Locked On Hawkeyes - Daily Podcast On Iowa Hawkeyes Football & Basketball - SCARRED No More: Why Iowa and Ben McCollum DEFINE a New ERA—Sweet 16 GLORY Beckons

Starting point is 00:00:01 27 reasons why the last 27 years have sucked for Hawkeye basketball fans and why it's all different going forward as Iowa prepares for his first sweet 16 since 1999. 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 Locked on Hawkeyes, your daily Iowa Hawkeye podcast. as we get ready for Iowa, Nebraska in the Sweet 16, Iowa there for the first time in 27 years. We're going to be talking about a key to a Hawkeye victory, break things down and what we need to see on the hardwood in Houston if Iowa's going to pull off the upset win. We're also going to be joined by Wade Looking Bill, the former Hawkeye Power Forward. He'll join us.

Starting point is 00:00:54 We'll get his perspective as a former player and what he's looking for in the matchup against the Huskers. But we begin today with a look at 27 years of scar tissue of her. Hawkeye basketball fans. It has been us out there in the wilderness going through the desert with no water, 27 years waiting just to get back to the second weekend of the NCAA tournament. And as we are here right now going through and seeing Ben McCollum all over the country on national media, hearing the national media talking about this Iowa story after the upset win against Florida. People just throw that out for Sweet 16 since 1999. St. Johns is going through a different one. But everyday listeners, you know, I talk about scar tissue a lot.

Starting point is 00:01:39 I think it's what makes us a fan that we are. It hardens us in a certain way or makes us a little bit skeptical of different things. And that definitely seeps in throughout. So I came up with the list. And if you've been listening to every day and a big shout out to you on your daily Iowa Hawkeye podcast, I appreciate that. You can tell I've been under the weather for about the last week and feeling on the backside of it. But one of the nights I just couldn't sleep. And as I was sitting there, it was Sunday night after the victim.

Starting point is 00:02:05 and sitting there and I just, I came up with this list and talked about a little bit this on my radio show, but we got a little bit more time to spread our wings. And these are 27 things that just jumped into my head about this last 27 years and the frustration and the just all time, low moments that we've had as Hawkeye basketball fans. Now, this is not the end goal, a final for a national championship. That's obviously the end goal that we're looking for for Iowa basketball. And the ride is not over, which is great. But these are the things that jumped into my head.

Starting point is 00:02:37 And I know there's a lot more and the other ones that I certainly forgot throughout the year. So we're going to go through here, 27 different things as we get ready for the goodness and getting through this. I start at the top with 1999. I mean, how many times have you heard that just thrown out there from fans of other teams, from other fan bases out there. And now that is no longer a thing. We can move past that and move past the 1999, something that a multitude of different coaches were not able to do for Iowa. Another one, the curse of Dr. Tom, you know, the decision by Bob Bullsby and Mary Sue Coleman to not bring him back to have the lame duck season and what that did for Iowa basketball, regardless of who took over the job, as we know it's Steve Alford. But regardless of what that was going to happen, that lame duck year in a year where there was very good recruits in the state of Iowa not having that opportunity.

Starting point is 00:03:27 The curse of Dr. Tom, well, that is no longer there. March situations. That was a term that was coined by Steve Alford. If you remember that one, you talk about something to make your blood boil. He was involved in another March situation, an NIT game against Auburn tonight that's going on as we're sitting here recording and not looking good currently for his wolf pack. To the NCAA tournament as we go through the reasons and 27 frustrating parts of the last 27 years. How about Nick Lachey hopping around like a goober on the sidelines with no sleeves looking like an idiot as Cincinnati was throttling Iowa in the NCAA. tournament way back in the early 2000s, Northwestern State.

