Locked On Hawkeyes - Daily Podcast On Iowa Hawkeyes Football & Basketball - REVAMPED? Iowa Women DISCOVER Roles, Ava Heiden & Taylor Stremlow SPARK Nebraska BEATDOWN, Can Men Pull Off the Husker Sweep?

Starting point is 00:00:00 Road Warriors, the Iowa women store him to Lincoln and dominate Nebraska. But the real headline, for the first time since Taylor McCabe went down, these Hawkeyes finally look like they know exactly who they are and what their roles are. You are Locked on Hawkeyes, your daily podcast on the Iowa Hawkeyes. Part of the Locked On Podcast Network, your team every day. 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 talking all things Hawkeyes.

Starting point is 00:00:44 We are with you each and every day. I've been covering the Hawkeyes for over 20 years on the radio. You can find me currently on the Iowa Sports Radio Network each weekday from noon to two. Talk in the world of sports and a lot of Hawkeye talk as well with stations in Sioux City, Iowa City, Cedar Rapids, the Quad Cities, and our flagship 106.3 KX&O. Today's episode of Lockdown Hawkeyes is brought to you by Mazda. We put the same drive into every detail. Wins defy the moment putting in the work that defines you.

Starting point is 00:01:14 Stay tuned for highlights in this week's moving the game forward. There's more to a Mazda because there's more to you. We're going to talk about the matchup today this evening against Nebraska's Iowa, welcomes the Huskers in on the men's side of things. An incredibly important game and maybe a season definer for the Hawkins. Hawkeye still looking for that upper echelon quality victory. What's it going to take to beat Nebraska tonight? We'll get into that.

Starting point is 00:01:41 We'll also talk with David Eichold from hawkeye insider.com. It gets David perspective on the hardwood, both men's and women's, and a breakdown of each of the games, both the one we saw yesterday with the Iowa women and what we're going to see tonight with the Iowa men. But we begin today with the Iowa women's team and a look back at just a dominating performance from Iowa after the three-game losing streak, the negativity, the frustrations, all the questions. We know how fans are.

Starting point is 00:02:07 We know how the fan base can get a little bit aggressive at times when things aren't going the Hawkeyes way and he completely understand it. And of course, is short or fanatical. And we all, I think, hit that from time to time. The weird tip off time, you're starting early on a Monday building. You got a bunch of school age kids that are there that were at school for the day. They made their way over. Families didn't have work on Presidency.

Starting point is 00:02:31 So you had that. you wondered, how was Iowa going to react? They finally end the losing streak with the win against Washington. Final three quarters, they played great defensively after struggling in the first quarter against the hockey, Hawkeyes, it's easy. But how are they going to respond, right? Go on the road, a Nebraska team, it was nip-tuck,

Starting point is 00:02:49 one of the most talented scores in the big tenure going up against in Brett Prince. There was a lot that you just were scratching your head. And I wanted to see what this team looked like. They came out on fire. And it wasn't just hitting five three-pointers in the first quarter. You go five a six from behind the arc, and that was great. But it was how locked in they were, how engaged they were, and really engaged on the defensive end of the floor.

Starting point is 00:03:13 That had been the knock in the final three-game losing streak. It wasn't that the offense went cold. Now, what are those games against UCLA? Everybody in the Big Ten looks bad against UCLA. That's just been the course this year. Outside of Michigan, everybody else has struggled against that Bruin squad this year. But the other two games, the loss against Minnesota, couldn't get a stop all game long in that one. Even against USC, not a very talented offensive team this season with no juju walkins.

Starting point is 00:03:41 Their calling card is defense. But Iowa couldn't get stops in that game. They've come back now in these last two games and they look locked in. And I think most importantly, it is understanding now those roles. The Taylor McCabe injury, full Mayacopal, I got it wrong. I thought, yes, they would miss her shooting. but that would basically be it, that there were enough other difference makers out there

Starting point is 00:04:03 that we were going to see Addie Deal after her performance when McCabe went down with that injury against Ohio State that she was going to step forward. That has not been the case. Deal has since struggled in the five games since then, that we were going to see other components. But the thing that I missed was her on the defense event.

