It's another special edition of the Hawkeye Report Podcast as we get to know the new coaches for the University of Iowa men's basketball team. This week we are pleased to be joined by Xavier Kurth. He is the new player development coach for the basketball program and we have a great conversation with him about his daily work.

We open talking about his early years in basketball starting at the high school level in St. Joseph, MO and the influence his high school coaches had on his playing and coaching career. We talk about playing with the Mo Kan program in AAU basketball as well and what that experience was like for him.

Then we discuss his college career and playing for Ben McCollum. What was it like to be part of his program. What about the impact that that he has had on him. Then getting into coaching and what a player development coach has to do on a daily basis.

We dive his workouts with Cooper Koch and what he has seen from him this spring and how he can help Iowa hoops this year. We talk about a new signee who has already been on campus and how he has looked in workouts so far. Plus, there are five players coming over from Drake that Kurth has coached and developed. We dive into how each of them have improved and what Iowa fans should expect from them this season and why Ben McCollum has had great success with point guards over the years.

It's another very busy edition of the Hawkeye Report Podcast. We have Tom Kakert and Kyle Huesmann breaking it all down to start your week. We open the with Iowa Baseball and the Hawkeyes getting swept by a red hot Oregon Ducks squad. The Hawkeyes had one chance on Friday to win and get a share of the Big Ten title, but let it slip away in the final three innings.

We get Kyle's view on the what happened in the last three games and the end of the regular season. Did the Hawkeyes simply run out of gas? Did a couple of injuries compound Iowa coming up short in their chase for the Big Ten title? Will they regret a couple of losses this season that got away late? We also look at what Iowa needs to do this week in Omaha in a new look Big Ten Tournament to possible get into the NCAA Tournament. Do they need to win the tournament to get in or could a trip to the championship game be enough?

Then we talk some Iowa women's basketball and the latest on the recruitment of portal prospect Emely Rodriguez. She looked like she was possibly headed to Iowa, but now might be making another visit? If Iowa lands the transfer how would it impact the starting lineup?

Finally we wrap up with an extended discussion on Iowa men's basketball recruiting. Kakert was Council Bluffs this weekend at the Adidas circuit event and so was Iowa head coach Ben McCollum and his assistant coach Josh Sash. We have a rundown of the prospects that they were watching and thoughts on how those players performed. Could new offers get extended in the next few days? We also look at the current roster and if Iowa was close to landing anyone else in the portal.

The biggest Iowa baseball series in the last 35 years is taking place at Banks Field starting on Thursday evening. It's Iowa hosting Oregon and there is a chance that the Hawkeyes could win an outright or share a Big Ten title for the first time since 1990.

Kyle Huesmann and Tom Kakert spend just over 30 minutes on some breaking down the series and some breaking news for the Iowa baseball team that suggests that they will be without a key hitter this weekend against the Ducks. What will the impact be of this potential loss and who will have to step in? What will it do to impact the batting order?

Then we look at the overall Big Ten race and what Iowa needs to do in the three team race for the top spot with UCLA right behind the Hawkeyes and Oregon also in the mix. We also discuss the unique format for the Big Ten Tourament and some interesting decisions that coaches of the higher seeded teams could potentially have to make to conserve pitching later in the week.

Finally, we also discuss if Iowa is still in the field of 64 for the NCAA Tournament? If they win the Big Ten outright or tie are the lock to make the NCAA Tournament?

We continue our series of interviews with the new Iowa men's basketball assistant coaches by visiting with Luke Barnwell. He's one of the assistant coaches that was not with Ben McCollum when was at Drake, but they have a long history together, going back to when Barnwell was coached by him when he was in college.

First we open by talking about how he came to Iowa from Texas Tech and the decision that Barnwell had to make to join McCollum's staff after the Red Raiders had ended their season in the NCAA Tournament. Barnwell also had the scout for the second round game against Drake. What did he see from the Drake game and what stood out to him about their squad?

We talk about his journey had a coach, starting with coaching at Sunrise Christian and also coaching in the MoKan AAU program as well and what those experiences taught him. As the son of a pair of coaches, basketball was always going to be in his future, as was coaching. We discuss his coaching career as a whole and eventually moving to the college level at Texas Tech.

Then we look at how the AAU and prep school level has somewhat prepared him for recruiting in this environment in the college game where so much of it is transactional today due to the transfer portal. We also discuss what he looks for in a player when he goes out to an AAU event or camp to evaluate a prospect. What are characteristics that he thinks are important in a player that will work well in the Iowa program?

Sunday was a very special day in Iowa City as the great Caitlin Clark returned to Carver-Hawkeye Arena with her Indiana Fever teammates to play the Brazilan National team. It was a one-sided result in favor of the Fever. Tom Kakert and Kyle Huesmann were there and look back at what was a special day for Iowa women's hoops.

