Impressive Iowa State guard from state of Wisconsin enters transfer portal

Impressive Iowa State guard from Wisconsin enters transfer portal

The numbers in the NCAA men’s basketball transfer portal continue to grow,  and a Kimberly, Wisconsin, native from Iowa State entered his name Saturday.

After one season with the Cyclones, guard Jackson Paveletzke will head to his third school in three years. The 6-foot-2, 185-pound athlete averaged 3.4 points per game while playing an average of 10.5 minutes per contest with Iowa State.

What makes Paveletzke an interesting option on the open market is his freshman season with Wofford. In his first collegiate season, he averaged 15.1 points and 3.7 assists while shooting 49.3% from the field.

Considering Wisconsin has already reeled in one Wisconsin native from Wofford, Max Klesmit, Greg Gard and his staff could certainly revisit the well again this offseason with Paveletzke.

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Wisconsin basketball loses top in-state prospect to Iowa State

Wisconsin basketball loses top in-state prospect to Iowa State

Wisconsin top in-state class of 2025 prospect Xzavion Mitchell committed to Iowa State on Saturday afternoon.

The Oshkosh, Wisconsin, native is the No. 120 player in the class of 2025, the No. 29 small forward and the No. 3 recruit from the state of Wisconsin.

Related: Wisconsin basketball social media debates Greg Gard’s future as Badgers head coach

This news comes on the heels of the Badgers’ demoralizing first-round tournament exit at the hands of No. 12 James Madison. The public sentiment surrounding the program and head coach Greg Gard isn’t great at the moment, and this commitment didn’t help that cause.

Wisconsin’s class of 2025 ranks No. 12 in the nation with one player committed — in-state shooting guard Zach Kinziger.

The Badgers have had recent trouble landing the top in-state players. Mitchell’s commitment to head coach T.J. Otzelberger and the Cyclones continues that worrying trend.

Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion. Follow Ben Kenney on X.

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Iowa State’s Audi Crooks broke a remarkable record and drew praise from Aliyah Boston in her March Madness debut

A player from the state of Iowa scored 40 points in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday, and it wasn’t Caitlin Clark.

The opening night of the women’s NCAA tournament belonged to Audi Crooks, a freshman post player for Iowa State.

Her No. 7 Cyclones trailed No. 10 Maryland by as much as 20 points on Friday night in Palo Alto, California. And then, Crooks put the team on her back. The 6-foot-3 Iowa native – the first player in program history to earn an AP All-America honorable mention as a freshman – scored a career-high 40 points on 18-of-20 shooting to lead the Cyclones to a 93-86 win.

Crooks scored 22 of those points in the second half on a perfect 10-of-10 shooting. Iowa State kept giving her the ball and she kept scoring.

The 40 points scored by Crooks are the most by any player in their first NCAA tournament game in at least 25 years, according to ESPN. Crooks’ performance, which also included 12 rebounds, helped Iowa State complete the second-largest comeback victory in the history of the tournament – topped only by Texas A&M’s 21-point comeback win over Penn in 2017.

Crooks is also, according to ESPN, the first player in NCAA tournament history with at least 40 points on 90% shooting.

“She dropped 40 on 20 shots. That’s pretty eye-popping right there. It was a special night for her,” said Iowa State point guard Emily Ryan, who had 14 assists. “I think that’s just a credit to the attention that Audi draws inside. When we throw it in there, she gets it every time and she finishes it so well.”

And Crooks’ big game garnered her praise from fans, media and some of the sport’s brightest stars.

Crooks’ performance also called for a wild celebration:

And it made Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly reminisce about the Mexican restaurant he ate at while he visited with Crooks on a recruiting trip:

This writer would also like to point out that Crooks made one of his bold predictions come true.

March Madness: NCAA Tournament East Region odds, picks and predictions

Looking at March Madness futures odds to win the 2024 NCAA Tournament East Region, with expert picks, predictions and best bets.

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March Madness tips off Thursday, and the East Region bracket is absolutely loaded.

