Final Blog: Introducing Josh Lenz

Height: 6-foot
Weight: 180 pounds
Hometown: Dubuque, Iowa
High School: Hempstead
40-Yard Dash: 4.5 seconds*
Vertical Leap: 34 inches*
HS Position: Running back/Safety
2008 HS Statistics: 1,378 rush yards, 8.6 yards/attempt, 18 touchdowns (16 rushing), 372 kick return yards; Defense-- 103 tackles, 4 interceptions
College Position: Slot Receiver
Birth Date: September 22, 1990
Potential Major at ISU: Business
Favorite Sport: Football/Basketball
Favorite Athlete: Don’t have one
Favorite Pro Team: Cubs for baseball, Chiefs for football
Favorite Movie: Friday Night Lights
Favorite TV Show: CSI
Favorite Food: Meatloaf
Hobbies: Golfing, Hanging out with friends
Biggest Influence: Mom and Dad
Person I’d Most Like to Meet: Will Smith
In My iPod: Kid Cudi, Charles Hamilton, BoB
Favorite Websites: Facebook, ESPN, CycloneReport, CycloneFanatic, YouTube

*According to Rivals.com
--Image from Scout.com

Signature Plays

Josh Lenz, an Iowa State bound football recruit, is most well-known on the football field for his shiftiness, change of direction, killer speed and playmaking ability. I’ve handpicked the following four plays from Lenz’s YouTube highlight videos to best display these attributes.

For each play, Lenz offers some of his own commentary (in the text below), letting you know what he was thinking or what specifically happened on that particular play.

All plays occurred last year, Lenz’s senior year in high school at Dubuque Hempstead. Just look for No. 20, the guy that’s featured in every play of the highlight reel. Here’s where to find these four plays within the YouTube videos:

Play No. 4: 1:50 mark of the 2nd video
Play No. 3: 4:16 mark of the 1st video
Play No. 2: 4:49 mark of the 2nd video
Play No. 1: 3:09 mark of the 2nd video

Video No. 1


Video No. 2


#4: 86-yard punt return for TD versus Iowa City West

Peddling backward, Lenz caught the punt as the coverage rushed to meet him. Lenz easily evaded the first potential tackler with a quick stutter to the outside before turning it back up the middle of the field.

A gaping hole opened up right down the center. Lenz darted through it, breaking the grasp of a would be tackler. From there Lenz whizzed by the punter and off to the end zone--Touchdown!

Lenz’s take:

“It was the first game of the year and we hadn’t gone over much. Right when I caught it I didn’t think there was much there. I was able to break through and I was off to the races.”

What do you look for when returning a punt?

“I look for who’s got his guy set up. If it’s a designed return I head for where the blocking is. You don’t think much, you just react to what you see. I was just trying to make a play.”

#3: 80-yard rushing TD versus Burlington

Lenz’s underdog Mustang team went 5-4 during the regular season, securing a first round playoff match up with Burlington. Lenz showed his ability to compete on the big stage, scampering 80 yards for a touchdown to help his team to an upset victory.

The play was the patented “Right 28 sweep” in the T-formation offense Lenz’s team used. All Lenz had to do was run to the left and win the footrace to the end zone. Nobody touched him on his way to six points.

“I like the sweep. I like to get to the outside and outrun guys. On that play, all our guys were blocking the way they were supposed to and I was able to outrun them.”

#2: 53-yard rushing TD versus Cedar Rapids Prairie -- great juke

Play No. 2 of Lenz’s signature highlights from the 2008 season resembled play No. 3. It was the same play call. Only Lenz had to do a bit more work to get into the end zone on this one.

The Cedar Rapids Prairie defense sunk in, expecting a run up the middle on a play that begin at the Mustang’s own 47 yard-line. Somehow the defense let Lenz easily slip to the outside where he is as slippery as a greased pig.

As a safety came to greet him at the Prairie 45-yard line, Lenz faked to the outside and burst back to the inside. All the defender could do was crumple to a knee. Lenz raced down the right sideline--Touchdown!

“I like to do that (juke) a lot,” Lenz said. “When I get out there one-on-one, I like to stutter a little bit and get to the outside. I get them to stop in their tracks and use my speed to get around them.

“It’s all instinctive. I’m just reacting to what they’re doing. If I get them to stop, I try freaking them.”

#1: 68-yard interception return for TD versus Dubuque Wahlert

Intracity rivalry games are always a big deal in local communities. The rivalry between Hempstead and Wahlert is no different. The 2008 match up featured a pair of Division I athletes in Eric May, an Iowa basketball recruit, and Lenz.

Lenz would get the upper hand, making a play that gave the Mustangs the momentum and played a large role in the victory.

With the clock winding at the end of the first half. May, the Wahlert quarterback, heaved a wobbly pass 17 yards downfield over the head of his intended slot receiver. Lenz, playing his safety position, plucked the ball out of the air and immediately sensed an opportunity.

Using his speed and open field ability, Lenz weaved through traffic and as often happened, nobody could even get a finger on him--until May whirled Lenz to the ground after he had already broke the plane of the end zone.

Lenz’s take:

“We were in cover two. I just remember backing off and then (receiver Nick) Brautigam going across the middle. I saw Eric (May) throw it and I made a play on it. Then I just outran everybody to the end zone.”

Lenz Links

Bio from Cyclones.com

ESPN.com Recruiting Profile

Rivals.com Recruiting Profile

Scout.com Recruiting Profile

Interviews from the Dubuque Telegraph Herald

Photos of Lenz at Signing Day

Dubuque Telegraph Herald Article: "Lenz Picks ISU"

Breaking Down Next Season's Roster

With 11 players on its roster, Iowa’s 2009-10 might be complete. There certainly could be an addition or two, but the core nucleus is intact. Here’s an early breakdown of next season’s roster. (All star ratings are based on a 5-point scale).

Projected Starting Lineup:

F Matt Gatens, So., 6-5, 215
Overall Rating: ****
Role: *****
Potential: ****
--Gatens is the poster-child of the Iowa program. He should easily be the best player on the team, and now with Jake Kelly gone, he should see an increase in shot opportunities.

C Jarryd Cole, Jr., 6-7, 250
Overall Rating: ***
Role: *****
Potential: ***
--Cole showed some rebounding ability and inside toughness at the end of last season. With being another year removed from his ACL tear, it should be Cole’s time to thrive.

G Anthony Tucker, So., 6-4, 200
Overall Rating: ***
Role: ****
Potential: ***
--After a trying first season in a Hawkeye uniform, Iowa desperately needs a productive Tucker. His 3-point shooting could be key in providing some scoring for an offensively-challenged team.

G Devan Bawinkel, Sr., 6-5, 210
Overall Rating: **
Role: ****
Potential: *
--Bawinkel is simply on Iowa’s roster to put up 3’s. That’s not a bad thing if the guy can make them.

G Cully Payne, Fr., 6-1, 180
Overall Rating: **
Role: ****
Potential: ***
--As the only point guard on the current roster, Payne projects as a starter. He was one of the top players in the state of Illinois. He was a nice late find for Todd Lickliter.

In the Rotation:

F Aaron Fuller, So., 6-6, 210
Overall Rating: **
Role: ***
Potential: ***
--If only Fuller were just a little taller, or a little better ball handler, or a little better shooter. Despite his shortcomings, Fuller could still be a nice piece. His skills are decent across the board.

C Brennan Cougill, Fr., 6-9, 260
Overall Rating: **
Role: ***
Potential: ***
--With the lack of inside depth, Cougill should get a crack to play right away. He’s big and beefy, and has some nice inside moves. He’ll have to get stronger and quicker, though.

G/F Eric May, Fr., 6-5, 220
Overall Rating: **
Role: ***
Potential: ****
--Iowa’s current roster is short on athletic wings. That means May should get some immediate minutes. He’s an underrated recruit who has more athleticism than anyone on the team.

F Devon Archie, So., 6-9, 215
Overall Rating: **
Role: **
Potential: ***
--Archie is a large unknown. His high school coach says he’s a late bloomer with a lot of potential. His size will get him a look at early playing time.

Get Comfortable:

F Andrew Brommer, So., 6-9, 235
Overall Rating: *
Role: **
Potential: **
--Brommer flopped as a freshman. He didn’t play particularly well when he got early minutes. But it was only his first year. He’ll get another chance. Hopefully he’ll improve.

G John Lickliter, Fr., 5-11, 175
Overall Rating: *
Role: *
Potential: *
--Will see action only in scrub time.

*Image from the AP.

10 Predictions for 2009-2010

Anthony Tucker will rebound from last season's troubles to have a solid 2009-2010 campaign.

AP Photo
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10. 6-foot-2 point guard Ben Brust of Mundelein, Ill., and 6-foot-6 small forward Zach McCabe of Sioux City, Ia., will join Cody Larson as part of Iowa’s 2010 recruiting class.

9. Iowa will average under 10,000 fans per home game for the first time in the history of Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

8. Andrew Brommer will be the next player to leave the program after seeing little playing time next season.

7. Freshman Eric May will replace Devan Bawinkel in the starting lineup midway through the season and take on a heavy dosage of minutes.

6. Anthony Tucker will lead the Big Ten in 3-point field goals.

5. Matt Gatens will average more than 15 points per game.

4. Cully Payne will be Iowa’s most pleasant surprise and establish himself as the point guard in both the short term and the long term.

3. Iowa will win five games in the Big Ten for the second straight season--one of those wins will come on the road.

2. Iowa will win 14 games overall.

1. Todd Lickliter’s job will be safe when he enters year four. But beyond that, who knows.

Solving the Attendance Crisis

I thought about doing a comical version of what the Iowa athletic department should do to increase attendance for next year, like paying fans to come to games. But I feel like that has been over-played on message boards. Instead, I give you my serious solutions to temporarily solve the attendance crisis.

Note: the following suggestions assume that Iowa will play 17 home games as it did in 2008-09.

