Latest / The Lunch Rush with Trent Condon / Eugene Rapay talks Cyclones, Mike Palm from Circa Sports

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Eugene Rapay talks Cyclones, Mike Palm from Circa Sports · The Lunch Rush with Trent Condon

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Hi, Millie Condon, welcome back. Our number 2 live Buffalo Wild
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Wings Merle Hay Rd. here in Des Moines, Trenton.
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I with you until 2:00. We'll head back down to
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Principal Park. Heather will be standing by and
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then the boys in the afternoon off the bench coming up.
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They're live at Principal Park as well from 2:00 to 5:00
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opening day. I Cubs downtown Des Moines when
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San Burnaby say to Heather earlier season 43 for him or
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something. What it is it's unbelievable.
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God he's been there a long time. I thought he was old.
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Yeah we are. I thought he was walking away a
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little bit, but hard to do so apparently.
1:14
Let's get to our friend Eugene Repay.
1:16
He is in Chicago, by the way. Before we get Eugene, I want to
1:20
let I want to continue to remind you because you're not used to
1:23
local programming on the radio on Saturday afternoon, but there
1:27
will be that tomorrow and it's Elite 8 program.
1:30
We will obviously take a look at Illinois and Iowa will recap
1:34
Iowa State's win tonight over Tennessee and then advance their
1:37
game in Michigan. So it's in lead HO, but it's not
1:40
just focusing on one team. They're getting a little
1:42
sensitive cyclone fanatic trend. I know this should doesn't
1:45
surprise you. They're a sensitive group.
1:47
You still go to that. Occasionally I just get a kick
1:50
out of it, but anyways, lead 8 program focusing on both
1:54
schools. That's tomorrow from 3:00 until
1:57
4/3 until 4. Heather Sean Lucas, myself in
2:01
studio Trenton, Houston bussy in Chicago, off to Chicago.
2:06
Eugene Repay stops by from the Des Moines Register.
2:09
Eugene, Trenton can There'll be a little bit of a delay since
2:12
we're on location, but thanks for coming on.
2:14
How are you, Eugene? I'm great, I'm great.
2:16
I'm very excited. The vibes are really good here
2:19
in Chicago and I'm sure there are a lot of fans out there who
2:21
like the way you think when they beat Tennessee tonight and then
2:24
you guys can have your elite age.
2:28
Absolutely. So obviously you were at the
2:30
United Center yesterday for shoot around.
2:33
There was no cutting, there was no running, but there was some
2:36
walking and I know they're not going to walk tonight, but but
2:41
Jefferson would. He wasn't limping.
2:43
That maybe was my take away. I don't know what to read into
2:46
it, Eugene. Obviously it's going to be
2:49
analyzed and scrutinized. We're going to look at this and
2:52
everybody's going to formulate their opinion.
2:54
What do you think when it comes to Jefferson's ankle pursuant to
2:58
tonight, Eugene? Definitely some gamesmanship
3:01
there. So media is only allowed in for
3:03
the 1st 15 minutes of open practice and then after that the
3:06
team continues on and for the 1st 15 minutes everybody had
3:09
their eyes cameras glued on Joshua Jefferson.
3:11
What is he doing? Was he going to, how's he going
3:13
to move? What's he going to do out there?
3:15
Took some layups, close range shots, couple fast shots, walked
3:19
around, which is very encouraging.
3:20
He said that that was the first time that he had walked and had
3:22
gotten to put on his court shoes since the injury.
3:25
But right now it really seems like that they're really kind of
3:28
pushed it to the last hour as much as possible.
3:31
He's been rehabbing away at it like crazy.
3:34
I personally am a little skeptical about his status
3:36
tonight, but I also would be surprised if they if he felt
3:39
good enough to go and if he did feel that way that they would
3:42
trot him out and and take a shot.
3:47
If we see Joshua Jefferson, my question is how quick is the
3:51
hook? How quickly is TJ going to make
3:54
the determination? A all right, he's helping us,
3:57
but he's certainly not at 100%. I mean, that's got to be the
4:00
most tricky part about this. Doesn't Eugene figuring out
4:03
because they play so differently when he's not in the line up,
4:06
he's so ball dominant and it really changes what they do
4:09
offensively. How quick of a hook do you
4:11
anticipate to see tonight if he gives it a go and maybe isn't
4:15
even close to 100%? I think the most telling thing
4:18
will be the availability report that comes out 90 minutes before
4:21
tip off. If Joshua Jefferson is listed as
4:23
available, that will be a big thing.
4:25
And then after that you got to wonder is there going to be a
4:28
minutes restriction? What is his utilization going to
4:30
look like? But right now I know that TJ
4:33
also Burger has been really keeping his cards close to his
4:35
chest. He won't even tip off if there's
4:37
going to be some sort of minutes restriction or anything like
4:39
that. So I think the first hand will
4:41
be in that availability report that comes out 90 minutes
4:43
before. And then from there, we'll keep
4:46
a close eye on what is activity level is like.
4:48
They're in the premium warm ups and shoot around and things like
4:50
that. So obviously you and everybody
4:55
else media wise will treat that. So that will tweet that rather
4:59
is that like 730 roughly would you say because it's like 915
5:03
tip. So roughly 7:30 will know
5:06
whether you know what the availability says pursuant to
5:09
Jefferson. Yes, I would say around, you
5:13
know, 7:30, just before 8:00, whether or not he'll be listed
5:17
as available. And then after that, the pregame
5:21
warmups and shoot around probably 20 to 30 minutes before
5:24
tip. We'll see what what he's looking
5:26
like. You know, you're going to be
5:27
running around with the rest of the team.
5:29
Is he going to be running in layup lines?
5:30
Is he going to be doing those pregame drills that they usually
5:32
do to what extent? So there's going to be a lot of
5:35
curiosity around him. But the good news is he has shed
5:38
the boot. He's moving better.
5:39
It seems to be that each day there is progress.
5:42
There's significant progress and right, everyone just seems to
5:45
have their fingers crossed for tonight.