Below, we look at FanDuel Sportsbook’s NCAA Tournament East Region futures odds and and make our expert college basketball picks and predictions.

The East includes last year’s champs, the UConn Huskies (31-3); they’re the No. 1 seed. For Connecticut to get through this region, it will have to get past this season’s title teams from the Big 12, Big Ten, and SEC in Iowa State (27-7), Illinois (26-8), and Auburn (27-7), respectively. The Huskies (KenPom No. 1), Tigers (No. 4) and Cyclones (No. 5) represent 3/5ths of the top 5 on KenPom’s rankings.

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East Region futures odds

Provided by FanDuel Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Monday at 1:25 p.m. ET.

1 seed: UConn +110 (bet $100 to win $110)

2 seed: Iowa State +440 (bet $100 to win $440)

3 seed: Illinois +800 (bet $100 to win $800)

4 seed: Auburn +500 (bet $100 to win $500)

5 seed: San Diego State +2100 (bet $100 to win $2,100)

6 seed: BYU +1400 (bet $100 to win $1,400)

7 seed: Washington State +3400 (bet $100 to win $3,400)

8 seed: FAU +2900 (bet $100 to win $2,900)

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9 seed: Northwestern +5500 (bet $100 to win $5,500)

10 seed: Drake +4200 (bet $100 to win $4,200)

11 seed: Duquesne +13000 (bet $100 to win $13,000)

12 seed: UAB +13000 (bet $100 to win $13,000)

13 seed: Yale +11000 (bet $100 to win $11,000)

14 seed: Morehead State +25000 (bet $100 to win $25,000)

15 seed: South Dakota State +25000 (bet $100 to win $25,000)

16 seed: Stetson +25000 (bet $100 to win $25,000)

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East Region expert pick and prediction

Iowa State (+440)

Putting all the key betting factors together and weighing in the prices, the Cyclones come out with a lot of value. The champions of this year’s toughest league are elite at the defensive end and usually maintain key edges in turnovers, rebounding and free-throw frequency.

The analysis of the East includes some slight fading of No. 1 UConn, heavier fading of No. 3 Illinois and a bit of extra potential for an upset in No. 4 Auburn’s path.

Top 25: USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll

East Region contenders

AUBURN (+500)

The Tigers rank in KenPom’s top 10 in both offensive (10th) and defensive (4th) efficiency. The defense (including what AU does along the perimeter) and overall court skills should help Auburn avoid a misstep in what could be an interesting 1st-round game against Yale.

If the bracket plays out with AU playing UConn or Iowa State, consider that coach Bruce Pearl owns an 8-4 record against the spread when lined as an underdog.

San Diego State (+2100)

The Aztecs (24-10) are just 6-4 over their last 10 games, but they have the defense (39% field-goal accuracy allowed over those 10 games) and court skills to make for profit leverage at this price point. San Diego State sports a veteran lineup, and it gets its 1st 2 potential games in its own time zone (games in Spokane).

The futures market had shorter overall futures odds on SDSU a couple weeks ago. The Aztecs’ Jaedon LeDee is a power forward with possible late 1st-round NBA talent, and he’s a likely match-up problem for most teams San Diego State would play.

East Region long shots

Drake (+4200)

The Bulldogs (28-6) come out of the Missouri Valley Conference, a league that has often done damage from underdog slots in recent years’ brackets. Drake won the MVC Tournament and is 10-1 in its last 11 games.

DU hits from distance (36.5% from 3-point range) and takes great care of the ball. The Bulldogs are a top-notch defensive rebounding team. They have a 6-1 record in neutral-site games, and that includes a Dec. 9 rout of West No. 10 seed Nevada.

Morehead State (+25000)

Morehead State is a slow-tempo squad trending the right way at the defensive end, and that’s a dangerous combination. The Eagles often win the 3-point shooting battle, and they should be considered a live wire against 1st-round opponent Illinois and either team they might play in the 2nd round (BYU, Duquesne).