10. For God sakes, change the pre-game music once in a while.

9. Re-paint the court. The black on the sidelines and on the lane look good, but it’s time for a change. Remind fans of the gold ol’ days and paint these areas gold--a flashy, snazzy gold, though.

8. Get Todd Lickliter more endorsements. He may not be that kind of guy, but having his mug on TV can’t hurt. It couldn’t hurt if Lickliter started tweeting either. It’s all about getting the name out there.

7. Ask a well-known Iowa alumnus or native Iowan to speak or answer questions at halftime of every game, and promote it. Get Tom Arnold, Ashton Kutcher, Tom Davis, Hayden Fry, Zach Johnson, Nate Kaeding, Ricky Davis, etc.

6. Hold a fan convention in the summer. This would allow fans to meet players and get autographs. Perhaps even add a dunk contest and a 3-point shooting contest open to the public. Also, hold a scrimmage game and have Todd Lickliter and his son John play one-on-one or a game of HORSE.

5. Emphasize Matt Gatens as the face of the program. Slap him on the cover of every program and media guide and make him a permanent fixture on the Hawkeyesports.com home page. Fans like to be able to identify with a star player.

4. Fix single game ticket prices at $15 for the general public (and don’t change it, no matter what); $5 for students.

3. Make season tickets $200 for the general public; $60 for students.

2. Promote these price drops vigorously. Hold a press conference, put it on billboards throughout the city and buy ads in local newspapers.

1. Win. Okay, so it’s not going to be easy. But ultimately, that’s how the program will have to bring the fans back without marketing gimmicks.

2009-2010 Top 10 Big Ten Players

1. Evan Turner, Ohio State
2008-09 Stats: 17.3 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 4.0 apg, 1.8 spg, 50.3 fg%
--Turner spurned the NBA draft and returns to Ohio State as the best player in the Big Ten. He probably should have been the conference player of the year last season, but he should be considered the favorite next season. Turner has all the skills to be a good pro someday.

2. Manny Harris, Michigan
2008-09 Stats: 16.9 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 4.4 apg, 41.5 fg%
--There may not be a more athletic player in the Big Ten than Harris. He does everything well. He can score, rebound, pass and defend. He’s the main reason why Michigan has become relevant in basketball again.

3. Kalin Lucas, Michigan State
2008-09 Stats: 14.7 ppg, 4.6 apg, 2.1 rpg, 39.0 3pt%
--Lucas won last season’s Big Ten Player of the Year award and led the Spartans to the National Championship game. It’s amazing to think he’ll only be a junior. He’s got a bright future ahead as Tom Izzo’s floor leader.

4. Talor Battle, Penn State
2008-09 Stats: 16.7 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 5.0 apg, 40.2 fg%
--No player busted out quite like Battle did as a sophomore. His break out campaign allowed Penn State to win the NIT Championship. Battle will become an even more prolific scorer now that Jamelle Cornley and Stanley Pringle are gone.

5. JaJuan Johnson, Purdue
2008-09 Stats: 13.4 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 2.1 bpg, 54.0 fg%
--Like Battle, Johnson improved a great deal. He became the most dominant inside presence in the Big Ten last season. He was the conference’s best shot blocker and possesses a great outside jumper for a big man.

6. DeShawn Sims, Michigan
2008-09 Stats: 15.4 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 0.8 bpg, 50.5 fg%
--Sims is a do-everything power forward in John Beilein’s system. Sims is a great scorer, who forces defenses to guard him out to the 3-point line. If Sims were taller, he probably would have quickly put his name in the NBA draft.

7. Raymar Morgan, Michigan State
2008-09 Stats: 10.2 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 1.2 apg, 52.6 fg%
--Morgan could be higher on this list, but health issues are a concern after an injury-plagued season. Morgan is explosive and dynamic. He’ll easily top his 08-09 numbers if he just stays on the court.

8. Robbie Hummel, Purdue
2008-09 Stats: 12.5 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 1.9 apg, 38.1 3pt%
--Like Morgan, Hummel played through significant pain last season. Hummel still managed to produce solid numbers and help Purdue get to the Sweet 16. His inside-outside game makes him one of the more well-rounded and difficult-to-defend players in the conference.

9. Kevin Coble, Northwestern
2008-09 Stats: 15.5 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 2.5 apg, 39.5 3pt%
--Because he plays for Northwestern, Coble doesn’t get the attention he truly deserves. He is one of the more reliable point scorers in the conference, who has great range. With Craig Moore leaving, Coble’s scoring opportunities could increase.

10. E’Twaun Moore, Purdue
2008-09 Stats: 13.8 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 3.0 apg, 42.2 fg%
--Moore gives Purdue another outside scoring option. His rainbow 3’s usually go down with regularity, although his 33.7 percent clip from beyond the arc was surprisingly low last season. Moore is also an adept passer and rebounder.

In Consideration: Chris Allen, Michigan State; William Buford, Ohio State; Mike Davis, Illinois; Devan Dumes, Indiana; Matt Gatens, Iowa; Keaton Grant, Purdue; Trevon Hughes, Wisconsin; Jon Leuer, Wisconsin; Demetri McCamey, Illinois; Delvon Roe, Michigan State; Durrell Summers, Michigan State; Lawrence Westbrook, Minnesota; Royce White, Minnesota.


*Photo from Getty Images

Armstead Eliminates Iowa

According to the latest Pat Harty blog entry on the Press-Citizen website, Chipola Junior College point guard Malcolm Armstead has basically eliminated Iowa from his list of possible schools.

Armstead will reportedly choose between Oregon and St. John's. He also had received offers from Arkansas, Iowa and Providence.

While Armstead has made no public declaration that Iowa is out of the running, he has yet to even visit the campus. It appears Armstead's interest in Iowa was only luke-warm, contrary to what Harty had heard at one time.

In his blog, Harty wrote that someone close to the Iowa athletic department had informed him that Armstead had been a "silent commitment" to the Hawkeyes. Obviously, it wasn't true.

This means Iowa's 2009-10 roster may be complete. However, there are many cases in which players off the radar suddenly become of interest to Todd Lickliter, as in the situation with Cully Payne.

If Iowa is unable to secure another point guard, Anthony Tucker better be prepared to play some point as well. Payne is currently the only viable point guard option on the team, though Tucker may be able to fill the role. His meager assist numbers from last season don't bode well for him at that position, though.

Another Roy Marble At Iowa?

Roy Marble Jr., has some pretty good bloodlines. His dad still holds down the top spot in the Iowa record book with 2,116 career points scored, playing in Iowa City from 1986-89. He even helped the Tom Davis-led Hawkeyes to an Elite Eight appearance and currently works for the Big Ten Network as a color commentator.

Meanwhile, the younger Marble is one of the top players in the state of Michigan for the class of 2010. The 6-foot-5 Southfield native has a lot to live up to with a former NBA player as a father.

“I’m more comfortable on the court this year, and as a result, I see the game unfolding better and can react accordingly,” Marble Jr., told the Oakland Press back in January. “I don’t really feel hindered by the comparisons to my dad, because I think we have different types of games. He was a hard-core slasher, and I’m a better shooter than he was. His style was his style, and I know I’ve been able to create my own, so I just go from there.”

As a junior in high school, Marble earned Class A first team all-state in Michigan, averaging 21.3 points, 9.1 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 4.0 steals. According to rivals.com, Marble has received recruiting interest from Indiana, Iowa, Michigan and Providence--none have offered a scholarship, however.

Even with Marble’s pedigree and solid play, he hasn’t gotten as much attention as he hoped for. Mike Avery, his head coach at Lathrup High School, believes it’s a mistake for D-1 colleges to overlook him.

From the Oakland Press: “For some reason, Junior has stayed under the radar for most of his career so far,” he said. “If the college recruiters are doing their job, he’ll be hard not to find as things move forward. Somebody will be able to snatch him away to their program and they’ll have a real diamond in the rough. He’s a pure scorer.”

Scott Burnstein, a sportswriter for the Oakland Press, seems to share Avery’s viewpoint.

“Roy Jr. is one of the true hidden gems of the 2010 recruiting class,” Burnstein wrote. “Just like his father, Roy Sr. - an all-Big Ten player at Iowa in the late-80's and NBA first round draft pick of the Atlanta Hawks - he has a knack for the bucket, utilizing a tantalizing array of offensive moves. An owner of one of the sweetest strokes in the state, Marble will be a huge sleeper for whatever college coach grabs him.”

Sounds like a good fit for Todd Lickliter’s Hawkeyes. It would be surprising if Iowa didn’t offer this talented wing player. Marble appears to have the stroke to fit into the system and a father who’s obviously familiar with the area. Recent reports indicate Iowa is interested.

And with little other major college competition, at least to this point, the Hawkeyes could have the inside track in gaining Marble’s services.

*Photo from Detroit Free Press.

Top Iowa Preps 2007-2010

I’ve compiled my own rankings of the top prep players in Iowa from 2007-10 using rivals.com and espn.com as a guide. These rankings provide a nice way to look at where the best talent in the state has come from and what colleges that talent has gone to.

It also makes it easy to look at the strength, or lack of strength, of each class. The 2007 group was woefully bad, producing mostly mid-major talent. The 2008 class, however, included three solid prospects in Matt Gatens, Grant Gibbs and L.A. Pomlee. Kaylon Williams, who started immediately at Evansville, also came from out of high school in 2008.

The 2009 class is headed by Iowa recruits Eric May and Brennan Cougill. Other than that, the pickings are slim. The 2010 class might be the best in a while, mostly because Harrison Barnes is one of the top five players in the nation. Iowa offered Barnes, Chanse Creekmur and Zach McCabe from the ‘10 group. The no. 5 rated player in that class, A.J. Derby, has 14 scholarship offers--for football.

