The NCAA moves at its own pace. This is nothing new. Another great example is how the collegiate organization is handling the Drew Ott situation.
We learned Wednesday the NCAA denied Iowa’s appeal to allow Drew Ott a fifth year of eligibility and has been denied several times. It’s not stopping Iowa from continuing the process though.
The entire Iowa football staff is frustrated.
There are other examples of players from around the country who have been given the extra year, so Kirk Ferentz continues to plead his case.
It may not end well, but it doesn’t hurt the Hawkeyes to go after something they feel strongly about.
Either way, Ott will either be leading the Hawkeye defense or playing in the NFL this fall. He’s an impact player who has a bright future in the game.
In women’s basketball news, there are some people around the country who feel like blaming Connecticut for its women’s basketball dominance.
How is the fact that they win the championship nearly every year their fault?
The Huskies are obviously doing something right, but it’s up to the rest of the nation to catch up.
If you don’t want them to be dominant, then find a way to knock them off.
The main issue with the dominance could be because women’s basketball programs are allowed 15 scholarships. Men’s college teams are given 13 scholarships. There are a lot less quality Division I women’s players around country than there are in the men’s game so it makes it tougher for women’s coaches to recruit great players.
So, while a men’s player will go to a school like Northern Iowa because Iowa or Iowa State did not offer them, the Hawkeye or Cyclone women’s teams can corner the state better.
Lisa Bluder can offer two more players with scholarships and those players in the men’s game are likely going to smaller schools. That’s why there are way more upsets in the men’s game than the women’s game.
Connecticut has simply cornered the market on the nation’s best players. It can offer two players who may never play for the Huskies scholarships just to keep those players away from other top programs.
You can’t do that in the men’s game. There aren’t enough scholarships to go around.
Speaking of scholarships, the Iowa men’s program now has one to fill after redshirt freshman Brandon Hutton decided to transfer.
I hope Fran McCaffery and the coaching staff gives the scholarship to Nicholas Baer. He has earned it.
The argument against that is the Hawkeyes have much more pressing needs elsewhere, like at the point guard position. I understand that. However, Baer was one of the best players on the team this year, and I feel good about saying that.
He isn’t the most talented guy, but you don’t have to worry about him not showing up or not playing hard in an NCAA Tournament game like you did some of the other guys against Villanova.
The other question is, will Iowa finally dip its hat into the transfer pool that exists. There will be talented players on the market who have decided to transfer away from their current schools. Iowa State has taken advantage of this in the past. Will Iowa join them and try to get a quick fix to replace the four outgoing seniors?
• Contact Troy Hyde
at thyde@newtondailynews.com