Iowa forward Jack Nunge (2) is checked by head coach Fran McCaffery during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Michigan , Thursday, Feb. 25, 2021, in Ann Arbor, Mich. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

IOWA CITY, Iowa — University of Iowa head men’s basketball coach Fran McCaffery has signed a four-year extension to his current contract. The agreement was announced today by Henry B. and Patricia B. Tippie Director of Athletics Chair Gary Barta.

McCaffery is now signed through the 2027-28 competitive season. His base salary remains unchanged for the next two seasons, however there is a longevity bonus at the end of the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons. His annual salary will increase each of the last five years. If 25 percent or more of a season is not able to be played (pandemic), the base salary will be reduced by 10 percent.

“I am excited to announce the extension of Fran’s contract,” said Barta. “He’s earned it. He’s built a strong foundation upon which we can continue to build for years to come. We originally planned to provide the extension at the end of last season, but paused due to the pandemic. I’ve appreciated Fran’s patience through it all.

“To say Fran, Margaret, and the McCaffery Family have embraced Iowa and Hawkeye Athletics is certainly an understatement. They have been actively involved across the state and within the local community in so many ways over the past decade. It is truly a family affair.”

McCaffery has guided the nationally-ranked Hawkeyes to a 21-8 regular season record and a third-place finish in the Big Ten with a 14-6 league mark in 2020-21. Iowa has been ranked inside the Top 15 of the Associated Press Poll every week this season, including No. 5 on March 9. He has guided Iowa to first-division finishes in eight of the last nine seasons and 20 wins or more in seven of the last nine seasons. McCaffery will coach the Hawkeyes in the NCAA Tournament for the fifth time in the last seven completed seasons. He is Iowa’s second all-time winningest coach with 215 overall wins and 103 Big Ten victories.

McCaffery continues to create interest with recruits on a national level due to his tireless work ethic. He recruited and coached two-time Sporting News National Player of the Year and Big Ten Player of the Year, Luka Garza. He has coached a first-team All-Big Ten honoree in five of the last seven seasons (Devyn Marble, 2014; Aaron White, 2015; Jarrod Uthoff, 2016; Peter Jok, 2017; and Luka Garza, 2020-21), the most over a seven-year span since 1956-62.

“I am grateful to Gary Barta and President Bruce Harreld for their continued support,” said McCaffery. “It truly is an honor to represent the University of Iowa and coach the tremendous young men in our program. I am proud of what our team accomplished during the regular season, and we are eager to compete for a national championship this month.”

Second-seeded Iowa (21-8) will begin NCAA Tournament play on Saturday against No. 15 seed Grand Canyon (17-6). Tipoff is scheduled for approximately 5:25 p.m. (CT) at the Indiana Farmers Coliseum. The game will be televised nationally on TBS

Ladell Betts

George Barnett

IOWA CITY, Iowa – Former University of Iowa running back Ladell Betts, and George Barnett, who has more than 20 years of offensive line coaching experience at the collegiate level, have been named to the football coaching staff at the University of Iowa. Head coach Kirk Ferentz made the announcement Monday.

“I am excited to welcome Ladell and George to our program,” said Ferentz. “Both are interested in helping our student-athletes reach their potential on and off the field.”

The selection of Betts and Barnett cap a six-week search process that Ferentz described as methodical and comprehensive.

“It is important to hire on culture and philosophy first, and then football acumen,” said Ferentz. “I know Ladell and George will make meaningful contributions to our program and players.”

Betts will serve as running backs coach. He joins the Hawkeye coaching staff after serving as head coach at Pine Crest School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He has been the head coach at Pine Crest for two seasons and was previously the offensive coordinator (2016-18). He was also the offensive coordinator at Boca Raton High School for two years (2014-15) after coaching running backs at Coral Spring Christian Academy in 2013. Pine Crest posted an undefeated season in 2020 and Boca Raton posted a 10-3 mark in 2015. Betts was offensive coordinator with the NFL Prep 100 Series from 2011-14.

Barnett will serve as Iowa’s offensive line coach. He joins the Hawkeye football program after being named offensive line coach at Tulane University in December, 2020. Barnett previously was on the coaching staff at Miami, Ohio for seven seasons. Barnett joined the Miami program as co-offensive coordinator and offensive line coach (2014-15). He was later elevated to assistant head coach/co-offensive coordinator/offensive line coach in 2016.

“I am excited to be back at my alma mater, where I had the opportunity to develop as a player under coach Hayden Fry and coach Kirk Ferentz,” said Betts. “Now I have the opportunity to do the same for another generation of young players as part of coach Ferentz’s staff. It is incredible to feel like things have truly come full circle for me. I’m ready to get to work.”

“I am grateful for the opportunity to work with coach Kirk Ferentz and his staff and to help maintain the standard of excellence in the Iowa offensive line room,” said Barnett. “I am familiar with the success of the Iowa program and the Big Ten Conference overall. My family and I are excited to get to Iowa City and be part of an outstanding institution and athletics program.”