Starting point is 00:04:20 Taylor McCabe, though, she's not an imposing defender. She's not elite on the ball. He was a smart defender. Basketball IQ through the roof. And understanding, even with, be some physical limitations. She was going to make the right read.

Starting point is 00:04:33 She was going to make the right decision. She was going to do everything the way that she was coached to, and they missed that. Now they're figuring it out. We've also seen how the emergence over these last two games of Taylor Stremlow. And I know, Ava Hayden was incredible. That stick back reverse she had off the Addy deal three-pointer with something you will see very, very few sophomore centers be able to do in college basketball. The footwork has always been good, but you're seeing it all come together.

Starting point is 00:05:03 A better athlete than probably she gets credit for. That play, I think, epitomized exactly that from Ava Hayden. Hyden was great. Career high 27 points. She's 12 of 15 from the floor, makes all of her free throws, has 11 rebounds and double, double, had three assists in the game, had three block shots. Ava Hayden was the star of the game, no doubt. But Taylor Stremlow, and this is the difference.

Starting point is 00:05:27 17 points. She makes her first six shots from the field. Her first three, three-pointers from the field. But maybe most importantly, when you look at Taylor Cremlow, just one turnover. And that's been the bugaboo against Cremlow throughout the course of her first year and a half now as an Iowa Hawkeye is too many turnovers, forcing things, try to make the easy play and turn into the great play. That is Brett and Stremlo. If she can lock in, keep those turnovers low because she has a very diversified skill set. She's shooting the ball well from the outside. She can go off the bounce.

Starting point is 00:06:03 She can defend. She is a good athlete. There's a lot to like about Taylor Stremlow. She's a good rebounder, certainly for her size. There's so many good components. The one thing is more consistent as a shooter, and it feels like that's coming around. But maybe that second part of it is what she does holding on to the ball.

Starting point is 00:06:20 Chit-chat right was great once again. I think we know what we're going to get out of her. and now she is approaching again, getting back over 50% from the three point line as she goes two or three from back behind the stripe. She finishes the game with seven points. And you can see that connection with Chit-Chat right and what she's doing with Hayden. Something that Jan mentioned after the game. Jan Jensen, the Hawkeye head coach talked about understanding where to get it in the right

Starting point is 00:06:45 spot, finding those right angles, those right opportunities, and definitely had that. And what other shout out I got to have for this game is Journey Houston. and she was good. And after Hayden had ripped off, I think 12 in a row for Iowa at one point in the second quarter, she came in, she was impactful, had a bucket, got a steal, got another bucket right after that. She just knows exactly what she's supposed to do. And it goes hand in hand with the understanding of roles.

Starting point is 00:07:10 This team now, this is what they're going to be. There's no free agency. There's nobody that they're going to be able to find off the scrap heap. No, Emily Rodriguez is not going to play for the team. The rest of the year, we've stopped that conversation. weeks ago, we saw the way that that was playing out. This is the team that they have. And now everybody is understanding their roles,

Starting point is 00:07:30 understanding what they need to do while they're out there, what they need to do for this team that's coming together. And the remaining stretch for the Iowa women's basketball team, it's not overly daunting. Yes, they do have one more incredibly difficult game still in front of them. And that game against Michigan, it's going to be tough. The Wolverines, as mentioned, they're the only team that's been able to push in the Big Ten this year, certainly UCLA.

Starting point is 00:07:54 But getting this win on the road against Nebraska, now you have coming up at Purdue. Not a very good Purdue team. The Michigan game after that on Sunday, Illinois at home, a very winnable game against a bubble team in Illinois, and then he go to Wisconsin. Though Wisconsin's better than they've been in the past,

Starting point is 00:08:10 they're still not very good. You go three and one here down the stretch. These remaining games likely going to earn probably the number three seed in the Big Ten tournament. And with it, see on the opposite side of the bracket, of UCLA, something we all definitely want to see. Great win for the Iowa women against Nebraska.

Starting point is 00:08:27 We're going to dive a little bit deeper into that game. Plus, what is it going to take for the Iowa men to get the sweep out of our neighbors for the West? We'll talk about that. Coming up next with David Eicholt, as he joins us here, this is Locked on Hawkeyes. This is Mazda is moving the game forward. For those who show there's more to the score than what's on the screen. Well, Ava Hayden definitely was that for the Iowa Hawkeyes, as we've talked.

