Locked On Hawkeyes - Daily Podcast On Iowa Hawkeyes Football & Basketball - The Spencer Lee 4-peat is back on! | Expectations for Fran's team this year | Dan Gable gets well-deserved recognition

Episode Date: October 15, 2020

The NCAA has granted winter athletes an extra year of eligibility which means the wrestling team could be in for a treat the next few years. How this impacts the basketball team is much more of an unknown and we will discuss that on today's show. With basketball practices beginning, we give a quick SWOT analysis of the men's basketball team heading in to the 2020-2021 season, and we also hit on some amazing recognition that Iowa legend Dan Gable is receiving.Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Rock AutoAmazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you.Built BarBuilt Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON,” and you’ll get 20% off your next order.BuiltGoVisit BuiltGO.com and use promo code “LOCKED,” and you’ll get 20% off your next order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You are Locked On Hawkeyes, your daily podcast on the Iowa Hawkeyes. Part of the Locked On Podcast Network, your team every day. Welcome back, Hawkeye Nation, to another episode of the Locked On Hawkeyes Podcast, your daily podcast covering your Iowa Hawkeyes on the Locked On Sports Network. As always, I am your host, Andrew Wade, and today's episode is brought to you by rockauto.com. Amazing selection, reliably low prices, all the parts your car will ever need, rockauto.com. And on today's show, we do have a few things we want to cover for the show. On the segment number one, we're going to go through a few news and notes around all

Iowa Hawkeye athletics. There were some offers handed out. There a few news and notes around all Iowa Hawkeye athletics. There were some offers handed out. There was some news and notes around the NFL. We got some salary information. And the most important thing is Dan Gable getting the Presidential Medal of Freedom. We're going to talk about that all on segment number one. Then we're going to hop into segment number two, talking about basketball. Because practices started yesterday. I want to talk about the strengths and the weaknesses from this team. What is the floor? What is the ceiling?

And what are the main question marks? Obviously, we're going to be touching on the basketball team significantly over the next month before we get into the season. But one, just do that. I thought it was appropriate timing given the fact that practices just started. And then finally, on segment number three, it was recently announced yesterday, or maybe it's two days ago at this point, the rule allowing winter athletes to have an extra year of eligibility. I want to talk about what that means for our winter athletes. Does a Jordan Bohannon or Luka Garza return? I would say pretty darn unlikely,

but it could really impact some of the wrestlers and the women's basketball teams and other winter sports. So we're going to be covering that on segment number three. But let's hop into it, though. First and foremost, the Iowa Hawkeyes extended a preferred walk-on offer to Jace Bauer, the quarterback for the Ankeny Hawks. Jace is a guy who has kind of been rising over the last couple of months. Obviously a very talented quarterback. If you talk to Brody Brecht or listen to Brody Brecht

or listen to Arlen Bruce, they're going to tell you all about Jace Bauer. He is a guy who, again, is flying up radars at this point. Only has offers to FCS schools, so five offers currently. One to Eastern Illinois, one to Northern Iowa, one to South Dakota State, one to Southern Illinois, and one to Western Illinois. But he is starting to get some recognition from some bigger schools, namely Iowa and Iowa State. I don't believe Iowa State has offered anything at this point. And it sounds like this preferred walk-on opportunity could translate into a scholarship offer depending on how it all shakes out towards the end of the season.

But Jace Bower, a dual-threat quarterback, was an All--state shortstop, I believe, for the Inkeny Hawks as well. So clearly an athletic guy. There's a possibility he could, in theory, play other positions if quarterback doesn't quite work out for him. But awesome for that kid. Fantastic to hear that. Would be a great get as a preferred walk-on. And if there are some open scholarships, would be awesome to bring him on as a scholarship athlete as well. I know Brody and Arlen talk very highly of him. Around the NFL, Jacksonville did re-sign Carl Davis to his practice squad after recently releasing him just a few days ago. And salaries seem to be coming out again. And I'm sure we'll hear a little bit about Kirk Ferentz being overpaid.