Following his Iowa career, Betts was selected by Washington in the second round of the 2002 NFL Draft. Betts played in the NFL for nine seasons, including eight with Washington and his final season with the New Orleans Saints. Betts played in 111 career NFL games, rushing for 3,326 yards and 15 touchdowns. He also had 1,646 career receiving yards and three touchdown receptions, along with 2,085 career kickoff return yards. His best single season included 1,154 rushing yards and 445 receiving yards in 2006. His career totals include 7,057 all-purpose yards.

Betts concluded his Iowa career in 2001 as a four-year letterman and is the only running back in program history to lead the team in rushing four straight years. Betts ranks second in career rushing yards (3,686), fourth in all-purpose yards (4,397) and 19th in career scoring (162).

Betts earned his bachelor’s degree from Iowa in 2001 and completed the Business Management and Entrepreneurship Program through the Aresty Institute of Executive Education & The Wharton Sports Business Initiative.

Betts is a native of Blue Springs, Missouri. He and his wife, Shatarah, are the parents of five daughters, Tamryn, Saire, Soleil, Saavi, and Suraj, and one son, Torino.

Barnett earned a bachelor of science degree in physical education in 1998 from Millikin University in Decatur, Illinois. He was a four-year football letterman and earned all-conference recognition.

Barnett is a native of Tuscola, Illinois. George and his wife, Lori, have two children, Elle, and James.

Iowa will begin spring practice during the last week in March.

Iowa will open the 2021 season Sept. 4 in Kinnick Stadium, hosting Big Ten foe Indiana in the first of seven home contests. Season ticket renewals and new season ticket orders are now being accepted at hawkeyesports.com/FootballTickets.

Atlantic senior basketball standout Skyler Handlos announced on social media this weekend that he will continue his basketball career at Simpson College in Indianola.

@coachbbjork @SCStorm_MBB @ATLBoysHoops @AtlanticTrojans pic.twitter.com/mCJGx505Sj

— Skyler Handlos (@SkylerHandlos) March 13, 2021

Handlos averaged 16.7 points per game during his final year with the Trojans. He shot 44% from the field and also averaged about 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals per contest.

ABERDEEN, South Dakota – The Northwest Missouri State University men’s basketball team used a 24-0 run in the first half to cruise to an 85-44 victory over the Washburn University Ichabods in the second round of the 2021 NCAA Central Region Tournament.

Northwest (24-2 overall) posted its largest margin of victory in an NCAA Tournament game at 41 – besting the previous mark of 29 in a 91-62 win over Minnesota State in 2019. The 44 points is also the fewest Northwest has allowed in an NCAA Tournament game – previous mark was 47 vs. MSU Moorhead in the 2015 NCAA Tournament.
Washburn took a 4-2 lead on a three-pointer from Jalen Lewis with 16:19 to play in the game. Then the Northwest offense and defense took over. The Bearcats lit into the Ichabods with a 24-0 run to take a 26-4 lead with 9:19 left in the opening half. Senior Ryan Hawkins buried all four three-point attempts he took in the run. Lewis scored again with 8:52 to play to cut the Northwest lead to 26-7. All told, the Ichabod scoreless stretch lasted 7:33.

Northwest would lead by as many as 30 in the opening half at 44-14. Northwest took a 44-16 lead into intermission. The Bearcats shot 60.0% in the first half on 15-of-25 field goals. The Ichabods made only five shots and shot 22.7% from the field, including 18.2% from three-point range. Hawkins led all scorers with 18 first-half points on 5-of-9 shooting from the field. Hawkins was 4-of-7 from three-point range.

The Bearcats came out just as hot in the second half and blitzed the Ichabods with a 28-3 run to start the half. Northwest took a 72-19 lead with 11:09 left in the game. Northwest scored the first 12 points of the half, Washburn’s Connor Deffebaugh made a three and then Northwest proceeded to score 16 straight points.

A three-pointer by Daniel Abreu with 6:50 left gave Northwest a 54-point lead at 80-26. The Bearcats would finish off the Ichabods, 85-44.

Northwest shot 55.6% from the field for the game. The Bearcats drained 11 three-pointers.

Hawkins led all scorers with 27 points. Hawkins buried a team-high seven three-pointers and was 8-of-13 from the field, including 7-of-11 from deep. Hawkins added a team-high eight rounds, five assists and two blocked shots.

Junior Trevor Hudgins scored 14 points and handed out a team-high eight assists to go along with three steals. Sophomore Wes Dreamer connected on 7-of-12 field goals for 17 points and six rebounds. Freshman Byron Alexander came off the bench to score eight points and grab five rebounds.

Washburn was limited to 32.6% from the field and made only 7-of-21 three-point shots. Washburn’s first-team all-MIAA guard Tyler Geiman was held to five points on 2-of-14 shooting from the floor.

Northwest committed two turnovers in the game, while Washburn was credited with 17 turnovers.

The Bearcats will meet the Northern State Wolves Tuesday at 7 p.m. in the 2021 NCAA Central Region Tournament final. The winner will advance to the Elite Eight set for March 24-27 in Evansville, Indiana.

With Jim Field.

