On one hand, it’s a symbol of what could have been. A trip to the Final Four cut just short for head coach Ben McCollum and his unlikely team. On the other, it’s a reminder of how many people they’ve proven wrong. How many brackets they’ve broken. And how, after a year of uncertainty, a team of dreamers dragged Iowa basketball back into belief.

The Run of a Lifetime

After losing five of their final seven games before the NCAA tournament, Iowa wasn’t exactly on a roll. But considering they hadn’t made it to the big dance since 2022-23, it still seemed like fans were content with the season and excitement McCollum had brought back to Iowa City.

The team, however, was anything but satisfied.

The #9 Iowa Hawkeyes won a toss-up game with #8 Clemson behind a free-throw frenzy where Iowa made 24 of their 31 attempts at the line. One down. And with it, something started.

Just 48 hours after the win, they shocked the basketball world by beating Florida, the reigning champions, in the final seconds. Down by two points, Iowa senior Bennett Stirtz took the inbound and dribbled it past half court. Finding himself caught between two Gators trying to foul him, Stirtz dished it off to Alvaro Folgueiras, who hit the game-winning shot with 4.5 seconds left to play. The final buzzer sounded, cementing a storybook score on the jumbotron: 73-72, Iowa. From there, a Midwest motto was born.

“March is for the dreamers,” Folgueiras said after the game. “And there’s no better dreamer than us.”

Four days later, the dreamers took on Nebraska in their first Sweet Sixteen appearance since 1999. Both squads shot the lights out, but incredible performances from Iowa role players Tate Sage (19 points) and Folgueiras (16 points), along with Stirtz’s 20 points, lifted Iowa up and over the Cornhuskers. 77-71. Another win, another chapter closed.

Last night, their story came to an end against Illinois in the Elite Eight. The dream was over. And while for a split second it felt like the world was ending, it didn’t take long for fans and school alumni to express endless support for a team that will never be forgotten. Tweets and posts flooded social media, with praises and pictures of how much hope this team gave them. From half-empty arenas last season to jam-packed student sections and a historic tournament run this year, the energy was back for this program.

This team was special for a multitude of reasons. The lowest Big Ten seed to ever reach an Elite Eight. A roster built from places far outside the spotlight. A group that believed, with almost delusional conviction, that they could just keep winning. That they could restore hope to a dwindling fanbase.

And for nine days in March, they did just that. They made everyone believe.

Smile Because it Happened

There is something very uncomfortable about watching grown men cry. Especially when you’re in a room surrounded by them.

It doesn’t matter if you’ve seen it once or you’re a seasoned veteran, numb to the emotions that follow such a gut-wrenching tournament’s end. It’s weird. It’s hard. As close to twenty media members stuck microphones and camera lights in the faces of young athletes, illuminating dried tears and crusty lips, it felt necessary to seek out a smile.

The question: what would your 10-year-old self think about this journey?

Bennett Stirtz: “I always wanted to play college ball, but he wouldn’t believe this. It’s been pretty cool.”

Tate Sage: “He’d be pretty happy. Especially being able to stay up past my bedtime and watch myself on the TV.”

Kael Combs: “I wouldn’t believe it. I’ve worked so hard to get here. I’d tell him not to change a thing. “

Brendan Hausen: “Believe you can. Dream on. There will be lots of highs and lows, but just believe.”

Cooper Koch: “It’s fun. Enjoy practicing with these guys every day and lifting during the season. Trust the process and take it all in. You only get four years of it.”

One by one, reporters started to fade away as they got the answers they needed. When the players were done, they removed their sweat-soaked black and gold jerseys and tossed them into a tattered black Nike suitcase in the middle of the floor. Some laughed, shooting it like a basketball as they hugged their teammates. Others solemnly dropped their tank top time capsule of memories into the bag.

Just a Dream

After the locker rooms cleared completely, Ben McCollum emerged from the hallway to stand in front of a black and blue foldable March Madness backdrop. His usual white dress shirt and gold tie were nowhere to be seen, likely creased and damp, bearing the marks from a game he’ll think about for days.

His voice was steady, but his eyes told a different story. The kind that comes from knowing how close you were. The kind that doesn’t fully settle in until much later.

He talked about Bennett Stirtz, and how the journey they’ve taken together is “a little ridiculous.” How he followed him from school to school. How the University of Iowa feels like home.

For a moment, he paused, reflecting on just how far they’d come.

“We were just in Maryville, Missouri,” he said. “And now we’re playing in the Elite Eight.”

He laughed.

“Man, I almost said Final Four.”

The post A Team of Dreamers appeared first on KRUI Radio.

Less than 24 hours after the Iowa Men’s Basketball team found themselves celebrating a historic March Madness victory over the #1 seed Florida Gators, the women were on the receiving end of a crushing March defeat. An 83-75 loss to the #10 seed Virginia Cavaliers in double overtime.

Alvaro Folguerias’ clutch three pointer won the game for the men. The women lost because they couldn’t get one for themselves.

The basketball gods work in mysterious ways. Maybe that’s the price of a miracle.

The struggles that doomed the women’s team against Virginia were the same ones that nearly ended their season on Saturday against the #15 seed Fairleigh Dickinson Knights: three point shooting.

Iowa went 1-for-13 from deep against FDU. They closed out the first half against Virginia with an eerily similar mark of 1-for-12.

“When I briefly looked at the box score, I didn’t believe we deserved to win it,” head coach Jan Jensen said after the game.

Iowa finished 5-for-29 from downtown against Virginia, but it would be a mistake to reduce their season to their three point struggles down the stretch. This year was a resounding success. 

They went from being picked to finish outside the top five in the Big Ten to being conference tournament runner ups and a March Madness #2 seed. They suffered an injury to a key senior in Taylor McCabe and seemed to get even better with breakout sophomore Taylor Stremlow starting in her place. Two of their best players were sophomore center Ava Heiden and guard Chit-Chat Wright. Those two made 1st and 3rd Team All-Big Ten respectively.

But the loss also marks the end of Hannah Stuelke, Kylie Feuerbach, Jada Gyafmi, and McCabe’s storied careers. The last key contributors from Iowa’s national championship bids in 2023 and 2024.

