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.

Iowa has had the best of luck with these kinds of stories. Just this year, the Kinnick Wave captured the hearts and minds of the nation, even winning the annual Disney Spirit Sports Award. But, if you had the chance to be at the Purdue-Iowa slaughter at Carver, the annual Chris Street reminded the Iowa faithful of why we love sports.

January 19^th, 2018 marks the 25^th anniversary of the passing of Hawkeye legend Chris Street. Street lived out his dream, even if it was marked short. The legend of Chris Street was never about his stats. Street’s passion was such a high intensity that the only thing you’d be able to do is be in awe. And smile. Chris did that a lot, another level of the legend. Not only did Street have an unparalleled passion for the game, but his lovable personality and magnetic smile was equally a force to be reckoned.

Iowa fell in love with Chris Street because Street was Iowa embodied. Street had the “Iowa Nice” personality commonly found in the Hawkeye State and held the tenacity of the court that is a by-product of his tough, blue collar work ethic. But, more than anything, Chris Street woke up everyday wanting to do nothing more than to play basketball for his Hawkeyes. The University of Iowa released a video and showed the same video during halftime of the Purdue-Iowa contest one day after the 25^th anniversary of his passing. The following link goes to the inspirational tribute: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48dGMn_muYk.

The game prior to and following the Chris Street tribute did not have the match the intensity of the Iowa legend. Purdue put Iowa out of the game in the first ten minutes of the first half and merely poured on the point. Making the game seem like nothing more than a morning stroll, the Boilermakers sliced through the soft Iowa defense on its way to a Big10 record in most 3-pointers in a game. 20 shots fell out to 33 attempted from beyond the arc for the third nationally ranked Purdue squad. Iowa could and would not come close after taking an early 3-0 lead in an eventual 87-64 loss.

Purdue will be taking their talents back home to West Lafayette, Indiana in a matchup against Michigan on Thursday, January 25^th at 6 pm CST. The next game for the Iowa comes with another tribute to Chris Street. However, in this Tuesday contest against the hated Wisconsin Badgers, Iowa will be wearing the Gold jerseys. Iowa faces Wisconsin on January 23 in Carver-Hawkeye Arena at 6 pm CST.

The post Forever 40: Remembering Chris Street appeared first on KRUI Radio.

All those adjectives can be used to describe the character and play of Chris Street, the former Hawkeye great who passed away 25 years ago in a car accident during his junior season. In situations like this, it’s important to seek the help of an experienced lawyer here to navigate the legal process and obtain justice for the victim and their loved ones. On Saturday, when the Iowa Hawkeyes hosted a top-3 ranked Purdue team and honored Street – with his family and dozens of former Hawkeye players and coaches in attendance – none of those adjectives could be used to describe the team’s play.

Iowa fell behind early and never were able to claw back, falling to the Boilermakers, 87–64. The Hawkeyes outscored Purdue in the second half, but a 31-point halftime deficit left Iowa in a hole they could not come out of.

For Purdue (19–2, 8–0 Big Ten), the win marks the end of a four game losing streak at Carver-Hawkeye Arena that dated back six years. The Boilermakers sank 11 three-pointers in the first half and nine in the second half to set a school record for made 3-point field goals in a single game. They shot 61% from deep.

Iowa (10–10, 1–7 Big Ten) took an early 3–0 lead just over two minutes into the game, but would never lead again. Four minutes later, the Boilermakers had hit four threes and held a 17–6 advantage. The Hawkeyes were never able to figure out a defensive plan to stop a staggering offensive attack from Purdue in the first half.

“They shoot it, they can throw it inside, and they can share it,” said Iowa head coach Fran McCaffery. “They have a special team.”

Purdue’s starting lineup, with four seniors and one sophomore, scored 70 of the team’s 87 points. The only time Purdue struggled to score was late in the second half, long after the team’s starters had departed.

Carsen Edwards, Purdue’s crafty young point guard, led the team with 22 points, including connecting on 6 of 9 three-point attempts. The Boilers’ 6-foot-8 power forward Vincent Edwards (of no relation) had 19 points, including 3 made threes. Dakota Mathias and P. J. Thompson also scored in double figures for Purdue.