Starting point is 00:08:55 talked about that performance against Nebraska, absolutely incredible. 27 points, 11 rebounds, definitely going to put herself in consideration for Big 12, Big 10 player of the week. And if she can capitalize that, taking a step forward this weekend, she is going to be there. Ava Hayden talked about moving the game forward. That was definitely her. These are the players that remind us what really it takes to raise the bar. It's that extra work off the court, dialing every detail, giving it that extra fire,

Starting point is 00:09:23 that grit, and I never quit. We put that same passion into every model. Highlights make the real. What it took to get there makes it count. There's more to a Mazda because there's more to you. Today's episode is also brought to you by Fandul Sportsbook. Ever wanted to experience the NBA Finals live and in person, Fandual is giving you the chance to turn that dream into reality with their NBA sweepstates.

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Starting point is 00:10:39 Play your game with Fandual, the official sports betting partner of the NBA. Trent, kind of back with you here on the Lockdown Hawkeyes podcast. Thanks for being with this and making Lockdown Hawkeyes your first listen every day. here's an opportunity for you as well to get locked on hawkeyes ad free with our everyday air club you can get members only discord access all you have to do go to the website right now and see if it makes sense for you to go ad free with locked on hawkeyes go to lock eyes dot supercast dot com that's locked on hawkise dot supercast dot com david icold from 24-7 sports is on with us today thanks for toughing it out today i colt and battling through the elements how you feel it's a little bit better still kind of brutal i was telling you off the air i was i've been bedroom for like the past two days it was 70 degrees outside yesterday i wanted to go on a walk i i mean i it's been it's been a little bit of a tough scene but uh we're we're all right man we're all right

Starting point is 00:11:42 speaking of all right that is the iowa women's basketball team as they get the win yesterday on the road in lincoln a dominating performance from the opening tip and that was i know they played well after mccabe got hurt in the first minute of the game against ohio state but This just did not look like the same team. Certainly had not looked like the team that we had seen through a long swath of this season and really was on the defensive end that came as a surprise to me, the importance of McCabe. First, before we get into what we saw yesterday against Nebraska, just as a whole, is it the understanding, the learning how to play together when you're losing one of your main pieces?

Starting point is 00:12:16 Is that what we've seen out of the squad, the last couple of games out that everybody may be re-understanding what their roles are on the squad? I think a little bit, but I also think teams have kind of change their game playing approach to Iowa. Because look, again, McCabe is a really good player. Okay. She's a big 10 caliber player, one of the best years in school history. But you have to look at the tiny details. One, she never missed a defensive assignment.

Starting point is 00:12:42 Like her improvement over the last two years from the defensive side of the ball has been really, really impressive. Her footwork got much better. She got stronger, all those good things. But when you watch offensively, there's no. no player that plays like her offensively. And I'm not talking from a shot selection standpoint. We know it was like a Devin Ballwinkle light from the men's side, right? I'll pull that name out of the bag there.

Starting point is 00:13:05 But her ability to move without the basketball and that quick release, she'll come off double screens, let it fly. She would go from corner to corner. She would make defenses work. And defenses always had to account for her because she could get red hot in a hurry. Without that threat, teams have been really packing the paint. that high-low action still worked well for Iowa, but teams know that's the first option, right?

Starting point is 00:13:29 So Iowa's turnovers took a turn for the worst, you know, not to do a little bit of a play on words. But the other thing that Iowa really did a poor job of during that losing stretch, they would telegraph their passes inside for seconds at a time, and defenses would read all over it, and they'd go down the other end.

Starting point is 00:13:47 But now Iowa's shooting the ball better from outside. Now the defense is really starting to come around because people don't realize how good Brit Prince is from Nebraska. Like, I think she is one of the most elite shot makers in all women's basketball. She's a tremendous player. What Kylie Fearbach did on the defensive end from a man-of-man standpoint was really impressive. Teams now are making threes. Taylor Stremlow had a few big threes.

