A look ahead to the contest between Northwestern and Iowa tomorrow.

The Hawkeyes had a few opportunities to close the game out against Purdue last weekend in West Lafayette. In a game where Iowa had a few spots of momentum it was, the defense that couldn’t hold it together for four straight quarters.

Purdue scored 38 points and accumulated almost 450 yards of total offense.

That was the most points Iowa had given up all season and the most yards it had given up since the Wisconsin game.

This weekend, the Northwestern Wildcats will make the four hour trek west and come into Iowa City being the leaders of the Big Ten West. Sitting at 5-4 overall and 5-1 in conference play, the Wildcats have the inside track of representing the division in the Big Ten Championship in a few weeks time.

When asked about the outlook of the division the rest of the way, as well as the Iowa and Purdue going on just before its games against Notre game kicked off, Northwestern Head Coach Pat Fitzgerald offered little insight into that.

“I was watching for a little bit, but no I’m not aware of our status.”

Northwestern offensive lineman Tommy Doles said after the Notre Dame game that the end goal is still insight and a key to getting closer to their goal starts this weekend against Iowa.

“We set out to win the West this year and that’s what we’re planning to do,” Doles said. “We’re going to learn our lessons from this game and then put it away really fast, because we have a big one coming up next week.”

A big one, indeed Mr. Doles.

It is of note that Iowa is still ranked eight in the country in total defense. Even before last week when Iowa’s defense was still in the top five, top ten is nothing to snuff about. Iowa gives up around 284 yards per game. The only other Big Ten defense ranked in the top-20 is Michigan. Michigan gives up a measly 216 yards per game.

On the ground, Iowa is the fifth-ranked rushing defense in the country allowing just over 86 yards a game to its opponents.

At times this season, the Wildcats have entirely abandoned the run. There was a three game stretch in September and into October where Northwestern did not mount more than 32 yards of rushing offense in any of its games. The past few weeks, on the other hand, the ‘Cats have tallied 418 yards of rushing offense and a total of seven rushing touchdowns.

The passing defense for Iowa ranks in the top 40 nationally. Not as fantastic as its rushing defense, but still better than over two-thirds of the other programs in the FBS.

Northwestern has had games where it passes for over 400 yards and games when it passes for under 150.

Offensively for the Hawkeyes, they will be back at home. The Kinnick crowd is sure to give them an extra boost when at times the past few weeks they haven’t been able to find one. The defense will also be back on its own turf and ready to get to Northwestern quarterback Clayton Thorson.

Iowa and Northwestern will kick off shortly after 2:30 p.m. You can listen to coverage of the game at KRUI’s Mixlr page.

The post Iowa v Northwestern Preview appeared first on KRUI Radio.

Once to a Penn State team with arguably the most dynamic player in college football. The other, at the hands of an improving Michigan State team. One came at home, the other in East Lansing.

Four wins and two losses at the midway point sets the Hawkeyes on track to equal last year’s record. Another eight win, four loss would be shooting par in Iowa City.

Although, these two losses have a different value. Both, through a fairly short connection chain, trace back to an undefeated team.

Penn State is simple, they are still undefeated. They’ve risen in the polls from fourth, the ranking given to them prior to traveling to Kinnick, to second after some losses above them. Only the juggernaut Alabama leads the Nittany Lion in the polls.

A close loss to Penn State helps. Obviously a win would’ve carried a greater weight but to play the number four team tough speaks as well.

The loss on the road against Michigan State is slightly more difficult to track. There is a middle man between the Spartans and the unbeaten. Michigan State has one loss to Notre Dame.

Notre Dame, who has snuck unnoticed into the top-15, also only has one loss. Theirs came at the hand

of Georgia. The Bulldogs are the other undefeated with ties to the Hawkeyes.

Both Georgia and Penn State are ranked in the top-three. Both appear, at least thus far, to have a team capable of competing with the Crimson Tide. It won’t be long until the “We Want Bama” signs appear on College Gameday from the Penn State or Georgia faithful.