Both Drake and Morehead State are in the bottom half of the East Region bracket. Making the plays in tandem has merit.

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For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter/X and like us on Facebook.

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Oklahoma Sooners must figure out road struggles

The Oklahoma Sooners have had a really solid season in 2024. No one thought this would have been a tournament team this after they were picked to finish last in the Big 12. Not only are they primed for a tournament berth, but they’ve also been …

The Oklahoma Sooners have had a really solid season in 2024. No one thought this would have been a tournament team this after they were picked to finish last in the Big 12.

Not only are they primed for a tournament berth, but they’ve also been ranked for much of the year as well. It doesn’t look like they’ll be ranked again this year barring a great run to close the regular season.

One area where they have struggled however is on the road. The Sooners are 2-4 on the road and 13-3 at home. Their only road wins were at Cincinnati and Kansas State. Three of their final five games of the season are on the road starting with two straight, at [autotag]Oklahoma State[/autotag] on Saturday and then at [autotag]Iowa State[/autotag] the following Wednesday.

They then end the season with a trip to Texas. The issue with how they’ve played on the road is even heightened given one of their final road teams is against Houston, who is the No. 2 team in the country currently.

Still, the goal should be to get to 20 wins. It’s not going to be easy. It’s why blowing some of the games they have were so big when they happened. It’s going to make getting to that 20-win mark even harder.

That final five-game stretch all starts this Saturday in Stillwater with the Sooners needing to win 2 of 3.

More: Despite recent struggles, Sooners a NCAA tournament team

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Jaron on Twitter @JaronSpor.

Rams hiring 33-year-old Nate Scheelhaase as their pass game specialist

The Rams are hiring Iowa State OC Nate Scheelhaase, who’s only 33, as their new pass game specialist

The Los Angeles Rams have found their replacement for Jake Peetz, who was hired by the Seattle Seahawks. According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, the Rams are hiring Nate Scheelhaase as their new pass game specialist.

Scheelaase, 33, started his coaching career in 2015 at Illinois on the football operations side and as the team’s running backs coach. He left to become Iowa State’s running backs coach in 2018 and rose the ranks to offensive coordinator/QBs coach in 2023.

Scheelhaase is a former college quarterback, playing at Illinois from 2010-2013. He threw for 8,568 yards, 55 touchdowns and 37 interceptions, while also rushing for 2,066 yards and 19 touchdowns in four seasons.

He was a four-star recruit out of high school and was recruited by Oklahoma, Missouri, Iowa, Arkansas and Kansas but opted to attend Illinois. In high school, he was named the Gatorade Player of the Year in 2007 in Missouri, leading Rockhurst to a 13-0 record and state championship.

Watch: Iowa State shares hype video for Brock Purdy before Super Bowl

Iowa State shared a must-watch hype video for former Cyclone QB Brock Purdy before the Super Bowl.

Prior to stepping under center for the San Francisco 49ers, Brock Purdy played four seasons in Ames, Iowa, for the Iowa State Cyclones. During his college career, Purdy shattered multiple Iowa State records, including becoming the program’s most passing and total touchdowns, along with yards and competitions.

Purdy represented Iowa State as a three-time All-Big 12 quarterback. As a junior, Purdy led Iowa State to the program’s first New Year’s Six Bowl Game, beating Oregon in the Fiesta Bowl.

Before the Super Bowl, Iowa State took to Twitter to share a must-watch hype video for their former quarterback. The video featured his family, former Iowa State basketball players Tyrese Haliburton and Georges Niang and his former coach Matt Campbell.

Via @CycloneFB on Twitter:

This post originally appeared on Niners Wire! Follow us on Facebook and Twitter

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Texas to play under the lights in Ames on Nov. 18 against Iowa State

For what will be the second consecutive week, Texas will play a road conference game in primetime.

