Locked On Hawkeyes - Daily Podcast On Iowa Hawkeyes Football & Basketball - REVELATION: Iowa's Defensive Line BULKS UP for Big Ten Battle | Can Hawkeyes DOMINATE the Trenches?

Episode Date: July 17, 2025

Iowa Hawkeyes football roster undergoes significant weight changes. Will these physical transformations lead to on-field success?Trent Condon breaks down the Hawkeyes' offseason body transformations, highlighting key players who've bulked up or slimmed down. The discussion shifts to Iowa basketball, where AP reporter John Bohnenkamp provides insider observations on new coach Ben McCollum's intense practice style. The episode also covers Caitlin Clark's challenging WNBA debut and touches on MLB topics, including former Hawkeye Jack Dreyer's success with the LA Dodgers.Tune in for expert analysis on how these developments could reshape Iowa's football and basketball programs this season.Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!GametimeToday's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONCOLLEGE for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply.Monarch MoneyTake control of your finances with Monarch Money. Use code LOCKEDONCOLLEGE at www.monarchmoney.com/lockedoncollege for 50% off your first year.FanDuelRight now, new customers can get ONE HUNDRED FIFTY DOLLARS in BONUS BETS when your first FIVE DOLLAR BET WINS! Download the app or head to FANDUEL.COM to get started. Bet with FanDuel—Official Partner of the NBA.FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

Some big Iowa football players are getting even bigger. We take a look at the off season weight gains and what it says about Iowa football today. Locked on Hawkeye. You are locked on Hawkeyes, your daily podcast on the Iowa Hawkeyes. Part of the Locked On Podcast Network, your team every day. 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 with you every single day during the week talking the world of Hawkeye athletics. I've been covering the Hawkeyes for over 20 years including currently on the Iowa Sports Radio Network. You can hear me each weekday from noon to two talking the world of sports in Iowa City, Cedar Rapids, Quad Cities, Sioux City, and our flagship 106.3 KXNO.

Today's episode of Lockdown Hawkeyes is brought to you by FanDuel. Right now, new customers can get $150 in bonus bets when your first $5 bet wins. Well, we got a lot to get into today. Kaitlyn Clark is looking like a lost season for Kaitlyn. She is out for the all star game weekend. How long is that groin injury going to continue for her? We'll talk with John Bowencamp. He was at Iowa basketball availability earlier in the week. We'll get his perspective and what he saw

over in Iowa city. And we opened today with some football talk. So in the off season, he got a lot of different directions he can go, right? And one of the things that is always interesting is taking a look at just how different things are and the weight gains that you have. Now, as a whole, not everybody on the football roster has lost a gained weight, excuse me.

There are a few guys that have gone down and we'll talk about them a little bit later on. Probably the most significant here recently, just a couple of years back is what Jennings Dunker did changing his weight as he was playing up around 350 pounds and now down at 316. So we'll talk about that on the backside of things a little bit, but really when you're talking about football,

it's about gaining that weight, right? Keep getting bigger. And there's some pretty significant changes on the roster. Now, when were these weights done? A lot of the incoming freshmen, that's where you get to see a big jump. And in fact, the biggest one here, and thank you to our guy, Blair Sanderson,

over at Hawkeye Report, who put all these together so they have it all together on one nice sheet, as Blair does a great job over there with Tom Kaikert, Kyle Heusman, and the rest of the crew at Hawkeye Report. But we start with Brody McCaslin, offensive lineman, as Brody McCaslin now is up to 299 after being 266 pounds as an incoming freshman a year ago. So a weight gain of 33. Another one, another young offensive lineman, and Will Nolan came in at 287, now up to 310 pounds. Here's another one.

And we've talked a little bit about the tight end position recently. It is DJ Vonomy, who is a walk on from Carol, a guy that there's been talk about. Maybe this could be a walk on story at the tight end position, something that hasn't been real fruitful since going back all the way back to Dallas Clark. These walk ons at this position has been at the same level at some other positions. That's one to keep an eye on. Another tight end that's got much bigger, Michael Burt,

another one of those young guys in their offense at the tight end room. He is now up to 249 pounds, so he's up 21 pounds from what he got into. Here's two names I'm incredibly excited about. If you're an everyday or you watch this every day, you know how excited I am for now, this red shirt freshman class of defensive lineman.

I think it's so many of these guys have so much upside and two guys are listed next. Kimi Chenneke is up to 260 pounds. So 20 pounds heavier than he was a year ago. I think he could do some rotational work. Another guy on the outside is Joseph Anderson, an incredible athlete, a freak type of athlete. Now he's up to 241.

