CBSSports.com senior basketball writer Jeff Goodman first reported the news.

Iowa joins a field that includes Kansas, Tennessee, UNLV, USC, Villanova, Wake Forest and Xavier. Kansas and Villanova made the NCAA tournament this past season.

The Hawkeyes were originally scheduled to play in the Great Alaska Shootout, but Wisconsin-Green Bay took their spot upon Atlantis’ invitation to fill the eighth and final spot in what is considered a more prestigious event.

This will dramatically effect Iowa’s non-conference strength of schedule, which is a major factor in the NCAA tournament selection process. The Hawkeyes’ non-conference SOS in 2012-13 was an abysmal 313.

Head coach Fran McCaffery’s squad is due to carry lofty expectations heading into the 2013-14 campaign, including a possible preseason Top 25 ranking. Iowa returns all but one scholarship player after finishing as runners-up in the 2013 NIT tournament and winning 11 of its final 15 games.

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At his introductory press conference at UCLA, Alford replied to a question regarding the Pierre Pierce case, in which the former player was arrested and charged with sexual assault in 2002. Alford repeatedly defended Pierce and criticized the victim publicly.

“Well, that was an instance that happened years ago at the University of Iowa … I did everything I was supposed to do at the University of Iowa in that situation,” Alford said Tuesday afternoon.

This is in contrast to a report that the UI released in April of 2003.

On the administration’s behalf, UI spokesman Tom Moore countered Alford’s comments late Tuesday night.

“In 2002, then interim UI President William ‘Sandy’ Boyd charged an ad hoc committee with the responsibility to investigate the university’s role in the resolution of the criminal case involving former UI student-athlete Pierre Pierce,” Moore told KRUI. “We stand by the results of the report as issued in April 2003. No additional comments will be made at this time.”

At the time of the incident, Alford bullied the victim via the on-campus Athletes in Action program while pronouncing the innocence and character of Pierce. These assertions — along with allowing Pierce to remain on scholarship — prompted people to rally outside Carver-Hawkeye Arena during the early part of the 2002-03 season.

This type of public outcry eased, but frustration mounted amongst the fan base even up until Alford left Iowa for New Mexico in 2007. Pierce was eventually dismissed from the team, but due to a separate incident — his second arrest while playing for the Hawkeyes. He spent 11 months in prison after being released on probation.

The school’s investigation in 2003 revealed many concerns regarding Alford’s behavior.

“While Coach Alford believed he was acting as he had been directed in making the statements he made to the media, one set of those statements — confirming his certainty in Pierce’s innocence — implied that he disbelieved and discredited the claims of the student victim,” the report states, “and his words were perceived as reflecting the insensitivity to issues of sexual assault and sexual violence.

“In future, faculty, coaches, and other personnel should be given adequate instruction in media discourse.”

UCLA hired Alford on March 30 after the coach spent six years at UNM. He was at Southwest Missouri State from 1995-99 before his stint at Iowa.

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Which is why, as today marks the first day of spring practice for the Iowa football team, there is a particularly concerning gap on the Hawkeyes’ roster.

Sure, Jake Rudock is No. 1 on the depth chart. He was the No. 2 signal-caller in 2012, and garnered several accolades coming out of St. Thomas Aquinas in Florida. The sophomore-to-be also figures to have the most intangibles to take over the position.

But it’s March. A lot can happen between now and when the toe hits the leather in August and the games begin.

So what’s the concern?

Iowa was the only program in the FBS in 2012 to have just one quarterback take snaps. James Vandenberg labored his way to one of the statistically worst seasons in school history, guiding the Hawkeyes to a 4-8 record and the first non-bowl game year since 2007. They were near the bottom of the national rankings in passing offense (187 yards per game), touchdown passes (7), yards per attempt (5.8), and pass efficiency (107.72).

Did the coaches not feel comfortable putting Rudock in game action? Not even in the fourth quarter against Penn State, a game in which the Hawkeyes trailed 31-0 after three periods?

If Rudock truly wasn’t ready, that’s not good, and seemingly opens up the competition at QB this spring and summer despite Rudock being listed as the No. 1 guy.

Junior college transfer Cody Sokol and redshirt freshman C.J. Beathard will get opportunities to prove themselves, as offensive coordinator Greg Davis enters his second season in Iowa City with some new personnel not only the roster but also within the coaching staff.

Sokol has a lot of upside as well, at 6-2 and 205 pounds. He put up video game-like numbers at Scottsdale Community College: 3,807 yards and 43 touchdowns his sophomore season.

Today’s college football world calls for the QB to have a tremendous knowledge of the system, mobility, and accuracy.

Iowa has five months and perhaps the non-conference season to find that player.

Otherwise, count on another four-win year.

