the middle there, undersized guy, pig farmer from up in Minnesota and came in and obviously put together a great career for the Hawkeyes. Going back in the day, how about Larry Blue, another great 95? If you got some favorite 95s, though throughout history,

Starting point is 00:24:49 definitely pass those along to us as you're watching us on YouTube or on the comment section there, or if you're with us as well on the audio side of things and listen podcast only. You can catch us each and every day. If you are watching on YouTube, make sure you hit subscribe, five-star reviews on the podcast side. All that helps us get in front of more Hawkeye fans. And if you want to listen to Lockdown Hawkeyes ad free, join the everydayer club by going to lockdown hawkeyes.com. That'll do it for today. We'll talk to you again tomorrow. Until then, go Hawks.

Locked On Hawkeyes - Daily Podcast On Iowa Hawkeyes Football & Basketball - POWER MOVE? Jan Jensen's Iowa Hawkeyes BOOK Marquee Vanderbilt, UConn Games To DOMINATE Schedule

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