For what will be the second consecutive week, Texas will play a road conference game in primetime. Continue reading “Texas to play under the lights in Ames on Nov. 18 against Iowa State”

Saints invest top picks on defense in updated 2024 mock draft

Mock Draft Monday: The Saints invested their top picks on defense in these updated 2024 projections, but do they really need another corner?

It’s another week and another Monday, so it’s time to review another mock draft. The latest projections from Curt Popejoy at Draft Wire have the New Orleans Saints investing their top 2024 NFL draft picks on defenders — but do they really need another cornerback?

We’re getting ahead of ourselves. Popejoy’s mock draft starts strong with the Saints landing Illinois defensive tackle Jer’Zhan Newton. “Johnny” Newton would be a dynamic playmaker to pair with Bryan Bresee in the middle of the New Orleans interior line; he’s the best pass-rushing defensive tackle in college football and has the athleticism to line up all over the formation.

NFL teams may question Newton’s length by pro standards (he’s listed at 6-foot-2 with 32-inch arms) but he weighs in at 295 pounds and has enough proven production to outweigh those concerns. The Saints should draft him if they can. Malcolm Roach could be leaving in free agency in the spring and their two veteran pickups this offseason, Nathan Shepherd and Khalen Saunders, haven’t fully met expectations on top of the depth chart.

So what about that second-round pick coming back to the Saints from the Denver Broncos? Popejoy made a curious selection here in linking New Orleans to Iowa State cornerback T.J. Tampa. Now, Tampa is a fine player, making full use of his physical tools to break up a lot of passes — Pro Football Focus charting found he has forced 19 incompletions in two years as a starter, and counting. If anything, he’s a little taller than the Saints usually prefer at 6-foot-2.

But what would a boundary cornerback add to the Saints defense next season? Marshon Lattimore is still in his prime, and though Paulson Adebo will be entering a contract year the team already has Alontae Taylor coming along well. They’ve developed other competent backups like Isaac Yiadom, so spending a top-40 pick on a corner wouldn’t be the best use of resources. It’s arguably the strongest position group on their team. Tampa would be a luxury they can’t really afford given protection issues along the offensive line and poor quarterback performance.

So who could be better options in the second round? Here are the next five players to go off the board in this mock draft:

  • WR Xavier Worthy, Texas
  • WR Johnny Wilson, Florida State
  • LT Jordan Morgan, Arizona
  • DT Kris Jenkins, Michigan
  • DE JT Tuimoloau, Ohio State

We’ve got a long way to go until the 2024 draft kicks off. The Saints are only halfway through their season, and they’re always more active in free agency while working to address team needs before the draft anyway. If they can’t reach the postseason, it’s worth asking whether they’ll have the decision-makers in the building we expect. Dennis Allen’s job should be on the line if he can’t get the Saints into the playoffs, and that’s far more important than any draft picks waiting to be made six months from now.

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Watch: Brock Purdy loses Iowa State-Iowa bet to George Kittle

The 49ers’ passer appeared to lose a bet to his former Iowa Hawkeye teammate.

Before they opened the season against the Pittsburgh Steelers last Sunday, a pair of San Francisco 49ers were keeping a close eye on the Iowa Hawkeyes rivalry matchup against the Iowa State Cyclones.

Following the Hawkeyes 20-13 win over their in-state rivals, Iowa State alum Brock Purdy revealed he had lost a bet to former Iowa Hawkeye and now teammate George Kittle.

Before talking with members of the media on Thursday, Purdy showed up to his press conference wearing the Iowa Hawkeye mascot helmet.

Via @NBCS49ers on Twitter:

https://x.com/NBCS49ers/status/1702465598448443447?s=20

Purdy played five seasons in the Big 12 with the Cyclones. Purdy led the Cyclones to four consecutive winning seasons, along with an appearance in the Fiesta Bowl against Oregon. Purdy was a three-time All-Big 12 quarterback.

Kittle also played our seasons at Iowa under Kirk Ferentz. Kittle went 3-1 against Iowa State during his time with the Hawkeyes.

This post originally appeared on Niners Wire! Follow us on Facebook and Twitter

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