5:49
I want to get your perception on Tennessee and what you
5:51
anticipate tonight. The biggest thing we talked
5:53
about a ton, kind of the easiest thing, they're really good at
5:56
rebounding the ball and they're really good in offensive
5:58
rebounds, 44% of the misses this year.
6:00
What else, though, about Tennessee you look at and say
6:03
this could pause, could cause problems for Iowa State?
6:07
It's definitely that. It's the rebounding and also you
6:10
just look at their starting lineup, they got three guys that
6:12
are 6 foot 10 or taller. It's a size discrepancy.
6:15
It's a size discrepancy, size difference.
6:17
That's similar to Kentucky, but it actually seems like Tennessee
6:20
has toughness. They're a little more connected.
6:22
They're actually going to go after it on the glass and this
6:25
is a team that excels at it. You look at the 44.8% offensive
6:29
rebounding rate and a part of you can be an easy skeptical.
6:32
It's like, oh, how much of this is inflated from non conference
6:35
play or some of the softer schedule?
6:37
But then you look at their conference play stats and it's
6:39
they've been consistent all throughout.
6:40
So this is a team that loves to get after it on the glass.
6:43
They got two other guys that come off the bench that are 6
6:45
foot 8 or taller. So it's going to be a A-Team
6:48
wide effort to really box out and try to minimize their second
6:53
chance opportunities, minimize those extra possessions.
6:55
And then also you look at who they got leading the charge
6:57
there. Jacoby Gillespie, it's going to
6:59
be another highlight. Senior standout point guard
7:02
versus senior standout point guard.
7:04
Tame and Lipsy versus Jacoby Gillespie, two guys that are
7:07
coming off of big time performances in the second
7:09
round. For Gillespie, he's had three
7:11
straight games with 20 or more points.
7:13
He's been an excellent two way player for them and Tame and
7:16
Lipsy also coming off of a a career high 26 points with
7:19
tennis. This a very good double double
7:22
there when it's team needs the most with Joshua Jefferson out.
7:25
So I think for Iowa State, the the biggest could area of
7:28
concern will be that size difference.
7:30
Try to mitigate the boards, try to minimize the damage there.
7:33
But I think that they can make up for it with turnover, with
7:36
Tennessee being so turnover prone and being so susceptible
7:39
to those giveaways. I want to put the focus on Iowa
7:43
State's other guard and it's Killian Toure, who I I think is
7:47
maybe played as important a role as anybody.
7:49
And I'm just certainly not minimizing what Lipsy and
7:51
Munchilovich have been not been able to do, especially in the
7:55
absence of Jefferson. But it's Toure and you and you
7:58
go back to that Arizona game when a couple of shots started
8:01
to go in it down in Kansas City and he just looks like a
8:04
different player. Eugene, you've seen him all year
8:06
long, you've talked to him all year long.
8:09
Do you notice a difference now when you get him in the locker
8:11
room after the game? Is he a different guy?
8:13
Is he he's just more comfortable with his role now.
8:16
He's he's been a huge, huge factor in this late season run.
8:21
I think he's always maintained just being comfortable in front
8:23
of the media, being comfortable with other people and just being
8:25
confident in himself, especially on defense.
8:27
But I think that Arizona game was definitely a turning point
8:30
for him. I I know that he's going to say
8:32
that, you know, he tried to stay patient and just stick with it
8:34
and stay aggressive. But I think seeing those shots
8:37
drop in such a big time game like that really helped his
8:39
psyche. And then you've seen him only
8:41
continue to build off of that and only continue to make shots
8:44
and be now a contributor on both ends.
8:46
Once again, he had a little bit of a rough patch.
8:48
He knew that that's part of the growing pains that come with
8:50
being a fresh with college basketball.
8:52
But he stayed with the process. He stayed consistent with his
8:54
habits. It's just something that they've
8:56
loved from him. And while you could always count
8:59
on him for his defense, I think his offense starting to step up
9:01
and really him being able to knock down those shots, be
9:04
aggressive, really be confident in the shot to fall again.
9:08
That has been such a huge boost for Iowa State because he's
9:10
been, like you mentioned, he's been such a great backcourt
9:13
compliment, a big a great backcourt mates attainment,
9:15
Lipsy defensively, they're just such a great 1-2 punch.
9:18
But if they're both going to be able to hunt their shots and
9:21
make them drop like that during this run, it's going to help the
9:23
cyclists big time. Eugene, you've been boots on the
9:28
ground for the last couple of days.
9:30
Give us a look. We of course saw it last night
9:32
in Houston with Nebraska fans taking over there along with all
9:35
the Cougar fans that were in attendance.
9:37
What do you anticipate because Michigan, you talk about alumni
9:40
base living in Chicago, they got a ton there.
9:43
Certainly the same thing for Iowa State.
9:45
What do you anticipate tonight's going to look like inside the
9:48
building? I think there's going to be a
9:50
metric ton of Iowa State fans. I also think that there's going
9:54
to be a metric ton of Michigan fans just from walking around
9:58
last night or, or just looking around the the arena and, and
10:02
the hotels and things like that. You see a lot of Michigan hats
10:05
and or a lot of Michigan gear. I've seen a lot of that.
10:07
I've also seen a lot of cyclone gear.
10:09
Haven't really seen too much of the other two teams in
10:11
attendance. So I I really think that if both
10:15
elite aid is going to be electric, yeah.
10:19
No doubt about that, absolutely with with Michigan and with Iowa
10:23
State. So what's the key to the game in
10:25
your mind? Obviously, regardless whether
10:27
Jefferson plays or doesn't play, we saw Iowa State just they
10:31
really stole, I think took the will, took the heart right out
10:35
of Kentucky in that last game. Not saying that they can do that
10:38
again, but it's their tenacity on the defensive end of the
10:42
floor that you know, as the game goes on, they just wear teams
10:45
down. Is that maybe the the biggest
10:48
key to tonight, whether Jefferson plays or not, just
10:51
keep doing on the defensive end what you've done seemingly all
10:54
season long and and eventually you'll break them. 1000% I think
10:59
that that last game against Kentucky was a huge try with
11:01
they just can win without Joshua Jefferson against the power
11:05
conference opponent. But they can also do so on the
11:08
just hanging their hat on what's been their identity all year
11:11
long, doing it with tenacious defense, doing it with their
11:14
ability to generate turnovers. I talked to Nate Heisey, I
11:17
talked to Tame and Lipsy. And all the players that I've
11:20
spoken to can agree that you can sense when a team spirit is just
11:24
broken. And you could see that against
11:26
Kentucky. I think that for Iowa State, the
11:29
biggest key is to be able to have that sort of disruption.
