BOSTON – Iowa State head coach T.J. Otzelberger has been named a finalist for the 2022 Jim Phelan National Coach of the Year award.

The Jim Phelan Award, which is presented annually to the nation’s top Division I coach, is named in honor of a legendary bow-tied coach who spend his entire career at Mount Saint Mary’s University.

Otzelberger, who is in his first season leading the Cyclones, has orchestrated one of the nation’s top stories, helping ISU improve from a 2-22 record last season to a 22-12 record and a Sweet Sixteen appearance this season. The +20 win improvement is the second-best in college basketball history and ISU is the first team to go from two wins the season before to the Sweet Sixteen.

The Cyclones started the season 12-0, the second-best start in school history and rose to as high as No. 8 in the Associated Press Top-25 Coaches Poll. ISU won the Upsie NIT Season Tip-Off with wins against Xavier and Memphis and owns wins against Big Ten regular season champions Wisconsin and Big Ten Tournament champions Iowa.

Otzelberger broke the school record with five wins over top-25 teams, the most-ever by a first-year head coach at Iowa State.

The Cyclones earned their 21^st NCAA Tournament berth and reached the sixth Sweet Sixteen in school history.

Otzelberger and the Cyclones will face Miami on Friday at approximately 8:45 p.m. on TBS.

Iowa Hawkeyes forward Keegan Murray (15) during a photo shoot at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, IA on Monday, September 13, 2021. (Stephen Mally/hawkeyesports.com)

IOWA CITY, Iowa — The Atlanta Tipoff Club announced on Tuesday the four finalists vying for the honor of the 2022 Naismith Trophy, which includes University of Iowa men’s basketball sophomore forward Keegan Murray. The prestigious award recognizes the most outstanding men’s college basketball player.

Joining Murray as a finalist for the award are Ochai Agbaji of Kansas, Wisconsin’s Johnny Davis, and Oscar Tshiebwe of Kentucky. The University of Iowa is the only school to have both a men’s and women’s basketball student-athlete represented as a 2022 finalist; Iowa’s Caitlin Clark is a finalist for the women’s trophy.

This marks the third consecutive season that Iowa has had a Naismith Trophy Finalist: Luka Garza (2020 and 2021) and Murray (2022). Garza was the recipient of the award last year.

Hawkeye fans can vote for Murray from March 22-29, by visiting naismithfanvote.com. Fans may also vote on the @NaismithTrophy Twitter page. The fan vote will account for five percent of the overall vote.

The men’s ceremony to award the 2022 Naismith Trophy for Men’s Player of the Year will take place Sunday, April 3, at the Naismith Awards Brunch during the Final Four in New Orleans.

University of Iowa women’s basketball sophomore Caitlin Clark was named a Naismith Player of the Year Finalist, the Atlanta Tipoff Club announced Tuesday.

The list of finalists include Clark, South Carolina’s Aliyah Boston, NC State’s Elissa Cunane and Baylor’s NaLyssa Smith.

Clark, a Des Moines, Iowa, native, led the nation in points per game (27.0), assists per game (8.0), total assists (257), total points (863), free throws made (200), triple doubles (5) and 30-point games (11). Clark is the only women’s basketball player to lead the country in both assists per game and points per game in a single season.

Clark registered five triple-doubles this season, leading the country in most career triple-doubles by an active player with six. Clark’s six career triple-doubles ties former Hawkeye Sam Logic’s Big Ten record (2011-15) for most in a career and ties for the fifth most single season (5) and career (6) triple-doubles in NCAA Division I history.

Clark broke the 1,000-career point barrier against Evansville in early January and became the fastest Division I player (men’s or women’s) to reach 1,500 career points over the last 20 seasons, reaching the feat in 56 games.

Clark was named Big Ten Player of the Year and Big Ten Tournament MVP, while earning unanimous first team All-Big Ten honors and an All-Big Ten Tournament spot. She was named a Nancy Lieberman Point Guard of the Year finalist, Dawn Staley Award finalist, Naismith semifinalist and to the WBCA Wade Trophy Midseason Watch List and John R. Wooden Award National Ballot Top-15. She is a 2021-22 first team AP All-American, USBWA All-American and first team CoSIDA Academic All-American.

JUPITER, Fla., March 22, 2022 – The St. Louis Cardinals announced today that they reached agreement on 2022 contracts with five of their seven salary arbitration eligible players and 20 of their 21 pre-arbitration players.