2010

1. Harrison Barnes, SF, 6-6, 190, Ames
College Choice: Undecided; Speculation has him choosing between UNC, Duke, Kansas and Iowa State
ESPN Rating: 98
Rivals Stars: *****

2. Jordan Dykstra, PF, 6-8, 215, Rock Valley
College Choice: Iowa State
ESPN Rating: 70
Rivals Stars: ***

3. Chanse Creekmur, SF, 6-6, 200, Marshalltown
College Choice: Undecided
Rivals Stars: ***

4. Zach McCabe, SF, 6-6, 201, Sioux City
College Choice: Undecided
Rivals Stars: **

5. A.J. Derby, SG, 6-4, 215, Iowa City
College Choice: Undecided
ESPN Rating: 70

2009

1. Eric May, SF, 6-5, 200, Dubuque
College Choice: Iowa
ESPN Rating: 86
Rivals Stars: ***
2008-09 HS Stats: 24.6 ppg, 9.2 rpg, 50.7 fg%, 38.1 3pt%

2. Brennan Cougill, C, 6-9, 260, Sioux City
College Choice: Iowa
ESPN Rating: 88
Rivals Stars: ***
2008-09 HS Stats: 18.2 ppg, 13.3 rpg

3. Reece Uhlenhopp, PF, 6-7, 225, Urbandale
College Choice: Drake
ESPN Rating: 87
Rivals Stars: **

4. Nate Hutcheson, SF, 6-7, 185, Marion
College Choice: Western Michigan
ESPN Rating: 84
Rivals Stars: ***

5. Matt Morrison, SG, 6-1, 170, Solon
College Choice: Northern Iowa
ESPN Rating: 78
Rivals Stars: **

6. Malcolm Moore, PF, 6-6, 220, Iowa City
College Choice: Tyler (Texas) Junior College
ESPN Rating: 87

7. Zach Bohannon, SF, 6-7, 185, Marion
College Choice: Air Force
ESPN Rating: 80
Rivals Stars: **

8. Seth Van Deest, PF, 6-9, 200, Bettendorf
College Choice: Drake
ESPN Rating: 81

9. Jon Puk, C, 6-10, 215, Iowa City
College Choice: Albany
ESPN Rating: 79

10. Gabe Knutson, PF, 6-8, 205, Waukee
College Choice: Lehigh
ESPN Rating: 77

2008

1. Matt Gatens, SG, 6-5, 205, Iowa City
College Choice: Iowa
ESPN Rating: 91
Rivals Stars: ***
2008-09 Season: 10.8 ppg, 3.8 rpb, 2.2 apg, 40.3 3pt%

2. Grant Gibbs, PG, 6-5, 175, Marion
College Choice: Gonzaga
ESPN Rating: 89
Rivals Stars: ***
2008-09 Season: DNP; redshirted

3. L.A. Pomlee, PF, 6-8, 210, Davenport
College Choice: Iowa State
ESPN Rating: 87
Rivals Stars: ***
2008-09 Season: DNP; redshirted

4. Kaylon Williams, PG, 6-4, 185, Cedar Rapids
College Choice: Evansville
Rivals Stars: ***
2008-09 Season: 6.3 ppg, 4.9 apg, 4.3 rpg; will transfer from Evansville

5. Austin Pehl, C, 6-9, 220, Cedar Falls
College Choice: Northern Iowa
ESPN Rating: 78
Rivals Stars: **
2008-09 Season: DNP; Redshirted

2007

1. Brent Barz, C, 6-10, 210, Johnston
College Choice: Northern Iowa; left the team
ESPN Rating: 81
Rivals Stars: ***

2. Clayton Vette, PF, 6-9, 245, Waverly
College Choice: Iowa State; left the team
ESPN Rating: 76
Rivals Stars: **

3. Kaleb Korver, 6-4, 175, Pella
College Choice: Creighton
Rivals Stars: **

4. Jordan Printy, SG, 6-4, 188, Marion
College Choice: Indiana State
ESPN Rating: 75
Rivals Stars: **

5. Tyler Sash, PG, 6-0, 195, Oskaloosa
College Choice: Iowa (football)
ESPN Rating: 75

Yet Another Haluska

How ‘bout that Haluska family? Adam played basketball for Iowa, leading the Big Ten in scoring as a senior. And Sean just finished his senior season at Iowa State, playing a large role off the bench.

Now there’s another athletic Haluska ready to enter the world of Division 1 athletics. 6-foot-4 Blake Haluska, the younger brother of Adam and Sean, earned third-team all-state in basketball at the Class 3A level this past season as a junior. The Carroll High School star is a good basketball player, but that’s not where his future lies.

Unlike Adam and Sean, Blake projects as a D-1 football player. Blake raised eyebrows with a huge junior season at the quarterback position. He threw for a school-record 2,385 yards, tossed 26 touchdowns compared to eight interceptions and completed 60.7 percent of his passes, working out of a spread offensive scheme.

“He is a fantastic athlete at quarterback,” Webster City head coach Bob Howard told the Daily Freeman-Journal. “He throws the ball very well and he runs very well. He's good, he's very good.”

According to rivals.com, Blake has received interest from Iowa, Iowa State, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and Wisconsin. While those teams have yet to offer a scholarship, a solid senior year would likely be enough to bring a few his way. Marc Morehouse of the Cedar Rapids Gazette wrote back in February that Blake would “earn his share of offers.”

Haluska is described as a dual-threat quarterback who, at 185 pounds, must add strength and weight. He rushed for 272 yards and four touchdowns to go along with his abilities as a passer, helping him earn first-team all-state for Class 3A.

His pedigree certainly won’t hurt his recruitment. His brother Adam was a great student, amazing athlete and is one heck of a nice person.

Last year I got a chance to interview Adam for a class. He seemed like he actually enjoyed talking to me. He didn’t seem at all annoyed to answer questions and he wished me good luck on my article. In addition, his dad Steve is the principal at Carroll High School.

I have yet to see Blake play, but from what I can gather, he’s a solid major college prospect, who Iowa certainly will take a long look at. If he’s half as talented as Adam, he’d be worth a scholarship offer. He would be a great character-guy with the measurables of a Big Ten quarterback. Perhaps he could be a solid developmental signal caller. I expect Iowa to eventually offer.


*Photo from the Daily Freeman-Journal. Blake Haluska is No. 11, in orange.

The Impact of Brackins' Return

Iowa State star player Craig Brackins announced on Friday that he will return to play his junior season for the Cyclones. In doing so, Brackins bucked speculation that he would enter the NBA draft. Most had pegged him as a first round selection.

That’s what makes his decision a bit curious. You would expect most players in his situation to jump at the opportunity to cash in on the big money a high draft pick commands.

Greg McDermott probably doesn’t care about the reason, though. He’s just happy that his best player will return. Brackins put up 20.2 points per game and 9.5 rebounds per contest in earning first team All-Big 12. He was about the only bright spot for a Cyclone team that floundered to a 15-17 record last season.

From the Associated Press: “It’s a big day for our program because we haven’t exactly had a lot of things go our way in the three years we’ve been here,” McDermott said. “For him to make a commitment to the program and to his teammates is a big decision for him.”

But Brackins’ decision, coupled with a nice 2009 recruiting class, could make for a dramatic difference. For the first time in McDermott’s tenure, the Cyclones have a legitimate chance at making a run at the NCAA Tournament in March 2010.

Incoming 6-foot-6 wing Marquis Gilstrap will team with Brackins to give Iowa State a formidable one-two punch. Gilstrap has just one year of eligibility, but he’s the type of guy that can produce immediately as a high-level scorer.

Throw in freshman-to-be Chris Colvin and Ames could finally have something to cheer about in a major sport. This is the most talented the Cyclones have been in quite some time. Thanks to Brackins, the roster has the look of a fairly decent Big 12 team.

What does the Brackins announcement mean for Iowa? It means the Hawkeyes have a very small chance of going to Hilton Coliseum this December and pulling out a victory. Beyond that, it might not mean a whole lot more to Iowa. Brackins’ junior season will almost certainly be his last at the collegiate level.

For Iowa State, it’s a chance to actually establish something positive under the current regime. An NCAA Tournament appearance might get the ball rolling and get the program trending upward again.

McDermott and his staff appear to be hitting the Chicago area hard for talented guards. Winning can only help their chances of recruiting such fertile ground.

The Cyclones would love to have a good season to try to entice superstar recruit Harrison Barnes as well. While the odds are that Barnes goes to a top notch program like Duke or North Carolina, a solid season could convince him that he could be a part of a winning 2010-11 Cyclone squad.

Thus, Friday’s news helps Iowa State in a number of ways. I hate to say it, but Iowa State could be beginning to turn the corner as McDermott enters year four at the helm. I don’t mean Big 12 championships are on the horizon, but perhaps several seasons of competing for NCAA Tourney berths.


*Image from USA Today

Favorite Iowa Basketball Moments

As the last installment of my favorites, I give you my most memorable Hawkeye basketball moments. All of them have occurred since 1998, about the time I started to follow Iowa basketball religiously.

1. 2006 Big Ten Tournament Championship Over Ohio State, 67-60

This game’s still fresh in the memory bank. Something about the Big Ten Tournament seemed to bring about the best in Steve Alford’s Hawkeyes. Jeff Horner recorded 16 points and 10 assists to lead Iowa, but the most lasting image was when Alex Thompson drained a crucial 3 to help the Hawks pull away from the regular season champion Ohio State. I still have a poster hanging in my room that commemorates the 2006 championship. Let’s just not talk about the NCAA Tournament that year.

2. 2001 Big Ten Tournament Championship Over Indiana, 63-61

Iowa came into the 2001 Big Ten Tournament as the No. 6 seed and in need of a couple victories to secure an NCAA Tourney bid. The Hawks were up to the challenge. They easily breezed by Northwestern (72-55), Ohio State (75-66) and Penn State (94-74) to set up a final with Alford’s former school. Miniature freshman Brody Boyd emerged in Luke Recker’s absence (broken leg) and poured in 22 points against Indiana. Reggie Evans earned Tournament MVP and had the key block of the Hoosiers’ Kirk Haston to seal the victory. I was excited, to say the least.