224 when he came in, 241. Don't be surprised if you see both Chenique and Anderson part of the rotation, deeper down the rotation at the defensive end, admittedly, but those two guys certainly certainly a one there. Speaking of young guys, and this is what you're gonna see a lot is young players is Derek Weiskopf, one of those three redshirt freshman linebackers that we've talked about a ton.

He's up 17 pounds now up to 235 pounds for him. Maybe one of the most significant ones because this is the first guy that we're gonna talk about that is going to be a starter. And that is Kate peeper peeper up to £290. Ask somebody about that. And they said he's even bigger than that. So we'll see £290 because that was the knock. You know, you saw him last year he played. He was kind of the six offensive lineman when they went into some different packages. Kate peeper is going to be a starter this year. And if he is pushing more up towards that £ pound range,

you're gonna be in good shape because you saw just how tenacious Cade Peeper is. We go next to three skill position guys. First up, Jazz Patterson, up to 210 pounds. He was listed at 197. It always feels like Jazz Patterson plays bigger than that at the running back spot. He's the guy that wants to run through you,

not by you all the time. He says speed is still maintained. Patterson up 15 pounds, that is a big one there. How about Brevin Dahl? Know about the speed. Is it elite? Absolutely no doubt about it. Brevin Dahl has that kind of speed.

He's always been solidly built. Now up to 211 pounds for Brevin Dahl as he looks to try to find some minutes this year as a redshirt freshman at the running back Spot another guy up 12 is Jackson Stratton And I know there's some Jackson Stratton fans out there believe that he should be a guy that should be in contention for the backup Spot I can't get there I know one of our commenters over on the YouTube page is a big Jackson Stratton fan We'll see though a little little bit stronger, a little bit bigger. And he saw that a year ago, certainly something that needed to happen.

Speaking of redshirt freshmen, Jalen Watson, I believe is going to be a stud for this football team. He's up 11 pounds now up to 185 pounds. How about Dayton Howard? You see Dayton Howard out there, boy, he looks the part. Six foot four receiver has got the long stride had the touchdown a year ago He's up now to two hundred and fifteen pounds and with the kind of size and strength that he has on that frame He's gonna be able to do some work in the blocking game a couple of young guys

Josh Donowski now up to 292 at offensive line Let's get into a couple of other guys that are gonna be interesting Speaking of defensive line Devin Kennedy up to 275. Still work to be done, I believe to build himself into the offensive tackle. But remember his dad, absolutely an NFL Penn State guy that put it together physically and he was a monster of a man. Devin Kennedy working to get to that point. KJ Parker, this is another player that we talked about a lot here during the summer months and he has become one of those buzz guys at the wide receiver

position now up to 184 pounds for him, a nine pound weight game. Logan Jones also up nine pounds now up over 300 pounds as he as at 302. Trevor Lark. We'll see if he wins that starting job at left tackle. He's up eight pounds at 310 pounds now kamari molten there's another anticipated starter he has gained eight pounds as has rese van der zee no advantage i think what's incredibly interesting with him multi-sport athlete played a ton did a lot of different things he was in and out all the time had the injury a year ago remember he showed up late because he was playing high school baseball a year ago. What he's going to look like full-time dedicated now to football,

the size that he has, the speed that he has. This is a guy that still is learning the wide receiver position. Huge upside now up to 215 pounds with that frame. And if he keeps running like he can look out, Reese Vanderzee is going gonna help out this wide receiver crew Here's the name for you Kenneth Merriwether another one up eight pounds. He's up to 263 He's always been bubbling under the surface last couple of years hasn't got a ton of rotational minutes to this point It's gonna be tough

I think in that defensive line room But keep an eye on Kenneth Merriwether as he's gained another eight pounds couple more for you. Jack Dotsler Who's also fighting for that left tackle spot? He's up to 312 now Seth Anderson gained another seven pounds We know about the speed now. It's about the health for Seth Anderson to those redshirt freshmen We talked a little bit earlier about Weisskopf Preston Reese up seven pounds and Cam Buffington up for Maxwells has got another five pounds, Adam Zachort worth the same.

And then we get into guys that are made some small gains. Not a whole lot to, I think, write home about anything that is concerning one way or the other, but it's something to keep your eye on, certainly with these guys trying to build themselves up into the kind of players that you are hopeful for. Now we go to the other end of the scenario though, and it's guys that have lost weight. Jennings Dunker has lost a pound.

