By JOHN BOHNENKAMP There are video boards, and then there are video boards the size of the one at the west end of Vibrant Arena. If anything gave Friday’s basketball doubleheader in Moline, Ill., a big-time feel for Western Illinois … Continue reading THE MONDAY TIPOFF: Vibrant Lights Lit Up Leathernecks’ Doubleheader
By JOHN BOHNENKAMP IOWA CITY — Iowa was the best free-throw shooting team in women’s basketball last season. This season has been different. The Hawkeyes came into Sunday’s home game against Northern Iowa shooting 73.8 percent from the line, almost … Continue reading IOWA 88, UNI 74: Free Throws Matter As Hawkeyes Sweep The State
By JOHN BOHNENKAMP MOLINE, Ill. — Rob Jeter wanted two things out of Western Illinois’ 79-50 win over Eureka in Friday’s men’s basketball game at Vibrant Arena. Get healthy. And avoid anything that Jeter, the Leathernecks’ coach, considered “weird stuff.” … Continue reading WIU 79, EUREKA 50: Leathernecks Avoid The ‘Weird Stuff’
By JOHN BOHNENKAMP Iowa plays just two games in the next 16 days before getting back into Big Ten play at Nebraska on December 29. But after Sunday’s 78-75 overtime loss to open the conference season, coach Fran McCaffery wasn’t … Continue reading Mid-December Break Will Help Hawkeyes Get Ready For What’s Coming
By JOHN BOHNENKAMP MOLINE, Ill. — Western Illinois University’s basketball doubleheader at Vibrant Arena on Friday was created out of necessity. But playing at the arena close to the university’s Quad Cities campus was something athletic director Paul Bubb has … Continue reading Bubb Hopes WIU’s Moline Doubleheader Will Be An Annual Event
By JOHN BOHNENKAMP Caitlin Clark said it, and then she and Iowa coach Lisa Bluder couldn’t resist laughing at how it sounded. Clark and the Hawkeyes had just finished Saturday’s 87-64 win over Minnesota at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, Bluder’s record-setting 234th … Continue reading THE MONDAY TIPOFF: Hawkeyes’ History Is All In The Family
By JOHN BOHNENKAMP Caitlin Clark said it, and everyone heard it. “It’s fun getting stops,” the Iowa All-American guard said. Lisa Bluder knew that was the soundbite for posterity. “We got that on recording,” the Hawkeyes’ coach said, smiling. “‘It’s … Continue reading Hawkeyes Beat Cyclones, And Create A New Blueprint
By JOHN BOHNENKAMP The NCAA released its first NET rankings of the season for men’s and women’s basketball on Monday. It is, of course, only December 5, but the rankings are a good early barometer on where teams are and … Continue reading Resumé Watch: The NET Is Here, But It’s Still Early
By JOHN BOHNENKAMP Fran McCaffery only makes a starting lineup change when it’s necessary. It worked last season, when the Iowa coach shifted his lineup to add guard Tony Perkins. The Hawkeyes went 12 of their next 14 games after … Continue reading THE MONDAY TIPOFF: Lineup Changes Can Help, But Also Can Disrupt
By JOHN BOHNENKAMP MACOMB, Ill. — JJ Kalakon had a big smile when he banked in a second-half 3-pointer. While Kalakon’s Western Illinois University teammates celebrated from the bench, Trenton Massner gave Kalakon a playful shove and started laughing. It … Continue reading WIU 90, UTRGV 72: Leathernecks Have Fun With Complete Victory
Iowa College Hoops 