3. Iowa Beats Arkansas to Advance to Sweet 16

Tom Davis’ final season as Iowa head coach saw the Hawkeyes grab a No. 5 seed in the 1999 NCAA Tournament. Iowa defeated 12th-seeded UAB 77-64 to get to the second round where Arkansas and Nolan Richardson’s 40 minutes of hell awaited. Iowa trailed by seven at the break, but came back to dominate the second half and post an 82-72 win over the Razorbacks. Dean Oliver and Kent McCausland each had 17 points for Iowa. It was great to see Dr. Tom go out the right way, even though Iowa lost 78-68 to Connecticut in the next game.

4. Luke Recker’s Heroics in 2002 Big Ten Tournament

The Hawks entered the 2002 Big Ten Tournament with a disappointing 16-14 record. Recker would not be satisfied. He scored 25 points in a first round win over Purdue, 28 in a quarterfinal victory over Wisconsin and 17 in a semifinal nail-biter over Indiana, to almost single-handedly get Iowa into the championship for the second straight year.

What was more remarkable than the production was Recker’s back-to-back last second shots to beat the Badgers and the Hoosiers. He used a pull up jumper from the free throw line to oust Bo Ryan and company and then a baseline runner to bounce Mike Davis’ Hoosiers. Each shot brought about an unbelievable rush of exhilaration through my body. Even though Iowa lost the championship game, it’s something I’ll never forget. Thanks Luke, for the memories.

5. Iowa Ends Kansas’ 62-Game Home Win Streak

Just about three months before Iowa’s Sweet 16 appearance of 1999, Iowa pulled off one of the greatest upsets in school history. Dr. Tom’s 5-1 unranked Hawkeyes traveled to Lawrence, Kan., Dec. 8 to play the No. 10-ranked Jayhawks. The home Jayhawks were 12-point favorites and carried a 62-game home winning streak into the contest. Surely Iowa was no match.

Somehow though, the Hawks prevailed even after trailing by a wide margin. McCausland threw in five 3s and Jake Jaacks added 14 points.

I listened to it all on the radio, I didn’t have cable or satellite then, and could hardly believe it. They even show the players celebrating after this game on Hawk Vision before Iowa basketball games now. It was simply one of the greatest games of the Tom Davis era.

*Photo from Getty Images.

Top 10 Favorite Names

Here are my favorite names of recent Hawkeye basketball players. The criteria used was, well, my own subjective, biased mind. Hey, I can play favorites when it’s my favorites.

10. Brody Boyd (2000-04)

Boyd was a little pepper pot in Alford’s early Iowa years. I like the way the name rolls off the tongue.

9. Chauncey Leslie (2001-03)

Leslie might be the best player on this list, but his name can’t match Jaacks. Still a pleasant name though.

8. Duez Henderson (1998-02)

Duez scores points for having a unique name. Don’t make fun though, Duez did the dirty work for some good Iowa teams.

7. Joe Fermino (1999-01)

This list does not discriminate against little-known, seldom-used players. Fermino may not have made much impact, but you can’t tell me he doesn’t have a great name.

6. Guy Rucker (1996-99)

This “Guy” had some real good potential when he came to Iowa. His play didn’t live up to expectations, but his name never let anyone down.

5. Kent McCausland (1996-99)

Great shooter, terrific name. The alliteration in his name is beautiful. His parents deserve a gold star.

4. Kurt Spurgeon (2002-04)

The DeWitt, Ia., native contributed literally nothing to Iowa basketball, except a cool last name. That means something in my book.

3. Devan Bawinkel (2008- )

How can you not appreciate Bawinkel? I know all he does is shoot 3s. His last name gives you something else to poke fun at.

2. Antonio Ramos (1998-00)

Ramos, a 7-foot-2 beanpole, proved that height isn’t everything in basketball. You gotta have skills too. But it’s still fun to say, Antonio Ramos.

1. Jacob Jaacks (1998-00)

Jaacks’ (pronounced Jakes) name is so perfect. He basically has one name for both of his names. His parents had a heck of an idea. ‘Hey, why not just give him the same first name?’ -- um, ok.

All-Time Favorite Hawkeye Players

As a loyal follower of Hawkeye basketball for about the last dozen years or so, I've developed an admiration for many Hawkeye hoops stars over the years. Many of the following players were idols of mine--they were my heroes.

Thus, it was pretty cool organizing this list of my all-time favorites. Here are my top 10.

1. Jeff Horner

Best Season: (2003-04; So.) 13.0 ppg, 4.2 apg, 5.3 rpg, 42.5 3pt%

Something about the way he fired up 25 footers seemed to endear me to him. Beyond that, he was a hustler, a great passer and an exceptional floor leader, who had much greater athleticism than people gave him credit for. He also was a born and bred Hawkeye--he committed to Iowa as a 9th-grader. I really wish Horner could have tasted greater success. He deserved it.

2. Adam Haluska

Best Season: (2006-07; Sr.) 20.5 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 2.6 apg, 36.3 3pt%

I can’t say enough good things about Haluska--great player, great student, great person. I was lucky enough to talk to him for class last school year. His dad summed things up pretty well: “Just knowing my son, if kids are picking him as a role model they’re making a good choice,” Steve Haluska said. Haluska is the type of person we all want our sons to grow up to be like.

3. Greg Brunner

Best Season: (2004-05; Jr.) 14.1 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 1.0 bpg, 51.2 fg%

The third of the Big Three (Horner, Haluska, Brunner), Bru established himself as a bruising inside force throughout his Iowa career. The Charles City, Iowa, native always made me proud. He instantly impacted the program as a freshman and only got better. He set Iowa’s all-time rebounding mark with a lot of floor burns along the way.

4. Reggie Evans

Best Season: (2001-02; Sr.) 15.4 ppg, 11.1 rpg, 49.6 fg%

Reggie played for some disappointing Alford teams that failed to meet expectations. It wasn’t his fault though. He gave a consistent effort and was an absolute terror on the glass. He’s the best rebounder I’ve seen at Iowa. He was a lot of fun to watch. I can’t recall a juco that made a bigger difference at Iowa than Evans.

5. Luke Recker

Best Season: (2000-01; Jr.) 18.1 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 2.7 apg, 43.1 3pt%

A teammate of Evans, Recker couldn’t keep Iowa from failing to live up to preseason hype. However, he’s the type of player you’d take on your team any day. Recker could flat fill it up and gave Hawkeye fans lasting memories when he drained game-winning shots in back-to-back games in the Big Ten Tournament to get Iowa to the championship game.

6. Ryan Bowen

Best Season: (1997-98; Sr.) 14.4 ppg, 8.7 rpg, 2.5 spg, 60.3 fg%

Wow, I didn’t even realize how good of numbers Bowen had at Iowa until I looked it up. I just remember him hustling and diving all over the place for loose balls. He was a fan favorite and an ultra productive player at the college level. He parlayed that success into a lengthy NBA career that’s still going.

7. Dean Oliver

Best Season: (2000-01; Sr.) 14.9 ppg, 4.8 apg, 2.8 rpg, 36.3 3pt%

Dean-O produced similar numbers to those of Horner and came from the same town--Mason City, Iowa. Oliver was there for Tom Davis’ last team, which reached the Sweet 16, and Alford’s first Big Ten Tournament champion. Oliver was a key cog all four years as a Hawkeye.

8. Ricky Davis

Best Season: (1997-98; Fr.) 15.0 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 2.4 apg, 46.6 fg%

Imagine how good Ricky could have been at Iowa had he stayed even a couple more seasons. He might have been an all-American. Iowa has not had a more explosive, dynamic talent since the Davenport native played one season for Tom Davis. Ricky came to Iowa City with plenty of fanfare as a highly touted recruit, and he backed it up.

9. Matt Gatens

Best Season: (2008-09; Fr.) 10.8 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 2.2 apg, 40.3 3pt%
Gatens has a chance to be the next great one at Iowa. I know he’s only played one season, but he’s already one of my all-time favorites. I love the way he plays and really appreciated his commitment to Iowa basketball at a time when the program is struggling. I look forward to watching him play for three more years.

10. Andre Woolridge/Jess Settles

Woolridge’s Best Season: (1996-97; Sr.) 20.2 ppg, 6.0 apg, 2.7 rpg, 45.8 fg%

Woolridge posted incredible numbers after transferring to the Hawks. I vaguely remember watching him as a young kid. I still recall being pissed when Minnesota’s Bobby Jackson earned Big Ten Player of the Year honors over Woolridge.

Settles’ Best Season: (1996-97) 11.3 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 2.0 apg, 43.6 fg%

It seemed like Settles was at Iowa forever. The guy was a great talent who never seemed to be able to stay completely healthy. Injuries kept him in Iowa City for six years. He went out right though, playing for Davis’ 1999 Sweet 16 team.


*Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

Favorites Week: Best Steve Alford Excuses

I actually liked Steve Alford more than most Hawkeye fans. I supported him throughout the majority of his Iowa tenure. I don’t think he was as bad as some believed. But I can’t argue that he didn’t have a boatload of excuses. He almost never shouldered any of the blame when things went wrong.

So I contacted Coach Alford and, sure enough, he gave me a wide range of great excuses for why he didn’t take Iowa to the next level. I had to pick and choose my favorites from the hundreds that he offered up. Here’s a snippet of what he wrote back. (I’m kidding of course. Alford probably would have made an excuse not to respond to me if I had tried to get in touch. He’s very good at that).

10. It wasn’t me, it was the players.

9. It’s not my fault Pierre Pierce couldn’t stay out of trouble, or prison.

8. We were young and inexperienced.

7. If we coulda just kept Pierce, Marcellus Sommerville, Josh Rhodes, Nick DeWitz, Ben Rand, Alex Thompson, Carlton Reed, Courtney Scott and Rob Griffin, things would have been different.