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(Radio Iowa) – March is “Problem Gambling Awareness” month and the head of Iowa’s treatment program says they are trying to let everyone know that things don’t have to get out of control. Eric Pruess says that’s why they have started their “Be Number One at Getting Help” campaign. “To help those who might not understand much about gambling have a bit more empathy understanding and support for those individuals — to encourage them to reach out for support rather than anger and I can’t believe you did this, how could you do this? Why do you have this problem and no one else has this problem,” Pruess says.

He says the gambler and those around them need to know what’s involved. “It’s a disease, it’s something that people need help for and there’s help available. That’s really what we are trying to get at,” Pruess says. “And certainly within the theme of Problem Gambling Awareness Month is awareness plus action makes good things happen.” Sports betting has taken off in Iowa since becoming legal — and Preuss says there’s no doubt it increases the temptation for those who might gamble illegally. “All you have to do is watch T-V and know there is a very high level of competition that is going on with the new sportsbooks when the sports law changed,” Preuss says.

He says there are a lot of offers out there trying to get people into sports gambling. “They’re competing for a limited number of Iowans and trying to build that relationship with Iowans to do sports wagering. And they are doing it in some very enticing ways — bet a dollar win a hundred. We guarantee you won’t lose your first 25 dollars,” Preuss says. ” For a person who hasn’t gambled before, it sounds like ‘why wouldn’t I try that?” He says gambling doesn’t have to take over your life. “We really just want to get the message out to them to play responsibly — to stay within their means. Make sure you are only wagering your discretionary income and not looking at it to make money,” according to Pruess. ” I mean, it’s fun, it’s entertainment. If you win great, if you don’t, you walk away and you had fun doing it, that type of thing.”

He says if you feel you have a problem there is help at 1-800-BETTS-OFF or by going online to yourlifeiowa.org. “And they can initiate a chat session there. But they can also find more information about responsible gambling, what a gambling problem might look like, and other resources to assist them,” he says.  Pruess says about one percent of Iowans meet the criteria for a gambling disorder and about 14 percent who may be at risk for gambling disorder.

UNDATED (AP) — Gonzaga, Illinois, Baylor and Michigan are the No. 1 seeds in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament, which begins first-round play on Friday. The Bulldogs have claimed the No. 1 overall seed and will head the West Regional. The Zags are the only unbeaten team in men’s Division I hoops and are trying to become the first squad to run the table on its entire schedule since Indiana in 1976.

Iowa has the second seed in the West, followed by Kansas and Virginia. The Hawks will take on No. 15 Grand Canyon, Friday, March 19th. Additional details are to be determined. Gonzaga beat each of those teams by double-digits during the regular season, including a 23-point rout of the defending-champion Cavaliers. Baylor tops the South bracket and heads into the tourney with just two losses, including a setback in the Big 12 semifinals. The Bears spent most of the season as the No. 2 team in The Associated Press poll.

Ohio State is No. 2 in the South, just ahead of Arkansas and Purdue. Louisville, Colorado State, St. Louis and Mississippi have been put on stand-by. They could find their way into the bracket if a team in the field notifies the NCAA by Tuesday night that it must withdraw because of health concerns.

MOLINE, Ill. (AP) — Gabi Haack hit six 3-pointers and scored 22 points to lead Bradley to its first NCAA Tournament with a 78-70 win over Drake in the championship game of the reconfigured Missouri Valley Conference Tournament. Haack had a pair of 3-pointers in a 14-2 run in the fourth quarter that gave the fifth-seeded Braves a 76-66 lead with 2:37 to play. Drake, the second seed, was 2 for 6 with four turnovers in the last seven minutes.

Bradley was scheduled to play league champion and 17th-ranked Missouri State in the semifinals on Saturday but the Bears, probably an NCAA Tournament lock with a 21-2 record, pulled out over a positive COVID-19 test in the Bradley party. Grace Berg scored 23 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for Drake.

CARBONDALE, Ill. (AP) — Backup Sto Labanowitz threw for 91 yards and a touchdown, and Southern Illinois rallied from a 13-0 halftime deficit to beat Northern Iowa 17-16. It was Southern Illinois’ second victory this season over a top-five team after snapping three-time defending FCS champion North Dakota State’s FCS-record 39-game winning streak on Feb. 27. UNI stated the final drive at its 11 with 1:48 remaining.

On fourth-and-10, Will McElvain found Quan Hampton over the middle, and he broke free from a defender at midfield to race for a 52-yard gain. Four plays later, Matthew Cook was wide left on a 30-yard field goal attempt as time expired.

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Seventh-ranked Maryland’s scoring depth and impressive skill were once again on display in a 104-84 rout of Iowa to claim a second consecutive Big Ten Tournament championship on Saturday. Seven of eight players who scored early had more than one basket. Coach Brenda Frese’s Terrapins (24-2) have reached this title game in each of the seven seasons since Maryland joined the conference, and won six of seven regular-season titles.

Maryland players react following a timeout by Iowa in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in the championship of the Big Ten Conference tournament, Saturday, March 13, 2021, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

Chloe Bibby led the Terps with 21 points, including 11, with three 3-pointers, in the opening quarter.