“Spending time with these girls has been such a blessing to me,” Stuelke said.

“It’s just really hard to process those emotions, and it’s really hard to know that I won’t be able to play again,” Feuerbach said.

When the clock hit zero in Iowa City, Stuelke tearfully embraced her mother as a swarm of photographers descended upon the scene. The same thing played out in Tampa Bay when Folguerias found his mother in the stands. Their emotions could not have been more different.

Grief and glee. The dichotomy of college sports.

The post The Price of a Miracle, Women’s Basketball Iowa v. Virginia appeared first on KRUI Radio.

Tonight, against the reigning March Madness champion Florida Gators, Folgueiras pointed to his father just once all game. But with 4.5 seconds to play, down by two points, he hit the game-winning shot, the shot of his life, and connected with his father once more.

After a great defensive stand from Iowa in the waning seconds, the final buzzer sounded. 73-72. Hawks win. And for the first time since 1999, Iowa punched their ticket to the Sweet Sixteen.

Folgueiras celebrated briefly with his teammates before booking it over to the stands. There, his mother Beatriz awaited. Friday’s round one game was the first time she’d seen him play in an Iowa uniform in person. Tonight was the second. It’d been two years since they said “I love you” face-to-face.

“Having my mom here, she’s everything for me,” Folgueiras said with a smile after the game. “I’m so lucky to have her as a mom.”

The 6-foot-10 junior finished the magical night with 14 points, second in scoring behind Tavion Banks with 20. Bennett Stirtz, Iowa’s consistent scoring leader, was ice cold all night, shooting 0-for-9 from behind the arc. Ultimately, of course, that lack of scoring from the captain didn’t matter.

“It was my teammates tonight,” Stirtz said. “We’re just so unselfish.”

Ironically, it was Stirtz who dished the final assist to Folgueiras to win the game. Practice what you preach.

This year has been up and down for the Hawks. A new head coach. Close games against #1 Michigan. Abysmal losses to Penn State, who ranked last in the big ten. But this month is in a league of its own. And Folgueiras, tonight, felt the madness more than anyone.

“March is for the dreamers,” he said. “And there’s no better dreamer than us.”

The post No Better Dreamer Than Us appeared first on KRUI Radio.

Here’s what to know, some fun facts, and some key matchups from Selection Sunday.

Key Matchups

First, let’s discuss some of the most prominent and difficult games to pick in this bracket. These are great first-round matchups that could welcome some fantastic moments.

8. Louisville Cardinals (27-7) vs. 9. Creighton Bluejays (24-10)

South Region – 3/20, 11:15 PM CST – CBS – Lexington, Kentucky

This was a shocking reveal. Both teams were runner-ups in their respective conference tournaments, both conferences weighted heavily, and yet they both have lower seedings. Louisville was a projected 5-seed after finishing last season with an awful record of 8-24. Now led by National Coach of the Year Finalist Pat Kelsey, this team is ready to make some noise. They average 78.6 points per game and have a BPI ranking of 28. However, Creighton coach Greg McDermott makes every game terribly difficult on opposing coaches. They have similar numbers with the Cardinals, averaging 75.2 points per game. If you were to ask me, I would lean towards Louisville. Point Guard Chucky Hepburn is a leader on the court, and I believe the whole team will be able to adjust and command the game where needed.

Louisville opens up as 2.5 point favorites.

5. Michigan Wolverines (25-9) vs. 12. UC San Diego Tritons (30-4)

South Region – 3/20, 9:00 PM CST – TBS – Denver, Colorado

A Golden Rule when filling out a bracket is to pick a 12-seed over a 5-seed. It seems each year, there is one 12-seed everyone loves to pick, and this year, it is UC San Diego. They are one of the strongest 12-seeds in history. This will be a matchup in Quadrant 1 between Michigan and UC San Diego, which is not typical at all for a 5-seed vs. 12-seed. Michigan is coming off a Big Ten Tournament Championship win. While it was a sloppy win against Wisconsin, it probably should have moved them up to a 4-seed. It also should have allowed them to avoid the Tritons, which was a projected matchup for some time now.

UC San Diego won the Big West Championship and is riding a 15-game winning streak. This is also their first appearance in March, as it is also their first eligible season after moving up from Division II just four seasons ago. UC San Diego is averaging 79.8 points per game while allowing just 61.6 points per game. The major talk with this potential upset is Michigan’s immense turnover struggles, as UC San Diego forced turnover margin is frightening for Wolverine fans. In my opinion, I am definitely taking this into account as I lean the Tritons way, though Michigan and Dusty May are red hot as of right now.

Michigan opens up as 3.5 point favorites.

6. BYU Cougars (24-9) vs. 11. VCU Rams (28-6)

East Region – 3/20, 3:05 PM CST – TNT – Denver, Colorado

OFFENSE! These are two teams who love to score buckets all game long. BYU averages 81.0 points per game, while the Rams average 77.4 points per game. BYU’s Big XII Tournament game against Iowa State was extremely eye-opening, as they got past the Cyclones with 18 made shots from beyond the arc. VCU is led by Ryan Odom, the coach who led UMBC to be the first ever 16-seed to upset a 1-seed against Virginia in 2018. The Rams are one of the best defensive teams inside the perimeter, and they hold a BPI ranking of 34. While this is perfect to test a smaller BYU roster, if the Cougars continue to make the 3-point shot as consistently as they have been, their size should not be an issue, and I would not be surprised to see them make a deep run in March. Also, some extra advice, pick an 11-seed over a 6-seed just like people say to pick a 12-seed over a 5-seed. All four 6-seeds have not won in the first-round of the same bracket since 2004.

BYU opens up as 3.5 point favorites.