But if you look at the salaries, he is very much paid within reason. Where his salary might have been a little on the higher end a few years back, overpaid. But if you look at the salaries, he is very much paid within reason. You know, where his salary might have been a little on the higher end a few years back, it is definitely not there anymore. But what I really wanted to get to today on segment number one is Dan Gable, who is the first wrestler to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Dan Gable is a wrestling icon in the state of Iowa, and he is the first wrestler to receive the nation's highest civilian honor. So let's go through some of his accomplishments. Three-time high school state champion, two-time NCAA champion, 15 NCAA championships and 21 Big Ten titles for the Iowa Hawkeyes as a coach, and won the 1972 gold medal without surrendering

a single point. Honestly, one of the most impressive things ever done across the wrestling community. Just look at what he's done for the state of Iowa. He is going to be the 11th person elected from, I believe, for sports. With Lou Holtz being the 10th. And again, this is a huge, huge honor for Dan Gable. Love to be able to see that. Just to give you a little bit more background about what the Presidential Medal of Freedom is, in case you didn't realize or know, it is an honor bestowed by the President to recognize people who have made an especially

meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of the United States, world peace, cultural, or other significant public or private endeavors. It is, again, the highest civilian award. There's no timetable for when he's going to actually get this medal, but just really cool to see an Iowa get that. It sounds like there was a concerted effort by politicians and people across the state to get Dan Gable recognized for his accomplishments. I just think it's such a cool honor to see one of an Iowa Hawkeyes former coaches getting recognized for such a prestigious honor to see one of Iowa, one of an Iowa Hawkeyes, former coaches getting recognized

for such a prestigious honor. Regardless of whatever you feel about politics. I think this is just one of the coolest things to see. And congratulations to Dan Gable. That is just so awesome. What a great, I think great thing to celebrate on segment number one of the Lockdown Hawkeyes podcast. Coming up though, on a segment number two, we're going to hop into the basketball team

and what some of the weaknesses and strengths are of this program. Before we get into that, though, we do have a message from our sponsor of the show today at rockauto.com because they are here to save you some money, and they're able to do it in such a seamless way. Honestly, it would be dumb not to go to rockauto.com for your auto or car part needs. Rockauto.com is a family-owned business serving auto parts customers online for 20 years.

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right now and see all the parts available for your car or truck and write LOCKEDON in their How Did You Hear About Us box so they know that we sent you. Amazing selection, reliably low prices, all the parts your car will ever need. RockAuto.com Alright, I don't know about you, but I am absolutely pumped for this year's men's basketball team season. I think it is going to be a very, very special year. And I want to talk a little bit about it because the basketball team started practices yesterday. So what are some of the strengths?

What are some of the weaknesses? We're going to go through the strengths first, then hop into the weaknesses, talk about the questions, and then finish up with what I think the floor and ceiling is of this team. First and foremost, though, the strengths. I mean, this team has veteran leadership. You know, you look at the fact that they, and they have a lot of talent in general. So, I mean, obviously those are strengths, right? But you're returning arguably the best player in the NCAA in Luka Garza. You're returning a three-point nightmare in Jordan Bohannon. CJ Frederick was one of the best deep shooters in the nation last year.

Joe Wieskamp is an NBA player. I mean, this is a 3 and D kind of guy. A fantastic shooter, fantastic scorer. I'd like to see a little bit more from him. But across the board, Iowa's starting lineup is pretty darn impressive. Connor McCaffrey last year was one of the nation's leading assists to turnover ratio. Guys, a guy who knows exactly what play to make at all times. Joe Toussaint, one of the most athletic guards we've seen for Iowa in quite some time. That doesn't include the freshman. It doesn't include Patrick

McCaffrey, who is supposed to be able to defend four different positions at all times. And Jack Nunji, who was a starter last year before getting injured. I mean, there's been so much hype over Jack. It would be great to be able to see him on the court. So to me, obviously, the talent is a huge thing. The overall depth of this team as well could be considered a weakness, and I'll get into that in a second. But there's so much depth, and especially in a year with so much uncertainty, with sickness and injuries, not knowing when we're going to be able to play,

that kind of thing. Having a lot of depth is huge. I think Iowa could field a second-string team that is better than, I would say, even half of the Big Ten's starting lineups. That's how good this team is. You take away a Luka Garza, a Jordan Bohannon, a C.J. Frederick, you're still bringing in a Joe Toussaint, a Patrick McCaffrey, a Josh Ogundelli, a Tony Perkins,

the Murray Twins, Aaron Ullis. There's other guys I'm clearly not mentioning, but that's how talented and deep this roster is. That second lineup can be deadly. When you have a second lineup like that that can come in and score in bunches and defend, that's what you need to make a run. That way, if you have an injury, it's not as detrimental. It's not as concerning for the Iowa Hawkeyes. So to me, those are some of the main strengths. I think also this team plays with an attitude. They have confidence in themselves.