For Iowa, Luka Garza led the team with 19 points on 8 of 10 shooting from the floor, much of which came during a complete takeover by the freshman big man in the second half.

“I got a couple shots from the outside, got shots from the inside,” said Garza on his second-half performance. “I was feeling it for a little bit there.”

Iowa got unusually unproductive play from Tyler Cook, who was 3 of 8 from the floor and failed to reach double figures in points for just the sixth time this season. Jordan Bohannon also scored just nine, and hit only one three-pointer after hitting five in each of his last three games.

Perhaps the best summation of Iowa’s performance came with just under three minutes left to play in the first half. With the Hawkeyes trailing by 29, a packed Carver-Hawkeye Arena let out sarcastic cheers after a missed three-point shot by Carsen Edwards. Dom Uhl collected the rebound and threw an outlet pass down to Cordell Pemsl, who was all alone for a layup – before it was blocked from behind by a sprinting Vincent Edwards, who turned the block into a layup of his own, extending Purdue’s lead.

Never in the game did Iowa show as much defensive effort as Purdue did on that possession. Even as the Boilermakers continued to sink three-pointers with little effort from the top of the key, Iowa failed to make immediate adjustments to their on-ball defense.

When questioned about Iowa’s defensive game plan, McCaffery pointed to Purdue’s senior big man, 7-foot-2 Isaac Haas, as a reason for why the defense was not guarding the three-point line as hard. Yet Haas only played 18 minutes due to foul trouble and took only one shot – which he made.

Asked if he felt that the messages he was sending to the team, which has now lost five of its past six, were being received, a discouraged McCaffery replied that he has “seen change”. Whatever change he saw did not show up for the Hawkeyes on Saturday morning.

“We’ve just got to keep working,” Bohannon said. “At the end of the day that’s the attitude you have to have during adversity.”

Iowa is back in action on Tuesday when they host Wisconsin.

The post Iowa Outclassed by Purdue on Chris Street Day 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.

This storied conference is rich in past glory, but the teams continue to make history every year. All fourteen teams are in a constant battle for supremacy in the conference and the 2017 Big Ten season is just getting underway.

14. Rutgers – 0 AP Votes – Notable Wins: N/A

(1-3, 0-1) Next Game: vs #11 Ohio State

Before losing in Lincoln, Rutgers got its first win on the season against the Morgan State Bears. The Scarlet Knights have struggled to get much going so far this season, but put up a fight against Nebraska.

Looking for its first conference win since Oct. 17, 2015, Rutgers has a tough test against Ohio State coming. Senior quarterback Kyle Bolin has thrown for a subpar 642 yards this season and they’ll need a more impressive outing from him if the team wants to beat a ranked team for the first time since 2009.

13. Illinois – 0 AP Votes – Notable Wins: N/A

(2-1, 0-0) Next Game: vs Nebraska

Illinois lost its first game on the season against #22 South Florida, but it wasn’t all that close. Quarterback Chayce Crouch was benched midway through the game in favor of backup Jeff George Jr. It wasn’t just the offense that struggled, the Illini defense allowed 680 yards of offense on Friday night.

Illinois has a good chance of getting a win at home and tying last season’s win total. Tanner Lee has been struggling for Nebraska and freshman running back Mike Epstein should thrive against a Nebraska defense that allows upwards of 350 yards a game.

12. Nebraska – 0 AP Votes – Notable Wins: vs Rutgers

(2-2, 1-0) Next Game: at Illinois

The nonconference has been a disappointment for the Huskers. A 1-2 start got athletic director Shawn Eichorst canned and head coach Mike Riley cannot afford to lose this one. Considering the next two games are Wisconsin and Ohio State, this contest becomes all the more important.

Junior QB Tanner Lee has disappointed for Nebraska by leading the Big Ten with nine interceptions through four starts. He’s thrown 146 times for 898 yards, but has cost his team plenty of chances down the stretch. This will be a great stage for Lee to prove that he’s worth his weight.

11. Northwestern – 0 AP Votes – Notable Wins: N/A

(2-1, 0-0) Next Game: at Wisconsin

Northwestern was a sleeper pick to win the Big Ten West this season, but after the walloping at the hands of Duke, it’s not looking as likely. Clayton Thorson has been uninspiring thus far and the defense hasn’t backed him up.