7. Marquette Golden Eagles (23-10) vs. 10. New Mexico Lobos (26-10)

South Region – 3/21, 6:25 PM CST – TBS – Cleveland, Ohio

The third game from the South Region. Good luck picking these games. This one, for the record, may be the most awkward to pick. An inconsistent Big East team facing a wildly under-appreciated Mountain West squad. Marquette lost six of their last ten regular season games, though four of those games were against St. John’s and UConn. They also have not beaten a top 50 team since January 3rd, with a home win against Creighton. New Mexico enters the field with some notable wins under their belt as well. They’ve taken down other tournament teams including UCLA, VCU, San Diego State, and Utah State, and have six top 50 victories. The Lobos are also led by Mountain West Coach of the Year Richard Pitino, son of legendary head coach, and current head coach of St. John’s, Rick Pitino. Using the “eye-test,” I believe Marquette is more battle tested and will be able to spread the floor more than the Lobos though.

Marquette opens up as 3.5 point favorites.

5. Clemson Tigers (27-6) vs. 12. McNeese Cowboys (27-6)

Midwest Region – 3/20, 2:15 PM CST – truTV – Providence, Rhode Island

Clemson, who lost to Louisville in the semifinals of the ACC tournament, is going to have to play a fantastic game to escape the Southland Champions McNeese. Clemson enters the tournament with a school record of 27 wins. They also recorded six losses, with three of their losses coming in overtime. This is a very consistent team that has found ways to win all year long. McNeese though, averages more points per game and allows less points per game than the Tigers. They are led by coach Will Wade, who has brought the team to its second consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance. He is getting looks for a lot of high-level job openings, but is still looking to snatch the program’s first NCAA Tournament game win with McNeese. However, the Cowboys have lost the three games on their schedule against teams in the tournament field, those being Alabama, Liberty, and Mississippi State. While they have seven different players who average around 10 points per game, I think this is a game Clemson should do well in.

Clemson opens up as 7.5 point favorites.

Upsets to Watch For

4. Texas A&M Aggies (22-10) vs. 13. Yale Bulldogs (22-7)

South Region – 3/20, 6:25 PM CST – TBS – Denver, Colorado

Texas A&M has been one of the strongest teams this season, toppling some tall opponents. However, Yale head coach James Jones is one of the smartest and most strategic coaches out of the Ivy League. If any coach is ready to sit through the Aggies’ film, it’s Coach Jones.

6. Missouri Tigers (22-11) vs. 11. Drake Bulldogs (30-3)

West Region – 3/20, 6:35 PM CST – truTV – Wichita, Kansas

Drake has lost only three games this season. They solidified their March Madness appearance with the Missouri Valley Conference Championship, and are ready to make the noise they are absolutely capable of. However, Missouri was my preseason dark horse team with their incoming transfers, and they continue to get better. It’s set to be an interesting clash.

5. Memphis Tigers (29-5) vs. 12. Colorado State Rams (25-9)

West Region – 3/21, 1:00 PM CST – TBS – Seattle, Washington

Colorado State is hitting their stride at the perfect time and are now coming off a Mountain West Tournament Title. They are very suited to win multiple games in the tournament if they play up to par, and Memphis open up as only 2.5 point favorites.

Champion Favorites

Here are the two teams I have high expectations for and predict to win the National Championship.

1. Florida Gators (30-4)

Florida has some of the most impressive wins all year long. Beating Auburn, Tennessee twice, and Alabama twice. Scoring a plethora in all of those games really made me a believer. This Florida team seems unstoppable, and they would love to run it back to 2007. They have the third best offense in adjusted efficiency, and I do not think there are many teams in their path that can slow that down.

2. Houston Cougars (30-4)

Houston shoots the ball so well down the stretch. In March, the teams that make the sprint to the trophy will find themselves in very close contests. I believe Houston is extremely battle tested, and they have found ways to win plenty of tough games against great opponents. This alone gives me the idea that it may be their year to win it all. However, I think they will have an incredibly difficult matchup in the second-round with Gonzaga, which would be a top 10 matchup, so my theory may be tested extremely early. Their offensive pace is a little slower than the other top teams in the country, but they are still right there in the “Trapezoid of Excellence” which measures the country’s best teams by NET ranking and pace of place.

First-Time Dancers

Now for some fun. There are quite a few teams who will be learning how to groove for the first time in their program’s history, so here’s a quick look at their matchups.

12. UC San Diego Tritons (30-4)

The program has been eligible for the tournament for one season, and they jumped right at the opportunity. They’ll face 5. Michigan on Thursday, March 30th at 9:00 PM CST on TBS.

13. High Point Panthers (29-5)

This is another team I could see making a run, including an upset over their first round opponent 4. Purdue on Thursday, March 30th at 11:40 AM CST on truTV.

15. Omaha Mavericks (22-12)

Hide your trash cans! If the Big Sky Champs pull off the improbable upset, they’ll celebrate by smashing a trash can in their locker room. Their first tournament appearance sets them on a date with Rick Pitino’s 2. St John’s on Thursday, March 30th at 8:45 PM CST on CBS.

16. SIU Edwardsville Cougars (22-11)

I loved seeing head coach Brian Barone break out the scissors that he had framed to cut down the net after their Ohio Valley Conference Championship win. They’ll be in the Midwest Region against 1. Houston on Thursday, March 30th at 1:00 PM CST on TBS.

Happy researching, happy bracketing, and happy March as we watch our favorite stories of the year unfold in front of us and our brackets crumble. We Sleep in May.

The post 2025 March Madness Overview appeared first on KRUI Radio.

The biggest factor in Iowa’s favor as well as the largest deterrent is the young, raw talent of the Hawkeyes. The best player on the team is no doubt a dynamic sophomore, Tyler Cook. At 6-9, the forward out of Saint Louis flashed looks of high potential consistently throughout his freshman year. Tyler Cook’s effect on the game cannot always be shown in his stat lines; however, Cook’s impacts every possession, regardless of his possession of the ball.

Jordan Bohannon, Isaiah Moss, and Brady Ellingson will be dominating the guard spots as sophomores and juniors. Bohannon and Moss can both score off the dribble and distribute to make plays at will, even as mere sophomores. Ellingson, however, will be more of a pure point guard. With the powerhouse Tyler Cook at forward, clear leaders at guard slots, and depth at both forward and guard positions, Iowa Basketball will be successful if McCaffery can find a large player to play in tandem with Cook.