Starting point is 00:04:07 Need I say any more? The quarter three-pointer, Richmond, after the Big Ten tournament run, just a couple of years back, falling in a 12-5 game against, frankly, a bad Richmond team, and Iowa may be playing one of the worst games of the season. How about Oregon becoming the first-ever team in the 64, now 68 team bracket era, to get a COVID-bye into the second round. Didn't have to play their first round game, and of course we knew what happened to Iowa against that. Speaking of second round games, just the blowouts, the Oregon game, Villanova,

Starting point is 00:04:39 Gensaga, those two games in back-to-back years where I would just didn't even look like they had a shot that they shouldn't be on the same floor. We can move past that now. The play-in game. Oh, do you remember that when Iowa got to the NCAA tournament under Fray McCaffrey for the first time? Don't call the play-in. It's a basketball game. It is an NCAA tournament game at all. That went into that. the missed recruits Marcus Page, Xavier Foster, DJ Carton. And I know that list is a whole lot longer, but guys from the state of Iowa, guys that Iowa, you felt had a really good shot with and departed the state and left and went to other programs. And some of the names that come up and some of the games that definitely jump into the

Starting point is 00:05:23 microscope of going through and looking at these 27 years. Charles Bugs for Minnesota. I know I bring up Charles Bugs a ton. you also know if you listen every day that Minnesota to me is my biggest rival for where I grew up. Family in Minnesota, family that went to the University of Minnesota. I hate losing the gophers. And when a guy Charles Bugs goes off, just absolutely bothers. Amir Harris for Nebraska.

Starting point is 00:05:46 It was the end of the regular season. That dude went off. Tashon Prince in the second round of the NCAA tournament, what he was able to do with just that ugly, ugly shot. And that lefty who that season outside of the Iowa game, shot 28% percent. percent from three. He had six three-pointers as Iowa gets knocked out. Well, I talked about it earlier, Northwestern State. Clifton Lee's corner three-pointer going down and Halasca. Oh, that buzzer beater was oh, so close. Having to watch Ben Brust play for a national championship at Wisconsin, that's definitely some scar tissue there watching that guy. We thought was going to be a

Starting point is 00:06:21 hawk guy after the lick lighter firing. He decides to go and not just go to another program, but go to Wisconsin and all the successes that they had. And with the coaches, the Fran Faye's that we saw so many times at the end of the season. Wives in general from the coaches and not just one, but a multitude of them. That was a big, big one that we had plenty of conversations about. Steve Alford's arrogance and just his attitude in Iowa City in a multitude of different ways. And some of the things that he did, including Pierre Pierce, was a big part of that. Todd Licklider is just awfulness, I guess is the only way to put it,

Starting point is 00:06:58 an awful style coupled with an awful coach. Not a good combination, certainly in Iowa City. Franz's refusal to adapt on the defensive end of the floor. And though we had so many successes and watching the offense and how beautiful it could be just the unwillingness to change and the frustration that led to for us Hawkeye fans. The Orange Crush Takeover, and that happened a couple of different times,

Starting point is 00:07:22 that Carver Hawkeye Arena and that ugly orange that was showing up in the student section, showing up and trying to get tickets. There was a couple of different stories that came out of that, but the Orange Crush takeover. Well, one thing that Tanya Alford had right, that was definitely embarrassing. Maybe the highlight win of the Todd Licklider era was a 43 to 36 win against Michigan State. I mean, that sticks with you and not exactly even in a win in a positive way. Whitey kids, nepotism, Ted Valentine's screw job in the Big Ten tournament. Those are 27 reasons there that these last 27 years have sucked.

Starting point is 00:07:56 However, now it's. is different. I was got their guy and Ben McCullum. And after what we have seen here this season in year number one of a roster that is built of, one stay over from the previous regime, a group of guys that many of them started their career at places like Wyoming, Northwest Missouri State. And now here they are in the sweet 16 and 40 minutes away from being in the elite eight for the first time since 1987. That's what we're talking about. It's different.

Starting point is 00:08:29 We got our guy. Ben McCollum is the man. Yes, absolutely. We can push all this a little bit deeper into the recesses of our mind as we get over the hump. The Hawkeyes are in the Sweet 16. Let's talk with Wade Looking Bill,

Starting point is 00:08:45 the former Hawkeye forward. He's going to join us next. We'll talk a little bit about his thoughts on the game against Florida. And one of my favorite avenues of all that. something that I've talked about earlier is the bounce pass. The bounce pass from Bennett Sturts to Alvaro Fool Garris in the corner, the three-pointer that knocks off Florida, doing it with the bounce pass.