The Wildcats have turned the ball over seven times in three games and they head to Camp Randall Stadium for its toughest test of the year. Wisconsin has a Big Ten best +5 turnover margin so far and will not make it easy for Thorson.

10. Maryland – 0 AP Votes – Notable Wins: at Texas

(2-1, 0-0) Next Game: at Minnesota

You’ve got to feel for this Terrapins squad. Both Tyrell Pigrome and Kasim Hill have suffered season-ending injuries and the team is now relying on sophomore Max Bortenschlager. Regardless of who’s throwing, the team will depend on star wide receiver D.J. Moore who leads the conference in receiving yards (323) and touchdowns (four).

Winning in Minneapolis is much easier for an east coast team now than in frigid mid-November, so that’s one solace the Terps can take. The team has done well to take care of the ball thus far and Bortenschlager will have to improve quickly to compete at TCF.

9. Indiana – 0 AP Votes – Notable Wins: at Virginia

(2-1, 0-1) Next Game: at Penn State

Freshman running back Morgan Ellison ran for 186 yards and two scores in his first career start which is great news for Indiana. The team struggled on the ground in its first two games and Ellison will need to exploit Penn State’s linebacking corps to stand a chance.

There’s no real chance that Indiana wins this football game in Happy Valley and the near future doesn’t look much better for the Hoosiers. However, the team gave Ohio State a run for its money in the first half a month ago and can still air it out despite the defense’s deficiencies.

8. Michigan State – 0 AP Votes – Notable Wins: N/A

(2-1, 0-0) Next Game: vs Iowa

Getting dismantled in East Lansing by Notre Dame is no way to end the nonconference slate, but no one expected an insane Spartan resurgence this season. After a forgettable 3-9 season, MSU sophomore Brian Lewerke leads the charge to kick off the Big Ten schedule against Iowa.

Sparty is favored in this one, but the team will have their hands full against the Hawkeyes. The team’s only test thus far has been a home blowout, so the team will need to reset for the Big Ten schedule. The team is already much better than last year and improvement is certain.

7. Purdue – 0 AP Votes – Notable Wins: at Missouri

(2-2, 0-1) Next Game: BYE

The Boilermakers have been an oddity of sorts in the Big Ten. Purdue has gone from nearly upsetting the defending Heisman winner on opening weekend and dismantling Missouri last week to losing handily at home to Michigan and its backup QB.

Switching between Elijah Sindelar and David Blough has been a roller coaster for the team with both QBs notching over five touchdowns so far. Heading into a bye week will give the coaching staff enough time to evaluate its shot caller scenario before the Minnesota game.

6. Minnesota – 3 AP Votes – Notable Wins: at Oregon State

(3-0, 0-0) Next Game: vs Maryland

PJ Fleck has rowed the boat to an undefeated nonconference schedule and his defense has dominated. The Gophers have allowed three touchdowns in as many games and have six takeaways so far.

At home against Maryland, Minnesota and its running game should roll over an already depleted Maryland squad. The Terps have allowed 39.5 points per game in their two contests against FBS opponents and its third-string QB will struggle to keep up.

5. Iowa – 16 AP Votes – Notable Wins: at Iowa State

(3-1, 0-1) Next Game: at Michigan State

A heartbreaking loss in the final seconds has Iowa reeling, but the team showed that it can fight to the finish with any Big Ten team if they’re at Kinnick. However, the team will be in East Lansing against Michigan State and hasn’t faced the Spartans since the Big Ten Championship in 2015.

Sophomore quarterback Nate Stanley has put up impressive numbers through four games, passing for 12 touchdowns and only one pick. The reason for Iowa’s success, however, his supporting cast. Linebacker Josey Jewell led the team in tackles and managed a fumble recovery and interception in the loss versus PSU. The defense will put plenty of pressure on the Spartans, but there will be memories of the championship game two years ago.

4. Ohio State – 1016 AP Votes – Notable Wins: at Indiana

(3-1, 1-0) Next Game: at Rutgers

Since losing at home to Oklahoma, the Buckeyes have rolled over some relatively measly competition at home. Traveling to New Jersey, OSU is favored by 30 against a team struggling to put up points.