No situation is too big for them. Adversity is not an issue for them. They thrive under adversity, especially with this year having such high expectations. Sometimes you worry about teams getting a big head or faltering under the pressure of having those expectations. I'm not worried about this year because that team is ready for that. You saw that last year when they'd have a down game losing to DePaul. They came back and showed what they could do beating a Texas Tech in the Las Vegas Invitational and almost beating a San Diego State team that was pretty darn good last year. And honestly, Iowa had them on the ropes, but they were just getting abused left and right on the floor.

So to me, those are some of the strengths of this team. Weaknesses-wise, I talked about the bench. A deep bench, sometimes Fran has struggled with how to handle a deep bench and when to get guys playing bench and when to get guys playing time and when to keep guys on the floor if they're in a flow. We saw this a little bit with Isaiah Moss, who would sometimes get lost on the bench. Now, some of that was probably because Isaiah Moss, if he would miss a couple shots, would just kind of stop shooting. But still, Fran has not shown that he can manage a bench perfectly. I think last year was a unique situation where

there was such a limited bench that actually worked in Fran's favor as long as they had enough players to play because they didn't have so many options to choose from. So to me, that could be a weakness. I'll be interested to see how Fran handles that deep bench though. I think overall depth along the frontcourt is also potentially a weakness. And I don't mean as if we don't have enough depth right now, but if there is an injury, I think Iowa will definitely have to change up their approach. I think Iowa has the talent to go a small ball lineup because they do have a few guys who can guard multiple positions. The Murray Twins are forwards who are 6'8". They could definitely guard a center if needed.

Patrick McCaffrey is a tall kid. Connor McCaffrey can also guard four positions. Joe Wieskamp could even guard four positions. I think if needed, Iowa could go a small ball lineup. And I think we might see that in a few games this year, but I do think if there is an injury, there's not a lot of depth in that front court right now, really looking like Jack Nunji, Luca Garza, and a Josh Ogun Dali. It kind of depends on where some of the other guys fit in. But that is, to me, probably the biggest weakness at this point is the frontcourt depth, just the fact that there's not enough people to kind of fill in in case of injuries or sickness.

As far as questions, can Jack Nunji return? Can Patrick McCaffrey return? How does Jordan Bohannon look? I mean, there were so many injuries last year. How do these guys return? It sounds like Jordan Bohannon is feeling healthier than ever. Patrick McCaffrey, we have heard, have not heard anything negative about him and how he's been doing. It seems like he's gained some muscle as well, which is something that Fran McCaffrey alluded to him needing to do anyways. And then Jack Nunji was just recently cleared. He is ready

to go, but how do they look after having so much time off? And again, what does that rotation look like? What does the starting lineup look like? How does Fran manage that bench? Those are things I'm going to be watching heading into this year's NCAA basketball season. As far as a ceiling and a floor, I think the ceiling is pretty clear. It's national championship. This year's national championship or bust for the Iowa Hawkeyes. The floor is a sweet 16 appearance. Now, to me, I still think that would be a disappointment given the talent on this team. But just consider how hard it is to even get to that level. I don't want to say that it's a complete disappointment, but I do think this year the ceiling and really the expectation is national championship or bust.

So it'll be fun to watch the Iowa Hawkeyes attempt to make that run this year. That is my thoughts though. My quick thoughts on the basketball team as practices started yesterday. Coming up on segment number three, we're going to talk about the rule allowing winter athletes to have an extra year of eligibility and what does that mean for the winter sports, especially basketball and wrestling. Before we get into that though, if you are a little hungry or needing to take a break, I highly recommend you check out Bilt Bar. It is my go-to snack in the middle of the day or even after a long workout because it delivers a punch in the protein department and delivers a punch in the taste department.

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All right, wrapping up the show today with segment number three, we're going to talk about the rule allowing winter athletes to have an extra year of eligibility. Personally, I'm pretty excited about this. I think the NCAA is doing a good job of being smart about what is best for these players. My one complaint, and I'll get that out of the way before I get into the positives, is that I do feel like they should have allowed this for the people who played last year.