11:32
Once again. Tennessee has had problems with
11:33
turnovers. As good as they are on the
11:35
offensive glass and as good as they are in generating second
11:38
chance opportunities, I think Iowa State can easily make up
11:41
for whatever deficit, if there is even one, just with their
11:44
ability to get takeaways, score and transition and score off
11:47
turnovers. There are times when it feels
11:49
like that those turnovers that they create are more valuable
11:52
than a three pointer or two point shot or a dunk.
11:55
So I think for Iowa State, if they can continue to just rack
11:58
up those momentum killers for for Tennessee, just enough their
12:02
spirit, then do so after their defense, because as the game
12:06
goes on, it gets harder and harder and and those teams so
12:08
far that they've faced in the postseason have tapped out.
12:13
Eugene, take us in a little bit and I'm glad we went 13 minutes
12:17
before we got to it, but the TJ Otzelberger coaching with North
12:21
Carolina that was out there good for us.
12:24
Yes, absolutely. Yes, we we talked about the game
12:27
first and. Pushed.
12:28
This background, yes, I'm glad that we did that, but it is
12:31
still a story. Take us into the conversation
12:34
hearing him. We saw the video clips that you
12:36
put out there, Eugene, and did a really good job of that.
12:38
Just it's a question that needs to be asked but your take away
12:42
after hearing his responses. I, I think it was very assuring,
12:46
especially if you're an Iowa State fan and, and I'm sure that
12:48
there are still some people who are skeptical, right?
12:50
You, you see that and it's like, oh, every coach does that or,
12:53
oh, what else is he supposed to say?
12:55
But if you look at TJ also Burger, he's been very
12:57
consistent all throughout the week and just doubling down on
12:59
Iowa State. And one thing, one thing that
13:02
I've heard is just the alignment right now between the new
13:05
president, David Cook, life Director Jamie Pollard, and TJ
13:09
Altoberger seems to be at a very, very good place.
13:11
And that's why I think he is being very genuine.
13:14
It seems like this new president, Doctor Cook, is super
13:17
involved and he's going to be willing to invest, you know,
13:21
time, energy, resources into basketball and whatever
13:24
conversations that they've had has been super productive.
13:27
And right now it looks like TJ is in a good place.
13:30
And I really do think that he's very meaningful and he's very
13:32
sincere in his choice to double down on Iowa State.
13:36
And I think for the Cyclones, I mean, that's going to be such a
13:39
great feeling, if not only if you're a fan, but also if you're
13:41
a player, you're in the middle of a deep run right now.
13:43
You're in the Sweet 16 trying to go to the lead 8 for the first
13:46
time since 2000. And your head coach is just.
13:49
You know. Reaffirming his commitment to
13:51
the program to Ames. It is it is huge.
13:53
Like there's no real way to downplay it, especially in this
13:56
day and age where it seems like players and coaches are chasing
13:58
bags or chasing new opportunities.
14:00
And you have TJ also Burger, who's been wonder grown since
14:03
2006, rose up the ranks as an assistant, came back, took over
14:06
as head coach, and now he's doubling down and and, you know,
14:09
turning down these blue bloods or shying away from any of these
14:12
other job opportunities. So there's no real way to to
14:14
downplay it. You got to be excited if you're
14:16
a Cyclone fan, player or anyone around in the community.
14:21
Yeah, No, no, I, I I'm with you. And maybe I should be more
14:24
skeptical, but I'm not. There's not one ounce of me that
14:28
thinks that TJ Otzenberg is going to entertain in the North
14:30
Carolina offer or anything else. We we shall see.
14:33
Well, you mentioned Heisey a minute ago and, and his run.
14:36
I don't think we should and I don't think we are, but overlook
14:40
what he has done late in the year.
14:42
And then in particular, you know, when when guys realize
14:45
that, you know, this could be the last time I get to put on
14:47
this uniform when the senior season, when it dawns on them
14:50
again that that this is it. I think Heisey's been
14:53
phenomenal. I really do.
14:54
Maybe it's a little bit of, you know, the all in the family type
14:57
of thing. His sister had a pretty good
14:59
month of February as well. Now, now brothers taking over
15:03
Nate. Heisey's been unbelievable
15:04
double digits in scoring, but he's he's engaged defensively as
15:08
well. Heisey's been terrific.
15:11
Yes, TJ, also Burger will say that he's The X Factor.
15:13
He's the guy that will change the momentum or be that guy that
15:17
they can count on and literally any situation.
15:19
And I think what Nate Heisey is able to do with the versatility
15:22
and just you can plug him and play him anywhere.
15:24
He started for Taming Lipsy when Lipsy was out with a groin
15:27
injury, and now he's starting with Joshua Jefferson out and he
15:31
can shoot the ball, he can score.
15:32
He's made those big shots. He's been starting to see those
15:35
shots fall through as he's been more aggressive with Jefferson
15:37
out. But I think right now what's
15:39
most impressive to me is the guys 6465 and he plays that way
15:43
bigger than he's listed. He can play, plays like a
15:46
forward, he's very physical, he's very tough.
15:48
And I think that that toughness and just that willingness to do
15:51
whatever the team needs to win has been to such a crucial X
15:54
Factor and what makes him so successful.
15:58
So you're ready for the run to continue?
16:00
It'll be Indianapolis next week with a win here against
16:03
Tennessee and likely against Michigan in the next round.
16:07
You got anything in spring football going or is it
16:09
completely? Off the bat?
16:10
No kidding. No, there, there.