This large X-factor for Iowa will be the freshman center for the Hawks, Luka Garza. The 4-star recruit out of Washington DC will play the role which could put Iowa over the top. The 6-11 has already grabbed 18 boards through two games with 27 points in addition. In recent memory, Iowa loses the rebounding affair on a strikingly consistent basis. In addition to the young Garza and Cook, the returning Big Ten Conference 6th man of the year award winner, Nicholas Bear, will jump start the young Hawkeyes whenever needed. With a deep set of young big men behind Garza, Baer, and Cook, the rebounding deficit will improve moving forward.

Another reason for the jump into March Madness will be the schedule for the young Iowa team. With the only notable non-conference opponents coming on the road against both Virginia Tech and the rivaling Cyclones, wins will be racked up quickly prior to conference play. Iowa also draws one of the weakest schedules in the Big Ten Conference. The Hawkeyes will not travel to ranked opponents in #2 Michigan State, #20 Purdue, and #19 Northwestern.

Iowa will also not travel to rival Wisconsin and will only play Michigan State, Maryland and Indiana once. The Hawkeyes will reach 20 wins before the final stretch of the season. Three of the final five games will

play on the road with the last two facing ranked opponents. With an easier schedule than most, even if the young players do not improve in the expected ways, Iowa will rack up at least 22 wins before the Big Ten Tournament in the Madison Square Garden.

The graduation of Peter Jok will also allow the Hawkeye basketball squad to acquire a bid to the NCAA Basketball Tournament. Jok made up the core of last year’s team, leading the Big Ten in scoring. However, Jok also lead the team in shots taken. Despite leading in points, Jok shot a 7^th team best shooting percentage to return for it, behind the likes of Tyler Cook, Nicholas Baer, Ahmad Wagner, and others.

Contrary to popular belief from mainstream sports analysts, Iowa will benefit from the absence of Peter Jok for multiple reasons. Iowa will not be reliant on a one-man effort with multiple people getting involved. A team is much easier to stop with one man scoring instead of a team. The spacing of the floor will also be nicer for shooters with the best player in Cook playing in the post instead of Jok playing around the 3-point arc. All in all, Peter Jok is an absolutely great player; however, Jok’s presence hurt the team more at times than not.

Due to the young raw talent of the Hawkeyes in addition to lucky breaks in scheduling and an ability to involve more players than in years past, the 2017 Iowa Hawkeye basketball team will not only return to the NCAA Tournament for the fourth time in five years, but will chance running at Sweet Sixteen for the first time since the 1998-99 season. The next game for the 2-0 Hawkeyes will come against Grambling State on Wednesday, November 16^th at 7:05 pm CST at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

The post Spoilers: Hawkeyes Dance in March appeared first on KRUI Radio.

The Favorites

North Carolina- The Tar Heels are about as talented of a seven loss team as you’re going to find, and they are more than deserving of a #1 seed after winning the brutally competitive ACC regular season title. North Carolina accumulated ten wins this season against NCAA tournament opponents, and that didn’t happen by accident. The Tar Heels score a ridiculous 85 ppg by possessing multiple scoring options, with four players scoring over 12 points a contest. The defending national runner up has more experience than anyone else in the tournament, as all four of their double digit scorers are juniors or seniors. Led by 6’8 junior forward Justin Jackson, the Tar Heels have a relentless inside out offensive attack as they shoot over 36 percent as a team from three and they get to the free throw line over twenty two times a game. Another major advantage that the Tar Heels have is size and depth. Even though only one player on the team averages more 5.7 rebounds a game, they lead the nation in rebounding. North Carolina is a very well rounded team with no obvious holes, which makes them a very tough team to beat in this tournament.

Kentucky- Despite the Wildcats list of household recruits and numerous nationally televised prime time games, this Kentucky team seems to have less fan fair then they have in previous seasons. Some of that has to do with Calipari bringing in new faces every year before fans can become fully acquainted with the “older” ones, but I think it’s mostly because the SEC is generally the worst of the power five conferences and they struggle to draw the eyeballs of casual fans. Regardless of popularity this Kentucky team is, for lack of a better word, awesome. Just like North Carolina, they average over 85 ppg, they dominate the boards average about 40 rpg, and they have four players that average over 12 ppg. The biggest difference is North Carolina’s big guns are juniors and seniors with final four experience, Kentucky’s are freshman and sophomores with one foot already out the door awaiting the NBA. Calipari has taken a young group to the promise land before, and he has a chance to do it again this season.

UCLA- The Bruins are the most dangerous three seed in this entire tournament.  I talked about how explosive North Carolina and Kentucky are offensively, neither of them are quite as explosive as UCLA who leads the country at 90.4 ppg. The Bruins do it by sharing the basketball, as they also lead the country in assists and have six different players in double digits. Led by polarizing freshman phenom point guard Lonzo Ball, the Bruins have a nice mix of youth and experience that help them win 29 games this season. The Bruins don’t defend or rebound as well as UNC or Kentucky, so they will have to rely heavily on Lonzo Ball’s guidance of the offense if they want to advance to Phoenix.

 Everyone is Talking About…

Wichita State- The Shockers lost four year legends Fred Van Fleet and Rod Baker to graduation  this season, but they were still able to rattle off a 30 win season and both the regular season and conference tournament title in the Missouri Valley. However, despite being ranked in the top 20 in most polls they only received a #10 seed. The main reason they were seeded so low was they lack a good out of conference win while coming from a one bid league, but also they don’t have a notable, proven playmaker that convinced the committee that they can win big games. Despite their deficiencies on paper, the Shockers proved they can win on the court with a combined team effort. Nobody on the roster averages more than 11.8 ppg or 26.2 minutes, but they still averaged over 82 points a game while finishing 14th in the nation in total defense and fifth in the nation in rebounding. It will be a tall task for the Shockers to win more than one game in the tournament given their draw, but match ups won’t stop them from putting their best foot forward.