We look back at Clark's performance and even in a blowout, she made it into a special game, particularly when she drilled a three from beyond her 22 spot on the floor at the end of the third quarter. We also talk about how she takes time to sign autographs for all the boys and girls that she can and also, this Fever team could be a threat to win the WNBA title.

Then we flip over to Iowa baseball. The Hawkeyes are coming off a tough weekend, losing 2 of 3 at Washington and likely letting one game get away from them. Huesmann discusses what happened with the Hawkeyes this weekend and shared Rick Heller's thoughts from the game. Then we look ahead to a huge series this weekend in Des Moines against nationally ranked Oregon State. We also take a look at what Iowa fans should be watching in terms of scores in the Big Ten as Iowa tries to win a Big Ten title.

Finally we wrap up the podcast talking Iowa women's softball. The Hawkeye have had a pretty remarkable season with a coach not returning, another one leaving the team early in the year, and now they are potentially in position to make the NCAA Tournament. How have they done it and what do they have to do in the Big Ten Tournament his week to continue in post season play?

It's another special edition of the Hawkeye Report Podcast. We continue our series with the new Iowa men's basketball assistant coaches. This time we are joined by new assistant coach Connor Wheeler, who is in his second year with Ben McCollum after joining his staff at Drake.

We talk to Wheeler about growing up as the son of a coach in the Carbondale, Illinois area. The influence of his dad, who was a Hall of Fame coach and also his mom, who coaches softball at the high school level. We look back at his playing career, starting at John Logan on the junior college level and then at SIU-Edwardsville to wrap up his playing career.

After that, we talk to Wheeler about getting into coaching and grinding his way up from graduate assistant and video coordinator to player development and finally to a full time assistant coach at SEMO, where they made the NCAA Tournament.

Then we talk about how Wheeler ended up last August getting an opportunity to coach at Drake for Ben McCollum and how that team was so successful this past season. We also look at the players coming over from Drake and Wheeler breaks down what each player will being to the table. Also, we discuss the recruiting in the portal and what it is like to put together a roster these days for a coach and team, Finally, what he looks for from prospects when he is out evaluating at the high school and AAU level.

The Hawkeye Report Podcast is back and we have a lot of things to cover this week from football to basketball recruiting, along with the NFL Draft.

We open promoting the Chuck Long Charity Auction, which benefits the Children's Therapy Center of the Quad Cities. Bidding is open until 8 pm on Saturday, May 3rd. You can get a look at the items up for bid and place your bids at this link. https://www.ctcqc.org/chuck-long-charity-auction

Then we officially open the podcast discussing what we saw and learned at Iowa's open spring football practice on Saturday. We saw Mark Gronowski throwing an actual football. How did the quarterbacks look overall? We rave about several wide receivers as well. We also discuss the defense and the emerging players that impressed us, particuarly on the line and at linebacker.

We also discuss a pair of new transfer portal additions, including a quarterback from Wake Forest and a defensive back from cornerback. Are the Hawkeyes done in the portal?

After that we jump into the other big story from the weekend, the NFL Draft. Iowa had five players drafted, including a trio of players later in the seventh round. What do we think of the draft picks and their landing spots? We also look ahead to Iowa players who could potentially be drafted next season.

Finally we wrap up discussing Iowa men's basketball recruiting. There are a couple of names to watch right now after visiting this past weekend. We discuss those two players and how they might fit with the Hawkeyes.

It's another jam packed edition of the Hawkeye Report Podcast. Tom Kakert, Kyle Huesmann, and special guest John Evans talk Iowa baseball, men's and women's hoops, and a little Iowa football ahead of the final spring practice on Saturday.

We open with Iowa baseball where the Big Ten leading Hawkeyes host Indiana this weekend. Evans, who calls the Hawkeye games on radio, gives his thoughts on this remarkable season thus far and how they have bounced back this year after high expectations last season. When did Evans know that this team was heading in a potentially special direction?

After that we talk with Kyle about the Iowa women's basketball team adding a key player in the transfer portal who goes by the name of "Chit Chat". What will she bring to the Iowa roster? Who does Kyle see as the possible starting lineup for the Iowa women's team this season?

Then we move on to Iowa men's basketball and the latest official editions of the pair of players from the transfer portal, including a key power forward edition. We also discuss what Iowa needs to add to their roster and which positions they should fill.

Finally we wrap up the show talking a little Iowa football. The Hawkeyes are set to have their final practice of the spring on Saturday and we are invited to watch. We discuss the areas that we are looking to focus on during the practice and several players who we will be watching closely at the open practice.