There were several wrestlers who were impacted by that. Ryan Creener could have, in theory, returned if he wanted to. I do think the fact that these winter athletes from last year didn't get an opportunity to compete in an NCAA tournament, the NCAA March Madness, those are things that I think are really important, especially as a senior you'd want to be able to do. I think they should have extended it for those folks as well. But the fact that they are allowing this year, because we don't know what's going to happen.

I mean, I'm hoping we can make it through a season, but they are allowing an extra year of eligibility, which means for the wrestlers, Spencer Lee can do a four-time repeat or four-time championship. So last year, when he wasn't able to obviously compete because of COVID, there were some concerns that he wouldn't be a four-time NCAA champion. That is no longer an issue as long as he decides to return a course. I mean, this is obviously all up to them. They have to decide to return. It is their decision. But if he does, he has the opportunity to do a four-peat. Other guys that kind of have some big wins here, Austin DeSanto, Alex Marinelli, Michael Kramer. He could be here forever. I mean, he could be here almost as long as I've been out of college. But those are some guys that are really impacted by this, and that just helps bolster the strength of this wrestling program.

I mean, this wrestling program is definitely a strong program regardless, but now you're returning quite a few guys for potentially an extra year who could make a huge impact on the wrestling mat for the Iowa Hawkeyes. It gets me really pumped to see this. From a basketball perspective, Jordan Bohannon and Luka Garza could, in theory, return. All these guys have an extra year of eligibility. I don't think it's going to impact Iowa from Jordan Bohannon and Luka Garza's standpoint. This will be Jordan Bohannon's sixth year.

I think he's probably ready to play pro basketball. I don't think it's going to be an NBA opportunity, but I do think he could potentially go overseas. I mean, he's a good three-point shooter. That is a valuable asset. He could also be a coach, in my opinion. I don't know if that's something he's interested in, but I think personally he's probably ready to get his career started, his next career. Luka Garza, I mean, he was looking at leaving this year. So I just can't imagine a time or a situation where he would actually return this upcoming season

or after this upcoming season, excuse me. He wants to play pro basketball for his country and also play pro basketball. I think both those options are clearly there. He just needs to get out of Iowa. So I think we're definitely not going to see those guys return for an extra year. So sorry, Iowa fans, don't get your hopes up. And then Kaitlyn Clark, a true freshman on the women's basketball team. We could see her start this year and play some

big minutes. I mean, that was, I believe the highest recruit Iowa has ever gotten from a women's basketball perspective, a top five player in the nation. Could we see her for five years? Possibly. I think it depends on what her, how, how developed she gets with her skill set and what the WNBA sees in her and if they come calling early. But there's a lot of cool situations this is really providing for some of these winter athletes to be able to have an extra year. That could definitely impact these teams quite a bit, especially if you have a guy, let's say a Nicholas Bayer, who wasn't really going to go to

the NBA, but maybe he decides to return after another year because he realizes how close the Iowa Hawkeyes are. So there's so many things that we could see happening with this, and it'll be a lot of fun to track over the next, honestly, it could impact us for the next four to five, even six years, depending on if people are brand new this year in redshirt. So just a lot of interesting scenarios it kind of puts in place for the winter sports. My biggest question mark though is what about the scholarships? How are they going to handle this? How does this look when Iowa is getting rid of swimming but maybe has extra scholarship available for the wrestling program per se? I mean clearly we know which ones

bring in money and which ones don't. The wrestling program being a team that does bring in money for the Iowa Hawkeyes, albeit not a lot, but it does bring in money. What ones don't. The wrestling program being a team that does bring in money for the Iowa Hawkeyes, albeit not a lot, but it does bring in money. What does that mean from a scholarship perspective? I think that'll be interesting to see how that all works out. And if we get any additional information on what that looks like, clearly we'll be talking about it on the show. But I thought that was really cool and interesting notes that happened yesterday and how that

impacts the Iowa Hawkeyes. That will do it, though, for our shortened episode. I know it was a little bit short today. We're kind of prepping, though, for next week and to get ready into football season where we're going to have a lot of content being produced, a lot of big things coming your way, and some really awesome interviews coming your way as well. But that will do it for our third and final segment of the Locked on Hawkeyes podcast.

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