16:13
So we got to talk to Jimmy Rogers and we got to talk to a
16:15
couple of the guys, Austin Barrett and and Max Balloon so
16:19
far. They, they did start camp
16:21
officially on Thursday. Right now, according to Jimmy
16:24
Rogers, the goal is to install 80 to 90% of the offense,
16:28
defense and special teams. And then right from there, they
16:31
hope to just hit the ground running for the summer and fall
16:34
camps. But a lot of new faces just from
16:36
coaches and players and seems like everyone's in a good place
16:39
right now. They've had a successful, you
16:41
know, offseason training. But it's once when the pads
16:44
around, that's when we get to see who's going to really stand
16:46
out. Coach Rogers and his staff are
16:48
going to learn a lot more about his team.
16:50
You know, this isn't a game that's measured by bench presses
16:53
and squat. It's about what you do on the
16:55
gridiron. And I think they're going to
16:56
learn a lot this spring. As much as we love football and
17:01
we do, and it moves the needle, it kicks and oh, I hope you're
17:03
not covering football for another another week or so.
17:06
Eugene, you and Heinz get to Indianapolis and continue this
17:10
incredible run. Eugene, thanks for doing this
17:13
for us. Appreciate it as always.
17:16
We'll read you as we always do. desmoinesregister.com.
17:18
Eugene repay Travis Hines on site in Chicago, Iowa State,
17:23
Tennessee tonight. Eugene, thanks for popping on.
17:25
We'll watch your Twitter feed as soon as that availability report
17:29
is made public. I'm sure you'll get it out there
17:32
right away when and we will know the latest on Jefferson very
17:36
quickly after you do Thanks, Eugene.
17:37
Appreciate it as always pal. Thank you guys so much, enjoy
17:41
the games. Thank you, Bud.
17:44
Eugene repay, Des Moines registers.
17:46
We check in with our friend in Chicago covering Iowa State and
17:50
Tennessee tonight. So listening to Eugene,
17:53
obviously gamesmanship is is is is is a huge part of it,
17:57
especially when you have a player of that caliber and you
18:00
want to keep everybody guessing. I get it.
18:03
You have a feel. I think they club them.
18:06
You think I would stay clubs and but I was asking about
18:09
Jefferson. Let's go there then.
18:10
You think they win the game comfortably?
18:12
I do too. I.
18:14
We've talked about the one angle for Tennessee.
18:17
Rick Barnes is not good in this spot.
18:19
He he's this has been when reality is hit for his squads.
18:24
And I just I see very little. Gillespie's a nice guard.
18:28
But. Thinking about the pressure
18:29
that's going. To be a choice.
18:31
And all right, here's Lipsy, his physical tough of defender
18:35
you're going to find. All right, he's a little tired.
18:38
So now here's Killian Torrid. So now, Jacoby, young man,
18:43
there's a little. Bigger Lipsy this guy little
18:45
younger Lipsy has a little. Bit more length to him and he's
18:48
going to also pick you up full court and so you now you get to
18:51
deal with like Jacoby. Gillespie's a nice player, he's
18:55
a nice collegiate player, but I don't see him being able to 3rd.
18:59
Stop I. Think he Well, he's a Belmont.
19:01
Belmont. That's where he was.
19:02
Where was. He in between he.
19:04
Was, was, was he in the Maryland?
19:06
Was he? I think it was somewhere.
19:07
I think it was. Maryland, yes, Yeah, he was in
19:09
Maryland last year and then now here at Tennessee.
19:11
But he's a nice player. He's not in a leap.
19:15
I just, I come back to that. They're going to throw it up at
19:18
the rim. They're going to hope for
19:20
rebounds that work for rebounds that that's a component.
19:23
They're a tough team and that's maybe you're not going to tell
19:27
if Iowa State. And I'm surprised the numbers
19:29
down to 3 1/2 so. The buyback happened.
19:32
Where we now it's. Back pretty, not across the
19:34
board, but a lot of 4 1/2 back out there.
19:36
So that must have been the tipping point for people waiting
19:39
to jump in. Was that 3 1/2 number when it
19:42
tilted that way? A lot of people jump back in on
19:44
Iowa State. What about any of the other
19:46
games? Has there been any movement in
19:48
Duke St. Johns Haven't.
19:49
See, haven't looked at nobody looking as as closely at that
19:52
because. Michigan was just, what, under
19:53
double digits? About 9 1/2, I think they were.
19:56
Yeah. And.
19:56
It's been 9 1/2 basically throughout the whole morning
19:59
every time that I have checked on that one.
20:01
So we got some news on Duke and the guy that just had surgery 3
20:06
weeks ago. Oh, the.
20:07
Point guard that I. Think the report said something
20:10
along the lines of unless something changes throughout the
20:14
day, he's going to make it a go. Oh, he is, yes.
20:18
So they're all back. They're all back.
20:21
I had surgery 3 weeks ago. Just talk about just modern
20:26
medicine marvels. Think of things like that.
20:30
There's so many of those. So does that elevate Duke in
20:34
your mind? I just.
20:35
Wonder how it kind of fits then, you know, And it's, I think
20:39
that's a different type of conversation than what we had
20:41
about Jefferson, because Jefferson, we've seen them play
20:45
really well without him. Duke is.
20:47
They they've struggled, they have, they've struggled
20:49
mightily. They got a great whistle.
20:50
And pulled away from TCU. Yeah, that.
20:52
Down the stretch, I mean that you look at the box score and
20:54
you didn't see a minute of the game out, dude, You have their
20:55
way with them, no? They didn't.
20:57
Not even close. And you?
20:58
Go back to the Sienna game. Yes.
21:00
They if that was, if it would have, should have.
21:02
Just make a couple of buckets, Sienna.
21:05
I thought his 16 was going to knock off not not just a one,
21:09
the one. Duke, yes.
21:10
It's one thing to do it against Virginia and that slow down.
21:13
It's another against Purdue that at that point hadn't even been
21:16
to a Final Four since 1980 and had so much heartbreak in March.
21:20
To do it against that was like when Mercer beat Duke, just how
21:23
big that was. Plus that kid dancing.
21:24
You remember the kid dancing to the huddle afterwards?
21:27
Still one of my favorite March Madness.