Iowa, coming off a bye week, gets Northwestern followed by rival Minnesota. Only then do they face the challenge of handling Ohio State and undefeated Wisconsin. If 8-4 is the projected outlook, those are the two games that will drop.

They have their noted struggles but maybe this team isn’t all that bad. It’s a bold move to make but the Hawkeyes get someone every year. Ohio State and Wisconsin, one of them might end up on the wrong side.

The post Glimpse at Iowa’s Losses appeared first on KRUI Radio.

As a Bears fan, the last decade or so of draft picks has produced little worth celebrating. The bears have only extended four draft picks since the 2007 draft, and right guard Kyle Long is the only current  Bear draft pick that is in his second contract with the team. That track record is just awful, but general manager Ryan Pace is determined to change that in his third draft with the team. The Bears have seven picks in the draft, with two fourth rounders and no sixth rounder, and will have the third overall pick behind the Cleveland Browns and San Francisco 49ers.

For this mock draft, I included trades, made mock selections for each one of the Bears seven picks, and highlighted a number two option for each of the Bears first three rounds. Let’s get to it.

First Round-pick #3- Jamal Adams, Safety, LSU

If Adams is Gone? Jonathan Allen, Defensive Lineman, Alabama

The Bears secondary has been dreadful since Lovie Smith was fired in 2012, especially at safety. The Bears haven’t had a pro bowl safety since Mike Brown, and last season the Bears started four different combinations at the position. With there being so few options at the top of the draft at premium value positions like quarterback, offensive tackle, and pass rusher, Adams provides the Bears with playmaking ability in the back end of the defense. He’s a well rounded athlete who can play downhill in the run game, match up man-to-man on tight ends, and showed good range in zone coverage at LSU by snagging four picks his Junior season. While Jonathan Allen was dominant at Alabama, and would be a welcomed and immediate contributor on the defensive line along with Eddie Goldman and Akiem HIcks, the Bears can’t afford to take a player in this spot who has an extensive injury history. Allen has already had both of his shoulders operated on and it has been reported that he may already be suffering from arthritis in those shoulders. Adams on the other hand not only has a clean bill of health, but has been lauded by almost everyone in the evaluation process for his leadership ability. Considering that  the only secondary prospects that rival Adams, Malik Hooker and Marshon Lattimore from Ohio State, both come with reasonable durability concerns, Adams seems to be the safest and most sensible pick for the Bears at #3.

Second Round- pick#36- Adoree Jackson, CB/KR, USC

If Jackson is Gone? Chris Wormley,Defensive End, Michicgan

As I mentioned earlier, it’s no secret that the Bears secondary has been one of the league’s most disappointing for a few years now. An area where they are desperately lacking production is in the turnover department. The Bears were tied for dead last in the NFL in interceptions last season with eight. That number is abysmal, which is why I think Jackson would be another welcomed addition to the back end along with Adams. He played on the outside and inside at nickel over his career and picked off five passes while deflecting 11 more last season. Wormley may be the more polished prospect as of now, but defensive coordinator Vic Fangio has proven time and again he can take athletic players that are a little rough around the edges and develop them quickly. Throw in Jackson’s ability to step in day one as an NFL kick returner, and that’s a whole lot of potential value in the second round.

Third Round-TRADE DOWN WITH BUFFALO-pick #75- Tarrell Basham, OLB, Buffalo

If the Bears stay put? Nathan Peterman, QB, Pitt

 The Bears have the 67th overall pick, and with a few teams sporting multiple fifth rounders that may be eyeing a quarterback in the middle of the draft, this feels as good a spot as any to trade back for an extra pick in this deep draft. The Bears have been quiet about having any interest in some of the middle of the pack quarterback prospects, so if they aren’t in love with Peterman or Cal’s Davis Webb, find someone who is and make a deal. The third round projects to be full of pass rushing prospects, and Buffalo’s Tarell Basham has the body type at 6’4, 270 pounds to be a force off of the edge in the Bears 3-4 scheme. He played against weak competition in the MAC, but he can sit and learn behind veterans Willie Young and Pernell McPhee until he’s ready.

