The crowd got to work early, showing their love for head coach Lisa Bluder as she was honored before the game for her accomplishment in reaching 500 career wins. Even with all the excitement, it seemed the team were going to start out slow, with two turnovers to start the game and a few missed shots. However, who else would it be other than Caitlin Clark to hit a smooth three-pointer in transition to get things started. 

After that, it looked as if there had been no previous hiccups, as the team hit a total groove and started to dominate each phase of the game. They took advantage of a Bowling Green team who struggled offensively, and was just completely outmatched. 

The Hawks moved the ball at an incredible pace. They owned the perimeter and created open spaces for each other through their speed and ability to recognize the flaws in Bowling Green’s defense. This led to 29 assists as a team on the night for Iowa, as Bowling Green only had 9. On top of the major score margin, Iowa took over in almost every other category as well. A major difference was that they finished the game with a 66.7 field-goal percentage compared to Bowling Green’s 34.3%. Another reason for their total command of the game was their full ownership of the boards on both sides of the floor. Iowa out rebounded the Falcons 44-27, an impressive difference. 

However, there were some issues. Iowa did get through the Bowling Green defense exceptionally well, but they also committed 14 turnovers, one more than their opponent did today. Credit also needs to be given to the lead member of the Falcons cast today. Lexi Flemming led Bowling Green with 24 points and was the major reason they were not down even more so early on. Iowa’s defense has been slightly questionable up to this point, but outside of Flemming’s bigger performance for Bowling Green, they really kept everyone else pretty contained, as only one additional Falcon reached double figures. 

Even so, Caitlin Clark continued her show in front of a packed house with 24 points and 11 assists. Praise should also be shared to Addison O’Grady and Sharon Goodman. They were faced with a few extra challenges today without the help of Hannah Stuelke after she was ruled out, yet they still combined for 22 points. 

Kate Martin was the Hawks second highest scorer with 17 today, and really clicked with Molly Davis. Davis was unstoppable with the ball, and made some incredible passes. Her court vision was impressive and fed Martin a few times, passing and cutting through needle-sized gaps. Martin flew around the court on both offense and defense, and always seemed to find herself in the right spot to help the team. She was down the court quick for easy layups and snuck in for backside blocks. 

It was great to see the team click so well today because their next matchup will be much tougher. They will get their shot at the Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series against Iowa State in Ames. That game will be on ESPN2 on Wednesday, December 6^th at 6:00 p.m. CT. 

The post Iowa Women’s Basketball Screams Past a Cast of Falcons appeared first on KRUI Radio.

Ahron Ulis wasn’t too far behind with 16, while Tony Perkins and Connor McCaffery both had 11. But the man of the hour, Patrick McCaffery, had nine, as he was perfect from behind the arc (3-3). 

It was quite a sight to see in Carver-Hawkeye Arena, as this was Patty Mac’s first game back since Penn State on Jan. 1. The match had a white-out theme for Coaches Against Cancer, and the Iowa crowd showed out. McCaffery took a leave of absence for mental health reasons, supported fully by the Hawkeye fan base. After rumors of his return yesterday, McCaffery delivered in exciting fashion. 

For the Scarlet Knights, Aundre Hyatt led the team with 16, shooting 50% from the field. Rutgers’ big man Cliff Omoruyi was just a point behind with 15, as well as three blocks. Paul Mulcahy added 11, but completed the double double with 13 assists.

Despite the valiant performance, the Scarlet Knights travel back to Piscataway with one more loss than they wanted. This game makes them 14-7 on the season, and 6-4 in the Big 10 conference. 

The major keys today for Iowa were to break through Rutgers’ extremely tough defense, to stay hot from behind the arc, and improve from the charity stripe. In the Hawks’ most recent game against Michigan State, they lost a close one by two points, and went 6-13 from the free throw line.

In yesterday’s game, Iowa shot 85% from the line, a much improved percentage from their last bout. Throughout the season, the Scarlet Knights had only allowed an average of 58 points scored by opposing teams, displaying their suffocating defense. The Hawkeyes surpassed that in their first meeting on Jan. 8 by a score of 76-65, and smashed that total again today with 93. 