Freshman running back J.K. Dobbins leads the conference in rushing yards (520) and will likely keep pushing the bar against Rutgers. J.T. Barrett is regaining form since his dud against the Sooners and doesn’t get another true test until Penn State on Oct. 28.

3. Wisconsin – 1023 AP Votes – Notable Wins: at BYU

(3-0, 0-0) Next Game: vs Northwestern

The Badgers are rolling on defense, allowing 10 points per game entering this home contest. Hoping to take an early lead in the Big Ten West, Wisconsin is touting a prolific offense to pair well with the intimidating defense.

Freshman back Jonathan Taylor is hitting the ground running 438 yards on only 53 carries. This is good news for the Badgers as the Wildcats have allowed over 150 rushing yards per game. A fast start is in the cards for this team as NW doesn’t match up well in any category.

2. Michigan – 1088 AP Votes – Notable Wins: vs Florida, at Purdue

(4-0, 1-0) Next Game: BYE

Michigan is running a fine-tuned machine through four weeks. The Wolverines lost ten starters from their stellar defense last season, yet haven’t missed a beat. Tallying an astounding 18 sacks in the first four games, this D is lights out.

The real issue is the offensive unit. Inconsistent Wilton Speight left the Purdue contest with an injury and John O’Korn picked up where he left off, throwing for 270 yards, one score and one pick. The season will be decided on the success (or lack thereof) of the offensive side, but the blue and maize look quite impressive through four.

1. Penn State – 1304 AP Votes – Notable Wins: vs Pittsburgh, at Iowa

Winning a night game at Kinnick is no easy feat and it seemed like the Nittany Lions wouldn’t be able to get it done when trailing by four with less than two minutes on the clock. However, Heisman candidate Saquon Barkley’s bulging stat line (305 total yards, one TD) proved too much for the Hawks to handle as Penn State won on the final play.

This team is not only the best team to watch in the Big Ten, but arguably the best to watch in the country. This averted upset proved that Barkley is even better than imaginable and that quarterback Trace McSorley’s stats and game management are for real. Penn State is the all-around most complete team in the Big Ten, hands town.

The post Big Ten Football in Full Swing appeared first on KRUI Radio.

The Favorites

Kansas- The Jayhawks were in a great position to secure the #1 overall seed in the tournament, but they blew it by losing in the Big 12 quarterfinals against TCU. Their draw is still favorable, as the second weekend of the regional is played in Kansas City. That should provide a nice crowd advantage for the Jayhawks, which is significant considering they lost just one home game all season. The Jayhawks identity this season has been offensive domination, averaging over 82 ppg. Point guard Frank Mason is a legitimate candidate to win national player of the year, and rightfully so. Mason can score from anywhere on the court, and he can make plays for his teammates and get them open looks on a consistent basis. His 48.7 percent three point percentage is outrageously good, and that could be a major weapon for Kansas down the stretch. Mason has enough offensive support from shooting guard Devonte’ Graham and freshman forward Josh Jackson that allows him to play within himself and not force things. Kansas is a major force to be reckoned with.

Louisville- Louisville also lost its first conference tournament game, however they matched up against Duke so the committee didn’t hold the loss against them and still granted the cardinals a #2 seed. Louisville has been consistently really good, but was unable to put together a streak of consecutive great wins. They beat Wichita State, then lost to Baylor. Beat Kentucky, lose to Virginia. Beat Duke, lose to Florida State. Beat Notre Dame, lose to Duke. So there ya have it, they can beat anybody, but you have to beat multiple great teams consecutively to advance. Louisville has yet to prove that they can do that. Roster wise this is a typical Rick Pitino team, equipped with multiple fast and aggressive point guards and half a dozen 6’7-6’10 athletes that can guard multiple positions and wreak havoc in their patented full court press. If Louisville’s point guards Donovan Mitchell and Quentin Snider can be as successful as their predecessors Russ Smith and Terry Rozier were in March, the Cardinals just might be able to do some real damage.

Oregon- It seems that every single season a legitimate national championship contender suffers a devastating injury just before the big dance. This years victim of the injury bug is Oregon, as the Ducks lost their starting center Chris Boucher to a torn ACL in the PAC 12 tournament. Boucher is their third leading scorer, second leading rebounder, and leading shot blocker. The Ducks boast about as much natural talent as anyone in the country, with five double digit scorers that helped Oregon win 29 games and the PAC 12 regular season title. But without their anchor in the middle, getting to the final four will be an uphill battle.