Starting point is 00:09:05 Going back to the days of Dr. Tom, we'll get Wade's thoughts on that because Wade, well, he threw a lot of bounce passes. He also caught a lot of bounce passes in the Dr. Tom era. That's coming up next. Wade-Look-Y bill joins us as we continue. Plus, keys to a Hawkeye win against the Huskers. It's all coming up next here. This is Locked on Hawkeyes.

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Starting point is 00:11:52 Join our everyday air club opportunity for you to get the first month free with the code March. unlock, add free episodes each and every day of Lockdown Hawkeyes, plus entry into our private listener group chat where I'm hanging out daily. Check out the link in our show notes, or you can go to lockedon hawkeyes dot supercast.com. That's Lockdownhawkeyes. Dot supercast.com to join the everydayer club. We continue here. Let's hear from Wade Lookingville, the former Hawkins. Here's Wade looking bill. Wade, I can only imagine, you seem like you're a pretty reserved guy. I'm guessing that wasn't the case when Figuars hit the shot and the 4.5 seconds runs off the clock. Take us into your living room wherever you were watching it, Wade.

Starting point is 00:12:41 Yeah, we were watching at home with my wife and our daughter happened to be back, who's a senior at Iowa and on the dance team. So she's been involved in a small way. But it was really special. It was really special. And thank you, Coach Todd Golden. And I know he's national champion, and I'm sure he's a wonderful coach, but why would you press in that situation?

Starting point is 00:13:04 That is something most grade teams wouldn't even do. You're ahead in the game. Why press? You're not trying to force a turnover. It was one of the most bizarre defensive strategies I've seen, but still got to hit that shot. And Benister put it right on the money and just, you know, an Iowa basketball, Alzheimer.

Starting point is 00:13:23 No question. Wade, I brought this up to Ken earlier. this week and one of my favorite components because it's Cooper making that pass and it had to be on the money as he hit him running. I mean, you talk about leading a receiver perfectly. That's exactly what Cooper did. And of course, JR's dad was on the last Sweet 16 team. And as Sturts sees Howe coming towards him, there's Al in the corner and he does it with a bounce pass. And bounce passes and Dr. Tom and Iowa basketball that was a huge part of it because it just bounced in a perfect way,

Starting point is 00:13:55 settled right into the shooting pocket, and Big Al went up with confidence there. I just thought it was a full circle moment. Iowa basketball doing it, but not just a pass, a bounce pass, and then Al hitting the three-pointer. It was a great moment to bring us back, I think, 27 years ago to Dr. Tom.

Starting point is 00:14:10 And just the stories, and I didn't know this just until a week or two ago, I think in Chicago, maybe I heard the story about Fogaris's father. You know, he passed away when Al was a really young, age and I think JR had 12 points in their second round matchup and Cooper had 12 points against Florida you know just things that you know and Cooper's a kid you know Iowa probably doesn't

Starting point is 00:14:35 get him if his dad hadn't played Iowa I mean Purdue offered him Indiana Indiana offered him and you know just had a horrible first year injuries and that lung issue entered the portal and and came back with no teammates, you know, on the team per se, and just fought through it. And, man, it's a good matchup tomorrow night. Nebraska's really good. But Iowa matches up really well with them, as we've seen in both games. No question about it.

Starting point is 00:15:07 Beat them and Iowa City, as you know, and then lost in overtime on the final day of the regular season. Tavian Banks, with the exception of his free throw shooting against Florida, which is just a head scratcher because wasn't he over 80%? He was and makes five at 10. I think Banks has been really, really good throughout the tournament, particularly against Florida. I loved his game.

Starting point is 00:15:30 He's got a little edge to him. He's got a little edge to him. You know, he's a tough kid. He's a tough kid. And they needed something like that against the Florida team that was, I don't know if they were cheap or just aggressive, but it was a weird first. path when Trevor

Starting point is 00:15:48 Eurek just got trucked Paul was made there and that obviously the scramble and the scrum on the Scrum and Polgaris but Davian Banks is a dude now and he can stretch you out a little bit and knock down that three when he has to that's why I think

Starting point is 00:16:02 that Boogtengel you know Fulgaris Bukton Jill Tavian Banks matchup is really good because that guy can't guard out to 22 feet and I think our big from Iowa can take advantage of that either shoot threes or take him to the basket. Iowa gets to the sweet 16 and they did it without Bennett starts being a superhero.