6. Pat Harty wrote mean things about me in the Iowa City Press-Citizen.

5. The fans stopped coming to see me. I don’t get it. I always had my hair perfectly groomed and I look damn good in my sport coats.

4. How was I supposed to know Glen Worley would be a bust? He was ranked the 33rd best recruit nationally for the class of 2000 by recruiting expert Dave Telep.

3. It’s Iowa--I mean, Iowa. Give me a break.

2. We were a football school. The football program was hugely successful during my time at Iowa while my basketball program was mediocre. I still can’t understand why Hawkeye fans gravitated more towards football. I’m much better looking than Kirk Ferentz.

1. Our facilities sucked. Look at Michigan State. How could I compete with that? Yet I still found a way to produce a winning season all eight years at Iowa--a school record.


*Image from the Quad-City Times.

Touring the Local Newspapers

--Tuesday's edition of the Iowa City Press-Citizen included a Pat Harty article detailing why David Palmer decided to leave the team. Palmer said that his inconsistent role led him to transfer, but the most fascinating thing he said was the following:

"I'm just surprised that those were the only four that left after the talk that I was hearing," Palmer said. "But I knew that us four were going to leave."

That doesn't sound good. Todd Lickliter has to hope that he has a roster of players committed to being Hawkeyes and turning this program around. Apparently discontent ran deeper than we ever knew.

--Several local papers and Internet sites covered point guard Cully Payne's official signing on Wednesday. Tom Kakert of Hawkeyereport.com nabbed some great material from Payne. Here's what Payne had to say in Kakert's piece, "Payne makes it official":

"I guess you could say that there is a sense of relief to finally have it over with. But, more importantly I am excited about the opportunity that Iowa is providing me. I really feel like it is a privilege to be a Hawkeye and to be on scholarship," said the 6-foot-1 point guard.

In addition, Lickliter commented on Payne's arrival in an announcement on Wednesday.

"Cully is a true point guard, although he can play the two position as well," Lickliter said. "He is a very effective point guard and shoots the ball well.

--Steve Batterson of the Quad City Times got the scoop on Devon Archie. The 6-foot-9 Archie, who didn't sign his letter of intent Wednesday, is expected to do so in the next couple of days.

According to the article, Archie's junior college coach believes Iowa is getting a nice sleeper with potential for growth.

“Iowa is getting a late bloomer who is just beginning to blossom as he gains an understanding of what he is capable of accomplishing,” Vincennes coach David Ragland said. “His best basketball is ahead of him.”

--Rick Brown of the Des Moines Register writes, "Give an assist to Chicago and its suburbs for sending point guards to Iowa, Iowa State and Drake next season."

Iowa State got top 100 point guard Chris Colvin, Iowa got Payne and Drake got David Smith of Lake Forest Academy.

Also in Brown's work, Payne's father assured Hawkeye fans that his son is very excited to wear the black and gold.

"To make a long story short, it certainly is a tremendous opportunity," Kent Payne said. "Cully is head over heels in love with the opportunity to play at Iowa, play for Coach Lickliter and play in the Big Ten."

--Finally, Scott Dochterman of the Cedar Rapids Gazette wrote that Lickliter is still looking for additional recruits. Chipola juco Malcolm Armstead canceled his visit to Iowa City which was initially set for this weekend. Instead, Armstead will visit St. John's in New York.

Also in Dochterman's article, Lickliter provided more insight on Payne while at an I-Club event.

“(Payne) plays at a great pace,” Lickliter said. “He’s very competitive. He’s a very capable scorer, but he’s not defined by that. He doesn’t have to score to feel like he’s successful. So I think he’s somebody who gives us a lot of poise in the backcourt, and our other guys are working extremely hard."

*Mugshot of David Palmer from Hawkeyesports.com

Butler Could Win in Big Ten

It’s a common misperception (in my opinion anyway) that Todd Lickliter needs to recruit better players than he did at Butler to win at Iowa. Many have argued that Lickliter must get bigger, athletic and more well-rounded players to compete in the Big Ten.

Does that really make sense when you consider that Butler’s been a regular in the top 25 over the past three seasons? Isn’t a top 25 team good enough to compete in any conference?

Go ahead and take a look at the makeup of the Butler roster right now. The team is led by Matt Howard, currently a 6-foot-8 sophomore, and a Lickliter recruit. Howard came out of high school in Indiana rated as a top 100 player by rivals.com. Howard was a beast this past season, averaging 14.8 points and 6.8 rebounds. He proved he could succeed against top competition by scoring 22 points against LSU in the NCAA Tournament.

And what about the best freshman in the nation that nobody’s heard about? That would be Butler’s 6-foot-8 Gordan Hayward, who’s already ranked by espn.com as one of the top 100 prospects for this year’s NBA draft. Hayward dazzled Horizon League opponents, registering 13.1 points and 6.5 rebounds per contest, while shooting 44.8 percent from 3.

Beyond those two studs, Butler also started freshmen Shelvin Mack and Ronald Nored. Mack immediately became one of the league’s best point guards and Nored was a credible role player.

Thus, Butler was a very young team and still managed to go 26-6, win its regular season league championship and advance to the NCAA Tournament. The Bulldogs’ youth ensures that the program will not go stale. Get used to seeing Butler in the top 25. Young head coach Brad Stevens has done an amazing job of reloading.

The Butler program has been adept at identifying overlooked recruits, getting the right fits and even nabbing a few players away from major conference in-state schools. The Bulldogs got Howard and Hayward even though Purdue offered both of them.

When Lickliter took the team to the Sweet 16 in has last season at Butler, he did so with a team full of unheralded recruits. No major school wanted A.J. Graves or Mike Green. Little did those schools know, the two became stars.

The point is that Lickliter recruited well enough to get Butler into the top 25. If he can do that at Butler, he may be able to do it at Iowa.

The problem is that Iowa may even be less attractive than Butler right now. The current class probably won’t make near the impact that Butler’s class did this past season. Eric May and Brennan Cougill might take time to develop. Cully Payne looks to be the most ready to play immediately, but it’s anyone’s call as to how good he’ll be as a true freshman.

If Lickliter could just bring in similar recruits to what Butler is doing right now, Iowa will find itself competitive in the Big Ten. Jake Kelly was the type of under-the-radar player that could’ve become Iowa’s Mike Green. If Lickliter finds the next Kellys, Graves and Greens, Iowa basketball will be just fine.

10 (Positive) Facts About Todd Lickliter

Sometimes we need to remind ourselves why Todd Lickliter is the Iowa men’s basketball coach and not Johnny Know-it-all from Martelle, Iowa. I have to admit that I’m skeptical as to whether Lickliter will improve the Hawkeye program in any significant manner. But the guy knows something about coaching basketball. Here are 10 facts about Lickliter that can hopefully instill a bit of optimism in Iowa hoops.

10. He led Butler to four postseason tournaments in six seasons as its head coach.

9. He’s twice coached in the Sweet 16: 2003 and 2007. Only three other coaches for Horizon League teams have ever been to one Sweet 16.

8. He set the school record for victories in a season in his first year as Butler’s head coach. He then broke his own record twice.

7. His six Butler teams won 6 of 11 games against top 25 opponents.

6. He signed Matt Howard, the No. 91-ranked recruit in the class of 2007, even though Howard had offers from Indiana and Purdue.

5. He finished with a .682 (131-61) win percentage at Butler.

4. After a 16-14 season in 2003-04 and a 13-15 season in 2004-05, Lickliter rebuilt the Butler program, winning 49 games in his last two seasons there.

3. He went 29-7 in his final season at Butler with a roster comprised of lightly-recruited players like A.J. Graves and Mike Green.

2. 19 out of 20 seniors got their college degree during Lickliter’s tenure at Butler.

1. He was named the 2006-07 coach of the year by the National Association of Basketball Coaches.

How Payne Fits In

Point guard Cully Payne recently joined the 2009 recruiting class, giving his commitment to Iowa shortly after an in-home visit from Todd Lickliter on Thursday. The question is: how will he be used?

With no other point guard on the Hawkeye roster, Payne immediately projects as a starter.

“Everything fits,” Payne told the Quad City Times. “The coaches, the campus, the program, I liked it all. I couldn’t be happier with my decision. I just wish I could have gotten to this point sooner.”

The one time DePaul commit and Alabama signee came to the right place. Payne needed somewhere to play and Iowa desperately needed a point guard. The 6-foot-1 Schaumburg, Ill., product averaged 22 points and 5.5 assists in 16 games as a high school senior before missing the rest of the season with a back injury.

espn.com’s scouting report rates Payne an 87 overall and praises his ability to run the point. “He is a coach’s dream at the point -- a floor general that runs the team, makes good decisions, and is as tough and hardnosed as they come,” the report reads.

According to the evaluation, Payne’s weaknesses are his lack of quickness and ability to create shots for himself.

However, Payne will fit into Iowa’s system with his outside shooting talent, ball handling and passing. He’s a great find for Lickliter, especially this late in the recruiting period. Payne is expected to sign a letter of intent Wednesday and officially become a Hawk.

Here’s how next season’s starting lineup now projects:

F Matt Gatens
C Jarryd Cole
G Anthony Tucker
G Devan Bawinkel
G Cully Payne

Of course this is subject to change. Highly sought after point guard Malcolm Armstead of Chipola Junior College will make a visit to Iowa City this week. Ideally for Iowa, Armstead will follow Payne and call Carver home. That would give the Hawkeyes another point guard and give Payne competition for playing time.

Lickliter’s recruiting has been called into question by many Hawkeye fans and observers, but you have to give him credit for aggressively pursuing many of the best available backcourt options for the 2009 class. If they can reel in Armstead and possibly one more quality juco, the Iowa program may not have to take another step backward.