Starting point is 00:14:13 And defenses couldn't pack the paint. And then that's why you got the Ava High and performance that you did yesterday with 27 and 11. Ava Hayden was so good. And her footwork, we talked about it plenty before, David, about just her around the rim with the size that she has. I think a better athlete than probably she gets credit for you. You saw that on the air ball from deal that she put back up there with the reverse layup. Jan Jensen, she's so good in teaching those post players how to go up quickly. You don't need to dribble to create space and create angles.

Starting point is 00:14:42 How good they are at that. It's all coming together for Ava Hayden. There's also that part of it where getting her the ball in the right. spots. I know Jan talked about that a little bit after the game. That's kind of the next level is not just what she does inside, but getting chit-chat and getting those guards to understand exactly where she needs the ball. You think about upside. You talk about an All-American. We saw one in the Post with Meg Augustus and said, Ava Hayden well on her way to doing the same thing. I'm right there with you. I mean, I think she's an all-conference caliber player now. I mean,

Starting point is 00:15:12 I think we all knew she was going to take a leap after last season, but what she's done through this year has been incredibly impressive. And not to poo-poo it and not to promote her too early trend, but I think she's a future first round draft pick in the WMBA. For her ability to be six foot four, six foot five, be that

Starting point is 00:15:31 elite of a rim runner, be able to finish in transition, she can finish with the right or left. And how about yesterday? She hit three mid-ranges in that first half, including one from, I would call the short corner, but it was probably just a step or two inside the three-point line, pulled up with confidence,

Starting point is 00:15:47 It's nothing but net. When she has her mid-range game going, I don't envy those who have to guard her because like you mentioned, that footwork is elite. She can go up with either hand. Her rebounding has improved tremendously. And how about her ability to play without fouling?

Starting point is 00:16:01 I mean, again, she wasn't flawless yesterday. But that was probably one of the most well-rounded games that she's played. And what her capability over the next two years with this offense, with the talent coming in as well, and players continuing to develop, Like I still don't think it's crazy to say that Jan Jensen's best years and Iowa's best years, they might still be in front of them. There's a lot of good foundational work that's being set.

Starting point is 00:16:27 And Ava Hyen is really emerging as probably not just a big 10 star. I think she's going to be a national star by next season. You talk about the youth of this squad. Chichette Wright, she's a sophomore. Obviously, who we just talked about, Ava Hayden, just a sophomore. And maybe the difference maker is Taylor Stremble. and it's inconsistent to this point in her career for Taylor. Probably too many turn worse than you want.

Starting point is 00:16:50 The shooting has been inconsistent, though we know she definitely can make it from the outside. She had a complete effort yesterday. I thought she was awesome in the game, playing under control, not trying to do too much and kind of going into understanding the role. They need more out of Taylor Strembleau. I saw our buddy Chad Lysdikow. He had the connection. People were talking about Kate Martin.

Starting point is 00:17:08 Apparently Kate texted him after the game, loving that comp. I don't want to put it at Kate Martin. This is not a knock on Kate. I think there's more upside when you're talking about, and yes, she's played in the WMBA. I think Stremlo has that kind of upside. I don't mind the comparison. I think they're different.

Starting point is 00:17:24 From a leadership standpoint and the passion standpoint, absolutely, right? There's no question about that. Taylor is incredibly tough. But I go back to last season. I just finished a story on this morning. Over the last 10 games of last season, Trent, she had 15 total points. but people don't really think about that because of the elite passing the flashy sort of plays that she has the energy that she brought but do you remember in those games last season where she would get the ball wide open on the perimeter and nobody would guard her and she would just stand there for like three seconds it was almost like a deer in headlight now people are closing out on her on corner threes and she's still pulling up in their face and making it she's doing mid-range pull-up jumpers she's still

Starting point is 00:18:11 29 of 34 around the rim this season as a 5-10 guard, right? And now she's shooting nearly 40% from three. Like if she can continue that sort of confidence that she has in her shooting and her offense, that is a game changer from Iowa standpoint because teams are going to have to guard them differently. And you also think about the other players on Iowa's roster that have taken a big leap after maybe not the best shooting year. How about Chet Chat Right?

