Missouri

Iowa hires McCollum, who swept Missouri Valley titles and won NCAA game in his one season at Drake – WTOP News

Published

9 months ago

March 24, 2025

Iowa hires McCollum, who swept Missouri Valley titles and won NCAA game in his one season at Drake – WTOP News

Ben McCollum, who led Drake’s dominating run through the Missouri Valley Conference and a win in the NCAA Tournament in…

Ben McCollum, who led Drake’s dominating run through the Missouri Valley Conference and a win in the NCAA Tournament in his only season with the Bulldogs, was named head coach at Iowa on Monday.

Iowa spokesman Matt Weitzel confirmed McCollum’s hiring 10 days after athletic director Beth Goetz fired Fran McCaffery and two days after McCollum wrapped up a 31-4 season with a loss to Texas Tech in the second round of the West Regional.

McCollum takes over for McCaffery, who was fired after the Hawkeyes went 17-16 and had their lowest Big Ten regular-season finish in seven years. Iowa also has seen a steep decline in attendance the last two years.

The 43-year-old McCollum’s ties to the Hawkeye State run deep. He was born in Iowa City, raised in Storm Lake and played junior college basketball in Mason City.

When he left the state, he didn’t go far. He finished his college playing days at Northwest Missouri State and was an assistant at Emporia State in Kansas. He went back to Northwest Missouri in 2008 for his first head coaching job and won four Division II national championships in 15 seasons.

With four Northwest Missouri players heading to Drake with McCollum, the Bulldogs became one of the top stories in college basketball this season. They were dubbed “Division II Drake” by some, a moniker that only served to motivate the team.

All four of the Northwest Missouri transfers were starters and one of them, Bennett Stirtz, led the Missouri Valley in scoring and was named conference player of the year and most outstanding player of the MVC Tournament.

The Bulldogs were picked fifth in the 12-team Valley and received no first-place votes. They ended up winning the regular-season championship by two games with 17 conference wins, their most ever. Then they won the Valley tournament to run their overall win total to a school-record 30 in 33 games.

Next was a 67-57 win over Missouri in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

McCollum coaches a grinding style. The Bulldogs’ tempo was slowest in the nation. Offensive rebounding is emphasized. The defense allows 58.4 points per game, fewest in the nation. Just over 1 in 5 opponent possessions ends with a turnover.

“Death by a thousand paper cuts,” McCollum called his system.

The Bulldogs knocked off Miami, Vanderbilt and Kansas State on their way to a 12-0 start. Drake dropped back-to-back games before reeling off 11 straight MVC wins.

McCaffery was Iowa’s all-time wins leader and, at 15 years, the longest-tenured coach in program history. The Hawkeyes dropped seven of nine games in February and didn’t qualify for the Big Ten Tournament until the last day of the regular season.

The program has struggled to attract elite talent because of its shallow pool of funds for name, image and likeness compensation.

Since McCaffery’s firing, seven players have announced they would enter the transfer portal.

Iowa’s men were 10th in the Big Ten in average paid attendance this season, at 9,161 per game, though actual crowds appeared significantly less. That’s an 8% drop from last season and 26% drop from 2022-23.

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Missouri

Bet365 bonus code SYRACUSE: New $365 “America’s Game” bonus in Missouri!

Published

10 hours ago

December 13, 2025

Press Room

Bet365 bonus code SYRACUSE: New 5 “America’s Game” bonus in Missouri!

As of Saturday, December 13, 2025, Bet365 Sportsbook is firmly established in the Show-Me State, continuing a massive expansion for the global betting giant. To maximize its footprint during this pivotal opening month, Bet365 Missouri has extended its most aggressive welcome promotion in Bowl Season: the Bet365 bonus code SYRACUSE now unlocks a Bet $10, Get $365 in Bonus Bets deal for all eligible Missouri residents.

This enhanced bonus stands as a significant departure from Bet365’s typical national approach. In mature markets such as New Jersey and Ohio, the standard entry offer is generally capped at $150. By utilizing the Bet365 bonus code in Missouri today, new registrants secure an extra $215 in bonus value, cementing this $365 guarantee as one of the premier launch incentives in the United States.