Don’t be Fooled by…

Cincinnati-  Mick Cronin and the Bearcats had an excellent 29-5 season out of the American Athletic Conference, and they were rewarded by the committee with a #6 seed. The Bearcats play absolutely swarming defense, as they finished 4th in the nation in defense. However, they failed to score 70 points on 13 different occasions this season. What is even more shocking to me than that stat is they are 30th in the country in assists but only 127th in the country in scoring. That stat tells me that Cincinnati doesn’t have nearly enough playmaking ability, which will probably cost them in the first round against a Kansas State team that just scored 95 points against Wake Forest.

If the Slipper Fits…

Middle Tennessee State- The Blue Raiders of Middle Tennessee State come in as the pick to click among #12 seeds this year after winning 30 games, including a blowout over Vanderbilt and nearly beating VCU. Their draw against the over seeded Minnesota Gophers is the most favorable draw of any #12 seed, and their top 3 players combine for 47.6 points a contest. MTSU vs Minnesota just screams 12 over 5 upset.

5 Players to Watch

FR PF TJ Leaf, UCLA- At just 19 years old, Leaf is already better than either of his older brothers ever were at UCLA. He’s ranked by ESPN’s Chad Ford as the 12th best NBA prospect in the world and he leads the highest scoring team in the nation in points per game. He’s extremely efficient, shooting 61 percent from the field and 45 percent from three. His consistency and efficiency are essential to UCLA’s success.

JR PG Joel Berry II, North Carolina- The biggest piece missing from North Carolina’s runner up finish from last season is point guard. In his first full season as the Tar Heels primary floor general, Berry has played very well averaging 14.8 ppg and shooting 42 percent from three. However, his assist to turnover ratio is slightly worse than 2-1. He will need to cut down the turnovers for UNC to be at their best.

FR PG De’Aaron Fox, Kentucky- Fox is just one of those athletes where statistics just don’t tell the whole story, you just need to see him play multiple times before truly grasping how special he is. While his game might not transfer well to the NBA because of his inability to shoot from the perimeter, he can be just as effective on any given night on the college level as potential opponent Lonzo Ball.

FR SG Malik Monk, Kentucky- Fox’s backcourt mate is the arguably the most dominant scorer in the country. He scores over 20 a game and shoots it over 40 percent from every spot on the floor. His 47 points in a December win against North Carolina was the most impressive individual performance in college basketball this season, and there is no reason he can’t put up performances like that in the biggest games of this tournament.

JR F Kelan Martin, Butler- The powerful forward leads the #4 seeded Butler in scoring at 16 a game, and he was the driving force a team that finished runner up in the deep Big East conference. This might be Butler’s best team in the post Brad Stevens era, but it is up to Martin to lead the Bulldogs against the regional’s top dogs.

Predictions

While I believe double digit seeded Wichita State, Kansas State, and Middle Tennessee State will pick up first round upsets, this is probably the one bracket where the top #4 seeds all advance to the sweet 16. The top four in this regional are just too darn good. While Butler handed #1 ranked Villanova two of their three losses, the Wildcats style of play is more comparable to Butler than North Carolina’s. The Tar Heels have too many athletes, they should be able to handle Butler without too much trouble. The UCLA vs Kentucky rematch will as fun as any game in the tournament, but I don’t think Lonzo Ball and company will be able to just outgun Kentucky. Kentucky is harder to defend now then they were in December, when they still put up 92 in a loss. Kentucky will get revenge in this matchup (sorry Lavar).

That leaves us with an elite eight rematch of a game that Kentucky won by a score of 103-100. While North Carolina is talented and has much more experience, the young Wildcats are very battle tested after playing out of conference games against North Carolina, UCLA, and Kansas. If there is a freshman duo capable of taking the down the ACC champion, it’s Fox and Monk. The Wildcats will be going back to their third final four in four years.

The post NCAA Tournament Breakdown:South Regional appeared first on KRUI Radio.

It might not receive the 24 hour ESPN marathon, or the tens of millions of completed brackets, but helping young teams develop during post season play is very important, and that’s something the NIT can offer. After Winter Storm Stella pushed back multiple games start times, the University of Iowa faced off against South Dakota University on Wednesday night at Carver Hawkeye Arena. While it wasn’t always the prettiest of times for the Hawkeyes as they committed 16 turnovers throughout the course of the game, they survived the Coyotes 72% free throw shooting on 25 shots, and out lasted South Dakota 87-75.

While the number one seeded Hawkeyes will be on to the second round, the same can’t be said about other teams in the tournament. Upsets have become synonymous with March Madness, in the first two days of this year’s NIT, three of the four 7 seeds upset the 2 seeds they were matched up against, also number one seeded California lost at home to eight seed CSU Bakersfield. While winning the NIT may seem like a consolation prize to some, the journey and the experience that comes with it all is worth playing for and according to South Dakota coach Craig Smith, “Iowa is a good team that’s going to do some damage.”

Up next for the Iowa Hawkeyes they will take on Texas Christian University, who in the Big 12 Tournament knocked off number 1 ranked Kansas in the first round, Sunday March 19 at Carver Hawkeye Arena. Tipoff is expected for 6:30pm.

The post Hawkeyes Move To Second Round in NIT appeared first on KRUI Radio.

In order to help out any fan that has questions about their bracket, or just help making sure you know what you’re talking about at the water cooler this week, we’ll have a region by region tournament breakdown starting with the east regional.

The Favorites

Villanova- Jay Wright’s Wildcats enter the tournament as the number one overall seed after a 30-3 season as both the Big East regular season and conference tournament champions. Villanova’s greatest strength entering the tournament is big game experience, as they returned three starters and two key bench contributors from last season’s national championship team. The biggest question that the Wildcats have faced entering the tournament in recent seasons is can they escape the first weekend of the tourney, having lost three consecutive second round games as a #1 or #2 seed. Jay Wright’s club put those questions to rest last year by winning the title, and they look poised to make another deep run led by the Big East conference player of the Year Josh Hart.