21:29
This this nerdy white guy out there and he has cutting a rug.
21:33
Oh, what a time of year the. Mercer bears what?
21:35
A time of year, All right, before we had the principal
21:37
Mark, want to remind you that we will be on the air tomorrow 3:00
21:40
until 4:00 at Elite 8 Preview Iowa State's matchup, Iowa's
21:45
matchup. We'll talk about both of those
21:47
Tomorrow we'll head to Houston. Trent will May, he'll be on an
21:49
airplane this evening headed to Houston for the Elite 8 game.
21:52
Tomorrow, Alec Bussey covering Iowa State, he will join us as
21:56
part of the one hour program. Then we'll head right into
21:59
Westwood Ones coverage of our our, yeah, Westwood Ones
22:02
coverage. And then we'll flip it over to
22:06
Bobby Hanson and Gary Dolphin on the Iowa Hawkeye Radio Network,
22:10
flagship to 1040 News Radio 1040.
22:13
WHO? All right, when we come back, we
22:16
will head to Las Vegas, catch up with Mike Palm.
22:18
But before we do that, let's head down to Principal Park.
22:21
Here's Heather Burnside. Yeah, Hey, Ken and Trent.
22:25
I'm hanging out here at Principal Park.
22:27
Opening night for the Iowa Cubs is tonight, and they're at home
22:31
all weekend long. I'm here now with Ellie.
22:33
And immediately, right away, I noticed, obviously the bullpens
22:37
have been reconfigured and that's just one of the many
22:39
things that's happened out here at Principal Park.
22:41
Yeah, absolutely. Our team's been hard at work the
22:43
entire offseason, revamping the ballpark for our fans.
22:47
So what else besides the bullpens which are now off the
22:49
field? I think the scoreboard looks
22:51
different, right? The yes.
22:53
So the framework is still there and still the same, but we
22:55
updated the pixel density within so it's clear and crisp than
22:58
ever before. Updated sound system and more
23:01
too. Yes.
23:02
We completely redid our sound system in the offseason, so
23:04
you'll be able to hear from every angle of the ballpark and
23:07
you'll be crisp as well. And what is this I hear about a
23:10
new bar area? We are introducing the new
23:14
neighborhood bar on the concourse behind Home plate.
23:17
Check it out if you're of age. We'll serve beer, mixed drinks,
23:20
frozen drinks. It'll be a lot of fun and.
23:23
Of course, it's always fun when baseball starts, so come on out
23:26
here. It's opening night for the Iowa
23:29
Cubs. Come out and see us.
23:30
It's Heather with One O 6.3, KXNO and the Iowa Sports Radio
23:34
Network. I'm Mory Condon, welcome back
23:42
live Buffalo Wild Wings, Merle Hay Rd.
23:44
The drawing for the basketballs, the Ben McCollum signed
23:48
basketball, the TJ Otzelberger signed basketball.
23:51
You have 15 minutes. So if you're in the vicinity,
23:55
there's been a lot of people trying.
23:56
I'm very, very pleased with the turn out down here today as we
24:00
broadcast live from Buffalo Wild Wings on Merle Hay Rd.
24:03
But that giveaway will be coming up at 1:45.
24:05
Let's head to Las Vegas. Mike Palm is the VP of
24:08
operations at Circus Sports. He's a native by when?
24:11
How about those Hawkeye Cyclones tonight?
24:14
Mike Palm. What a time to be in the state
24:16
of Iowa doing sports talk. How are you?
24:20
Pretty amazing. I still can't believe I was
24:23
going to be in the Elite 8 and get to play Illinois.
24:27
I mean, it's I thought that they were up in tough against Clemson
24:33
in the first round and then you have to play the defending
24:36
champs in the number one seed in their home state in the second
24:39
round. You get down 10 early to
24:41
Nebraska, everything's going Herbie Huskers way and they just
24:45
stick with the plan. They didn't panic and and wore
24:49
the Huskers down, took advantage of some late mistakes and all of
24:52
a sudden there they are. And I think Iowa State's got a
24:54
really decent shot to come out of the the region in Chicago as
24:58
well. I'm right there with you.
25:01
Michigan definitely has had their struggles here recently.
25:04
I know you have at least a little bit of overlay as it
25:08
pertains to the Hawkeyes making the Final Four because I have it
25:11
in my Circa Sports account right now.
25:13
But when you're looking at futures, is there any big wagers
25:16
out there in the Hawkeyes to get to a Final Four, win a national
25:19
championship? Obviously throughout the course
25:21
of the year you could get a ridiculous prices.
25:23
Is that a good or a bad result for you guys at Circa?
25:27
No, it's, it's a good result for us.
25:29
It's I was a good result. Texas would have been the best.
25:33
Like there was no money at all on Texas.
25:34
But Iowa as of now, I mean, you know, obviously people are still
25:39
betting into the the future pools.
25:42
But as of now Iowa was a pretty good result for us.
25:44
We didn't take any any significant wagers on the
25:47
Hawkeye. Let's follow up with Iowa State.
25:51
How do you stand with the Cyclones, Mike?
25:55
They're a small winner for us, just a little better than break
25:59
even. There were some folks that like
26:01
them. Obviously they were horrific
26:02
early in the year and we're a top five team, top three teams.
26:05
So but they're they're, you know, a small winner to us.
26:09
So either of the Iowa schools is OK for us?
26:13
So Michigan, Derek Stevens, the owner of Circa, he is from
26:17
Michigan, Michigan fan, Michigan grad, got all the connections
26:20
out there with the Wolverines because of that.
26:23
Do you have a lot on the Wolverines and kind of looking
26:27
at prices going forward, is that something you guys always have
26:30
to be a little bit careful of knowing your quote UN quote
26:32
teams that seem to get a little bit more money because of the
26:35
connections? Yeah.
26:36
Both the Michigan schools, Trent, Michigan and Michigan
26:39
State, we're going to take a disproportionate amount of money
26:42
on because of our connections to Michigan through Derrick and
26:47
Michigan State through a lot of our employees.
26:49
But Arkansas was our biggest liability.