Bet365 Bonus Code SYRACUSE: A New National Benchmark

The Bet365 Bonus Code Missouri’s updated terms and conditions can be viewed here.Bet365

The timing of this rollout is impeccable, aligning perfectly with the most storied rivalry in college football. The Bet365 bonus code framework for Missouri is engineered to supply immediate account liquidity. Unlike deposit matches that demand a high upfront cost, or “safety net” bets that rely on a loss to trigger a refund, the Bet365 bonus code SYRACUSE ensures the $365 payout happens regardless of whether the qualifying bet wins or loses.

Key Deal Terms:

Bonus Code: SYRACUSE
Offer: Bet $10, Get $365 in Bonus Bets (Guaranteed).
Value Differential: +$215 over the standard $150 national promo.
Launch Window: December 2025 (Live Now).

Today’s Top Missouri Betting Opportunity: Army vs. Navy

The activation of the Bet365 bonus code comes just hours before kickoff for “America’s Game.” Missouri bettors can apply their qualifying $10 wager on this afternoon’s service academy clash to instantly trigger the $365 bonus mechanism.

Army vs. Navy: Saturday College Football Spotlight

Teams: Army Black Knights vs. Navy Midshipmen
Date: Saturday, December 13, 2025
Time: 3:00 PM ET
Venue: M&T Bank Stadium

Current Betting Odds

Total (Over/Under): 38.5
Moneyline Odds: Army +210, Navy -235
Note: Odds are subject to change.

By using the Bet365 bonus code to place a $10 wager on the Midshipmen cover (-6), the Army upset (+210), or the defensive struggle on the Under (38.5), Missouri accounts will be credited with $365 in bonus bets. This provides a significant war chest for the remainder of the December football schedule.

How to Activate the Bet365 Bonus Code SYRACUSE:

$365 Bet365 Bonus Code Instructions. — Bet365 Bonus Code SYRACUSE unlocks the Missouri sports betting launch bonus when you follow these simple steps.Bet365

With the platform fully operational, claiming this elevated launch bonus requires following specific steps during sign-up. The Bet365 bonus code must be applied as follows:

Application: Enter the Bet365 bonus code SYRACUSE inside the dedicated field during account creation on the Missouri app or desktop site.
Deposit: Make a minimum initial deposit of $10 to fund the new account.
Qualifying Wager: Place a $10 wager on the Army-Navy game (or any other eligible market).
Distribution: The Bet365 bonus code triggers the release of $365 in bonus bets to the account balance once the wager settles, irrespective of the final score.

Conclusion: Bet365 Missouri Redefines the Opening Month

The arrival of Bet365 in Missouri delivers more than just a new platform; it introduces a market-altering promotional tier. By leveraging the Bet365 bonus code SYRACUSE during this historic opening month, sports fans guarantee themselves a bonus $215 higher than the national average, ensuring the most profitable start possible to their betting experience in Missouri.

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Missouri

MSHP: 221 pounds of marijuana seized in Missouri traffic stop, woman arrested

Published

23 hours ago

December 13, 2025

Press Room

MSHP: 221 pounds of marijuana seized in Missouri traffic stop, woman arrested

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – The Missouri State Highway Patrol arrested a 29-year-old woman after seizing over 200 pounds of marijuana in a traffic stop.

ALSO READ: Investigation into Missouri kratom retailers expands, says AG

According to the MSHP, troopers stopped a vehicle for a registration violation and following too closely on EB I-70 in Montgomery County, Mo., on Thursday, December 11. Authorities then searched the vehicle, finding 221 pounds of marijuana.

According to an MSHP report, 29-year-old Briana A. Roberts was taken into custody and held in the Montgomery County Jail for 24 hours. She could be charged with trafficking drugs in the first degree and endangering the welfare of a child in the first degree, according to the report.

No further information has been released.

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Missouri

What’s open on Christmas in mid-Missouri?

Published

1 day ago

December 12, 2025

Press Room

What’s open on Christmas in mid-Missouri?

Some mid-Missouri stores and restaurants will have adjusted hours on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. KOMU 8 News has compiled a list of what’s open on Christmas in 2025.

If you don’t see your establishment listed, please email news@komu.com with your operating hours.