He's down to 315 pounds now. He was listed at 316. This is again, according to the official roster for Iowa football. Xavier Wampa has gone down two pounds. Now at 213 pounds officially listed on that one. Reece Deakin lost a couple of pounds. Addison Estrenga down three. Xavier Williams down five pounds.

Of course, he was the bowling ball that came in last year with Brevin Dahl. We talked about him. Here's an interesting one though. And the final three, I think, maybe are the most interesting of the guys that have lost weight from the roster a year ago. Aaron Graves goes from listed at 300 down to 295. What's behind that? We'll see. We got media day coming up. Maybe I'll ask him. Bo Stevens down seven pounds. Bo Stevens is a butt kicker in the run game and I'm excited to see him as a full-time starter what Bo Stevens can be for this Hawkeye team this year. And then finally, Jeremiah

Pippen. Normally you'd think one of your defensive tackles and very well could be your starting defensive tackle. You don't want him losing weight down eight pounds. Is that just a retooling of the body? And Jeremiah Pippen, we've seen this happen so many times. He is one of the keys to this defense taking a step forward. Now we're excited about the two guys that they brought in for the transfer portal. You go out and get two guys from South Dakota State and Central Michigan, you hope they can help out. But if Jeremiah Pittman can take another step, going from a guy, what he was a year ago, and becoming a guy that has that senior leap that has

happened so many times before, that's gonna help immensely this defensive front this year. That's what we have on the weight gains for Iowa football and a few on the other end with some losses. Let's talk some hoops. John Bowencamp. He was over at Iowa City a couple of days ago for the open availability for Iowa hoops. I'm gonna talk a little bit about John about what he saw some of the names that he's excited to see exactly what it's going to be for Iowa basketball coming up this year if you missed it earlier in the week I had an opportunity to talk with Ben McCollum

That interview is up you can check it out on the podcast form or you can check it out on YouTube and watch it over there back with John John Bowen camp talking Iowa basketball and just how good is this team gonna be? We'll talk about that next on the locked on Hawkeyes podcast team going to be. We'll talk about that next on the Locked On Hawkeyes Podcast. Summer sports are in full swing. Whether you're all about baseball under the lights, golf on the green, high-stakes soccer action, FanDuel is the best way to make every game more exciting. If you're already following the action, why not make it a little more thrilling? With FanDuel, you can get in on the game while your friends are getting sunburned at the beach. I've been using FanDuel to track my favorite matchups and the app keeps it fresh with new

daily promotions and fun ways to bet. Maybe you're into golf with the major, the final one of the season happening. That's what I've been doing, firing away at the golf tournament and hoping to come out big. It's easy to use, fast to pay out and makes even regular season games feel like must watch events. Whether I'm placing the same game parlay or watching a bet ride into the ninth inning, Fandual makes it feel like I'm part of the action. New to Fandual,

new customers can bet just $5 and get $150 in bonus bets. If your first bet wins, open the Fandual app today, or visit Fandual.com to get started. dual app today or visit fandual.com to get started. Try and count it back with you once again here on the lockdown Hawkeyes podcast. Thanks for being with us and making lockdown Hawkeyes your first listen every day as we hear from John Bowencamp. John Bowencamp, Associated Press, I College Hoops.com, et cetera, et cetera, joins us to recap the media availability today. McCollum and some of the Iowa players, former Iowa

player Trent Owen Freeman out four to six weeks, but it sounds like it'll be back for the season. But Owen Freeman, real injury, as you say. Real injury, not a finger injury. You keep them out a couple of months. Hello, John Bowencamp, Trenton Ken. How are you? I'm good. How you doing? Doing pretty well.

Um, so I want to get, um, just, you want for a pick your brain on what you saw today. I want to start though with Bennett Sturtz, who's kind of the given when it comes to the Drake players as to at least on the surface, how we think he's going to fit in. And I think part and parcel to that is, you know, just we, we saw him play against good competition, right? Texas tech really good team, Missouri, a really good team. Those two teams played in the, uh, in the tournament beat Mizzou lost to the Red Raiders. Um, but we've seen him do it before.