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That’s the best way to depict the matchup between Iowa and Michigan State in the quarterfinal round of the Big Ten tournament on Friday night in the United Center.

Taking a 30-20 lead into halftime with near full control of the game, the Hawkeyes fell apart in the second half. Michigan State (25-7) shot 51.9 percent from the field after the break to defeat the Black and Gold (21-12), 59-56.

Iowa fought back late in the game — the scoreboard read 57-56 at one stage — but it was not enough.

With that, the Hawkeyes’ NCAA tournament hopes are squashed.

“We just tried to keep our poise,” Devyn Marble said of the Spartans’ comeback. “The goal was to try and limit their runs. We needed to make the plays down the stretch. They made their shots, and we didn’t.”

No players recorded double figures for head coach Fran McCaffery’s squad. Mike Gesell led the way with 9 points; Marble chipped in 8 points, 4 assists, and 3 rebounds.

There was a lot of emotion from McCaffery on the sidelines throughout the contest. A couple calls by the officials — Ted Valentine, Lamont Simpson, and Jim Schipper — were disputed in length by the third-year coach and booed loudly by Hawkeye fans in the stadium.

“I’ve been [coaching] for a long time,” McCaffery said. “This team deserved a better fate tonight.”

There is certainly a lot to take away from this season, though.

Three years ago, the Iowa men’s basketball team was down in the dumps.

The 2009-10 season was the worst in the program’s history, as a Todd Lickliter-led team posted just 10 wins all year. Iowa’s best win that campaign was probably against Northwestern in a half-filled Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

A lot has changed since then.

This will be second straight year the Hawkeyes garner an NIT bid, a major step in the right direction. With the loss of only one scholarship senior, Eric May, 20-plus win seasons and NCAA tournament bids seem like the norm for years to come.

Just not this March.

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That’s the mentality the Iowa men’s basketball team faced heading into the opening round of the Big Ten tournament on Thursday night. And if the Hawkeyes want to advance to the NCAA tournament, they likely have to win — at the very least — two games this week.

After opening up the game with 11 straight points before Northwestern even scored, the Wildcats closed the gap throughout the second half and put a little scare into head coach Fran McCaffery’s squad.

But it wasn’t enough.

Iowa (21-11) held off the Wildcats (13-19) to win its opening round game, 73-59, in the United Center on Thursday.

“We kept possession a lot in the second half despite us struggling,” Eric May said. “Keeping the clock going was on our side. We made some big shots towards the end, too.”

Devyn Marble provided a threat down the stretch for the Black and Gold, something the team has lacked for a majority of the season. The junior posted 19 points including 9-for-12 from the free-throw line, a few of those in the final minutes.

Mike Gesell made his return to the starting lineup after missing four straight games. The freshman point guard didn’t miss a beat, and evaded any pressure he had in his first collegiate postseason action.

The Sioux City, Neb., native recorded 13 points and 3 assists, includes a 2-for-4 performance from 3-point range.

“It felt great to be back out there,” Gesell said. “When I was out, I just tried to cheer the guys on. It was nice to contribute again.”

Now comes the uphill battle.

The Hawkeyes will play Michigan State on Friday night in the quarterfinals of the conference tourney, seeking to further improve upon their résumé. Heading into Thursday’s matchup, the numbers were so-so.

RPI of 76, BPI of 48, and most notably, No. 30 in KenPom.

Still firmly in the bubble discussion to advance to the Big Dance, the Hawkeyes need to avenge their winless record against top tier Big Ten teams this season. They have lost to Indiana (twice), Michigan, Michigan State, and Ohio State.

With a matchup on the docket against the Spartans (24-7, 13-5), this is the most significant game for the program in seven years.

The last time the Hawkeyes made it to the NCAA tournament? Seven years ago.

“I’m not foolish. I here what everyone is saying about tomorrow night’s game,” McCaffery said. “I’m very comfortable where our résumé is right now, and I think we deserve to be in, but there are so many factors.

“The only thing we can control is how we play tomorrow.”

The post Iowa hoops defeats NU, big game Friday for NCAA chances appeared first on KRUI Radio.

Adam Woodbury and Anthony Clemmons both played near-flawless games in the Hawkeyes’ 74-60 win over Nebraska on Saturday afternoon in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

After a bit of streakiness recently from the young duo, Woodbury and Clemmons took charge and stepped up for the Hawkeyes (20-11, 9-9 Big Ten) en route to their first 20-win campaign since the 2005-06 season. Woodbury was 6-for-6 overall from the field while Clemmons was 5-for-7.

“A lot of teams’ goal is to win 20, and not very many teams can do it,” Woodbury said. “To be a part of this, it’s pretty special to me. We’re not done yet. We hope to keep winning.”

