(Radio Iowa) – Iowa and Kentucky have a final practice today before Saturday’s kickoff at the Citrus Bowl. The 15th ranked Hawkeyes enter the game with a 10-3 record.

That’s Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz who says the Hawkeyes have worked hard but enjoyed all the festivities.

Ferentz says both teams earned their way into the game.

Iowa is looking to bounce back from a lopsided loss to Michigan in the Big Ten Championship game.

At a joint news conference this (Friday) morning, Ferentz was asked if he would name a starting quarterback.

Kentucky coach Mark Stoops will match up against the school he played for.

Both programs have won three straight bowl games but neither has won four straight. That will change for tomorrow’s winner.

Listen for the game on KJAN, beginning with the pre-game show at 10-a.m., Saturday. Kickoff is at Noon, Iowa time. The action will also be televised by ABC.

DES MOINES — A slew of turnovers and Indiana State’s sharp second-half shooting sent the Drake University women’s basketball team to a 78-70 loss in the opening game of the Missouri Valley Conference season at the Knapp Center on Thursday night.

Indiana State broke a 10-game losing streak to Drake and handed the Bulldogs’ their first loss in a conference opener since Jan 1, 2016, when Drake lost to Southern Illinois 77-67.

Drake (8-4) led by as many as 13 points in the first half and was up by nine early in the fourth quarter before the Sycamores (6-6) rallied to beat the Bulldogs for the first time since a 68-53 victory in Terre Haute on Feb. 14, 2016.

The Bulldogs shot 50 percent from the field and outrebounded Indiana State 34-20 but committed a season-high 30 turnovers. The Sycamores came up with 17 steals and built a 32-15 edge in points off turnovers, more than enough to account for the final margin.

Junior Grace Berg led Drake with 16 points on 6-for-10 shooting. Junior Maggie Bair, playing with a clear face mask to protect a broken nose, was the only other Drake player in double figures with 11 points. Freshman Anna Miller added nine points and graduate Maddie Petersen scored eight. Petersen also had two assists to move into sixth place on Drake’s records list with 482.

Drake will return to action on New Year’s Day against Evansville at the Knapp Center at 2 p.m.

(Radio Iowa) – An Iowa defense that ranks 15th nationally will take on a Kentucky offense ranked 39th in Saturday’s Citrus Bowl. Hawkeye defensive coordinator Phil Parker says it begins with Kentucky running back Chris Rodriguez.

Parker says the Wildcats combine a strong ground game with the play action of quarterback Will Levis.

It is the final game together for a veteran Iowa secondary that leads the nation in interceptions.

Senior safety Jack Koerner says Levis is a much better quarterback than the one they faced at Penn State.

Koerner says the Iowa defense will need a disciplined approach.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa safety Kaevon Merriweather says the defense faces a challenge in Saturday’s Citrus Bowl. The Hawkeyes take on a Kentucky team that averages better than 33 points per game.

Merriweather says Kentucky’s offense has a lot of weapons, including quarterback Will Levis.

Merriweather says the run defense faces a challenge against Kentucky’s Chris Rodriguez.

Keegan Murray dropped home 29 points and had 10 rebounds to lead Iowa to a 92-71 win over Western Illinois on Wednesday night in Iowa City. Jordan Bohannon and Payton Sandfort each added 13 points and Patrick McCaffery scored 11.

Iowa jumped out to a nice start in the game and scored 53 points in the first half. The Hawkeyes improved to 10-3 on the season.

Next up for the Hawkeyes is a home game against Maryland on Monday at 8:00 p.m. We’ll have coverage on KJAN starting at 7:00 p.m. that evening.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa has still not named a starting quarterback for Saturday’s Citrus Bowl against Kentucky. Spencer Petras started the last two games but was relieved in the second half of both by Alex Padilla.

That’s Hawkeyes offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz who has confidence in both quarterbacks.

Ferentz says he is only concerned about this bowl game and not how the decisions made will impact the future plans of both.