I'm anxious to, um, did you get your take on what's when you watch Sturtz play, does he look like a big 10 player to you? Yes. So I think he's been really good. I think that I think there is, uh, it's the, it's the, it's the, I mean, obviously the scoring is there, but it's the court vision, it's the understanding the game. And I mean, when, when you're putting together a new roster to get a guy like

that, you're way ahead of the game, you know, at that point when, and, and he was one of the first ones to commit. And so when, when they got him, it was like, okay, not net, you've got your star now, now you build around him. And I think, I think Ben McCollum has done a really good job of that. But you know, to go back to your question, yeah, I think Ben McCollum has done a really good job of that. But to go back to your question, yeah, I think he's really good. And I think he's going to be really good in the Big Ten. And I mean, again, he showed it last year against Power Conference

theme. There's a lot of talent there to like. When you see him listed, you know, top 20 NBA prospect, I think that's certainly eye opening for a guy that didn't have a D1 offer coming out of high school and they can find them all over the place. How old is he? That's working against him. He's got to be 22, 23. 21, 22. Yeah, probably something in that range.

And I think a reason that I'm optimistic that they're going to hit the ground running is just all those Drake guys, right? You have that kind of continuity. Ben McCollum, Coach is Hard. I think we've seen that. The videos that have come out looking back at the past, they're all to hit the ground running is just all those Drake guys, right? You have that kind of continuity. Ben McCollum coaches hard. I think we've seen that the videos that have come out looking back at last year at Drake, he's a guy that way.

But when you're not just going to a new place, but you're bringing five guys with you that know what the expectations are, I think that's a huge help for the other 13 guys on that roster. Right. And it's not just, I mean, it's five guys that know the system, actually six if you throw in the red shirt player, they know the system. They know what he wants. They know what he likes.

They know how he is. But these are also guys that want, I mean, they won 31 games last year. They want a conference title. They want a conference tournament. They went to the second round of the empty turn. These guys know how to win and when you're doing intangibles when you start and in college basketball is an awful lot even in this transfer portal era is still a lot about intangible and

Chemistry and whatever else and I think when you've got that foundation when you've got that core Now you did now you build around it and he's done a really good job of that in my mind. But you've got a really good base start from, because these guys know how to win. Was Trey Thompson there today? No. And part of it, he cannot, and he may have been there like watching. I don't know. I got there, I was a little late because I had a phone interview to do.

But you can't do any sort of instruction with him. I was a little late because I had a phone interview to do but You can't practice or instruction with him. Yeah until the fall gets here Yeah, I asked him I sat down with Ben McCollum yesterday and I asked him about that And he said that they can't do any instruction with him until the school year starts Brendan Haas and back out there saw some clips from him on social media knocking down three pointers He was a guy that had been out for a little bit What do we expect for him? I think he's gonna be a starter He's gonna play certainly 20 plus minutes again Is he gonna be a guy though that they rely on for?

No 32 type minutes a game or is he gonna be maybe in that 25 range something like that when you're kind of looking at A minutes breakdown and how he fits it and getting all the pieces working together. Probably in the high 20s, I would think, you know, in that 25 to 28 range, but he can shoot the ball. There's no doubt about it. You look at his numbers from last year

and, you know, throughout his career, he can shoot the three. And again, he's done a really good job in the composition of his roster of finding guys that can shoot. And I mean, it's not just even the guards, some of his bigs can step out and shoot. So to get a guy, again, to get a guy like that, that had good numbers last year, he wasn't really a big, big part of that Kansas safety, but still a really good player. And so to get somebody like that one out and, okay, now you've got your

score, now you've got that two guard that you lost, you know, that you didn't have with this, you know, when you were starting to put this together. So I think it was a really good pick up for them to get him. What was the takeaway or two from what you heard afterwards or saw during once you got there? A couple of your takeaways, John. It's a very intense workout that they do. I mean, this isn't just summer, let's play pickup ball, get to know each other. I mean, there's a lot of installation going on. There's a lot of, you know, and he, when we talked yesterday, you know, he said, I really want intensity. And he goes, and I told him, I said, I think you have some real intense workouts. And he goes, I think we could be better. And so I'm thinking if

that's the level he wants to get at, you know, these guys are really going to have to get after it. And that's a good sign. I think to me it's you know and talking to the players today it's that way in the weight room it's that way you know in individual workouts they want you in there doing this this this and and they want you talking and they want you you know to be you know they want the communication there so there's a like I said a lot of intensity with this group and and you can see it again today I mean I know they won't get a couple weeks left in the summer workouts but these guys really get after it. And I mean, they hustle

and that's what he wants out of his team. That's what made that Drake team so good last year. So was it night and day when you think back to McCaffrey at this point of the off season, you know, when you'd get an opportunity to watch the team practice, is it a whole, I mean, is it the contrast stark? Yeah. I mean, it was, I mean, I mean, Fran it the contrast stark? Yeah. I mean, it was, I mean, I mean, Fran's teams were very, you know, and he would always say this through, they were very business like, you know, and I mean, it

was just, we're just going to go about our business. These guys are little, I mean, these guys have a lot more intensity to it. And, you know, I'm not saying one way is right, one way is right. It's a different, you know, kind of a style, but I mean, Fran's teams were very, you know, he always talked about business like, you know, kind of a style. I mean, Fran's teams were very, you know, he always thought about business like command, get your work done. You know, Ben McCollum is get your work done, but I want to hear you guys. And I want you to, you know, to push each other and you can see that in this group.