Iowa will take on the Northwestern Wildcats next on Tuesday, Jan. 31, in another Big 10 showdown. The Hawks were supposed to play Northwestern on Jan. 18, but the game was postponed due to COVID-19 concerns. The Hawks will look to pile on a second consecutive win, but not if the 15-5 Wildcats have anything to say about it. With PMac back in uniform, Iowa will have a good shot at taking them down; but it won’t be easy.

The post Return of the Mac: Patrick McCaffery shows out in 93-82 victory over the Scarlet Knights appeared first on KRUI Radio.

Clark finished the game with 33 points, 12 rebounds, and 9 assists, nearly making it a second consecutive triple-double. Alongside the star, center Monika Czinano tacked on 17 points, and freshman forward Hannah Stuelke added 12 more off the bench in the Hawkeye win. 

Nebraska had a glimmer of hope in the fourth quarter, pulling back within six points with only a couple minutes to play. But once again the Hawkeye defense remained stout. For the Cornhuskers, all five of their starters had 10 or more points. Shooting guard Sam Haiby led the charge with 16. Forward Isabelle Bourne was close behind with 14, and center Alexis Markowski had a double-double, finishing with 12 points and 11 rebounds. 

The big key coming into this game for the Huskers was to limit Clark’s scoring. That strategy worked at first, but once number 22 got hot, it was all over. Czinano started off slow as well, succedding later in the game with some bread and butter assists from Clark. Guard Gabbie Marshall also contributed with five aggressive boards, helping Iowa to extend their lead to 16 at one point.

With the win, the Hawkeyes jump to 17-4 on the season, and 9-1 in the Big 10 conference. The Cornhuskers still keep a winning record at 12-9, but take yet another Big 10 loss. Nebraska is now 4-6 in the conference. 

Last year after a win over Nebraska, Clark had piled up two consecutive games with 30 points and a triple double. The only other players at any level to do that since 2000? LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Russell Westbrook, James Harden, Luka Doncic, and Giannis Antetokounmpo. One more assist today and Clark would have done it again for a second straight season. 

With March Madness less than two months away, the Hawkeyes look for vengeance after an early exit to Creighton in 2022. Up next, the Hawks take on Maryland on Feb. 2 in Iowa City at 7:30pm, on National Women and Girl’s in Sports Day. It will be another opportunity for Clark to display her leadership amongst younger generations of basketball players around the nation. 

The post Hawkeyes stay hot in Iowa City appeared first on KRUI Radio.

Luka Garza is the greatest men’s basketball player in Iowa Hawkeye history. Garza is the Hawkeyes’ all-Time leading scorer, finishing his career with an astounding 2,306 points. Last season he led the Hawkeyes to a 22-9 record, a 2 seed in the NCAA tournament, Iowa’s highest seed since 1987, and he won the prestigious John R. Wooden Award, given to the best college basketball player in the nation. These are just some of the many accomplishments on Garza’s resume, but how does this Hawkeye legend project at the next level?

Pros:

Luka Garza does many things well on the court. He was 2^nd in the nation in scoring this past season, averaging 24.6 points per game. He is a highly skilled post player, has soft touch off the glass, finishing ability with both hands, and is able to create the space he needs to get his shots off with a variety of post moves and step backs jumpers. Garza can also get to the line effectively, as he ranked 5^th in the nation in total free throws attempted last season and shot 70% from the free throw line on 6.4 attempts a game. His silky smooth jumper gives him stretch big potential in the NBA; he shot 44% from 3 for the Hawkeyes on 100 total 3PA last year.

Garza is also a very good rebounder, pulling down 8.7 boards a game for the Hawkeyes last season, with 3 of those rebounds coming on the offensive end. His large frame (6’11”, 285 lbs.) and strength should help him be at least a decent rebounder in the NBA. He is an adequate playmaker for his size. Even though he only averaged 1.7 assists per game last season, he has shown that he has a high basketball IQ and knows how to find the open man when faced with a double team. Lastly, Garza is a capable shot blocker, averaging 1.6 blocks per game last season. NBA teams will also love how respected Garza is. Former and current coaches alike rave about his insane work ethic and coachability, and his teammates will be the first to speak on his leadership and humility.

