By John Bohnenkamp Iowa was the first opponent for new coach Rob Jeter and Western Illinois last season. The Leathernecks at that time were still getting to know each other — because of the COVID-19 pandemic, there were no summer … Continue reading ‘Night and Day’: Hawkeyes Face Leathernecks To Close Nonconference Schedule
By John Bohnenkamp Kris Murray mostly watched and learned last season. It’s paid off this season for the Iowa sophomore forward. Murray, caught in the Hawkeyes’ frontcourt numbers game last season, has become a key piece off the bench. He … Continue reading THE MONDAY TIPOFF: Confidence Is Key For Iowa’s Kris Murray
By John Bohnenkamp It was a funny story, JD Gravina said. Gravina, Western Illinois’ women’s basketball coach, had a substitution plan late in the third quarter of Wednesday’s home game against Omaha. Danni Nichols was going back into the game … Continue reading WIU 77, OMAHA 70: Leathernecks Get ‘Fire’ In Fourth Quarter For Win
By John Bohnenkamp Three seconds will haunt the Iowa women’s basketball team over the Christmas break. The 74-73 loss to IUPUI at Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Tuesday afternoon is one the Hawkeyes will have to think about for a while. Iowa (6-3) led by 18 points in the third quarter and by 15 points going into the fourth quarter. But IUPUI (5-2) outscored the Hawkeyes 27-11 the rest of the way. Rachel McLimore’s two free throws with 3.1 seconds left gave the Jaguars their only lead of the game. The Hawkeyes had two chances to win the game, but Monika Czinano’s … Continue reading IUPUI 74, IOWA 73: Hawkeyes Take Bitter Loss Into Christmas Break
By John Bohnenkamp Western Illinois opens the Summit League men’s basketball season tonight at Denver. There’s nothing mysterious about the Leathernecks, off to a 9-2 start to the season. “There’s a big folder on us,” coach Rob Jeter said, laughing. … Continue reading THE MONDAY TIPOFF: Leathernecks Take Momentum Into Conference Openers
By John Bohnenkamp The 200th win of Rob Jeter’s head coaching career wasn’t smooth. But it was another victory in Western Illinois’ historic start to the season. Saturday’s 71-54 home victory over Eastern Illinois was the ninth win for the … Continue reading WIU 71, EASTERN ILLINOIS 54: A Milestone Win, And A Historic Start
By John Bohnenkamp Connor McCaffery’s back is bothering him. It’s probably an issue related to his offseason hip surgeries, he said. Or … “I’m getting old,” the fifth-year senior said, laughing. The Iowa guard is a veteran on a team … Continue reading McCaffery Takes A Different Approach In His New Role
By John Bohnenkamp Western Illinois’ men’s basketball team played a 1 p.m. home game on Saturday against Tennessee-Martin, winning 81-64. After the game, the Leathernecks took a bus to Central Michigan, where they had an afternoon game on Sunday. They … Continue reading THE MONDAY TIPOFF: Leathernecks Keep Passing Schedule Tests
By John Bohnenkamp There is a balance to Western Illinois’ offense that opponents are finding hard to defend. It was Colton Sandage’s turn to lead the Leathernecks in Wednesday’s 93-80 win over Ball State at Western Hall. Sandage had a … Continue reading WIU 93, BALL STATE 80: Sandage’s Big Night Keeps Leathernecks Going
By John Bohnenkamp Kris Murray’s eyes lit up when he was asked about what it will be like to play a road game in front of fans for the first time. “Yeah, I can’t wait, honestly,” the Iowa sophomore forward … Continue reading THE MONDAY TIPOFF: Hawkeyes Face A New Level Of Competition