And you've seen that in the videos they've shown from the weight room. And I mean, these guys really, these guys really get on each other. And I mean, they want, they want to win. I mean, this isn't a, this isn't a let's take a year to rebuild this. It's like no they want to get to the NCAA tournament. They want to be in that upper half of the Big Ten. They don't want to be playing on Wednesday in the Big Ten tournament. They want to play on Friday.

So I mean you can just tell there is an intensity with this group that that I really like it's fun to watch them work How do you think Kim Manuel is gonna hold up being undersized at the center position? It's one thing to do it in the MVC played 20 minutes a game They're hoping for a lot obviously out of him out of the center position this year. I think he's gonna hold up. I Think the body is there he's gonna need help They're gonna have to find somebody to help him him out inside because I don't think he can go 35 36 minutes. You're going to have to find somebody or a combination thereof to give you a good 10, a good solid 10. And you know one of the things we were talking about yesterday and he brought up about and I think he said Matt painter Everybody always talks about you know getting stars and he's like sometimes you need that guy to play right field

You know you need that you need that guy to give you ten minutes And so it's gonna be in really important I think in in in this in the rest of this summer here in the last week or so and then to get in the all To find that second person inside or third person to give you 10 minutes to give him a break because he can't do it all on his own. For Garris maybe? Maybe. But the one good thing I really like about him is I think he's gonna be a really good big, but he can step out and shoot three. And so, so what, you know, how, you know, how much is he going to be playing inside? We don't know yet. And,

and again, they don't know yet cause they haven't really seen a whole lot of him this summer. So again, that's going to be one of those, how does this, how does he fit in and where do they kind of work around him? John Bowencamp joining us as we take a look inside Iowa basketball after media availability. One final name that was available today is Tate Sage. Talk about a guy. I mean, there wasn't, I talked to a couple of Drake people and he committed to them. They're like, we'll see.

And now he's been maybe the most buzz. Oklahoma kid. Yeah. The most buzziest kind of guy this summer, like look out here and maybe not for this year, but for the future, uh, take us in Tate's age a little bit. A guy at six foot seven, got some guard skills, pretty intriguing prospect. We talked to him today and I mean he was, he was like, I was, I wanted to be, he didn't even visit Iowa when he committed, you know, it was just like, I want to play for coach

Mack and cause he said, I really like where I fit in and I, I like him again. He's going to be one of those guys. He's going to have to get a little stronger, but the body is there. The, the, the length is there. And I think his ability is there. It's just a matter of can he take the bounding that, that kind of comes with. You know, the big tensile and he even admitted that he goes, I've got to get stronger, but he, you know, he he's here to work.

And so I think maybe he becomes a pleasant surprise, maybe not right away, but, but I think probably at some point this year, he, he is probably going to play a significant role on this team, just by the way plays. And with his size and everything else, again, it's all going to come back to, how much, you know, can he put on some weight? Can he put on some muscle? But there's there, there is something there. And I, and again, I think they tap into it as he goes along in this career. Oh, a quick baseball one, John, as we talk about, as we talk about your Dodgers and we see them, it's crazy to think that, wow, this team's really underachieving this year.

Got the second respite best record in baseball, best record in the national league. So I guess, I mean, is this the bottom? I mean, there's, there's, there's, there's, they're only going to get better. You're going to get guys healthy again. You know, glass now is back now probably comes back here. They're going to fleece the twins out of one or two relievers, probably. Wow.