Cons

Luka Garza is not a high-level athlete. He lacks lateral mobility and high IQ guards will take advantage of him in the pick-and-roll. His perimeter defense is extremely sub-par, and he does not do well against big men with a strong face-up game. His size & strength will not be enough to stop the likes of elite big men like Joel Embiid and Nikola Jokic, so his technique must improve. He has also had trouble scoring in the paint against big men who are larger, stronger, and have length on him. Lastly, his ball-handling is only average at best, and has much room for improvement.

Projection:

Luka Garza is a multi-talented big who can score from all 3 levels on the floor and rebound effectively. His ability to spread the floor at his size is a very desirable trait in today’s NBA. He will need to improve his mobility substantially if he is to ever to play big minutes, and his overall defensive ability is only average at best. Teams with an already sound defense in need of bench shooting and/or a stretch big should consider drafting Garza. If he is drafted, look for his name to be called in the mid-to-late 2^nd round.

Potential Fits:

Philadelphia 76ers, Miami Heat, Indiana Pacers, Utah Jazz.

The post Luka Garza 2021 NBA Draft Profile appeared first on KRUI Radio.

Wisconsin had beaten Iowa on four straight occasions dating back to 2016, but the Hawkeyes were confident this time would be different. They entered the game ranked 16^th in the nation. After dropping two straight games to Northwestern and Indiana, the College Football Playoff rankings booted the Badgers out of the top 25.

Shortly before the game began, it was announced that Wisconsin would have to play without their leading rusher Jalen Berger, as well as top receivers Danny Davis and Kendric Pryor.

On the Badgers’ first drive, the slick football slipped out of the hands of freshman quarterback Graham Mertz and was quickly pounced on by Iowa linebacker Nick Niemann at the Wisconsin 32 yard line. Unable to take full advantage of the great field position, Iowa trotted Keith Duncan out for a 30-yard field to give the home team a 3-0 lead.

As some Big Ten games do, the battle for the Heartland Trophy quickly turned into a battle of the punters. In the 12 drives following the Duncan field goal, the teams combined for 3 first downs and 12 punts. In the first half alone, the punters combined for 559 punting yards.

Just as one began to wonder if either team had any interest in scoring, the Hawkeyes offense exploded for a 6 play, 36-yard drive. With less than two minutes in the half, the play was just good enough to get the ball into range for Keith Duncan. The kick clipped the left upright as it went through from 45 yards out.

Going into the half, Iowa led 6-0.

While statkeepers scrambled to dig up the punting records at halftime, both coaching staffs were busy making adjustments in the locker room in hopes that those stats wouldn’t have to be used.

Wisconsin found success on their opening drive taking it into Iowa territory, but Collin Larsh couldn’t connect on a 47-yard field goal to give the Badgers their first points.

On the ensuing Iowa drive, Spencer Petras hit Ihmir-Smith Marsette with a 38-yard bomb to take the ball into Badger territory and then found him again on a 19-yard pass in the corner of the end zone. That, coupled with a successful 2-point conversion, stretched the Hawkeyes’ lead to 14-0.

After holding the Badgers to a 3 and out on the ensuing drive, Iowa punt returner Charlie Jones muffed a bouncing punt at the Iowa 25, and Wisconsin recovered. The Badgers quickly turned the mistake into points, as 3 plays later Nakia Watson punched the ball into the end zone from the 1-yard line.

Little did Wisconsin know, that would be the first and only time they would put points on board.

As the second half wore on, the snow began to fall harder, dancing around the stadium, glistening in the night sky.

After the teams exchanged punts, Spencer Petras launched a 53-yard rainbow to Ihmir Smith-Marsette who caught the ball and flipped into the end zone. Unfortunately, Smith-Marsette didn’t stick the landing and would be sidelined for the rest of the game with an ankle injury. He finished the day with 7 receptions for 140 yards and two scores.

As time began to be a factor, Wisconsin’s next two drives would end on 4^th down in the red zone. On the first 4^th down attempt, Graham Mertz missed a wide-open Jack Dunn galloping across the middle of the field. On the second, Mertz’s pass was intercepted by Jack Campbell in the end zone.