Starting point is 00:18:39 As you mentioned earlier, what Iowa has gotten out of her, I don't think anybody in the world expected. Not that we didn't think she'd be a decent player, but she's leading the country or second the country and three point percentages here, and she's pulling nearly three or four of them a game, right? So now you get all those pieces.

Starting point is 00:18:58 You probably expect Addy deal to make a similar jump next season. I'll be surprised if she doesn't. I think she's too good of a shooter. There are so many tools there, and if you get Taylor Stremwell from a leader, leadership standpoint to be that productive. That's where I think the Kate Martin comparison, it really does make a lot of sense. And it's also worth noting, too, Stremlow is one of Iowa's team captains despite being a

Starting point is 00:19:22 sophomore. Like her upside and her confidence and her presence in that locker room, it's going to win Iowa some games. And I think a big reason, as you mentioned, they won yesterday. It's because of Taylor Stremlow. And I got to give another shout out to Journey Houston. I just love her. She goes in there.

Starting point is 00:19:39 She's a bulldog. She's going to grab a rebound. She's going to make a big play. She's going to get a big steal. Again, understanding roles. And that is Journey Houston. I love the hurt upside. Just a freshman with this team.

Starting point is 00:19:48 All right. We go from this Iowa women's basketball team where it's all sunshine and rainbows after they win their last two. But we go back a week ago and it was doom and gloom. We go to the men's side. And now it's doom and gloom after a six game winning streak, a two game losing streak. Here comes Nebraska to town. The Huskers flying high at 22 and three on the season.

Starting point is 00:20:07 A lot of. concerns, murmurs, frustration, social media is ugly. I'm sure the message boards are ugly. I try to stay away, but, you know, Hawkeye Insider sucks me in from time to time. David, give us a pulse of this men's basketball team and after a disappointing effort against Purdue. I think two things can be true. One, it's incredibly fair to be frustrated after. I think the Maryland loss is more crushing than the Purdue one, to be honest with you.

Starting point is 00:20:34 Like, I get it that was Ben McCollum's first fell out. nothing went according to the plan, et cetera. I think Purdue's really good and you knew they were going to bounce back. Again, not dismissing it. The Maryland, Maryland's a bad team. They should not have lost the Maryland team.

Starting point is 00:20:48 Number two, it is way too early to overreacted Ben McCollum or questioning anything. Oh, yes. Like, some of the stuff I'm reading is absolutely ridiculous. Ben McCollum is an elite coach. NBA coaches reach out to him

Starting point is 00:21:01 from his schematic and X's and O standpoint. He is known as one of the elite basketball minds in this country. Okay? Like, I'm, that's not debatable. To me,

Starting point is 00:21:10 if you, if you're questioning any of that, quite frankly, you should not be allowed to talk basketball. You're, you're not serious about it. That's fine.

Starting point is 00:21:18 But going into tonight, I mean, Ben, Sturts just needs some help. Like, that's ultimately what boils down to me. The defense is obviously concerning. If you look at their efficiency,

Starting point is 00:21:29 I think they're like 242nd in the country right now this month in defense efficiency. And that's something that, I don't think any one of us would have predicted. No. I think Tavion Banks is, you know, I think he's limited more than he's laying on.

Starting point is 00:21:41 I think some guys are getting a little bit of a brittle down the stretch. I think Tate Sage and some of the other younger guys, yeah, they've had flashes this year, but we know how much of a roller coaster these types of years need to be. Quite frankly, Iowa, I think needs to lean on Brendan Howleton more down the stretch. I think Alvaro Fulgaris needs to start being the player that they think he's capable of being. And ultimately, somebody has to help Ben Astorke's because, what's Nebraska going to do? And I'm double teaming Ben at 3rds the entire night,

Starting point is 00:22:10 and I'm making somebody else score just because Iowa has not proven it up until this point. So a pulse, man, a lot of frustration, quite frankly, I think a lot of overreaction. But again, I kind of get it because when you take in the context of it being the first sellout in 23 months to go out there and lay an egg like that, you have to be a little bit worried. But I also think people need to read into Ben McCollum's post game where he's like, I'm not embarrassed. We need to work harder and do better. That's leadership.