*Image from the Daily Herald

Way Too Early 2009-10 Big Ten Projections

The Big Ten is again comparative to the other elite conferences--the ACC and the Big East. 2009-2010 looks to be a great season for the conference. Michigan State, Purdue, Ohio State and Minneosta will have the talent to compete with any team in the country. Plus, there won’t be any bad teams. Indiana won’t go 6-25 this season, and there won’t be many easy road wins. With that in mind, here’s how I rank the conference heading into next season.

1. Michigan State:

The Spartans will enter next season as a national title contender. They lose Goran Suton and Travis Walton but they’ll easily make up for those losses. Tom Izzo brings in another strong recruiting class with two highly-rated big men and he returns a star-studded backcourt led by Kalin Lucas. A healthy Raymar Morgan should put Michigan State back in the final four (again) and Delvon Roe could emerge as one of the top players in the conference. This team will be loaded.

Projected Lineup:
F Raymar Morgan: 6-7, Sr.
F Delvon Roe: 6-8, So.
G Durrell Summers: 6-4, Jr.
G Chris Allen: 6-3, Jr.
G Kalin Lucas: 6-0, Jr.
6th Man- Korie Lucious: 5-11, So./Garrick Sherman: 6-10, Fr.

Incoming Recruits: C Derrick Nix (6-9, 3-star); C Garrick Sherman (6-10, 4-star).
Key Losses: F Marquise Gray; C Idong Ibok; C Goran Suton; G Travis Walton.

2. Purdue:

Matt Painter brings back virtually every significant player from last season. Center JaJuan Johnson seems to have only scratched the surface in regards to his enormous potential. Fellow juniors Robbie Hummel and E’Twaun Moore are part of a great nucleus, which could have the Boilers among the top 10 teams in the nation. 6-foot-5 freshman D.J. Byrd gives them another nice weapon. Somehow, the gutsy Chris Kramer still has another year of eligibility.

Projected Lineup:
F Robbie Hummel: 6-8, Jr.
C JaJuan Johnson: 6-10, Jr.
G Chris Kramer: 6-3, Sr.
G E’Twaun Moore: 6-3, Jr.
G Lewis Jackson: 5-9, So.
6th Man- Keaton Grant: 6-4, Sr.

Incoming Recruits: PF Patrick Bade (6-8, 3-star); SF Kelsey Barlow (6-5, 3-star); SG D.J. Byrd (6-5, 4-star); PF Jeff Robinson (6-9, 3-star).
Key Losses: F Nemanja Calasan; F Marcus Green.

3. Ohio State:

The Buckeyes took a hit with the early draft entry of center B.J. Mullens. However, they got great news when star Evan Turner decided to return--his mother broke the news. Turner should be the best player in the conference. In addition, Thad Matta returns William Buford, David Lighty and Jon Diebler to what should easily be a top 25 team. Ohio State is so loaded it didn’t even bother to bring in any new recruits. With all the talent coming back, Buckeye fans shouldn’t complain.

Projected Lineup:
F Dallas Lauderdale: 6-8, Jr.
F David Lighty: 6-5, Sr.
G Evan Turner: 6-7, Jr.
G Jon Diebler: 6-6, Jr.
G P.J. Hill: 6-1, Sr.
6th Man- William Buford: 6-5, So.

Incoming Recruits: None.
Key Losses: C B.J. Mullens.

4. Minnesota:

Tubby Smith has quickly vaulted the Gophers to the top of the Big Ten. He’s upgraded the talent immensely in two short seasons. His conference best 2009 recruiting class brings instant impact with Royce White and Rodney Williams. Adding those two players to an already solid core should place Minnesota near the top 15 in the country. The Gophers bring back several nice pieces in Al Nolen, Lawrence Westbrook and Damian Johnson. This team will be real good.

Projected Lineup:
F Damian Johnson: 6-7, Sr.
F Royce White: 6-7, Fr.
C Ralph Sampson: 6-11, So.
G Lawrence Westbrook: 6-0, Sr.
G Al Nolen: 6-1, Jr.
6th Man- Blake Hoffarber: 6-4, Jr./Rodney Williams: 6-6, Fr.

Incoming Recruits: PG Justin Cobbs (6-1, 3-star); PF Trevor Mbakwe (JC, 6-8, 3-star); SF Royce White (6-7, 5-star); SF Rodney Williams (6-6, 4-star).
Key Losses: G/F Jamal Abu-Shamala.

5. Illinois:

The Illinois program is back after a sub par 16-19 2007-08 season. The Illini lose a lot in the backcourt with Chester Frazier, Trent Meacham and Calvin Brock departing. But Bruce Webber scored a great recruiting class with guards D.J. Richardson and Brandon Paul. The talented freshman backcourt duo should compliment a solid frontcourt that returns Mike Davis and Mike Tisdale. This should be a top 25 team.

Projected Lineup:
F Mike Davis: 6-9, Jr.
F Dominique Keller: 6-7, Sr.
C Mike Tisdale: 7-1, Jr.
G D.J. Richardson: 6-3, Fr.
G Demetri McCamey: 6-3, Jr.
6th Man- Alex Legion: 6-5, Jr.

Incoming Recruits: SG Joseph Bertrand (6-4, 3-star); PF Tyler Griffey (6-8, 3-star); SG Brandon Paul (6-3, 4-star); SG D.J. Richardson (6-3, 4-star).
Key Losses: G Calvin Brock; G Chester Frazier; G Trent Meacham.

6. Michigan:

The Wolverines’ 2009-10 success hinges upon the return of stars Manny Harris and DeShawn Sims. With neither projected as first-round NBA draft picks, they should return. That would give Michigan a likely top 25 team. Harris could be the best player in the conference, while Sims is probably in the top 10. Zack Novak and Stu Douglass provide the necessary outside shooting in this system. John Beilein brought in some good recruits headlined by Darius Morris.

Projected Lineup:
F DeShawn Sims: 6-8, Sr.
G Zack Novak: 6-5, So.
G Stu Douglass: 6-3, So.
G Laval Lucas-Perry: 6-3, So.
G Manny Harris: 6-5, Jr.
6th Man- Kelvin Grady: 5-11, Jr.

Incoming Recruits: PF Blake McLimans (6-10, 3-star); PF Jordan Morgan (6-8, 3-star); PG Darius Morris (6-4, 4-star); SG Matt Vogrich (6-4, 3-star).
Key Losses: G C.J. Lee; F Jevohn Shepherd.


7. Wisconsin:

Badger fans may be experiencing a little bit of a lull now in what’s been a remarkable career thus far for head coach Bo Ryan. The losses of Joe Krabbenhoft and Marcus Landry could leave Wisconsin on the NCAA Tournament bubble again next March. However, the Badgers definitely won’t be bad. Big man Jared Berggren could shine after redshirting last season. He was a big time recruit in the class of 2008. Meanwhile, Jason Bohannon and Trevon Hughes will look to have great senior seasons.

Projected Lineup:
F Jon Leuer: 6-10, Jr.
F Keaton Nankivil: 6-8, Jr.
F Tim Jarmusz: 6-6, Jr.
G Jason Bohannon: 6-2, Sr.
G Trevon Hughes: 6-0, Sr.
6th Man- Jordan Taylor: 6-1, So.

Incoming Recruits: PF Mike Bruesewitz (6-7, 3-star); SG Diamond Taylor (6-3, 3-star).
Key Losses: F Joe Krabbenhoft; F Marcus Landry.

8. Penn State:

Talor Battle and the Nittany Lions narrowly missed the NCAA Tournament last season, having a breakthrough season and winning the whole thing in the NIT. Ed DeChellis does not have the talent though to make up for huge losses in Jamelle Cornley and Stanley Pringle. Despite Battle’s superstardom, Penn State will take a step back. The Lions will be competitive and could return to the NIT, but they’ll struggle to the bottom of the Big Ten.

Projected Lineup:
F Andrew Jones: 6-9, Jr.
F Jeff Brooks: 6-8, Jr.
F David Jackson: 6-6, Jr.
G Chris Babb: 6-5, So.
G Talor Battle: 5-11, Jr.
6th Man- Cameron Woodyard: 6-5, So.

Incoming Recruits: PG Tim Frazier (6-2, 3-star); SG Jermaine Marshall (6-5, --); PF Sasa Borovnjak (6-9, 3-star).
Key Losses: F Jamelle Cornley; G Danny Morrissey; G Stanley Pringle.

9. Indiana:

This program is clearly trending upward (how could it not be?). Tom Crean brings in five recruits ranked among the top 111 freshmen, according to rivals.com. Christian Watford comes in as the second most highly-touted recruit in the Big Ten, behind only Minnesota’s Royce White. Watford and freshman Maurice Creek will team with returnees Devan Dumes and Verdell Jones to give Indiana a pretty good collection of talent. The lack of experience of might keep Indiana from finishing above .500 overall, but the Hoosiers will be significantly better than they were in Crean’s first season.

Projected Lineup:
F Tom Pritchard: 6-8, So.
F Christian Watford: 6-8, Fr.
G Maurice Creek: 6-5, Fr.
G Devan Dumes: 6-2, Sr.
G Verdell Jones: 6-4, So.
6th Man- Nick Williams: 6-3, So.

Incoming Recruits: PF Bobby Capobianco (6-8, 3-star); SG Maurice Creek (6-5, 4-star); SF Derek Elston (6-8, 4-star); PG Jordan Hulls (6-0, 3-star); C Bawa Munira (6-11, 3-star); SF Christian Watford (6-8, 4-star).
Key Losses: F Kyle Taber.

10. Northwestern:

Last season was a banner year for the ‘Cats. They won 17 games and made it to the NIT. They’ll enter next season graduating only one key player--Craig Moore. He was a player that meant an awful lot to their success though, and with the rest of the Big Ten improving, Northwestern could get left in the dust. The ‘Cats still won’t be much fun to play in Evanston but they will be hard-pressed to repeat last season’s success.