26:53
They're gone now. Our biggest liability is not
26:56
Michigan, but Michigan State. Michigan is actually just a
27:00
little less than a winner than Iowa to us.
27:03
So we didn't take a lot of Michigan.
27:05
Purdue, who's in the regional final against Arizona, is our
27:09
second biggest liability and St. John's our third biggest right
27:15
now. A couple of years ago, Mike, I
27:19
remember that you and the folks at Circa we're going to maybe
27:23
try and put an emphasis on the second weekend this weekend of
27:26
the of March Madness. I heard Derek earlier in the
27:29
week while the while the hotel rooms were were packed and
27:33
people are still clearly going with the match ups being is, at
27:37
least on paper, not as perhaps not as competitive as as they
27:41
turned as they didn't turn out to be.
27:44
That this weekend might actually be a better betting weekend than
27:48
the first weekend, despite being fewer games after one night of
27:52
it. Do you think that it's trending
27:53
in that direction that this weekend because of the you know,
27:56
the brand names that are still on the participating in the
27:59
tournament will exceed week one in from a from a handle
28:03
perspective? No, we can't overcome four games
28:07
versus 16 on Thursday and Friday and two games versus yeah versus
28:11
8 on Saturday and Sunday since we can't do it because of the
28:13
numbers. Now the average right per game,
28:17
you know, was up a little bit last night was it wasn't
28:20
anything that you would say. Wow, we took a lot of action.
28:24
I don't even think we took, I think we took all day yesterday
28:27
only two six figure bets and they were just $110,000 bets.
28:31
So no, I don't think so. Although talking about the book,
28:36
I mean, the book was great yesterday because we had
28:38
obviously had the first pitch and Dave Stewart threw it out
28:40
and the ace brought a ton of people and.
28:42
I thought maybe it would. Maybe it would be like because
28:45
no Maddox, but it was great. And then I have to tell you it
28:49
was not even close of the eight teams playing last night, that
28:51
most people that were here were from Iowa.
28:53
There were three different booths of people from Iowa and
28:56
two of the five pods that were taken up by Iowa people.
29:00
So I was by far showed out in support in the book at Circuit
29:03
more than any of the other schools that played last night.
29:07
Love to hear it of. Course, I'm sure all great
29:11
listeners of Miller and Condon and the Iowa Sports Radio
29:14
Network at KX and O like tonight, Tennessee, Iowa State
29:18
saw some steam overnight, came in on Tennessee look like though
29:22
maybe across the board and hit that tipping point, got to 3
29:25
1/2. I know a lot of places here this
29:27
morning and then the buyback happened on Iowa State.
29:29
What are you guys seeing at Circle with the Cyclones and the
29:31
Balls tonight? Yeah, we went down to 3 1/2 and
29:36
back up to 4 1/2. And I know Jefferson's a game
29:38
time decision. I I think that may sway some
29:42
people, but it's it's originally with the injury, you thought
29:46
maybe you wouldn't even play this weekend and now it looks
29:48
like maybe it's probable and and if they can advance likely on
29:51
Sunday, we'll see. I I like the matchup.
29:54
I think Iowa State does. I know, I know, it's, it's not
29:58
that far from Knoxville, but I do think that Iowa State
30:02
benefits are having this game in Chicago.
30:04
I think that's where it's a point or point asked to them
30:07
because of how well the Cyclone fans travel.
30:12
What about the other three games?
30:13
Duke favored, Michigan favored and then that, well, I see
30:16
Uconn's now up to two, 2 1/2 at some places.
30:19
What about the other three, Mike, do you have an opinion on
30:22
any of those three and and what are you seeing as far as action
30:26
or handle so far on the other three games for tonight?
30:31
One person who said they like Duke -7 and yet the line is 7.
30:35
It has to move the whole world love.
30:37
They love St. John's the wind.
30:38
They love St. John's with the seven.
30:41
I mean, well, what's happened to the line?
30:42
We went to 6 1/2. We went right back to seven.
30:45
So I don't know when that happens.
30:46
I don't want to be on the side of everybody else.
30:49
So I would, you know, I don't want, I have a Duke.
30:52
I have a Duke future. So I will do nothing with the
30:54
game anyhow, even though I thought about taking 7 as a
30:57
middling position to my future. I don't think I will just
30:59
because it's too 1 sided. I mean, that region in
31:03
Washington, DC. How about those four coaches
31:06
between, you know, they have to have Tino and Izzo and Hurley.
31:10
Come on. I don't know if it gets much
31:11
better than that. The other game.
31:13
I think the total toss up. I have a future at Michigan
31:16
State. I would love to have Duke and
31:17
Michigan State advance that way. I have at least one team in the
31:19
Final four. My other teams were Houston and
31:22
Arizona. Obviously Houston got knocked
31:23
out by Illinois. So I'm I'm dead there.
31:25
I could have had that whole side lined up where I was guaranteed
31:28
11 team in the final and then I I stayed away.
31:34
We're seeing money on Alabama. You just this these elevators
31:39
are high variance games because of the number of possessions and
31:42
the way they play. They're dangerous.
31:44
They're just really dangerous games.
31:46
I think Michigan's really talented, but I think they're a
31:50
little too loosey goosey for my life and I think they want to
31:52
improvise too much in the half court and I think they make some
31:55
dumb plays. I don't think they close hams.
31:57
Well, eventually that'll bite him.
31:59
We'll invite him against Alabama.
32:00
I don't know, I thought Texas Tech was going to give Alabama a
32:03
game. I was dead wrong there.
32:04
So if if there's any of the four sides that that we've seen the
32:08
most action on, it's Alabama tonight actually.
32:14
Interesting advice from you. So you mentioned what you've
32:18
got. I've got Illinois, Mike.
32:19
I've got 80 to one on Illinois to win the national
32:23
championship. I, I think I'm in a really good
32:25
spot to start hedging and I'm probably going to put some, you
32:29
know, put a little Buffalo Sabres and some Hawkeyes and
32:31
Buffalo Sabres and maybe St. John's or or whatever.
32:35
How should I play this with knowing in pocket?