Duke-  The Blue Devils had one of the more uneven seasons in college basketball, as coach K missed a chunk of Conference play due to back surgery and their preseason all-American was constantly in the news for all of the wrong reasons. However since coach K returned to the bench in February, the offense has come alive. Shooting guard Luke Kennard has been handed a larger role and he has answered in a big way, scoring over 20 ppg while shooting just below 45 percent from behind the arc. Throw in the emergence of future lottery pick Jayson Tatum and a more level-headed Grayson Allen, and now we have a Duke team entering the tournament as a #2 seed after just beating three top twenty teams to win the ACC tournament. Simply put; the Blue Devils are dangerous.

Everyone is Talking About…

SMU- The Mustangs jumped on to the college basketball scene last season, but were ineligible for the NCAA tournament due to NCAA sanctions. This season, the Mustangs played like a team hungry to prove they belong, winning 26 of their last 27 games, their only loss coming on the road by two points to an impressive Cincinnati squad. As a #6 seed in the tournament, their biggest questions seem to be that they didn’t beat enough quality opponents (only 2 top 50 RPI wins, both against Cincinnati) and lack of depth, as they only use six players in their rotation. While their thin rotation is a valid concern, it’s worth pointing out that the six players they use are all really talented basketball players that can defend multiple positions and dominate in transition. Led by 6’7 Duke transfer Semi Ojeleye, the Mustangs are balanced offensively with five double digit scorers. Any team that is that difficult to guard is a tough match up in March.

Don’t be Fooled by…

Virginia- Virginia has quietly developed into an ACC powerhouse under Tony Bennet. The last three seasons the Cavaliers have been at least a #2 seed in the tournament, but have never gotten past the elite 8. While Virginia’s offensive style has become synonymous with BORING, you can’t argue that their barrage of halfcourt sets that consistently burn 25-30 seconds of clock isn’t effective and infuriating for opposing defenses.  Experience and discipline have made Virginia a hot pick to go as far as at least the sweet 16, but I’m not optimistic about their chances. The last three seasons Virginia has had NBA caliber wings in Justin Anderson and Malcolm Brogdon that could make plays if their sets broke down, this year their best playmaker is senior point guard London Perrantes. Perrantes doesn’t have nearly enough size or speed to separate from defenders off the dribble consistently enough to bail out the Cavaliers the way Brogdon or Anderson could. For that reason Virginia will probably need more than a few lucky breaks to advance past the first weekend.

If the Slipper Fits…

UNC Wilmington- The Colonial Athletic Association champs drew Virginia in the first round after winning 29 games this season. I just highlighted Virginia’s faults at length, and UNC Wilmington can exploit those faults if they can control the tempo. They are second in the country in turnover rate and 10th in the country in scoring, with four players averaging over 12 ppg. The numbers line up, UNC Wilmington has the best chance of any double digit seed in this region of pulling off an upset or two.

Five Players to Watch

SO PG Jalen Bronson, Villanova- Brunson is calm, cool and collected. He’s proven that no lights are too bright for him, expect him to bring his A game.

SR C Amile Jefferson, Duke- With Jayson Tatum playing more at the four, more has been asked out of Jefferson as rim protector. He’s responded nicely by averaging 1.7 blocks and over 8 rebounds a game, the Blue Devils need him to keep playing at high level down low.

JR F Johnathan Motley, Baylor- Motley is the leading man for the Bears, averaging nearly a double-double. His size and athleticism on both ends is a major reason that the #3 seed is as successful as they are in transition and with their press.

JR F Semi Ojeleye, SMU- With the Mustangs using such a small rotation, their legs will give quicker then the other contenders in the region. They need an all tournament type performance from Ojeleye to advance to Phoenix.

SR PG Bronson Koenig, Wisconsin- Many people were surprised to see the Badgers down at the #8 seed, but they shouldn’t be. They don’t have many offensive options, and most of their options are one dimensional. If the decorated senior wants to make one last run into late March, he has to be their go-to option, not Nigel Hayes.

Predictions

Despite their lack of numbers, SMU doesn’t lack talent. They should have no problem with a play-in game winner and they should be able to take advantage of Baylor’s major turnover issues with an efficient transition game. The #4 seed Florida might not have to play a team seeded lower than #12 in the first two rounds, which gives them an advantageous first weekend schedule that I expect them to take advantage of. However, the bottom line in this regional is that Duke and Villanova are so talented that its too hard for me to believe anyone is knocking them out before the elite eight. In what could possibly the most important game of the tournament, many are expecting the red hot Blue Devils to win the region. However, despite Duke’s offensive firepower, they are vulnerable defensively especially off the dribble. Brunson and Hart are so skilled and decisive off the dribble, and I think that will be enough to give the Wildcats the edge in this one considering how tough they are defensively. Villanova will be heading back to their second straight final four.

The post NCAA Tournament Breakdown:East Region appeared first on KRUI Radio.

CBS reviled the field of 68 Sunday afternoon, leading most college basketball fans around the country to fill out their brackets. Each fan hoping to win their work pool, or the much more unlikely option, having a perfect bracket.

The name of the tournament speaks for itself, the tournament is unpredictable. The odds to accurately predicting a flawless bracket are about 1 in 9.2 quintillion.

Even with such unpredictability, there are a couple themes stand true about who is likely to be making the trip to Glendale for the Final Four. Year after year, the tournament is complete madness but the road to the Final Four is more simple than it would seem.

Veteran Guards Win Championships

Over the last ten years the team that cuts down the nets features a star, usually veteran, guard. Half of the last ten years Final Four Most Outstanding Players were upperclassmen. Add the Russ Smith and Payton Siva from Louisville’s win in 2013 to the mix as well.

Last year, Villanova’s Ryan Arcidiacono led his team through the gantlet NCAA tournament to their first National Championships since 1985. Coach Jay Wright touted Arcidiacono’s leadership skills, even saying he was a mini version of himself.

Arcidiacono scored 16 points in the championship game but was highlighted by the assist to Kris Jenkins that led to the buzzer-beating shot. Graduating a year ago, Villanova will be without Arcidiacono.

Villanova, among others, features a veteran guard. One that can assist is leading their team through the NCAA tournament.

Josh Hart, a senior for Villanova, is averaging just over 18 points-per-game, leading the team to their number-one seed in East Regional. Not only will his experience in college help but playing on the biggest stage last year won’t hurt.