Projected Lineup:
F Kevin Coble: 6-8, Sr.
F John Shurna: 6-8, So.
C Luka Mirkovic: 6-11, So.
G Jeremy Nash: 6-4, Sr.
G Michael Thompson: 5-10, Jr.
6th Man- Drew Crawford: 6-5, Fr.

Incoming Recruits: SG Drew Crawford (6-5, 3-star); SG Alex Marcotullio (6-2, 2-star).
Key Losses: G Craig Moore.

11. Iowa:

The Hawkeyes had the potential to make a nice jump in Todd Lickliter’s third season. That was before the roster was ravaged by transfers. Jake Kelly looked poised to become a star in the Big Ten, making his loss a huge blow. Now the they must build around Matt Gatens, who should only get better after a steady freshman season. Iowa must get role players like Jarryd Cole and Anthony Tucker to come through for it to be something resembling respectable. With so many key losses the Hawkeyes might struggle to even put up the 15 wins they did last season. Right now they don’t have a point guard but could get one during the spring signing period.

Projected Lineup:
F Jarryd Cole: 6-7, Jr.
F Matt Gatens: 6-5, So.
F Aaron Fuller: 6-6, So.
G Devan Bawinkel: 6-5, Sr.
G Anthony Tucker: 6-4, So.
6th Man- Eric May: 6-5, Fr.

Incoming Recruits: PF Devon Archie (JC, 6-9, --); C Brennan Cougill (6-9, 3-star); SF Eric May (6-5, 3-star).
Key Losses: G Jermain Davis, G Jake Kelly, G Jeff Peterson, C Cyrus Tate.

Baseball's '94 Strike Proved Inevitable

The 1994 World Series never came. Baseball celebrated no champion. Stadiums stood locked up and deserted. It was a dark time in the history of Major League Baseball.

By the opening of the 1994 season, a labor strike had become inevitable. At that point there was very little anyone could have done to stop it. Like a sprinter racing towards the finish line, the stoppage of baseball could not be impeded.

Many owners cooled on Fay Vincent and he was forced to resign from his position as commissioner before the opening of the 1992 season. Vincent’s absence meant that the labor dispute was now up to Donald Fehr, the players’ representative, and Dick Ravitch, the negotiator on behalf of the owners. A commissioner could not convene to force an agreement to stave off baseball’s strike.

The rocky relationship between Fehr and Ravitch made the situation ever more combustible. Ravitch and the owners had begun drumming up a plan for a salary cap. However, Fehr and the players wanted nothing to do with it.

A schism among players and owners had been forming over the last several decades. The owners had been called out multiple times during the 1980s for colluding to keep salaries lower. In the decades prior to that, players had to fight to eke out meager raises even after all-star seasons and to eventually get the right to become free agents.

Sure, the strike could’ve been avoided in the summer of 1994. But it would have taken a colossal cave in by one of the two sides. The players could have agreed to a proposed salary cap. Owners could have forgot the idea, left salary arbitration alone and decided not to tinker with how much service time players needed to become free agents.

Neither side felt much like budging though. Animosities had become too great for the strike to be avoided. A compromise just wasn’t possible with the current state of the situation.

“They are utterly disorganized and have no plan,” Fehr lamented in John Helyar’s book, Lords of the Realm. “But they’ve created the conditions where things could get out of control.”

Indeed, things did get out of control. Players saw the effects of the salary cap in the NBA and the NFL. They saw New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms and his $2.5 million salary get cut because the team claimed it couldn’t fit him under the cap.

“What the owners are saying,” Fehr said, “is that they’ll do revenue-sharing as long as the players pay for it with a salary cap.”

Thus, the players and owners remained too bull-headed to come together. The owners believed they had leverage—players needed to play to collect their paychecks. The players also believed they had leverage—the owners needed the players to play to collect TV and gate money.

With no progress made towards a collective bargaining agreement, baseball officially went on strike on Aug. 12.

The sides had been divided on the proposals of a salary cap, revenue sharing and the elimination of salary arbitration. More than anything though, deteriorating relations became the biggest factor. Simply put, players and owners did not want to give the other an inch.

Such attitudes, good or bad, necessitated the much-maligned strike of ’94.

Early 2009-10 Look at In-State Rivals

The Northern Iowa Panthers are back. They had a surprising NCAA Tournament run last season and could easily repeat that feat. Their only significant loss will be guard Travis Brown. That means the Panthers are the early favorites to top the Hawkeye state in 2009-10. Here’s how I rank the in-state foes going into next season.

1. Northern Iowa:

The Panthers return a wealth of experience from last season’s MVC championship team. That gives UNI a great chance to win a second straight conference title. Adam Koch and Jordan Eglseder provide a nice inside combination, but the Panthers also boast some terrific shooters in Johnny Moran and Ali Farokhmanesh. Kwadzo Ahelegbe does a solid job running the point. This team has an outside chance at being top 25-caliber.

Projected Lineup:
F Adam Koch: 6-8, Sr.
C Jordan Eglseder: 7-1, Sr.
G Johnny Moran: 6-1, So.
G Ali Farokhmanesh: 6-0, Sr.
G Kwadzo Ahelegbe: 6-2, Jr.
6th Man- Lucas O’Rear: 6-6, Jr.

Incoming Recruits: SG Matt Morrison (6-1, 2-star); PG Marc Sonnen (6-1, 3-star).
Key Losses: G Travis Brown.

2. Iowa State:

You have to hand it to Greg McDermott. He’s endured three very tough years at Iowa State and will most likely lose his best player, Craig Brackins, to the NBA draft. But he still managed to bring in three real nice recruits, headlined by Rivals top 100 player Chris Colvin, who may get a chance to start right away. Marquis Gilstrap could emerge as the ‘Clones best player though. If things come together, Iowa State could be much improved.

Projected Lineup:
F Jamie Vanderbeken: 6-11, Sr.
F Marquis Gilstrap: 6-6, Sr.
C Justin Hamilton: 6-11, So.
G Diante Garrett: 6-4, Jr.
G Chris Colvin: 6-3, Fr.
6th Man- Lucca Staiger: 6-5, Jr.

Incoming Recruits: SG Chris Colvin (6-3, 4-star); C LaRon Dendy (6-10, Juco); SF Marquis Gilstrap (6-6, 3-star Juco).
Key Losses: F Craig Brackins, G Sean Haluska, G Bryan Peterson, F Alex Thompson.

3. Drake:
Now we really get to see how good a coach Mark Phelps can be. He underachieved last season with a talented roster. Next season he’ll bring back super guard Josh Young and a pair of good backcourt mates in Craig Stanley and Josh Parker. Phelps brought in a bevy of big men to try to repair a frontcourt that loses Jonathan Cox and Brent Heemskerk. This program could be back to the doldrums.

Projected Lineup:
F Reece Uhlenhopp: 6-7, Fr.
F Bill Eaddy: 6-5, Sr.
F Adam Templeton: 6-5, Sr.
G Josh Young: 6-1, Sr.
G Craig Stanley: 5-11, Sr.
6th Man- Josh Parker 6-0, Jr.

Incoming Recruits: SF Aaron Hawley (6-7, --); SF Ben Simons (6-7, 3-star); SG David Smith (6-3, --); PF Reece Uhlenhopp (6-7, 2-star); PF Seth Van Deest (6-9, --).
Key Losses: G Jacob Baryenbruch, F Jonathan Cox, F Brent Heemskerk, G John Michael Hall, F Alex White.

Big Ten Head Coach Power Rankings

AP Photo/Eric Gay

Here are my rankings for the head coaches in the Big Ten. Beneath each coach I give my ratings in three different categories, based on a five-star scale.

1. Tom Izzo, Michigan State
Ovr. record at MSU: 336-137; conf. record: 160-72
Prestige: *****
Recruiting: *****
Results: *****
--This one’s a no-brainer. Izzo has led the Spartans to five Final Fours in the last 11 seasons, including a national championship title. He consistently brings in the best talent of any team in the Big Ten and he molds those players into a great team.

2. Bo Ryan, Wisconsin
Ovr. record at WI: 192-70; conf. record: 94-39
Prestige: ****
Recruiting: ****
Results: *****
--Bo has experienced unprecedented success not seen in Madison, Wis., prior to his arrival. He always finds tough, hard-nosed players that fit his system, but he also gets his share of blue-chippers as well. He’s one of the best coaches in the nation.

3. Tubby Smith, Minnesota
Ovr. record at Minn.: 42-25; conf. record: 17-19
Prestige: *****
Recruiting: *****
Results: *****
--It didn’t take Tubby long to get Minnesota back to the NCAA Tournament. The Gophers were awful the season before he came, but now he has them in line to be near the top of the conference next season. He has raised the level of recruiting at Minnesota by a large margin.

4. Tom Crean, Indiana
Ovr. record at Ind.: 6-25; conf. record: 1-17
Prestige: *****
Recruiting: *****
Results: ****
--Crean endured a tough first year at Indiana, but he won’t have to go through that again as the Hoosier head man. He built Marquette into a top-flight Big East contender--imagine what he can do with Indiana. He’s a tireless worker and a great seller of his program.

5. Thad Matta, Ohio State
Ovr. record at OSU: 123-45; conf. record: 55-29
Prestige: ****
Recruiting: *****
Results: ****
--Nobody has brought in a better collection of players over the last few years in the Big Ten than Matta. He got Greg Oden and Mike Conley, Jr. in the same class, and they helped him get to a national title game. Matta’s team looks stacked again heading into next season.

6. Bruce Webber, Illinois
Ovr. record at Ill.: 152-57; conf. record: 64-36
Prestige: ***
Recruiting: ****
Results: ****
--Webber does not get the proper appreciation for the solid job he’s done with the Illini. He took them to a national title game and now has them looking up after a down 2007-08 season. He had a little bit of a lull in recruiting recently, but he has some dynamic guards coming in next season.