Pitchers Jack Flaherty, Giovanni Gallegos, Jordan Hicks, Dakota Hudson and Alex Reyes agreed to terms to avoid salary arbitration, while outfielders Harrison Bader and Tyler O’Neill did not.

Of the pre-arbitration players, those agreeing to terms were Génesis Cabrera, Brendan Donovan, Tommy Edman, Junior Fernandez, Ryan Helsley, Ivan Herrera, Andrew Knizner, Lars Nootbaar, Johan Oviedo, Freddy Pacehco, Johan Quezada, Angel Rondón, Ali Sánchez, Edmundo Sosa, Brendon Waddell, Jake Walsh, Kodi Whitley, Jake Woodford, Juan Yepez and T.J. Zeuch.

Outfielder Dylan Carlson had his contract renewed.

The St. Louis Cardinals announced today that they have optioned or re-assigned six players to their minor league camp, reducing the number of players in Major League camp to 55.

The team optioned pitcher Brandon Waddell to the Memphis (AAA) roster and re-assigned pitcher Trent Baker, first baseman Luken Baker, infielders Delvin Perez and Jordan Walker and catcher Pedro Pages to minor league camp.

The University of South Dakota hosted the Dan Lennon Indoor Invitational on Monday and Tuesday. Here’s a look at some of the results.

Class A Monday, March 21st

GIRLS

60M Hurdles
7th- Abby LaSale, CB Abraham Lincoln 10.68a

Shot Put
3rd- Kierra Schmiedling, Lewis Central 11.44m

High Jump
5th- Emily Madison, Fremont-Mills 4-11.00

BOYS

60M Dash
7th- Jonathan Humpal, Lewis Central 7.24

1600M
7th- Ethan Eichhorn, Lewis Central 4:49.04

3200M
8th- Kade Diercks, Lewis Central 11:03.04

4x200M Relay
9th- CB Abraham Lincoln 1:39.66

4x400M Relay
3rd- Lewis Central (Lucciano Fidone, Ethen Fishell, Jonathan Humpal, Luke Woltmann) 3:40.18

Shot Put
3rd- Hunter Deyo, Lewis Central 14.98m
6th- Parker Matiyow, Lewis Central 14.41m

Long Jump
1st- Jonathan Humpal, Lewis Central 6.26m

Class B Tuesday, March 22nd

Girls

400M
2nd- Isah VanArsdol, Tri-Center (1:05.87)
8th- Kyla Corrin, Tri-Center (1:08.31)

800M
5th- Madison Sporrer, Logan-Magnolia (2:36.55)

1600M
4th- Courtney Sporrer, Logan-Magnolia (5:43.29)
9th- Quincey Schneckloth, Tri-Center (6:11.60)

3200M
4th- Madison Sporrer, Logan-Magnolia (12:27.99)
9th- Mya Moss, Logan-Magnolia (13:21.60)
10th- Ryleigh Thomas, Treynor (13:24.59)

60M Hurldes
1st- Clara Tiegland, Treynor (9.62)
6th- Kiera Hochstein, Logan-Magnolia (10.15)

4x200M Relay
4th- Treynor (Jozie Lewis, Racehl Kinsella, Clara Tiegland, Olivia Larsen) 1:25.44
8th- Harlan 2:00.01

4x400M Relay
4th- Harlan (Lilly Metzger, Ella Plagman, Dani Smith, Kaia Bieker) 4:25.04

Sprint Medley Relay
1st- Harlan (Lilly Metzger, Ella Plagman, Lauren McLaughlin, Kaia Bieker) 4:26.51
5th- Logan-Magnolia 4:42.57

Shot Put
5th- Jadyn Huisman, Treynor 11.04m

High Jump
7th- Clara Tiegland, Treynor 4-08.00

Long Jump
8th- Haley Bladt, Harlan 4.40m

BOYS

60M Dash
1st- Chase Ryan, Underwood 7.05a
5th- Will Nueharth, Harlan 7.26a
7th- Mikey Dose, Underwood 7.31a

400M
1st- Scott Pearson, Underwood 52.17
9th- Matthew Benedict, Sidney 57.24

800M
2nd- Raymond Patomson, Underwood 2:12.52a
4th- Tyler Shelton, Harlan 2:13.79
5th- Luke Seidler, Underwood 2:15.94
9th Payton Chapman, Treynor 2:17.44