Starting point is 00:22:42 That's the right approach. And that's a good, like, that should make you feel better about the direction of Iowa basketball, not just this year, but having McCollum as the coach. We have heard going back to that press conference afterwards and going to the Zoom from, what, yesterday, there was some talk about potentially making a change in the starting lineup. I was been getting off to incredibly slow starts.

Starting point is 00:23:03 Kill Combs, he's going through a slump. He's playing poorly. I mean, there's no way to cut it other than that. He has struggled mightily. Cooper Cotch, he's got to make open threes. And he's been missing open threes. And you can't go one of four when you're that kind of shooter and expect to be out there and play the minutes that he is. What would be the easiest change though?

Starting point is 00:23:20 I mean, if you got the call, Ben McCollum gives you the call right now and says, I'm going to make a change. David Eichol, what should I do with this starting lineup? Where are you going? I think there's two ways he can go. One, and it sounds crazy because he hasn't played a lot. I think you're throwing Brendan Howells in for Kale Combs. Like, Kale Combs is just, again, he's had some big moments this year.

Starting point is 00:23:41 I thought for a while his offensive game was really developing. But some of the decisions he's made down the stretch of these last few games, I mean, I tweeted in middle of last game, until he starts to show something on either end, like he's just not as playable just compared to the midst that he's getting at this point. Howlinson, I think, provides him a little spark. I actually don't think there's that much of a falloff defensively right now between Kale Colmes and Brennan Howlinson.

Starting point is 00:24:05 And Howlson can at least extend defense as far beyond that. The other look I would potentially make, throw in all Varna Fulgaris at the five and bring Cam off the bench. Keep Tavion Banks in there. I know some people think about moving Tavion Banks to the bench. I just don't think so because I think he's the most versatile defender on the team. Again, I know he's probably not 100% right now, but Tavion Banks has been way too big of a spark plug

Starting point is 00:24:30 and second option in a lot of Iowa's wins. I just don't think you can put him on the bench. So maybe put Alvaro at the five and maybe get a spark in his confidence with him starting. Or again, like, again, Halzen hasn't played a lot with this Iowa team this season, Trent. He's played a lot of college basketball. And he's a shot maker.

Starting point is 00:24:48 He's a guy if he goes out there and gets you two threes in the first five minutes, where does Iowa's confidence go offensively for the rest of the game? You won't know until we see it. I wouldn't mind Howard seeing out there, maybe him in the starting lineup. He's a guy that certainly has the trust of Coach McClellan. We know what he's going to do for you on the defensive end. I definitely could see that kind of substitution.

Starting point is 00:25:08 I don't even mind having Elvaro out there with Cam. And you have Tavian at the three. You put Howard at the two. And of course, Bennett Sturts at the point guard spot. There's a lot of things that they can still toy with and tinker with. And because really, nobody outside of Sturts is playing well. You mentioned earlier the defense and those defensive numbers. And we've talked about them a little bit.

Starting point is 00:25:26 It's just a straight line guys. Guys getting downhill and getting to the rim. What's happening there? That just, it's not that, oh, they're giving up a bunch of corner three. Is that something simple? They're getting beat off the bounce. Are they up too high? Is it because of the lack of rim protection?

Starting point is 00:25:41 And teams are just, hey, we can get to the rim here against this team. What is it that they're struggling so much against straight line drives? Yeah, I mean, I think a little bit of it, depending on the lineup, it's due to athleticism and they get those switches. Because, again, I think there's no fear in teams going to the paint right now against Iowa until they have a proven shot blocker. And, you know, how much do we talk preseason about this eventually catching up to Iowa, right? Down the stretch of the big template, there's elite posts players. Will Iowa be able to protect the rim? I think they've done okay at times this season.

Starting point is 00:26:14 And then other times, it's just guys are doing the same thing over and over again. But you also think about some of these elite quick guards, Trent? I mean, how many guys that are on Iowa's team right now do you think are cable of guarding an extremely athletic guard that's downhill? knowing that there's a lack of rim protection. Isaiah Howard? Yep. Is that the end of the, I mean,

Starting point is 00:26:36 maybe Tavion Banks, depending on the matchup, because at least he has the length and he won't get pushed around. And it was coming for a while, but it hasn't been late. Yeah, if you throw Tadion Banks out there,

Starting point is 00:26:46 then you're going to have an undersized guy getting the switch on potentially a 6 foot 10, 6 foot 11 post guy. So again, again, it's a little bit tougher from that standpoint. But on the other side, I think it's a lot of defense communication issues.