Kentucky defensive coordinator Brad White says both quarterbacks are similar.

White says the differences are subtle.

(Radio Iowa) – A bad third quarter proved costly for Iowa State in a loss at the Cheez-It Bowl.

(That’s John Walters with the call on the Cyclone Network) Clemson scored moments later on a pick six to build a 20-3 and held off a late Cyclone comeback for a 20-13 victory. ISU coach Matt Campbell says it was a great effort but just too many mistakes to overcome.

It was the final game for a senior class that Campbell says built the foundation for the program.

Several key players closed their career but Campbell feels the future of the program is bright.

Senior tight end Chase Allen says the Cyclones never felt like they were out of the game.

Subbing for All American running back Breece Hall, sophomore Jirehl Brock had 42 yards of rushing and added 21 yards in receiving.

Linebacker O’Rien Vance says the future of the program is bright.

Linebacker Jake Hummel says the game was much like the season.

The Cyclones close it out with a record of 7-6.

IOWA CITY, Iowa — The University of Iowa women’s basketball game against Illinois on Sunday, Jan. 2 at 2 p.m. (CT) inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa, has been postponed out of abundance of caution due to positive COVID-19 test results within the Illini basketball program.

The decision was made as part of the protocols established by the Big Ten Conference, Illinois and Iowa Athletics medical staff, and in consultation with university, local and national officials and guidelines.

This game will be postponed and the Conference office will coordinate the rescheduling process. If the game is not able to be rescheduled, it would count as a “no contest” for both teams.

The Hawkeyes host Northwestern on Thursday, Jan. 6 inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. (CT) on B1G Network.

AMES, Iowa – Iowa State men’s head basketball coach T.J. Otzelberger has announced the addition of Georgetown transfer Tre King. King is a 6-7 forward out of Lexington, Kentucky, who spent the previous three seasons at Eastern Kentucky before transferring to Georgetown. King, a senior, never played a game at Georgetown and has two years of eligibility remaining due to the COVID year.

King played in 28 games for Eastern Kentucky last season and averaged 14.9 points and 6.2 rebounds while shooting nearly 50 percent from the field to earn All-OVC first-team honors. He has shown the ability to step out and knock down perimeter shots, connecting on 19 3-pointers at a 34 percent clip. Defensively, King was one of three players nationally with at least 30 blocks and 40 steals in 2020-21.

“Tre will provide an immediate impact to our program with the combination of his character, versatility and experience,” Otzelberger said. “He has the unique ability to shoot the three, make plays attacking closeouts, as well as finish through contact at the rim. Defensively, he can guard multiple positions and be an impactful rebounder. We’re excited to have Tre enhance the competition of our practice environment each day.”

King, who prepped at Hargrave Military Academy, reached double figures in 21 games during last season’s shortened campaign. He scored a season-high 29 points against Tennessee Tech, while also scoring 25 against Xavier. In total, he posted six 20-point games and five double-doubles.

King has played 92 career games and made 77 starts, scoring 973 career points and 480 rebounds. He has also had 107 steals and 76 blocks in his career.

IOWA CITY, Iowa – University of Iowa senior Spencer Lee was named Big Ten Conference Co-Wrestler of the Week, the league office announced Tuesday.

Lee returned to the Hawkeye lineup Dec. 20-21 at the Collegiate Wrestling Duals. He opened the year with three wins, including two bonus-point wins and two top 11 victories. Lee outscored his opponents, 31-1, leading Iowa to the Red Division championship and extending the Hawkeyes’ dual winning streak to 24, the longest in the nation. Lee has won 38 straight, outscoring those opponents, 463-42.

The weekly conference award is the first for Iowa this season and the fourth of Lee’s career. He shared the weekly award with Penn State’s Aaron Brooks.

Iowa returns to action Sunday at the 2022 Hawkeye Open. The Hawkeyes open the Big Ten dual season Jan. 7 hosting Minnesota at 8 p.m. (CT) at Carver-Hawkeye Arena