On Iowa’s first play following the interception, Tyler Goodson weaved his way through the tiring Badger defense to score an impressive 80-yard touchdown run with 4:09 remaining, giving Iowa a 28-7 lead. By this time, the Hawkeyes could taste victory.

As the final whistle sounded, several Iowa players fell to the now lightly snow-covered field and made snow angels. At last, the Heartland Trophy would be coming back to Iowa City!

Spencer Petras finished the game 14-25 for 211 yards and two touchdowns. Tyler Goodson led the rushing attack with 106 yards and a touchdown on 11 totes. Chauncey Golden shined on defense with 9 tackles including a crucial sack on 3^rd down.

Iowa will wrap up Big Ten play this Saturday at 6 pm, as the Michigan Wolverines come to town.

The post Iowa Outmuscles the Badgers 28-7, Hawkeyes Win Heartland Trophy for the First Time Since 2015 appeared first on KRUI Radio.

Those four varsity sports included men’s and women’s swimming and diving, men’s tennis, and men’s gymnastics. University of Iowa President Bruce Harreld and Athletic Director Gary Barta released a joint letter, addressing the public on the difficult decision made by the university.

A source with knowledge of the decision told KRUI that there was no formal communication between the sports’ student-athlete leadership and the Iowa administration prior to Friday morning. The athletes first found out about their program’s discontinuation at the 10:30 A.M. meeting on Friday.

All four programs had attained varying degrees of success at the University of Iowa. Iowa’s swimming and diving program holds a notable place in the history of competitive swimming, as the program is the birthplace of the Butterfly stroke.

The technique was developed by Iowa swimming coach David Armbruster and athlete Jack Sieg in the early 1930s. While the technique was not initially accepted, the International Swimming Federation went on to adopt the stroke for races in international competition.

Men’s Gymnastics had seen newfound success in recent years, including winning a share of the Big Ten title in the 2018-19 season. That season saw three Iowa gymnasts take home All-American honors, and was also the 50 year anniversary of the program’s 1969 NCAA Championship.

Men’s Tennis also appeared to be on the rise as the 2019-20 season saw the program reach their highest ranking in school history with a high-water mark of #23. The program also saw it’s longest winning streak since 1991 by winning seven matches in a row.

The cuts came about from the aforementioned deficit in the 2020-21 Iowa athletic budget due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The budget deficit stands at $65-70 million and a loss of revenue of over $100 million, all stemming from the cancellation of the fall football season from Big Ten president’s and conference commissioner Kevin Warren.

Iowa becomes the first athletic department in the Big Ten to announce the discontinuation of athletic programs because of COVID-19 related financial hardship. While other schools have cut salaries and furloughed employees, it is with near-certainty that program cuts across the Big Ten will become prevalent without fall football revenue.

The post Iowa Athletic Department Announces Discontinuation of Four Sports appeared first on KRUI Radio.

In it’s sumation of the investigation, the Kansas City-based law firm concluded, “The program’s rules perpetuated racial or cultural biases and diminished the value of cultural diversity. The program over-monitored players to the point that they experienced heightened anxiety and maintained a culture that allowed a small group of coaches to demean players.”

The role of an investigator in such inquiries is crucial, mirroring the work of a detective unraveling a complex case. Just as a seasoned investigator peels back layers of deception, uncovering hidden truths, firms like Husch Blackwell sift through testimonies, policies, and historical practices to present an objective account. In cases involving systemic bias, the evidence is often subtle, buried under years of institutional habits and unwritten rules. Much like a Private Investigator Myrtle Beach might navigate the tangled web of corporate fraud or personal disputes, legal investigators in the sports world must dissect a culture that has been built over decades, exposing the fault lines beneath a polished exterior.

The report did not simply identify a few isolated incidents but rather a pattern—one that suggested systemic issues ingrained in the fabric of the program. Investigators dug through interviews, policies, and personal accounts, piecing together a story that had been whispered in locker rooms for years but never given the weight of formal acknowledgment. Just as in any deep-rooted case, uncovering the truth was only the first step. The real challenge, as any veteran in the investigative field would attest, lay in ensuring that those responsible faced accountability and that meaningful change followed in the wake of revelation.