Hart, a shooting guard, is at the mercy of sophomore Jalen Brunson leading the offense. Brunson and others still are able to find their leader to put on the points for the Wildcats.

Two other veteran shooting guards on power-conference teams have the ability to lead their squad deep into the tournament. UCLA’s Bryce Alford and Duke’s Grayson Allen both have experience on the big stage, Allen won the national championship in 2015.

Alford is playing for his father, Steve, who won the national championship in 1987. Now head UCLA coach, Steve played guard in college as well.

UCLA’s guard play is among the best in the country, featuring Alford and super-star freshman Lonzo Ball. Between the two, UCLA leads all teams averaging over 90 points-per-game.

Midwest Region number-one Kansas also has a two headed monster. Senior Frank Mason III and junior Devonte’ Graham, who alternate at point-guard. As a result, Mason and Graham account for around a fourth of the team’s points.

Mason is among the nation’s top scorers and that is something that is unlikely to change once tournament play begins. He is averaging 20 points-per-game this season.

Conference rival and Big 12 champion Iowa State is a slightly less likely championship contender. Despite being a five-seed, the Cyclones senior Monte Morris holds similar qualities to the above named guards.

Morris leads Iowa State is scoring and has played a key role in the Cyclones peaking at the right time. Morris isn’t the only veteran guard, three of his teammates that rank second, third, and fourth in scoring are also senior guards.

While Iowa State might not be Villanova or Kansas, they could be a team to watch.

Some lower seeded teams aren’t necessarily looking to raise the trophy in Glendale. Their hopes are to win just a game. Having a guard with a hot hand makes that all the more possible.

Winthrop senior Keon Johnson is top-ten in Division I with over 22 point-per-game. His Winthrop Eagles are a 13-seed and will play Butler but that isn’t anything to stop a player shooting 40-percent from behind the arch.

Making over a fourth of Winthrop’s points, Johnson will be an under the radar senior guard to watch on the first weekend.

Don’t Underestimate Anyone

It’s easy to pick by the seeds, and chances are that will result in a solid bracket. Since 2010, 62-percent of top-four seeds have advanced on to the sweet-sixteen. Fairly good odds with as many upsets that due happen.

Each year there are a group of teams that shake up the field and make it further than anyone expected. Whether 15-seed Florida Gulf Coast advancing to the regionals or George Mason making the Final Four, crazy things happen.

Last year was Syracuse, and it very well could be again, that made the Final Four as a double-digit seed. Teams like Wichita State, Butler, and VCU have recently advanced to the final weekend.

Other times it’s an early round upset that busts a bracket. Most times those are harder to predict. Trying to selected a low-seed that will take down a perennial power, it isn’t easy.

Year after year it seems that a 12-seed will knock-off a 5-seed. In the last five years, multiple 5-seeds have fallen each year except 2015.

Often the 12-line corresponds with the bubble. The teams assigned a 12-seed are either the last of the at-large or the best of the small automatic bids. This year that line includes UNC-Wilmington, Nevada, Princeton, and Middle Tennessee.

All four of the 12-seeds will be dangerous in the second round. Each squad boasts a factor that cannot be ignored.

UNC-Wilmington ranks top-five in offensive efficiency. Nevada’s Marcus Marshall averages just under 20 points-per-game. Princeton enters the tournament on a 19 game winning streak. Middle Tennessee, one year removed from upsetting 2-seed Michigan State, returns nearly their entire roster from last years’ team.

Even though the seeds are high, the Big Ten schools tend to show up when it matters. Michigan sits on the seven-line and Wisconsin an eight-seed.

Major conference schools that feel they are seeded low will show two different outcomes. Some will roll over and others will go out with something to prove.

The Big Ten, as a conference, is seeded lower than in the past. In addition, the committee also left out three teams form the big dance: Illinois, Iowa, and Indiana. Watching how the Big Ten will respond could present an entertaining tournament.

When All Else Fails, Pick a One-Seed

A one-seed has never lost in the first round of the NCAA tournament. It’s been close recently, Arizona and Gonzaga both narrowly escaping with single digit wins. The closest a 16 has ever come is one point.

The field features three number-one-seed teams from major conferences and one from a small mid-major. Villanova, Kansas, and North Carolina out of power basketball conferences are the odds on favorites to head to Glendale. Gonzaga, the West Coast Conference champions, have the best record of any team in the tournament.

Villanova and Kansas could face intriguing matchups in the third round. 8-seed Wisconsin is one win from Villanova and 9-seed Michigan State the same distance from Kansas. Both teams played in the Final Four two years ago.

North Carolina, the one-seed in the South Regional, has been the third most talked about school of the region. Both ESPN and CBS thought higher of Kentucky and UCLA out of that bracket than the Tar Heels, despite their regular season ACC title.

Multiple teams, all seeded anywhere from one to three, could have been on the one-line. UCLA, Duke, Kentucky, and Oregon could all make a run at the Final Four.

Look for the high seeds to be strong, even with as crazy as the year has been. The one-seeds have history on their side.

The post What to Look for in March Madness appeared first on KRUI Radio.

He exists every year. Lurking in the spotlight, fearing the shadows. You know him when you see him, he’s a stereotype. But that’s okay, you want to be stereotyped like this. He is the overly successful college basketball star whose ability to translate his game to the NBA is constantly questioned.

First it was Kyle Korver, then J.J. Reddick. Then Tyler Hansbrough and Jimmer Fredette. Doug McDermott was his most recent incarnation. Fresh off his 18.7 point, 8 rebound Naismith Player of the Year award winning season, Wisconsin center Frank Kaminsky is the next man to step into this role.

Kaminsky is every college basketball purist’s dream. He was a 3-Star recruit out of high school who worked his way from the end of Wisconsin’s bench as a freshman to the best college basketball player in the country by the end of his senior year. He was the emotional leader of the college basketball team of all college basketball teams. The Badgers were a scrappy Big Ten squad whose success greatly exceeded the sum of its parts. Kaminsky was the glue that held that unit together. A senior leader playing the way Kaminsky did was a fresh change of pace in the One-And-Done Era.