Everyone is Talking About…

Iowa State- The Cyclones enter the region as a #5 seed after winning their third Big 12 conference tournament title in the last four years, earning impressive wins against Oklahoma State and West Virginia. The Cyclones flew under the radar for most of the season after a 14-9 start, but they’ve caught the public’s eye winning nine of their last 10. The Cyclones can score, averaging over 80 ppg with four different scorers averaging at least 12 ppg. The engine that keeps them running is all-american point guard Monte Morris, who is their leading scorer and has the best turnover to assist ratio in the country by a large margin. He will be the key for the Big 12 champs.

Don’t be Fooled by…

Michigan State- It’s the time of year where the Spartans usually mysteriously fix all of their season long problems with a snap of a finger, but I wouldn’t count on that happening this season for Izzo’s squad. While uber-talented freshman Miles Bridges is very exciting to watch, he isn’t good enough to dominate games by himself. Not to mention this Spartan squad doesn’t play the type of defense we are accustomed to seeing them play. I know that they played the toughest schedule, but I don’t care, they lost the majority of there marquee match ups anyway. They aren’t getting to Kansas City.

If the Slipper Fits…

Rhode Island- The #11 seed in the regional is entering the tournament on cloud nine after taking control of their own destiny. They have been on the brink of getting their bubble popped the entire last month of the season, but they took themselves off the bubble by winning the A-10 conference tournament in impressive fashion. They’re a confident team right now, and not only is their first round opponent Creighton without their starting point guard, potential second round opponent Oregon is hobbled as well. Rhode Island found themselves a pretty good tournament draw.

Five Players to Watch

FR F Josh Jackson, Kansas- He was suspended by the Jayhawks against TCU in the Big 12 quarterfinal, forcing him to watch the team get upset from the bench. Hopefully he has learned his lesson, as he’s an integral piece to the title hopes of Frank Mason and company.

SO G Donovan Mitchell, Louisville- Mitchell is a unique player, as he’s sort of a tweener between the point and the two, but he’s a scoring machine that can score over bigs in the paint and he’s equally effective defensively. He’s probably the most complete player on their roster, so it’ll be imperative for the Cardinals that he makes his presence felt.

SR PF Deonte Burton, Iowa State- The Marquette transfer has come into his own in Ames, Iowa. He’s undersized, but he more than makes up for it with his athleticism. He can shoot, he can drive, he can run the floor, and he can score in the post. He’s a major weapon for the Cyclones.

JR SF Dillon Brooks, Oregon- He’s unquestionably Oregon’s best player and he can get a shot off against just about

anyone, but he can be a ball stopper at times. He needs to get his teammates involved to keep opposing defenses off balance. The Ducks might need Brooks to score 25 a night, but he has the talent to do so.

SO PF Caleb Swanigan, Purdue- Purdue probably has the best chance of any big ten team to advance to the sweet 16, and their hopes rest primarily on Swanigan’s shoulders.The Big Ten player of the year has a lot of skill and a lot of swagger, the Boilermakers are hoping that will be enough to lead them to Kansas City.

Predictions

While Miami and Big Ten tournament winner Michigan should prove to be formidable opponents for Kansas and Louisville, I doubt either of the top two seeds lose in the first weekend. Dillon Brooks will be able to carry the Ducks to the sweet 16, but Louisville is too deep and too ferocious defensively, the buck will stop there for Oregon. On the top half of the bracket, Swanigan won’t be enough for Purdue against Iowa State. In the sweet 16, Kansas will have the crowd advantage, but their only home loss was against Iowa State. Monte Morris and Frank Mason is as good as point guard match ups come, and I think the turnover immune Morris and the Cyclones will come out on top. While Iowa State will be rolling, they don’t have the depth or the length that Louisville has. I think that Louisville will be going back to the final four for the first time since their 2013 championship run.

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

The message from the team was clear, however.

“This win defines our season,” Iowa senior defensive back Desmond King said.