32:38
I've got Illinois at 80 to 1 and they're going to play for a
32:41
chance to go to the Final Four. Well, why would you touch this
32:44
game now, Kenny? Because then you're either in
32:46
the Final Four or Iowa advances. So you're, it's from a life
32:50
perspective, you're kind of set up in a great spot.
32:53
I remember when they played in Iowa City, I think the line was
32:56
3 1/2 or 4. Illinois dominated that game.
32:59
I mean, they were up double digits early.
33:00
And I think Iowa came back and cut it down and they maybe they
33:03
only lost by 6, but it was a pretty dominant performance from
33:07
from Illinois. I don't know what to say though,
33:09
because this Iowa team, they just keep surprising me each
33:12
game, you know, And then we're not used to this.
33:15
It's been since 99 to make it to the second weekend.
33:18
And I recall vividly up late at night watching them with a 16
33:21
point lead Kingdom Seattle against Tarkanian team and not
33:25
being able to hang on. One other question, and it's
33:31
being bandied about the team that you grew up rooting for,
33:34
not the Hawkeyes, the North Carolina Tar Heels.
33:37
Ben McCollum, real connection. TJ Otzelberger, real connection.
33:41
What are you hearing with your Tar Heels?
33:45
I, I, I find it fascinating, the whole conversation there.
33:49
I mean, Brad Stevens was never leaving the Celtics.
33:53
So the next stopping off point is Donovan.
33:55
Now, is Billy Donovan going to really leave the pros to go to
33:58
college? He seems like when big jobs are
34:00
open, his name is always out there and he's interested.
34:03
I don't know. I always, I just find it hard to
34:05
believe you leave the pros and go back to college.
34:08
Tommy Lloyd ain't leaving Arizona.
34:10
He had to be crazy to leave Arizona and I don't think they
34:12
would leave Michigan. The two Iowa guys are very
34:15
interesting, but are they loyal to the soil?
34:18
I mean, and, and, and, and it's a big opportunity, obviously,
34:25
but they're both in conferences that are better than the agency
34:28
right now. And you will always have this
34:30
measuring Duke 8 miles down the road and that program and you
34:34
have to live up to Duke. It's a really tough, the only
34:37
guy that could make it after Dean was Roy and he had to win
34:39
three titles, right? And these were all guys from
34:41
within the program and already had two bad years.
34:44
He's gone. Hubert Davis, 2-2 years.
34:47
He doesn't get out of the first drop.
34:48
His best player got hurt. They were probably at 316, Elite
34:51
18 and the kid breaks his hand. He's gone, right?
34:55
It's a really, yeah, it's a top ten job, but it's a really tough
34:59
job. I guess they're going to have to
35:00
go outside the family. They haven't since 52 when they
35:03
hired Frank McGuire, a New York guy.
35:05
And then everything has been a succession from Dean to
35:08
Gothridge to Dougherty to to to Roy to Hubert.
35:12
Unless you could convince Larry Brown that he wants to coach
35:15
three or four more years, they have to go outside the family.
35:18
I do think the two guys in the state of Iowa will get asked.
35:22
I really believe that. Do they want to leave and go to
35:26
a totally different culture on Tobacco Rd.
35:28
I don't know. Yeah, fingers crossed that they
35:33
don't. We shall see, no doubt.
35:36
I want to ask you about yesterday.
35:37
Maddox has been there the last couple of years to throw out the
35:39
first pitch to open. They bring the curtain up on on
35:43
Major League Baseball yesterday was Dave Stewart.
35:45
Obviously the A's are moving to Las Vegas Stadium is moving
35:48
right along. I keep seeing construction
35:50
updates. I hope that's not AI.
35:52
It seems legit to me for my eye. What kind of guy was Dave
35:56
Stewart? Mike, obviously he was a hell of
35:57
a pitcher in his day back with the Rangers and the A's, and I
36:01
think he was a Dodger, might have been a Blue Jay for a
36:03
while. Been a lot of places.
36:04
What kind of guy was Dave Stewart?
36:08
He stayed and did autographs and met people for another hour
36:12
after he threw the first pitch. So that was, that was very nice.
36:17
I asked him. I said, look, there's two games
36:21
from my younger years that I'll never forget.
36:23
One is Game 5 of the 84 National League Championship Series and
36:27
the other is game one of the 88 World Series.
36:30
You know the Gibson home run game.
36:32
I said, you know, I've never I've never seen Ackersley to ask
36:36
him the question. Orla Rousta.
36:37
So I'll ask you to Dave Stewart, why was actually so careful with
36:41
Mike Davis? Mike Davis couldn't hit a beach
36:45
ball that year for the Dodgers. He was hitting like 211.
36:48
And he walked him and he said, I have to tell you, I was sitting
36:50
in the dugout at that point watching the game on the
36:53
television, and I knew when he walked Davis, we were in
36:55
trouble. Interesting.
36:58
Wow, wow, that really is good stuff.
37:01
Cool story. Mike Palm, VP of operations at
37:04
Circa Sports. Mike, enjoy the weekend.
37:06
Root for a root for both of those Iowa teams to get out of
37:09
the weekend business wise or not, just be remarkable the
37:13
where they sit and what they're doing to this state right now.
37:16
Let's fill. Up the whole sports book for the
37:17
Final Four. Yeah, let's do it.
37:20
Thank you, Mike Palm. We'll talk to you next week.
37:22
Appreciate it as always, Mike. There he goes.
37:28
Mike Palm, VP of Operations at Circus Sports.
37:31
Cut it out a little bit there at the end.
37:35
Remember Dave Stewart's pitching crew?
37:36
I absolutely. Remembered him with the A's,
37:38
Remember him with the Blue Jays. He was a guy.
37:40
He looked mean. Yeah, he did.
37:42
He looked really mean. And then I remember the first
37:44
time I heard him his. Voice.
37:46
Yes, it was probably after like an ALCS or something like that
37:50
because again back then it's not like we're listening to post
37:52
game, but it just like a clip on sports or something like no, it
37:56
doesn't match. That's Dave Stewart that doesn't
37:58
match. He sounds like me, right?