In his excellent senior season, Kaminsky lead the Badgers to a 36-4 record, Big Ten regular season and tournament championships, a return to trip to the Final Four, and their first national championship game in the Bo Ryan era. Kaminsky did all of this while on his way to winning both the AP Player of the Year Award and the Naismith Player of the Year Award.

As the college allocates rolled in, Kaminsky shot up draft boards rising from a bottom of the first round prospect to a prospect on the fringes of the lottery. He is currently ranked 13th on Chad Ford’s Big Board. This comes after starting the season in the mid-20s.

This type of rise breeds jealously, jealously breeds contempt, contempt breeds questions. Like several college stars before him, people do not believe Kaminsky warrants a lottery pick.

The placement of the top-college-star-questionable-pro in the draft hierarchy varies from year-to-year. Korver was taken late in the 2nd round with the 51st pick by the 76ers in 2003. The Magic and Bulls elected to make both JJ Reddick and Doug McDermott the 11th picks in their respective drafts. Tyler Hansbrough slipped to the 2nd to last pick in the lottery when the Pacers took him 13th. Jimmer Fredette and all of the legend associated with him was picked 10th by the Kings.

Mock drafts have Kaminsky in varying spots. DraftExpress projects him to go in the 10th spot to the Pacers. ESPN’s Mock Draft Lottery Game rarely shows Kaminsky’s name no matter how many times you play it. Where Kaminsky gets drafted is sort of irrelevant. We know someone is going to take him, probably in the picks 10-20 range. The real question now becomes: Will Kaminsky work out as a pro?

The answer: Absolutely.

Let’s take a second to ponder the landscape of the NBA in 2015. Teams crave big men that can shoot. Channing Frye is in the first year of a 4-year deal that will pay him $32 million over the life of the deal. Fyre is a valuable role player but there are lots of valuable role players who don’t get 4 year deals that pay them 8 million bucks a year. What makes Fyre special is that he is 6’11 and has shot 38.6% in career from behind the arc.

The genesis of the shooting big man trend began in 2012 when the Heat began playing LeBron James at power forward and surrounding him with shooters for optimal floor spacing. The Knicks tried to follow suit with Carmelo Anthony in a similar role in 2013.

When everyone realized they did not have the player the caliber of James and Anthony to be a shooting power forward, they took a new approach. Finding a real big man who can shoot 3s (like Frye) or teaching the bigs already on their roster to shoot. Traditional back-to-the-basket players have been migrated to around the 3-point line emulating Frye. Just ask Kevin Love; Or Serge Ibaka.

Channing Frye is an average NBA player being valued as a major asset. Love and Ibaka are extremely skilled offensive players who were told to scrap their game learn to make threes. The NBA is changing and Frank Kaminsky is the perfect big man for this new space and pace era.

The 7-foot tall Kaminsky shot 41.5% from 3 in his senior season at Wisconsin, a number that has gradually climbed since his dismal 28.6% freshman year. NBA teams will view Kaminsky as a ready made version of what they envision guys like Love and Ibaka becoming when they get pushed behind the arc. I’m not saying Kaminsky is better than those players, that’d be ridiculous, but he does fit this role better. The NBA is a league of fits and teams will see Kaminsky as a guy that they can use a legitimate pick-and-pop threat or as a guy that defenses will respect if he’s standing in the corner behind the 3-point line. His game will fit right into the 2015 NBA.

Kaminsky also brings another valuable skill to the NBA table with his passing. At Wisconsin Frank the Tank was a true triple threat when he caught the ball behind the arc. He could shoot, drive, or pass it depending on what the defense gave him. As NBA offenses continue to drag big men farther away from the basket this passing becomes even more valuable.

I’ve gone this long without mentioning it and it but it’s healthier for all of us just to talk about: Kaminsky’s patented spin move. This move is money on the block, it will destroy the hearts of opposing fans. It’s dull, boring, annoying, painful to watch, and it works every time. If Kaminsky is given the chance it will also work in the pros or at least be serviceable enough to work as vehicle to pass out of and keep the offense moving. While Kaminsky’s perimeter game is what teams will find desirable, his inside game isn’t too shabby either.

The case against the National Player of the Year making it in the pros starts and ends with his defense. Granted, defense is half of the game so that could be a problem. Kaminsky struggles defending the post and skilled bigs tend to push him around. Jahlil Okafor had a field day with him in the National Championship Game but Okafor has a NBA level post game. Even the less polished Karl-Anthony Towns went to work against Kaminsky on the block in the National Semi-Final to the tune of 16 points on 7-11 shooting. The good news for Big Frank: like we just talked about earlier, the post-up big men is a dying breed in the NBA (Regardless of what Charles Barkley and Shaq say).

The bigger concerns teams will have about Kaminsky’s defense is his ability to defend the pick-and-roll. Not many Big Ten teams run spread pick and roll so Kaminsky hasn’t seen much of the look over the course of his college career. However against Duke Kamisnky looked lost as Tyus Jones and Jahlil Okafor carved Wisconsin’s defense up like a fine Easter ham down the stretch running exactly these typ8e of plays. Kaminsky looked slow and confused as Jones was unleashed for 19 points in the second half on the way to Duke’s 5th National Championship in school history. Guarding a pick-and-roll against the likes of Steph Curry, James Harden, or LeBron will be a challenge for Kaminsky at the next level.

That being said, Frank Kaminsky is still going to make it. He has NBA level offensive skills and the game is changing in a way that fits what he does. So many times NBA GMs guess wrong by betting on talent and athleticism over basketball skills. Kaminsky has NBA ready made-skills. He also has limitations and will need to be paired with a rim protector early on, but 7-footers can learn to play defense over time. Very few guys can learn the big bag of tricks Kaminsky has offensively. He won the Naismith Player of the Year because he’s really good at playing offensive basketball. Frank Kaminsky will be good in the NBA for this exact same reason; the guy is really good at playing offensive basketball. For a lot of people the fun stops when they leave college, for Frank Kaminsky the fun seems like it’s just getting started.

The post Can Frank Kaminsky make it in the NBA? appeared first on KRUI Radio.