Fourth Round-pick #111- Brad Kaaya, QB, Miami FL

The Bears have done a lot of extensive research and scouting on this years quarterback class, but Ryan Pace continues to remain mum on the position and his interest on any one prospect. The two mid round prospects that have been most frequently linked to the Bears are Davis Webb and Brad Kaaya. Kaaya has three years of starting experience and has put up some pretty solid numbers in the ACC, and many scouts and coaches that have worked with him have praised his football intelligence. He obviously has some flaws in his game, with pocket presence and inconsistent accuracy under pressure being his most notable weaknesses, but the Bears have put off drafting a developmental quarterback for too long. Kayaa provides nice value for the Bears on the third day and he can sit behind Mike Glennon for a year or two and develop.

Fourth Round-pick #117-Josh Reynolds, WR, Texas A&M

Reynolds’ lack of strength and quickness will drop him into the middle rounds of the draft, but at 6’4 with 4.52 speed and a 37 inch vertical there will be plenty of teams who will be after the all SEC receiver. Mike Glennon was at his best in Tampa Bay making spot throws to taller targets Mike Evans and Vincent Jackson, and while the Bears added Marcus Wheaton and Kendall Wright in free agency, neither one of them has the height or speed that Reynolds possesses. The Bears can’t count on former first rounder Kevin White coming back healthy and with Alshon Jeffrey gone, it’s imperative that the Bears add another toy for Glennon to play with.

Fifth Round-pick#147-Adam Bisnowaty,OT,Pittsburgh

The interior of the Bears offensive line is set for years to come, but starting tackles Charles Leno and Bobby Massie had their fair share of struggles last season. The Bears didn’t make any serious additions at offensive tackle in the offseason, so the 6’6 three year starter will have the opportunity to step right in as the team’s swing tackle off the bench.

Fifth Round-pick#156-Isaac Rochelle, DE, Notre Dame

The Bears have more needs than they can address in their first five picks, so one major need will be addressed later than it should have. The way I see this draft shaking out, I would bet that defensive line is the one spot where the Bears end up passing on some guys in the early rounds and settling late in the draft. The leader in the clubhouse for the Bears starting defensive end opposite of Akeim Hicks is last years third round pick Jonathan Bullard. There were concerns in Hallas Hall that Bullard was too lazy and inconsistent and it cost him playing time. If nothing else, the high motor Rochelle can provide effort and energy that can hopefully push Bullard to raise his competitiveness, and hopefully that will result in better production on the field.

Seventh Round-pick#221- Jacob Hollister, TE, Wyoming

It’s anyone’s guess as to how the last round will play out, but I’m guessing that the Bears add to a position that was sorely lacking after Zach Miller went down for the season with a foot injury. The Bears added a block first tight end Dion Sims in free agency and return the oft-injured Miller, and that’s about it. According to pro football focus, Hollister has the potential to be a serious threat down the field, comparing him to Julius Thomas.

So there you have it, eight picks, split evenly between offense and defense. Let’s trust that Ryan Pace knows what he’s doing, the Bears don’t have any more room for error.

The post Chicago Bears Mock Draft appeared first on KRUI Radio.

The Favorites

Gonzaga- Don’t let their status as a mid major fool you, Gonzaga has been a giant for a while now. They’ve been a tournament regular for the last two decades and have made it to the sweet 16 the last two season, including an elite eight appearance in 2015. Now don’t get me wrong, Gonzaga’s conference is an absolute walk in the park, and they were a #1 seed just four seasons ago only to fall in the second round. Still, most consider this Gonzaga team to be their best one yet, and I would have to agree. The main reason why, which has been well documented, is their three major out of conference wins against top 20 opponents. Iowa State. Florida. Arizona. If Duke or Kentucky or even a program like Maryland had three wins like that in their first eight games, critics would be singing their praises from the mountain tops. Gonzaga has sustained enough recent success to deserve that same praise. The Zags are 13th in scoring, 10th in scoring defense, and have a plus 23.4 point differential. No one has beaten Gonzaga outside of a fortunate BYU team at the end of regular season play. The Bulldogs got back on track in their conference tourney and ended with an exclamation point against a quality Saint Mary’s squad. Don’t expect Gonzaga to be going home anytime soon.