Nebraska (14-17, 5-13) decreased the deficit to just one point early on in the second half, helped by solid shooting from Ray Gallegos, who had 22 points.

But then the Hawkeyes pulled away.

Iowa went on a 15-0 run and never looked back. With the victory, the Black and Gold have secured the No. 6 seed in the Big Ten tournament next week.

“In the first few minutes of the second half, we didn’t really have the defensive intensity we needed,” said sophomore Aaron White, who posted 19 points and 6 rebounds. “We knew they weren’t going to go away. We responded well on defense on went on some runs.”

Woodbury and Clemmons aided a lot of those runs.

Aggressive, aggressive, aggressive. That was the theme for the Hawkeyes’ freshmen.

“I went through a slump, but now I’m back,” Clemmons said. “If you see an opening, you have to attack the basket. There is nothing better than making a play in transition.”

Saturday’s win propels Iowa’s postseason résumé even further. The NCAA tournament is a possibility, but head coach Fran McCaffery’s squad will have to win at least one game in the conference tourney, probably two-plus.

Heading into the contest with the Huskers, Iowa boasted a No. 31 ranking nationally by Ken Pomeroy and were 76^th in RPI.

McCaffery noted Iowa’s .500 conference record, close losses to Indiana, Michigan State, and Wisconsin, and a full body of work that has resulted in 20 victories, to vague for the Big Dance.

“I think we deserve tremendous consideration,” he said. “I definitely feel like we’re one of the best 68 teams. To have gone through this league — clearly the best league in the country — and finish 9-9 … we’ve accomplished a great deal.”

Is it enough?

The post Iowa notches 20th win, Fran lobbies for NCAA tourney bid appeared first on KRUI Radio.

Then the improbable happened.

With Iowa up 48-46 and less than five minutes remaining, sophomore Josh Oglesby — marred in one of the worst shooting slumps in Big Ten history — hit a 3-pointer to extend the Hakweyes’ lead. And then another.

The Hawkeyes (19-11, 8-9 Big Ten) would hold off Illinois’ remaining effort after those two vital possessions by Oglesby, and defeated the Illini (21-10, 8-9), 63-55.

“The coaches told me to stay with my shot and keep shooting, so that’s what I did,” Oglesby said. “It feels good. Everyone on this team appreciates each other.”

Devyn Marble led Iowa in scoring with 21 points, further quieting the discussion about his struggles this season. He shot 5-for-12 from the field, including 10-for-10 from the free-throw line, and has recorded double-digit scoring games the last seven contests.

The junior scored seven of Iowa’s final nine points, a very pivotal run by the Southfield, Mich., native. He took control.

“Especially late, I feel more obligated to create for myself than others,” Marble said. “Josh took a lot of pressure off of me making those shots … it was important to withstand that run.”

The Iowa defense matched up well against the Illini’s bevy of shooters, including notable seniors Brandon Paul and D.J. Richardson.

Sophomore Gabe Olaseni blocked six Illini shots, and the Hawkeyes recorded 12 total, which ties the school record for a single game. Illinois head coach John Groce was impressed by Olaseni’s effort, but wasn’t pleased with his team’s response.

“My dad taught me one time, ‘if you hit a wall and it hurts, don’t run into it again,” Groce said. “When you drive, you might want to pass … we tried to adjust, but I didn’t think we adapted at all.”

This is a crucial victory for the Hawkeyes, a team that — someway, somehow — is still in NCAA tournament conversation.

CBS Sports Network’s Doug Gottlieb said over the weekend he has coach Fran McCaffery’s squad in the tourney if they finish 9-9 in conference play and won a game in the Big Ten tournament. Additionally, BPredict wrote this week Iowa is among 19 teams on the bubble.

If Iowa wins on Saturday against Nebraska giving them 20 wins overall and nine in conference, paired with Tuesday night’s win and two-plus victories in the B1G tourney, you probably can’t rule out the Hawkeyes in the Big Dance.

But that’s a tough task.

A win against the Illini keeps the bubble hopes alive, though. Even if it’s just a sliver of hope.

The post Iowa hoops defeats Illinois, sliver of tourney hope remains appeared first on KRUI Radio.

Now up to 19 straight games without a regulation loss, they have solidified themselves as a legitimate Stanley Cup contender.

The Hawks have notched 35 out of a possible 38 points during this 2012-13 campaign — a labor strike-shortened 48 games — and are clicking every time the skates hit the ice, dropping a contest in a shootout or overtime just three times.

Well, we may be witnessing history. Perhaps the best season in Chicago sports history.

There are three teams that provide the biggest competition for that title: the 1985 Bears, 1995-96 Bulls, and 2005 White Sox.

The ’85 Bears are probably the most legendary team in the entire sports landscape in Chicago and its surrounding area. Even today, any member or former coach of that team is introduced as such and remain a major part of the Bears franchise.