Um, which will bolster the bullpen, which will bolster the bullpen. Um, you know, and they, and maybe they go get an outfielder. Um, pie has been unbelievable. You know, I mean, there's, there's a lot of guys out there that, that, that might be really good fit for them. And, and I mean, it's, I don't know if you roll the dice and say, well, we'll just go with Michael Conforto the rest of the year, but, um, again, there's,

there's plenty of options out there. And like, and I've said this before, they haven't even come close to being their best and they're five and a half games up right now. And so Probably everybody should be frightened Do they not like Tanner Scott? I mean, he's he under has he underachieved? He is really under and yeah, that's why I think they do have to go find a close Iran Duran from the twins. Yeah. And if it costs a couple of class A prospects, which is probably what the twins will want because they're not very good at trading. So I mean, I do think you will go see them get somebody like that. There will be some, you know, and I mean, everybody's going to

be looking for closers, but they are going to need some, you know, and I mean, everybody's going to be looking for closers, but they are going to need some relief help because unless, I mean, Tanner Scott's been so inconsistent and I just, I don't know how you trust that going in October. 30 seconds left. Jack Dreyer has been unbelievable. I mean, who saw this coming, right? Yeah. I mean, he's been really good in the role and I mean, I'd like to see him do a little bit more, but where he's at right now with him, I think he's had a really good season. Yep, I'm with you. John, thanks for jumping on. Appreciate your recap of what you saw earlier today. Thank you, John Bowencamp. Talk to you down the road, brother.

Thanks for having me. Yep, good to talk to you. Bye-bye, John Bowencamp as we check in on the Hawks. As always, thanks to John Bowencamp for joining us and taking his digs at my Minnesota Twins, which is always incredibly frustrating, and his Dodgers. But a little baseball there and Jack Dreyer continues to do a great job with that Dodgers team and a fun story to follow. Major League Baseball amateur draft happened on Sunday into Monday and number of Hawkeyes went in that one.

Also, we'll talk about that a little bit more later in the week we continue The Kate and Clark season has not gone the way anybody Anticipated what's next for the former Hawkeye star as we continue lockdown Hawkeyes Welcome back one final time to the Lockdown Hawkeyes podcast. As always, thanks for making Lockdown Hawkeyes your first listen every day. If you're watching us on YouTube, hit subscribe. You're listening on the podcast side.

Five star reviews helps us get in front of more Hawkeye fans. And thanks to you, every day is with us every single day. C.C., Caitlin Clark, I think we're running out of ways to say how disappointing this year has been. Coming into this season, finally having a layoff. Remember her rookie year just coming quickly after that national championship game lost to South Carolina. Had no time to recuperate.

And with a full off season in front of her, I think we all thought she's going to hit the ground running. But as we go back to that exhibition game at Carver Hawkeye Arena, what a great scene that was, beating the Brazilian national team and Kaitlyn doing her thing and hitting a logo three and on and on and on, I think in hindsight, it bears questioning, should Kaitlyn Clark have even played in that game, albeit a Carver Hawkeye Arena? She's not going to be available for all-star festivities. We won't get to see her in the three-point shootout. So you have that component.

And the injury, though a different injury with the quad injury leading to the groin injury that she's currently dealing with, does it go hand in hand? Did one injury lead to the other because you're overcompensating or whatever it is? I'm no doctor, but it's not a big stretch to believe that that very well could be the case with Caitlin Clark. The team is still pretty good. Not at the level I think a lot of people thought when they were what the third betting choice coming into the season to win the WNBA championship.

But as a Hawkeye fan where we really didn't have to see her play very banged up, she was able to keep herself in incredible shape and didn't have any of those major injuries, it's tough to watch. You can see her frustration. You can see how devastating this has to be for her as she retooled her body, got physically stronger, and yet it's not leading to her being able to be on the floor. The WNBA needs it because the product is still a difficult watch. If you're just a basketball fan, the physical brand of basketball, it leads to a bigger question.

If the WNBA needs to go this off season, go under the hood, and see what needs to be done. And the foul rate is basically the same. Flag group fouls, technical fouls, very similar to what we've seen in past seasons. However, because of the way the game is played in the WNBA, and because you have a once in a generation superstar in Caitlin Clark, is the time now to make a change? Is the time now for them to go

out there and say we have to officiate this game differently because we have to protect one star? The Jordan rules, the time for the Clark rules, and the WNBA certainly feels like that very well could be the case. Thanks as always for making Lockdown Hawkeyes your first listen every day. We'll be back with you tomorrow. Still a lot of football topics to get around and again next week. I will be in Vegas at Circus where I'll be staying I will have daily podcasts for you talking all things Hawkeyes the latest news Rumor mill that's happening over in Vegas for Big Ten Media Day as you know us media guys We like to talk a little bit and we will be sure to pass that all along to you as always

Thanks for making lockdown Hawkeyes your first listen every day. We'll talk to you again tomorrow until then no Hawks