Starting point is 00:26:58 There are guys being open, threes and they're knocking them down. I think Iowa during the stretch and this month is giving up like 38% from three this year this month. And doesn't it feel like more at this point in time? Like every single time a shot's gone up, if it's open, it feels like it's going in against Iowa as of late. And I think that's what it's going to come down to tonight. Nebraska, what they force you to do, they don't foul. They're going to force you to hit shots over the top of them. If Iowa can do that, they got a shot. And of course, you've got to stop them on the other end from what they want to do offensively. And that's make three pointers.

Starting point is 00:27:29 It's basketball in general. I've said it for years now. What it has evolved into, David. Give me a box score. Let me look at the three-point shooting on each team, and I'll tell you who's going to win very simply. I think that's going to be the case tonight. I'm right there with you.

Starting point is 00:27:44 I mean, quite frankly, I'm stunned to Iowa's favored. I'm floored by that. At the same time, though, if Iowa plays the pace that they want to play and they're making open threes, I do think Iowa, quite frankly, matches up very well against this Nebraska. a team. Are we getting the defense that showed up in December or January? Or are we getting the

Starting point is 00:28:04 defense that show up the last two weeks? That's going to be the biggest thing to me. And again, if Iowa controls the pace and plays slower, because Nebraska wants to get up and down, you can't let them get off to like a 12 to 15 point start lead early on. You just, you can't do that. David Eichol joining us here today. David, out of time for this afternoon. As always appreciate it, we will talk to you again soon. Enjoy the game tonight. Thanks, buddy. Always appreciate you. Take care. That is Hawkeye Insiders. David Eichol joining us here. Thanks to David, as always for his time. We continue. We talked about the biggest key. Let's break down. What's it going to take for Iowa to pull off

Starting point is 00:28:41 the victory tonight against the Huskers? That's next. Locked on Hawkeyes. Workplace chaos, deadline stacking up, inbox overflowing in the one position you had to fill is still sitting open. When the pressure's on and you need the right hire, this is the job for sponsored jobs. Indeed, sponsor jobs helps you reach the people who actually fit what you're looking for, skills, experience, location. So you're not just hoping the right candidate stumbles across your post. And here's a stat that says it all. In the minute, I've been talking to you, companies like yours made 27 hires on Indeed,

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Starting point is 00:30:31 Talked about three-point shooting on both sides. that is very simple. Here's another key to this game. One thing we talk about Nebraska, they don't foul a ton. They're going to keep their hands off. This is not going to be the clutching and the grabbing that we see from the Purdue's and the Michigan states of the world. That's not the way that they play on the defense event.

Starting point is 00:30:48 So with that, we talk about the defense straight line and how Iowa struggled there. This is going to have to be a game where we're going to see guys off the bounce. That is why I think Isaiah Howard in the starting lineup could make a whole lot of sense. him getting to the rim, he certainly knows that ability. Bennett Sturts, one thing that they're going to do, they're going to work to get the ball out of his hands. When the high screen roll happens, that is something they're going to double, they're going to press, they're going to try to get the ball out of his hands.

Starting point is 00:31:13 That means Tavion Banks on the bounce. We're going to have to see Cam Manuel. He's going to have to do the same thing. We're going to have to see these kind of players do it with the ball in their hands, getting to the rim. There's not a ton of rim protection there. Rick Mass, really good offensive player. He's not a rim protector.

Starting point is 00:31:31 Those are a couple of the important parts for Iowa to pull this off. Prove it. Huge game. As important of a game, maybe of the Ben McCollum era of slowing down some of the negativity that's starting to surround things. We will be back with you tonight after it goes final with the Rapid Reaction podcast. We got you covered here on Lockdown Hawkeyes.

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Starting point is 00:32:25 We'll talk to you again tonight after it goes final. As always, go Hawks.

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