Potentially falling to 1-2 in Big Ten play with the meat of the schedule yet to come would have been disastrous for a team still with dreams of trying to make it back to Indianapolis on the first Saturday in December.

Instead, they escaped a brisk TCF Bank Stadium with a 14-7 win over their bitter rivals and made sure the bronze pig named Floyd stayed in its place at the Hansen Football and Performance Center for the next year.

The effort was not glamorous by any stretch of the imagination, but the Hawkeyes got the stops when they needed to and forced Minnesota to do things they were comfortable doing.

The defensive unit knows they had a rather poor performance against the Wildcats last week, and it would not have been surprising to see coach Kirk Ferentz try and spice things up a bit to give a team a little jolt leading up to today.

However, nothing changed between last Saturday and today personnel wise and Ferentz said the team did not do anything different in preparing for the Golden Gopher offense.

“I wish I could give you a one-word or one-sentence answer,” Ferentz said after the game.

One word did come to the minds of the Iowa defensive players after the game: responsibility.

“It’s all about everyone fitting their gaps and doing their job, and their job only,” junior linebacker Josey Jewell after the game.

The unit as a whole had a bigger sense of urgency their season could have been on the line had they lost to Minnesota and several players stepped up with strong individual performances to make sure that did not happen.

Brandon Snyder had a big fumble recovery in the first quarter and also a key interception late in the fourth quarter.

Greg Mabin forced a fumble and had excellent coverage on Minnesota’s final offensive play of the game on Brian Smith.

Manny Rugamba had his first career interception late in the first half to squash a Golden Gopher rally just before halftime.

The Hawkeyes as a whole have shown that they win close games on the road in the Big Ten. To be able to compete at a high level, this Phil Parker-led defense will have to continue to be the backbone of an Iowa team that has shown at times to be rather inept on offense.

That will have to continue next week as the Hawkeyes (4-2, 2-1) take on Purdue from Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Indiana. Kickoff is set from 11:00 A.M. central time.

The post Hawkeyes Defense Reigns Supreme appeared first on KRUI Radio.

over six inches of snow by kickoff but the grounds crew had the field ready to go for senior day and the 2015 home finale at Kinnick Stadium.

The undefeated Iowa Hawkeyes (10-0) took on the Purdue Boilermakers (2-8) for a chance to clinch a spot in the Big Ten Championship game. The Hawkeyes dominated the first quarter of the game. Purdue had the first crack in the game but the Hawkeyes forced a three and out. Iowa drove down the field in just five minutes and Leshun Daniels punched in a 2-yard touchdown.

The Hawkeyes forced another three and out and got the ball back in Purdue territory. The Hawks marched down the field for a second time and Leshun Daniels added his second score of the day, extending the Iowa lead to 14.

Iowa appeared to have all momentum heading into the second quarter. During Purdue’s third possession  Hawkeye safety, Jordan Lomax, put a devastating hit on Purdue quarterback, David Blough. The hit forced a fumble and forced Blough out of the game. Iowa turned the fumble into points when C.J. Beathard found Matt VandeBerg for a 7-yard touchdown.

Momentum began to shift when Iowa missed the extra point; their fourth missed PAT on the season. Austin Appleby replaced Blough at quarterback and Appleby came off the bench firing. In the second quarter he led Purdue down the field, resulting in a 1-yard rushing touchdown by Markell Jones.

Iowa made its first mistake when C.J. Beathard fumbled on a QB run. Appleby helped hurry the Purdue offense down the field allowing them to kick a field goal before the half making the score 20-10 in favor of Iowa. Austin Appleby was nearly unstoppable completing 10-11 passes for 98 yards in the quarter. Appleby finished the day 23 for 40 with 259 yards and one touchdown.

Iowa came out flat in the third quarter and gave the ball right back to Purdue. Purdue tacked on another 3 points and then forced another punt by the Hawkeyes. Both teams failed to move the ball until C.J. Beathard found George Kittle wide open for a touchdown completing a 91-yard touchdown drive.

The Hawkeyes controlled the game from there on out and added another touchdown to Henry Krieger-Coble. Senior Running back broke off a 42-yard touchdown with just over two minutes remaining in the game. Canzeri was Iowa’s leading rusher on the day with 95 yards and a touchdown.