38:00
The the image I have in my head does not does not match his
38:04
voice. I don't know, out of his mouth.
38:06
Good stuff. All right, we'll come back.
38:07
Trench plays of the day. We'll wrap things up.
38:09
How do we see tonight? Keys to tomorrow's game against
38:13
Illinois, Iowa State, Tennessee tonight again, be looking around
38:17
7:30. We'll know for sure whether
38:20
Jefferson's got a chance to play when that all important
38:23
availability report gets released.
38:25
So I guess to be technically correct, it's 90 minutes.
38:28
It would be 7:45 somewhere in that vicinity, whether it comes
38:33
out or not. It's going to make it a go.
38:38
Will they list him as questionable or will he not even
38:40
be on the report? If you're not on the report,
38:42
that's huge. He'll.
38:43
Be still probably listed as questionable because there could
38:45
go. Through the warm up, yeah.
38:47
He'll tweak and pregame things like that.
38:48
Yeah. Yeah, I think I know that's what
38:50
Wayne's going to look. Yeah.
38:51
Not doubtful, not out right questionable.
38:55
Well, you said it's been game time decision all week.
38:57
All right, we're going to give away some basketballs when I set
38:59
down the principal park Real quick.
39:01
Here's Heather Burnside's opening day principal park
39:03
downtown Des Moines. Hi, Miller Condon, welcome back.
39:18
We've given away the basketballs, yes.
39:20
Then McCollum ball, TJ Otzelberger ball winners were
39:23
both present, waiting around, hanging around for the drop and.
39:26
They both looked happy. I.
39:27
They did they the one winner, the first winner got his choice.
39:31
He had a Hawkeye gear on easy choice.
39:34
Easy choice for him. And then the young man that just
39:36
won. Cyclone fan and he got a TJ
39:38
Otzelberger signed basketball so well done and thanks to
39:41
everybody that came out. See you man, a really good turn
39:45
out here. Buffalo Wild Wings.
39:46
It was. It was.
39:47
It was. Good to get out and especially
39:49
after a win like that last night from Iowa.
39:51
Yeah, a chance to do that. Then you get.
39:54
Did you? Turn your phone off during the
39:55
game. I did not, Didn't you?
39:57
But I didn't look at it. No, I don't blame you.
39:59
Yeah, as you probably noticed, I didn't tweet it all.
40:01
I don't think one thing during the game it's hard because
40:05
sometimes he gets sucked in. There's other times that you
40:10
feel like you lose a part of the game and it's just, it's one
40:13
thing for a regular season game, but just that one just being
40:16
locked in. Don't want to be like that guy.
40:19
The shot of Fool Garris after the shot against Florida and
40:23
everybody is sitting there cheering behind all the Hawkeye
40:25
fans and there's that one guy that gets his own.
40:29
Missed. The whole thing, right, You
40:30
don't want to be that person. So because I've noticed that
40:34
it's hard yeah, you just you get sucked in that social media gets
40:37
you. But last night, thankfully, it
40:40
was able to stay away and. Let's go clones come on man
40:42
match this match this let's get you into the Elite 8 as well.
40:46
Two of the remaining 8 teams from the wonderful state of I
40:49
couldn't imagine. I really and truly couldn't What
40:51
a what a great time and. Think of the caravan making the
40:54
Indianapolis, yeah? Yeah, good.
40:56
And a caravan making their way to Chicago for Sunday's game
41:00
after they dispatched Tennessee here today to take on Michigan.
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So fingers crossed again. We're going to be on the air
41:06
tomorrow from 3:00 until 4:00. It's an Elite 8 show.
41:08
It's going to preview both Elite Eight games, assuming there are
41:11
two, one Saturday, 1:00 and on one on Sunday.
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Heather. Sean Lucas myself will be in
41:18
studio. You'll be in Houston.
41:21
Bussey will be in Chicago. So all of the sports talkers on
41:25
Des Moines Sports Station One O 6.3 KX&O tomorrow from 3:00
41:29
until 4:00. It's sponsored by our friends at
41:31
Circus Sports. Do you have any plays?
41:33
Circus Sports sponsor those? Do you like anything?
41:35
Well, I can. I, I got to get all my bets in
41:37
because I'm going to Texas. Oh, your.
41:38
App's going to shut down soon as they get on the plane, touch
41:42
lifts off. Well, I'm.
41:43
Looking good. I got Notre Dame earlier,
41:45
they're up to an 11, five leads. So we're, oh, in the.
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Women's. Yeah.
41:47
Yeah, the women. 'S Sweet 16 already under way
41:50
there, But tonight I grabbed the points with Saint John's.
41:53
I did. You I just.
41:56
Want to see what Duke looks like?
41:57
Yeah, and looked like trying to now fit these pieces back
41:59
together. Played Alabama.
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It's just the variance of the three-point shooting and just
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how poorly Michigan's played. Iowa State.
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You know it all week. I mean, this feels like the
42:08
easiest one on the board. I think it is also played.
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UCLA Are we overlooking Tennessee?
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Maybe we are I just I've seen Tennessee.
42:16
I'm not impressed by them. I.
42:18
I just can't get the Kentucky game the way the final 32
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minutes out of my head. They broke their will, yes.
42:23
Absolutely. And was the SEC very good this
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year? That's.
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Another thing, Uh huh, right? And I got a baseball play.
42:31
Oh, you. Do give me the.
42:32
Tigers Plus 1/10/10 they. Got off on the right foot.
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Absolutely, and they got our guy on the bump, Framber making his
42:40
first start. He's doing it against King, who
42:42
I like for for them, but plus money, plus 110 on the Tigers.
42:46
So a little place and I know what I'm going to be doing on as
42:49
we're getting ready for take off.
42:51
Those last bets, those last bets got to get them in.
42:56
Fun in Houston. Glad you're going, Cyclone fans.
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Best of luck to your squad. Let's go talk to you tomorrow,
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right? 3:00 we're on the air. 3:00
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we'll head to Principal Park. Lucas and Sean standing by.
43:08
They take you until 5. Thanks for being with us.
43:10
Miller and Condon new to two on the Iowa Sports Radio Network.