Starting point is 00:16:23 And if he would have told me that, I would have said there's no shot. Oh, a nine from three in the game. It didn't play very well against Clemson, certainly offensively. Is he due? Is he worn down? I mean, what do you anticipate? You know, Hoyberg, they're going to have. Yeah.

Starting point is 00:16:37 You know, he wasn't great in the Big Ten tournament. He plays a lot of minutes, but I will say a couple things. The pace of Iowa's play is unique and that you're not pressing, you're not burning a lot of energy. Now, he's different because he's a point guard, but I think that helps him rest a little bit. And then the TV timeouts, you guys notice, they're longer in the NBA tournament. You know, it's more commercials. It's more Charles Barkley, you know, Capital One, over and over again. So those TV timeouts are actually longer.

Starting point is 00:17:11 I don't have 30 seconds or even a minute longer. So that helps guys rest up a little bit. There's so many challenges, but there's something he's been off a little bit. I'd say even the last month or so. I know he had 25 the first time they played Nebraska. I was kind of looking back, but didn't shoot it great that night. And I think over in Lincoln, he was okay. But to me, that just leads to more optimism.

Starting point is 00:17:37 You know, he was very average, you know, when they played Florida. And they still won the game. They still knocked out the defending national champions. If he could put up a couple games now like we've seen in the past when they played UCLA or we had 40 in the second half of Minnesota, now you got something. So we'll see. We'll see. But it's just a great time to be Iowa basketball thing because it's been a long time.

Starting point is 00:18:03 No, no question. So help us help me up, boys. When did the, remember he didn't start a second half or out of a TV time and it was a quad, apparently he was on the bench board? Do you remember that? Was that the Nebraska game? No, that was Ohio State. The Ohio State lost in the Big Ten turn.

Starting point is 00:18:19 In the Big Ten Turn. So do you think maybe the way there's something there that's being kind of kept under wraps? With Benister? Yes, yes. You know, he was hobbling a little bit against Florida. Part of it, I think the way they play him now is he gets beat on. They put Yaxel-Lindenberg type of size on him, you know, and they just beat on him. And for whatever reason, they're not calling a lot of fouls in this NCAA tournament, especially out front.

Starting point is 00:18:48 And I think that's part of the issue. And again, you know, there's so much more tape on him now than there was even three months ago. And I know against Drake there was tape, but that's a different level. But he used to take that left-handed dribble, step-back three, and he had plenty of space to get that shot on. Now, teams know when he takes that left-handed dribble, step back, he's going to shoot a three. they close hard and now it's just harder for him to get that shot off. But I got safe, man. I think he's 22 and 7 tomorrow night.

Starting point is 00:19:19 That works. I'd sign for that right now. Take that and Iowa, I think, is going to be in really, really good shape. I think it's going to be a grinder, it's going to be ugly. Now, there's still games in front of us and there could be something even more special in front of this Iowa basketball team. But hearing from McCollum after the game and talking about he wants tough guys, and that's what he recruits to his tough guys

Starting point is 00:19:40 and seeing him all over the national landscape now and it feels like everybody in the country is talking to Ben McCollum, it does allow your mind to drift a little bit about what's going to continue, the future of this program and after this 27-year drought back in the Sweet 16, but even more there. This guy's a winner. He's been a winner every single place that he has been. Wait, as your mind started to drift a little bit and seeing Iowa being back to that

Starting point is 00:20:06 consistent winter that they were during the 70s and the 80s and into the 90s, getting back to that level once again for Iowa hoops. I'm cautious, optimistic. I thought his half-time, you know, those 30-second interviews, which I always like, because you never know what's going to get said. But he basically called out Florida, you know. He did.