The conclusion that the investigation came to is one that many already felt confident was the truth inside the Iowa football program and had the findings all but affirmed that view.

Throughout the investigations 28-page report, numerous topics discussed included what was acceptable dress code in the football facility, which covered jewelry, hoodies, hats, etc.

It was stated that Kirk Ferentz abolished the rule on jewelry and hats in 2019 in response to the UI’s Diversity Task Force investigation in the summer and fall of 2018.

Another hot topic discussed at-length in the investigation is the disconnect in the meaning of “The Iowa Way.” According to the report, players believed that conforming to the Iowa Way was like conforming to white culture. Iowa coaches believed the Iowa way was hard-working, detail-oriented, tough, accountability-driven culture.

Sleep bands also had a lengthy section in the report. Iowa coaches used these bands to help players create healthy sleeping habits. Instead, the bands caused “very negative experiences” and caused “lots of anxiety” as players were called out for their bad sleeping habits.

Drug testing was a notable section as well, as some former players believed that African-American players in the program were tested far more frequently than other players. The manager of drug testing program stated that while Kirk Ferentz could request for a specific player to be tested, and taken to drug rehab, the reason must be approved by a supervising physician beforehand.

The experience with sleep bands, for instance, serves as a clear example of how well-intentioned tools can lead to unintended stress, highlighting the need for a more nuanced, empathetic approach to mental health and wellness in high-performance environments. The emphasis on drug testing and its potential disparities between players also raises questions about fairness and support systems for those dealing with addiction.

In these types of environments, the need for specialized support becomes critical, especially for individuals who may be struggling with substance abuse or mental health challenges. Programs like SJR Men’s Rehab provide tailored rehabilitation services that not only address the addiction itself but also offer holistic care to help individuals process underlying issues. Whether players or employees in high-pressure environments, it’s essential for those struggling to have access to a compassionate, structured space where they can confront the complexities of their addiction.

With the investigations findings, however, the Kansas City law firm recommended Kirk Ferentz and Iowa athletic director Gary Barta be retained to help bring these changes to Iowa athletics.

“We recommend that the University work with Athletic Director Barta and Head Coach Ferentz to create action steps aimed at improving the culture of the program, eliminating biases, encouraging student-athletes to report concerns of mistreatment, and amplifying the University’s policy statement against retaliation within the football program.”

On Thursday afternoon, Ferentz and Barta, spoke to the press about their reactions to the investigations findings and their plan going forward.

Barta laid out the responsibilities right out of the gate.

“Kirk, first and foremost, is responsible for the football culture. He creates it. He sets the tone for it, and he has to hold people accountable for it, and he’s fully accepting of that responsibility, and he’s worked hard in recent weeks to help us begin the process to improve the culture.”

Many of the questions surrounding the head coach of Iowa football for 21 seasons, were on the subject of how this kind of power abuse could go on for so long from a coach, like in the case of former strength and conditioning coach Chris Doyle.

“In my mind we had that position in charge of too many things, and I guess it’s twofold. It’s a matter of I’ll go back and look at it now, what we’ve done as a staff is, okay, what responsibilities can we move,” Ferentz said. “What are some of the things that maybe were being monitored that don’t need to be monitored, really aren’t that important.”

Another question Ferentz answered was how he viewed his program’s motto of the “Iowa Way” from prior to this report to now.

“My definition of the Iowa way, and the goals haven’t changed. It’s graduation, it’s having a good experience or maximizing your abilities and your experience in football, and also being a good citizen,” Ferentz said. “But all that being said, it’s all about the delivery. It’s all about the message. I think that’s probably been the biggest learning experience here.”

A topic that was also asked with frequency was the issue of allegations against other members of Iowa’s coaching staff, such as offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz and linebackers coach Seth Wallace. Gary Barta announced that he decided there would be no personnel changes despite these allegations.

“Ultimately that’s my responsibility. Obviously taking in all the information. It’s not a done situation yet, but I felt confident enough to share with you today that we don’t have any changes in employment in terms of who’s here and who’s not,” Barta said. “But the follow-up is still ongoing in terms of moving forward.”