That team, coached by Mike Ditka, notched a 15-1 overall record and then coasted in the playoffs to 18-1 overall and Super Bowl champions. The Bears rattled off 12 straight wins before falling to the Miami Dolphins, but it was always clear — evident by the midseason “Super Bowl Shuffle” — they would cement their place in NFL history.

Not much to say about the Bulls of the 90s, as they won six total titles under coach Phil Jackson.

Led by Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and Dennis Rodman, the Bulls went 72-10 and won playoff series 3-0, 4-1, and 4-0 before securing their fourth of six championships of the decade. At one stage, the Bulls were 41-3 in the standings.

The last challenger are the 2005 White Sox, managed by Ozzie Guillen. The Sox won 99 games in the regular season before posting 11 playoff wins and the 2005 World Series championship.

These are all historic performances, with a blend of both immense regular season success and postseason greatness, but coach Joel Quenneville and Co. have something special brewing.

Nearly halfway through the season already, the Hawks have yet to lose in regulation and are a plus-24 in goal differential.

Let’s see if the Hawks lose in a seven-game series this spring and then we can talk.

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The Hawkeyes had opportunities in the final minutes to win at home against Indiana and Michigan State, and at Minnesota.

Squandered, squandered, and squandered.

With a golden opportunity on the horizon for that notable victory on Sunday against Minnesota, Iowa (17-9, 6-7 Big Ten) stormed back after being down by as many as 16 to defeat the Gophers (18-8, 6-7), 72-51, in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

Mission accomplished.

“You’ve got to remember, [Minnesota] came into this game with a sense of urgency as well,” head coach Fran McCaffery said. “Lots of times, our team could have wilted right there. We haven’t shown that we’re going to do that any time this year.”

After a double-OT loss to Wisconsin on Feb. 6, Iowa was left with little to no room for error down the stretch. Want to make the NCAA Tournament? Go 7-1 — or maybe 6-2, depending on the scenarios — in your final eight games.

Well, a 3-0 start to this crucial stretch is about as good as it gets.

“It shows a lot about our team,” senior Eric May said. “These last couple of games have been huge for us … we’ve stayed confident and stayed positive.

McCaffery’s squad was sluggish early on in the first half, leaving Carver-Hawkeye in silence when the scoreboard read 21-5 in favor of the Gophers. But Iowa would finish the half 29-8 run and head into the locker room with a 34-29 lead.

The Hawkeyes kept up the pace after the break, holding the Minnesota offense in check with a 2-3 zone and piling on the points via double digit games from Devyn Marble (15), Aaron White (15), Mike Gesell (11), and May (10).

This wasn’t just a signature win — it was a thrashing.

Iowa closes with three of the next five contests at home. Win all of those plus at Nebraska this Thursday, and there is a legitimate case for a tourney bid.

Heading into Sunday, the Hawkeyes had an RPI of 90, according to RealTimeRPI.com. Aside from Sunday’s win, victories against Iowa State and Wisconsin were also résumé boosters. If Iowa wins four of these next five, it will finish with a conference record of 10-8, likely well enough for the Big Dance.

Sunday was the tone setter.

“We’re playing well, we’re playing better,” McCaffery said. “This is the time of year when teams tend to tire and feel pressure. For us, we’ve got so many different players contributing.

“Everybody’s ready to go.”

The post Back on the bubble: Iowa thrashes Minnesota in important win appeared first on KRUI Radio.

After the departure of Erik Campbell in December, there are four other coaches coming and going. Running backs coach Lester Erb and defensive backs coach Darrell Wilson have left to pursue other jobs while Bobby Kennedy is the new receivers coach and Jim Reid has been named a defensive assistant.

Erb and Wilson were long rumored to be leaving the Hawkeyes, but there was no official release on the matter until today. They were on head coach Kirk Ferentz’ staff for 13 and 11 years, respectively.

Kennedy replaces Campbell at the helm of the receiving corps. Kennedy coached at Colorado the last two seasons and was previously at Texas from 2004-10. Offensive coordinator Greg Davis held the same position at Texas during that time.

Reid is hired after reportedly interviewing on Monday. He was fired Dec. 2 by Virginia after serving as associate head coach and defensive coordinator. Prior to that, he was linebackers coach with the Miami Dolphins (2008-09) and head coach at UMass (1986-91), Richmond (1995-2003), and VMI (2006-07).

There could be other staff changes on the horizon as well. The Daily Iowan reported on Wednesday that defensive line coach Reese Morgan will be out by the end of this week.

That would leave Eric Johnson and Phil Parker as the only ones on staff who began the 2011 campaign in Iowa City.

Iowa begins spring practice on March 27.

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