Starting point is 00:20:24 Yeah, I love it. What was the phrase he used? Everybody's sensitive, I think. Those guys got all sensitive. Here's the thing. It was 10 years ago, Trent, I would say, absolutely. This will get the ball rolling, the snowball going downhill, and it's just going to grow. I know where you're going.

Starting point is 00:20:41 So much, man. You just, you've got to have money. You know, if you look at, if you look at stage, let's take you for example, I've had a really good freshman year. It's from Oklahoma. You know, maybe OU says, hey, we made a mistake. I hope this doesn't happen. But everybody's got agents and phones are ringing, I'm sure. You know, I was talking to portal people, I'm sure, this week.

Starting point is 00:21:02 this definitely helps all this all this exposure but man it just comes down to how much money can you give me you know i love that coach mccallum is tough and this and that but it's just a different market you know it's a different market that i was going to lose kids i shouldn't have said take stage specifically but i get your point oklahoma yep yep oh garris is going to get phone calls that that guy's a good player you know every team's going to lose players and every team's going to get transfers. You know, whether you're Addie Brown from Iowa State, you know, she's leaving, but it's just a different time. But man, it's just something. We can worry about that later. But right now, I think it's Nebraska. And then even Illinois, Houston, we'll see. We'll see.

Starting point is 00:21:46 Can you imagine Illinois, Iowa for a trip to the final four? Can you imagine that? It'd be like 1986. You'd be awesome. Lina, Lina, and Roy Marble and Kevin Campbell. It'd be wonderful. It'd be terrific. Yeah. Oh, man, what might be. Was that your guys' biggest rival when you were playing because it was on the heels of the Dion Thomas saga? Yeah. You know, so when I was in the Big Ten, it was loaded. You know, my freshman year, Michigan beat Illinois in the finals.

Starting point is 00:22:18 Can you imagine that? Two teams in the finals playing each other. And, no, I'm sorry. Made it both the final four. But, you'd see it and Hall. No. to be checked yeah it got exacerbated when that d and thomas bruce pearl thing came about you know and it but there were some battles there in my first couple years the one year we weren't very good

Starting point is 00:22:40 it was my my sophomore year we we got senior day at michigan when they had terryville lloy mott lloy mott and romeo robinson we got senior day at illinois when they had kendall gill stephen bartle lowell hamilton and kennie battle and i think illinois beat us that day I think it was in the 40. I don't have been like 42. And it was just dumb. And we were bad. We were just,

Starting point is 00:23:05 we were ready to be done. But they were so good. But Illinois is a huge rivalry. I mean, just that in-state thing, you know, we're trying to get recruits from Illinois to come to Iowa. It's those border wars.

Starting point is 00:23:16 It's Nebraska, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Illinois. I think those are the biggest games every year. What kind of player was Bartow like? Do you remember? Great player. You know, borderline NBA player.

Starting point is 00:23:27 Yeah. Just he was a really, good player, but he was the fifth best player on that team. He was big, too. Stevens, like 6-5-66. He was one of those big point guards. Him and Steve Smith, him and Steve Smith from Michigan State were those big, you know, back when

Starting point is 00:23:41 point guards were still 5-11, 6 feet tall. Those guys were big, good players. Yeah, he's a good broadcaster, too. I like the way analyze his games. I haven't seen him much. I think he's getting... You know what? That's a good point. You know, that's an excellent point. I never thought about that. Yeah. Because he was all over TV leading up to this year.

Starting point is 00:23:58 Yeah, I haven't seen. him like, now, Robbie Hummel those ever games. And that's okay, because he's really thought to be... I like Robbie. I think he's I like Robbie. Here, one thing real quick to, those three-man booths are tough to watch when it's Grant Hill

Starting point is 00:24:13 and Rafferty and is it, Ian Eagel. Everybody's got to speak. And those guys are great basketball minds, but we just need two. We don't need, we don't need three people in the blue list. And then don't give you started on the halftime show. It's brutal. It's brutal.

Starting point is 00:24:28 ex-NFL player and the WMBA player. And my goodness, let's just get, Charles Rockie hasn't watched a college basketball game all year. He misses Ernie Johnson and Kenny the Jet. Yeah. Clark Kellogg is great. Awesome. But he's a college guy.