Perhaps the most notable moment of the press conference was Kirk Ferentz’s tone while speaking of the allegations levied against him by former Iowa running back Akrum Wadley and his mother, Sharonda Phelps.

Ferentz looked visibly upset and frustrated while talking about the former running back’s accusations, such as a canceled black card, which athletes use to pay for food.

“It was a surprise and also to some degree — surprise because some of the things were just flat-out not true. Not true,” Ferentz said. “I mean, we have never held back a black card from any player. I’m not a great record keeper. Ben Hensen is meticulous. Never happened.”

Following the press conference, the Iowa Hawkeye athletics Twitter page published Kirk Ferentz’s opening statement and apology to Twitter, as well as his statement regarding the conclusion of the Husch Blackwell review.

A tumultuous time in Iowa football appears to be nearing it’s end, but the $64,000 question is if Iowa football can fully commit to being their new selves.

The post Husch Blackwell confirms internal issues, recommends Ferentz be retained appeared first on KRUI Radio.

For 40 minutes, the Hawkeyes beat Illinois like they stole something.

Iowa scored their first win since their overtime victory against Illinois back on February 22 in Carver. The Hawkeyes had four players in double figures and nine players register baskets as a team. Nicholas Baer had the hot hand for Iowa, ringing in five three-pointers, finishing the game with 17 points.

However, his performance was overshadowed by the highlight-filled performance by All-Big Ten forward Tyler Cook, capitalized by this ridiculous alley-oop dunk off an inbounds pass.

Inbound alley-oops are very rare.

So, too, is @IowaHoops star @iamtc25‘s athleticism. #BTNStandout x @AutoOwnersIns#B1GTourney pic.twitter.com/o5ZlaZoaOa— Iowa On BTN (@IowaOnBTN) March 15, 2019

Cook filled up the stat sheet all-around for the second game in a row, putting up 12 points, five rebounds and six assists. “It was a lob in-bounds play, we’ve ran that play in practice, but not much in the game,” Cook said about his lob dunk. “It was great call with the play before and Jordan [Bohannon] set me up with a great pass and I was just able to finish it.”

The game was not played without some chippy moments. Iowa guard Connor McCaffery picked up a flagrant foul in the first half while Illinois guard Andres Feliz picked up a dead-ball technical moments afterwards. Iowa guard Jordan Bohannon said that the Hawkeyes wanted to get their edge back following their four-game skid.

“We wanted to get back to our chippy self, and show that we were the tougher team here,” Bohannon said. “We don’t care what you’re gonna say to us, we’re gonna dominate you on the scoreboard and that’s what we did tonight.”

Freshman Joe Wieskamp was solid in his first Big Ten Tournament, putting in 13 points and seven rebounds, including a thunderous two-hand dunk on top of Illinois guard Aaron Jordan.

@JWieskamp21 shows off the ups and power on the pretty @IowaHoops And-1 dunk.#B1GTourney x #MarchOnBTN pic.twitter.com/QAWKqhtHUo

— Iowa On BTN (@IowaOnBTN) March 15, 2019

However, it was close to start the second half. Illinois only trailed Iowa by six at the half and had cut the lead down to one earlier in the first half. Iowa then bombarded the Illini with scoring run after scoring run.

“We only had turnover in the second half, against a team that was pressuring,” said Iowa coach Fran McCaffery. “We moved the ball, established the low post, got a little bit in transition, and consequently, we were able to get our defense back.”

The Hawkeyes advance to take on the third-seeded Michigan Wolverines tomorrow’s night cap in the United Center. Iowa has already defeated the Wolverines once this season back on February 1st inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Coach McCaffery said the teams mindset for tomorrow won’t differ at all.

“Same mindset [as playing at home] when we play Michigan, their one of the best teams in college basketball with a great coach and terrific players,” McCaffery said. “Same thing tomorrow, recognize what they’ve accomplished to this point. It’s an opportunity to play one of the best teams in the country in the Big Ten Tournament.”

Iowa is scheduled to tip-off at 8:30 p.m. local time, but is subject to change due to prior games running over the allotted time. Follow @KRUISports or @Quinn_Douglas_ for live coverage from tomorrow’s action.