1600M
6th- Payton Chapman, Treynor 5:09.89a

60M Hurdles
4th- Carter Davis, Underwood 8.71a

4x200M Relay
2nd- Underwood (Chase Ryan, Joey Anderson, Mikey Dose, Ty Strutton) 1:38.29
9th- Harlan

4x400M Relay
2nd- Underwood (Alex Ravlin, Mason Boothby, Bryce Patten, Scott Pearson) 3:44.34
6th- Harlan (Bret Van Baale, Josef Reisz, Wil Neuharth, Jacob Birch) 3:51.62

Sprint Medley Relay
2nd- Underwood (Joey Anderson, Ty Strutton, Alex Ravlin, Scott Pearson) 3:54.61
3rd- Harlan (Lukas Francis, Will Arkfeld, Josef Reisz, Tyler Shelton) 4:00.76
7th- Underwood
8th- Treynor

Shot Put
1st- Thomas Huneke, Underwood 15.40m
5th- Easton Eledge, Underwood
6th- Walter Ausdemore, Underwood
9th- Jameson Bieker, Harlan

High Jump
3rd- Matthew Benedict, Sidney 6-02.00
T7th- Mason Boothby, Underwood 5-08.00

Full results can be found HERE

(Radio Iowa) – The head wrestling coach at Baxter High School in central Iowa is in the intensive care unit of a California hospital after an accident over Spring Break. Twenty-seven-year-old Joe Amadeo was out jogging in Palm Springs, California on March 16th when he was struck by a passing vehicle. Amadeo was taken to a nearby trauma center following the accident. He underwent brain surgery, which lasted several hours, according to family members.

A fundraising web page is currently being set up through the Baxter High School wrestling program. Those wishing to keep up to date on Amadeo’s condition may do so by following the family’s Caring Bridge website.

Thirty-one NFL teams were represented at Iowa State’s Pro Day and it was another chance for Breece Hall to impress. After running a sub four-four in the 40 at the scouting combine Hall showed off his ability to catch passes.

Hall says running routes allowed him to display his versatility.

Quarterback Brock Purdy felt he had a solid day throwing the ball.

Purdy was drilled on a series of different types of throws.

Linebacker Mike Rose felt it was important to show his quickness.

After struggling with a shoulder injury last season Rose feels healthy as he gets ready for the draft.

It is a much different Iowa State team that will play Miami Friday night in Chicago in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. Cyclone coach T.J. Otzelberger was an assistant coach on the last ISU team that made it to a regional semifinal in 2016 before falling to Virginia.

It is that defensive identity that helped the Cyclones turn things around after a 2-22 season a year ago.

Otzelberger says the players have bought in to the defense first mentality.

Otzelberger says all of the players they brought in accepted their style of play.

Drake poured in 22 points in the fourth quarter and picked up a 62-55 win over UNI in the second round of the WNIT on Monday. It was a pretty tight game most of the way with both offenses struggling to find their groove. The Bulldogs opened up the 4th on a 9-0 run and that proved to be enough to get the win.

Maggie Bair led Drake with 13 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 blocks. Anna Miller had a double-double with 10 points, 11 rebounds, and 4 blocks off the bench. The Bulldogs improved to 20-13 on the season and will advance on to the quarterfinals. Drake completed a three-game season sweep of the Panthers and it was their 5th win in a row in the series.

UNI was led by 11 points from Kam Finley and Grace Boffeli, Karli Rucker, and Cynthia Wolf each added 10. UNI ends the season with a record of 23-11.

Drake will play at South Dakota State on Thursday at 7:00 p.m. for the quarterfinal round.

Iowa State football coach Matt Campbell says new leaders are emerging on offense during spring drills. With veterans like Brock Purdy, Breece Hall and Charlie Kolar gone from last year’s team that finished 7-6 new leadership will be counted on.

Campbell says offensive lineman Trevor Downing and receiver Xavier Hutchinson are two of the players who have stepped up.

Ten Iowa football players looked to improve their draft stock on Monday by taking part in Pro Day in Iowa City. Defensive back Dane Belton says playing the “cash” position for the Hawkeyes has boosted his NFL prospects.

Tyler Goodson is trying to become a rare Iowa running back that makes it in the NFL.

Goodson says a key to making a roster will be versatility.

Safety Jack Koerner had a forty time of 4.51.

Koerner has been seeking the advice of Los Angeles Rams safety Jake Gervase who also started his Iowa career as a walk-on.