Starting point is 00:24:44 He's watched all these games all year. And then here comes the other people that can't pronounce anybody's name. Yeah. Enjoy the game, pal. Routing for your alma mater. I think a lot of people in the listening audience are just be unbelievable. but we get both Iowa themes. Yeah, it's pretty special.

Starting point is 00:25:01 It's rarefied there, man. How far can an Eve each? There he is. That is Wade Lookingville, joining us and appreciate Wade's time. As always, as we talk all things. Hawkeyes with Wade breaking things down

Starting point is 00:25:11 and getting his perspective on the matchup. We continue here on lockdown Hawkeyes. Well, what's the going to take for a victory? Keys to the game as Iowa looks to get to the elite eight for the first time since 1987. It's tax time, but for a lot of us, The old way of doing taxes is a lot.

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Starting point is 00:27:41 after it goes final with Iowa and Nebraska in the Sweet 16. Well, we've been having some fun today, get to hear from a former Hawkeye, always great, certainly to get that with Wade-looking Bill and going through those 27 reasons why the last 27 years have not been the most fun for Iowa basketball fans. Here's a shot against a rival against the team that you know you beat because you beat them earlier this year.

Starting point is 00:28:05 In fact, you beat them just over a month ago back on February 17th, the 57-52 win. And that's a part of the blueprint. Now, they took Price-Saford out of that game. Bennett-Stirts did a ton, but Bennett-Stirts has not played well in the two matchups against Nebraska. We also know about the struggles in both the NCAA tournament games. I thought to beat Florida that Bennett-Sturt's had to. be a superhero and that's not the case but they do need some shooting from him because the one thing

Starting point is 00:28:32 that this Nebraska defense does is they make you shoot it from the outside and if you don't have the ability to shoot it from the outside that's going to lead to some problems certainly for the Hawkeye so that is a huge component right there of what they can do knocking down shots be it Cooper Koch who was really good in Lincoln also had a couple of three-pointers in that game at Carver Hawkeye Arena bet it starts I think a minimum is going to have to knock down a couple from the outside And the same thing we saw against Florida, though a much bigger team, Iowa was the tougher team. And you need to get that from the get-go ready to go. Look, the pressure's on Nebraska, which is crazy.

Starting point is 00:29:06 Nebraska basketball has the pressure in a game like that. But that is the reality. They're the four-seed. I was the nine. Anticipation is Nebraska should win this basketball game. And I know that's where a lot of people, their perceptions, have gone. I was playing with House Money. And I like the matchup for the Hawkeyes.

Starting point is 00:29:23 I mean, you look through and think of some of the other potential. matchups that could be here in this spot. I think it works out incredibly well. I think it's going to come down to the wire. Those are some of the big things that they're going to have to do. Go out there, play even on the boards. That's always a big component for Iowa, as we saw in that game against Florida and the carryover effect. You know, one thing that Ben McCullum mentioned in his press conference on Wednesday was he doesn't want the guys talking about what happened against Florida. He doesn't want them talking about Florida. It's time to turn the page. And unless somebody in the media asked them about that.

Starting point is 00:29:55 That was not what he wanted. We got a game here. We got an opportunity, an opportunity to get to an elite eight and a very, very good one. We will be back with you again right after things go final with a rapid reaction podcast right here on the feed to make sure you get that and all of our daily podcasts here on Lockheyes. Make sure you hit subscribe it if you're watching us on YouTube. If you're on the podcast side, make sure you subscribe over there.

Starting point is 00:30:19 And five star reviews help us get in front of more Hawkeye fans. If you do never miss an episode, the Everyday Club is built for you. Get Lockdown Hawkeyes, ad free, plus members-only Discord access and a whole lot more. Head over to lockdown hawkeyes. Dot supercast.com to join the club. That's lockedon hawkeyes. Dot supercast.com. Let's get it done.

Starting point is 00:30:41 A win? Oh, boy, how sweet it would be. A special season can become even more special with the win. We'll talk to you after the Iowa win over Nebraska. Go Hawks.

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