Arizona- Maybe the hottest team in the country right now. They’ve lost only four games all season, all to teams that are a #4 seed or lower in the NCAA tournament, which gives them the strongest resume of losses in the country. But at the end of the day its about the games you win, and despite winning 27 total games and 16 out of 18 in the PAC 12, it seemed as if Arizona played the entire season in the shadows of UCLA and Oregon. That changed in dramatic fashion last week, as Arizona beat both the Bruins and the Ducks on back to back nights to capture the PAC 12 conference tournament title. What impressed the nation most during those two wins was the play of 7’0 Finnish freshman Lauri Markkanen who averages over 15 points and seven boards a game while shooting just under 50 percent including 43 percent from deep. Much like Gonzaga, Arizona is a serious force to be reckoned with.

Everyone is Talking About…

Notre Dame- The #5 seed seems a tad low for the Irish considering their strong 12-6 conference record in a loaded ACC, including seven total wins against NCAA tournament foes and a trip to the conference title game. The Irish seem to always fly under the radar, but their back to back elite eight trips might have forced teams to finally take notice. However, just because opponents have taken notice of ND doesn’t mean the Irish will go down any easier. They have four different players that average over 13ppg and they can score from inside and out. All conference power forward Bonzie Colson has led the Irish all year, averaging 17.5ppg and over 10 rebounds a contest. At only 6’5, he plays like he’s 6’9 and has wowed opposing players, coaches, and fans game in and game out. The biggest obstacle the Irish face, especially if they get to the sweet 16 and face Gonzaga, is they seldom play anyone over 6’8. Mike Brey has found ways to play around their lack of size all season, and Irish fans should be hopeful that he can continue to work small ball magic in the tournament.

Don’t be Fooled by…

Maryland- The Terrapins came out of the gates with an impressive 20-2 start and were the early favorites to win the Big Ten title. A deeper look at the numbers show that their hot start was just a smokescreen. Only two of their first 20 wins were against the RPI top 50 opponents, both came at home and neither team spent any time this season in the top 25. The Terps then unsurprisingly lost six of their last 10 and are limping into March. Outside of all-conference point guard Melo Trimble, Maryland doesn’t have another playmaker. A major theme in this tournament is the emergence of several talented underclassmen, but Maryland’s three freshman starters leave much to be desired. Guard Anthony Cowan provides Trimble some relief as a ball handler, Kevin Huerter helps spread the floor as a shooter, and Justin Jackson provides some inside out flexibility at the four. But none of the three, nor senior starting center Damonte Dodd, provide enough support on the offensive end to make them a serious threat. Melo Trimble might have enough heroics left in him for one more win before he presumably bolts for the draft, but Maryland’s ceiling is probably the second round.

If the Slipper Fits….

Xavier-  Maryland’s first round opponent has limped into the tournament very much in the same fashion as Maryland has, with one huge exception. Their starting point guard Edmond Summer returned from injury in the conference tournament and helped the Musketeers win a huge game against Butler, arguably their best win of the season. Unlike Maryland, Xavier has multiple scoring options as all three of their starting guards average over 14 ppg. Xavier was a promising team before Summer got hurt, and there is reason to be optimistic that they can catch lightning in a bottle this weekend with Summer back in the lineup.