The final score was 40-20 in favor of the Iowa Hawkeyes. The Hawkeyes are officially the Big Ten West Champs and are now 11-0 on the season. The victory guarantees Iowa a spot in the Big Ten Championship on Dec. 5^th. Their opponent has yet to be decided. C.J. Beathard told reporters after the game “We aren’t where we want to be yet.” The Hawkeyes have more than just the Big Ten West title on their minds.

Iowa travels to Lincoln Nebraska for what looks to be a Friday thriller against the Cornhuskers. Nebraska beat Iowa last year leaving a bitter taste in the Hawkeyes mouth. Desmond King talked about the game last year and said, “It does bother him(Coach Ferentz).” Kickoff is at 2:30 Central Time.

The post Iowa vs. Purdue Recap appeared first on KRUI Radio.

EAST:

Michigan State (6-1, 3-0): After an early season loss to Oregon, Sparty has won their last five games, but they haven’t made it easy.  On October 4, they led Nebraska 27-3 in the 4th quarter but had to get a late interception to hold on for a 27-22 win.  They struggled in a 45-31 win against Big Ten doormat Purdue, and struggled for one half against lowly Indiana.  While Michigan State is winning games, they need to improve if they want to get back into the playoff conversation.

Ohio State (5-1, 2-0): Ohio State got off to a rough start, as they barely squeaked by Navy in the opening and suffered Urban Meyer’s first home loss at Ohio State in week 2 against Virginia Tech.  Since then, however the Buckeyes have been firing on all cylinders and are averaging a whopping 56 points in the four games since.  Ohio State’s offense, led by redshirt freshman quarterback J.T. Barrett, appears to be finding its stride at the right time with a trip to East Lansing looming on November 8.

Maryland (5-2, 2-1): Big Ten newcomer Maryland may be one of the hardest teams to figure out.  They have a good offense, led by quarterback C.J. Brown and dynamic play-making receiver Stefon Diggs, however the defense still has some questions.  Maryland did show some mental toughness, scoring 38 of the next 45 points after falling behind 14-0 vs Iowa this past week.  Maryland’s schedule gets considerably tougher as they travel to Penn State and Wisconsin for their next two games, followed by a visit from Michigan State.  The key for the Terps will be the health of C.J. Brown, who has been knocked out of four games this season.

Rutgers (5-2, 1-2): Rutgers is another team that varies from week-to-week. After a hard fought victory over Michigan on October 5, Rutgers turned back around and got crushed by Ohio State in Columbus this past weekend.  Gary Nova is very hot and cold as a quarterback, and the offense  as a whole is inconsistent.  Rutgers might have the toughest remaining schedule of any Big Ten team, as they still have to play Nebraska, Wisconsin, Michigan State, and Maryland.

Michigan (3-4, 1-2): Where to begin with this Michigan team.  Brady Hoke’s team is coming off a bye and will be hosting Michigan State this week.  They got a huge win two weeks ago against Penn State, possibly saving Brady Hoke’s job for the time being.  However, this team is still a mess.  The offense is a complete disaster–the offensive line can’t block anybody and Devin Gardner still turns the ball over too much–and the defense is inconsistent.  It really doesn’t seem like Brady Hoke will be in Ann Arbor much longer, as the losses will continue to pile up unless something changes drastically.

Penn State (4-2, 1-2): Penn State looked like a dark horse team at the beginning of the season, even getting their bowl ban lifted.  However, their flaws were exposed in a 29-6 loss to Northwestern where they were dominated in every phase of the game.  After a bye week, they came back and lost to lowly Michigan. It doesn’t get any easier as Penn State hosts red-hot Ohio State this week.  A once promising season has faded into mediocrity for Penn State.

Indiana (3-4, 0-3): Indiana’s problem this season is the same problem they’ve had for years.  Their offense can score and be as explosive as any, but their defense remains a huge issue.  After a stunning victory at Missouri on September 20, Indiana proceeded to get destroyed at home by Maryland.  Tevin Coleman might be the best running back in the nation, but now that quarterback Nate Sudfeld is out for the season and a suspect defense, it’s hard to imagine Indiana getting many more wins.