7. Matt Painter, Purdue
Ovr. record at Pur.: 83-50; conf. record: 38-30
Prestige: ***
Recruiting: ****
Results: ****
--It says something about the group of coaches when Painter ranks seventh. He’s gotten Purdue rolling again after stagnating at the end of the Gene Keady era. He’s been able to nab some real good instate players and coach them up. The Boilers are in good hands.

8. John Beilein, Michigan
Ovr. record at Mich: 31-36; conf. record: 14-22
Prestige: ***
Recruiting: ***
Results: ****
--Like Tubby, Beilein quickly rebuilt his program. Michigan is in the best shape its been since the early 1990s. Beilein is not a top-notch recruiter but he gets guys who fit into his unique system and gets the most out of them. NCAA Tournaments should be plentiful in Ann Arbor.

9. Bill Carmody, Northwestern
Ovr. record at NW: 120-149; conf. record: 44-104
Prestige: **
Recruiting: **
Results: ***
--Carmody’s name pops up in the discussion for coach of the year in the Big Ten quite frequently. Evanston is a tough place for any coach to win but Carmody has done about as well as possible. His work at Princeton showed his ability to succeed with sub par talent.

10. Todd Lickliter, Iowa
Ovr. record at Iowa: 28-36; conf. record: 11-25
Prestige: **
Recruiting: **
Results: ***
--Coach Lick barely beats out DeChellis for 10th because of his past success at Butler. Lickliter has serious recruiting questions and the loss of Jake Kelly and Jeff Peterson could prove difficult to overcome. Still, Lickliter isn’t an idiot. He took two Butler teams to the Sweet 16.

11. Ed DeChellis, Penn State
Ovr. record at PSU: 84-103; conf. record: 29-71
Prestige: **
Recruiting: ***
Results: **
--DeChellis deserves credit for winning an NIT championship, but he has yet to get Penn State to the NCAA Tournament in six years at the helm. Prior to that, he had only modest success as head coach at East Tennessee State for seven seasons. Maybe he can build upon last season’s school record 27 victories.

Marcus Jordan Selects Central Florida

Michael Jordan's son Marcus announced Monday that he had decided to commit to Central Florida.

The 6-foot-3 guard chose UCF over offers from Iowa, Miami (Fl.), Stanford and Butler, and interest from Toledo and Davidson.

From espn.com: "Marcus was looking for a place he could play, have an impact and feel comfortable on campus," said his high school coach, Tyrone Slaughter, according to the Chicago Tribune. "The family felt there was no need to continue the recruiting process."

UCF went 17-14 overall this past season with a 7-9 record in Conference USA play.

It's no surprise Jordan spurned Iowa's offer, but it's mildly surprising that he decided to play for the Knights. He had the opportunity to play in a major conference, but UCF gives him the chance to play with a former high school teammate.

It seemed Iowa had already moved on as Jordan showed little affection for the UI. The Hawks still have several other prospects in their sights.

Cully Payne "Likely" to Commit to Iowa

Schaumburg, Ill., point guard prospect Cully Payne indicated to the Chicago Sun-Times on Friday that he will probably be the newest member of the 2009 Iowa recruiting class.

“I’m likely going to Iowa,” Payne told the Times. “Unless something changes over the Final Four, I’m probably going to commit there.”

Payne's comments raise questions about how much he really wants to be a Hawkeye--something the Iowa coaching staff has identified as an essential quality. Not only that, Payne once committed to DePaul and signed a letter of intent with Alabama, which has since been let go of.

Todd Lickliter and his staff can't be choosy right now though. The Hawks must get a point guard, probably two, to strengthen the roster.

However, there's no doubt that Payne is a legitimate Big Ten prospect. He's been highly regarded going back to junior high and is rated by rivals.com as a three-star recruit.

He'll get a chance to compete for immediate playing time at the point, perhaps with Malcolm Armstead, a juco from Chipola. Potential playing time certainly seems to be the biggest reason Payne looks to be headed to Iowa City, because it's certainly not the system he's interested in. The Sun-Times reported in 2007 that Payne "is looking forward to the up-tempo style of basketball" upon his high school transfer to Schaumburg.

Whatever the reason, Payne's commitment is crucial to Iowa. Lickliter will look to seal the deal on Thursday when he visits Payne's home. There's a good chance a commitment will come then.

(Image courtesy of rivals.com).

Iowa in the Final Four?

With the circumstances surrounding Iowa basketball as depressing as they are, it seems a good time to reminisce about the glory days. Let’s pretend it’s 1980 again.

Lute Olson is leading the Iowa Hawkeyes and the whole state of Iowa is gripped, in fact, they’re going bonkers over Iowa basketball--remember it’s 1980, not 2009.

Olson’s squad, while playing its home games in the Field House (Carver doesn’t come until 1983), goes 19-8 during the regular season, notching a 10-8 Big Ten record. Hardly an incredible season and certainly not a hint of what was to come. But it was good enough for Iowa to garner a No. 5 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

The 1979-80 Hawks were about to do something special behind the leadership of standouts Ronnie Lester and Kenny Arnold. Arnold paced Iowa with 13.5 points per game during the season. Lester, Iowa’s most talented player, was hobbled by injury and managed to play in only 17 games. He average 14.8 points per game.

In round one Iowa drew Virginia Commonwealth. VCU was no match for the Hawkeyes. Olson’s team shot 55.0 percent from the field and raced out to an 11-point half-time lead. The final: Iowa 86, VCU 72. Arnold scored 23 to lead Iowa. Four others added 17 points apiece for the Hawks.

Round two brought fourth-seeded North Carolina State. The Wolfpack took a 29-26 lead to the half, but Iowa responded by dominating the second half. The Hawks won 77-64. Once again, Arnold shined. He poured in 18 to top all scorers. Lester added 17 and junior Vince Brookins scored 17 as well.

On to the Sweet 16. Next up: the heavily favored No. 1-seeded Syracuse Orangemen, coached by Jim Boeheim. Boeheim had led the ‘Cuse to a 25-3 regular season record and No. 6 national ranking heading into the Tournament. Syracuse could not slow down Iowa’s hot shooting, however, and the Hawks rolled to an 88-77 victory. They shot 52.7 percent. Brookins led with 21.

Here comes the Elite Eight! Iowa versus John Thompson’s No. 3-seeded Georgetown Hoyas. The underdog Hawks struck again. This time they shot 60.8 percent, with Brookins pouring in 22. Current Iowa radio color man Bob Hansen chipped in 8 points off the bench in helping Iowa squeak by, 81-80. The Hawks were headed to the Final Four in Indianapolis to take on Louisville, a No. 2 seed.

The Cardinals, the eventual national champ, ended Iowa’s improbable run. The Hawks shot only 43.9 percent from the field and bowed down to coach Denny Crum’s club 80-72. Arnold netted 20 points in keeping the game close, but Lester could only manage 12 minutes after tearing his ACL. The key injury likely ended Iowa’s hopes at a national title run at that very instant.

The Hawks then went on to lose the third-place game to another surprise Final Four team in Purdue.

Regardless, the run to the Final Four was amazing. It came out of nowhere and established Lute as a hot coaching commodity. The handsome Olson, who had been an unexpected hire, turned into gold for the Hawkeyes. It’s unfortunate he didn’t stay longer.

Olson’s 1980 team was the last Iowa team to get to the Final Four. The program had only been to two Final Fours prior. Thus, this team won’t be soon forgotten by Iowans who lived to experience it. I only wish I had.

From Hawkeyesports.com:

1979-80 Starting Lineup
F Steve Waite (Jr.) - 8.0 ppg
F Vince Brookins (Jr.) - 11.0 ppg
C Steve Krafcisin (Jr.) - 12.3 ppg
G Kevin Boyle (So.) - 11.8 ppg
G Kenny Arnold (So.) - 13.5 ppg
Key Reserves
G Ronnie Lester (Sr.) - 14.8 ppg in 17 games
G Bob Hansen (Fr.) - 5.6 ppg
F Mark Gannon (Fr.) - 5.6 ppg

(Image shows Kenny Arnold talking to a crowd gathered at the Field House a short time after Iowa had just advanced to the Final Four; photo courtesy of the Cedar Rapids Gazette).

Iowa Basketball Briefs

Kelly Chooses Indiana State

According to the Star-Tribune in Terre Haute, Ind., Jake Kelly has decided to transfer to Indiana State--very close to home. In doing so, Kelly will apply for a hardship waiver which would grant him the chance to play immediately instead of sitting out a season.

From the Press-Citizen: "I'm real excited to be closer to home," Kelly told the Star-Tribune on Monday. "I think we can get the Hulman Center packed again because we're going to be a good team, we're going to be playing at a high level and I think we can contend for the NCAA Tournament."

That's quite a bold statement considering the Sycamores' 11-21 overall record last season. But the addition of a player like Kelly will certainly make a huge difference in Terre Haute. He'll immediately be one of the top players in the MVC.

Kelly's decision to go to Indiana State says that Kelly was telling the truth about wanting to be closer to home. Speculation about being unhappy with Lickliter seems to have been false. Kelly could've gone to a better school than what he did, but he truly wanted to go home.

Peterson to Missouri State?

Jeff Peterson is rumored to be headed near home as well. The Springfield, Mo., native may be going to Missouri State. The Bears brought up the rear in the MVC last season, going 3-15 in conference play.

Peterson definitely isn't considering going there because of a desire to be at a winning program. It's difficult to understand why Peterson left Iowa. He still hasn't given a valid reason publicly.

New Scholarship Offer

According to Hawkeyereport.com, Iowa has offered Schaumburg, Ill., point guard Cully Payne who had previously signed a letter of intent with Alabama. Alabama released him from his signing upon his request after the departure of head coach Mark Gottfried.

Hawkeyereport.com also reported that Payne visited Iowa City on Thursday. Apparently Payne is very interested by Iowa's offer. A commitment could come soon. The Iowa staff is obviously working very hard to fill the vacant scholarships.