Five Players to Watch 

SO SG Alonzo Trier, Arizona- Trier was suspended for the first 19 games of the season for a controversial failed drug test. In fifteen games this season he has led the Wildcats with 17.3 ppg while shooting over 41 percent from three. The presence of Trier in the lineup has many people believing the Wildcats can win the title

JR PG Nigel Williams-Goss, Gonzaga-  The Bulldogs’ leading scorer and assist man is also their most suffocating perimeter defender. Considering the vast amount of talented guards in this tournament, Williams-Goss is vital to Gonzaga’s chances of winning the title.

SO G/F Dwayne Bacon, Florida State- The leading scorer for the regional’s #3 see

d has all of the physical tools to excel at the next level, and he’s shown enough glimpses of that raw talent to help lead the Seminoles to an impressive 25 win season. However, he has yet to mesh all of his talents together to the point where the nation is convinced that Florida State is a real contender.

FR PF/C Jonathan Isaac, Florida State – See above.

SR SG  Steve Vasturia, Notre Dame- Yes, he’s only been playing for four years. I couldn’t believe it either. The decorated senior will be responsible for leading the Fighting Irish’s three point attack, which needs to be successful in order to make up for his team’s lack of size.

Predictions

I have been praising Notre Dame quite a bit, so it should come as no surprise that I believe they will come out and handle both Princeton and (presumably) West Virginia. The most potentially intriguing game in the regional could be Notre Dame and Gonzaga. Even though ND has gotten to the elite eight the last two years by beating teams they shouldn’t have, I have trouble believing that their most prolific player Bonzie Colson will be able to dominate the paint the way he normally does against the 7’3 Przemek Karnowski. On the bottom half of the bracket, I don’t think there is a lower seed with enough fire power to win two games, including Xavier. That would pin FSU against Arizona in the sweet 16. The duo of Bacon and Isaac likely isn’t enough to top the balanced and dangerous WIldcats, advantage Arizona.

Just like the east regional, I believe the top two seeds in the regional will face off against each other in the regional final. Even though Gonzaga beat Arizona on a neutral floor this season, that was without Alonzo Trier. With Trier being reinstated and Markkanen looking like an unstoppable force in the PAC 12 tournament, it’s hard to imagine anyone beating Arizona right now. Expect Arizona to match up against Villanova in the final four.

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

After nearly 17 years, Notre Dame has decided to go with another outfitter. But if Adidas could not have the contract, it would definitely belong to Nike right? Wrong.

Arguably the most storied collegiate athletic program in history just signed a ten-year deal with the relative newcomer, Under Armour.

Though no exact figure has been confirmed, according to ESPN the value of the deal, in cash and merchandise combined, is worth about $90 million. This would make this contract the richest shoe and apparel deal in college sports.

As an Irish fan I am happy to see them switching fromAdidas. Personally I have always found the Adidas merchandise to be a bit bland, and until lately I felt the same about the uniforms. Hopefully Under Armour will bring some of the occasional flashy uniforms like with Texas Tech or Maryland, but will primarily go with traditional styles as they have done with Auburn.

I realize it is a bit silly to treat something as mundane as new uniforms as a news worthy event, but this is a new era. Uniforms play a much bigger role than they used to. Within the past several years they have created quite a boom in revenue and even recruiting. Anymore, it can play almost as big of a role as the playbook or even the coaching staff. Rather than it being a question of “who to play for”, it has become “which would I rather wear?” There is a reason Oregon lands top recruits each year.

However, this is not to say that Notre Dame does not receive top recruits. Not every successful school has the flashy threads. Alabama, Auburn, and Oklahoma seem to do just fine with traditional uniforms, as reputation and coaching seem to be the major recruiting factor with all of them. Still, having the occasional “pro combat” uniform can do a lot for not only recruiting, but for fan interest as well. I am in my third year now at Iowa and one thing that usually comes up when watching football is when the Hawkeyes will get one. So if one says uniforms do not matter, then they have not been paying attention recently.

Regardless of what the new merge with Under Armour will bring, one thing is for certain, much like the Irish’s contract with NBC, it is definitely not going to lose them any money.

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