WEST:

Minnesota (6-1, 3-0): Don’t look now, but Minnesota is first in the Big Ten.  Jerry Kill’s team has gotten off to a great start, thanks to a favorable schedule, and great defense.  After dominating Michigan three weeks ago, Minnesota was able to squeak by Northwestern and Purdue the past two weeks.  The offense for the Gophers is very one-dimensional as Mitch Leidner is more of a threat running the ball than he is passing, but David Cobb is another one of the many great running backs in the Big Ten.  However, Minnesota’s last four games are brutal, as they play Iowa, Ohio State, Nebraska, and Wisconsin to end their season.

Nebraska (6-1, 2-1): Nebraska is probably the best team in the Big Ten West. They had a great comeback fall short against Michigan State, but bounced back and dominated Northwestern in a 38-17 victory. They are led by All-American candidate Ameer Abdullah at running back and Tommy Armstrong is becoming a very dangerous dual-threat quarterback.  After many calls for head coach Bo Pelini to be fired after last season, this team has responded and clearly look to be the best team in the Big Ten West.

Iowa (5-2, 2-1): It has been a very up and down season for the Hawkeyes.  There was a quarterback controversy between Jake Rudock and C.J. Beathard for a couple weeks, and the offense has been inconsistent for most of the year.  While the Hawks are 5-2, a frustrating loss to Iowa State early in the season and shaky play in a lot of their other games have been cause for concern for Iowa fans.  Iowa has some big games coming up, starting in two weeks at Minnesota in a game that will be crucial for determining the division.

Northwestern (3-4, 2-2): Northwestern has had a very strange season.  They played exceptionally poorly in their first three games, losing two of them, Northwestern responded with a shocking 29-6 domination against Penn State and then beat Wisconsin the following week at home.  Unlike typical Northwestern teams, the defense is the strong part of the team and the offense has been ineffective for the most part with Trevor Siemian at the helm.

Wisconsin (4-2, 1-1): Wisconsin has been the same team for years now.  They have arguably the best running back in the nation with Melvin Gordon, however their offense is still largely ineffective thanks to a non-existent passing game.  Tanner McEvoy struggled early in the season, and was benched in their loss against Northwestern.  He was replaced by last year’s starter Joel Stave, who hasn’t been much better.  The running game of Melvin Gordon and Corey Clement is great, but Wisconsin won’t be doing anything until they have some semblance of a passing game.

Purdue (3-5, 1-3): Purdue has taken some strides in recent weeks.  Austin Appleby led the team to their first Big Ten victory in the Darrell Hazell era on October 4th at Illinois, and they hung in there against Michigan State and were winning for most of the game this past weekend against Minnesota, but lost 39-38.  Purdue likely won’t be going bowling this year, but things are looking up for the Boilermakers.

Illinois (3-4, 0-3): Illinois football is an absolute fiasco.  In the Ron Zook era, it was always the offense that couldn’t seem to get it done, and now that the offense is finally rolling, the defense can’t stop anybody.  Illinois is easily the worst team in the Big Ten, and it’s not even close.  Tim Beckman is 1-18 in his career in Big Ten play, and will almost certainly be fired after this season, if not before.

The first 6-8 games are upon us and this much is clear from the Big Ten.  There are three contenders (Michigan State, Ohio State, Nebraska), three terrible teams (Indiana, Purdue, Illinois), and then everybody else. With some of the biggest match-ups yet to be played, the Big Ten will be entertaining from now until December.

The post Big Ten Midseason Report appeared first on KRUI Radio.

There are a few headlines that will be interesting to see how things unfold for the Hawkeyes. Like, will sophomore quarterback C.J. Beathard really start today for the Hawkeyes? We think so, but we’ll see. If he does start, will he play well enough to keep the starting job over injured QB Jake Rudock?

Rumor has it Iowa running back Damon Bullock didn’t make the trip. Obviously we don’t know until the game starts. I have yet to see him on field.

Iowa didn’t arrive in West Lafayette last night until 9:30pm ET because of travel issues. Curfew was supposed to be 9:15pm. They planned on flying but because of a fire in a Chicago airport, the charter plane they had planned on taking couldn’t make it to Cedar Rapids. We’ll find out if this issue carries out onto the field.

The post Iowa At Purdue: Before The Snap appeared first on KRUI Radio.