Iowa
PREVIEW: Iowa MBB vs Utah
PREVIEW: Iowa MBB vs Utah
WHO: Utah Utes (8-2)
WHEN: 5:00 PM CT (Saturday, December 21, 2024)
WHERE: Sanford Pentagon (Sioux Falls, SD)
TV: BTN (Chris Vosters and Shon Morris)
RADIO: Hawkeye Radio Network (Gary Dolphin, Bobby Hansen)
MOBILE: foxsports.com/mobile
ONLINE: foxsports.com/live
FOLLOW: @HawkeyeBeacon | @IowaHoops | @CBBonFOX | @IowaonBTN
LINE: Iowa -1.5 (total of 163.5 points)
KENPOM: Iowa -3 (Iowa 58% chance of winning)
On Saturday, Iowa will face its final non-conference test of the season (though there’s still one more cupcake on the menu — a visit from New Hampshire on December 30), and play the third of its three neutral-site games in the non-conference portion of the schedule. The Hawkeyes prevailed over Washington State in Moline, but fell to Utah State in Kansas City; now they’ll try to take down Utah in the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls.
PROJECTED IOWA STARTING LINEUP
G Brock Harding (6’0″, 165 lbs; 9.4 ppg, 1.6 rpg, 6.0 apg; 49.3 FG%; 45.5 3FG%)
G Josh Dix (6’6″, 210 lbs; 13.4 ppg; 3.9 rpg; 2.9 apg; 51.3 FG%; 38.5 3FG%)
G Drew Thelwell (6’3″, 195 lbs; 8.4 ppg; 2.5 rpg; 3.3 apg; 52.2 FG%; 35.5%)
F Payton Sandfort (6’8″, 215 lbs; 16.4 ppg; 5.8 rpg; 4.0 apg; 38.6 FG%; 31.5 3FG%)
C Owen Freeman (6’10”, 245 lbs; 16.8 ppg; 7.0 rpg; 1.3 apg; 64.4 FG%; 37.5 3FG%)
Thelwell has started the last two games for Iowa and could be in line for a third-straight start, given the generally strong returns that have resulted from adding Thelwell to the starting lineup. It also wouldn’t be a shock to see Ladji Dembele return to the starting lineup, though, as the Utes boast some significant size in the front court (three likely starters 6’8″ or taller).
Otherwise, Iowa should have the full roster available for this game, aside from possibly Seydou Traore. Iowa head coach Fran McCaffery indicated during his Thursday media availability that he was “not too optimistic” about Traore being available for this game
PROJECTED UTAH STARTING LINEUP
G Miro Little (6’3″, 194 lbs; 8.4 ppg; 5.6 rpg; 5.4 apg; 37.5 FG%; 29.4 3FG%)
G Gabe Madsen (6’6″, 200 lbs; 19.8 ppg; 2.4 rpg; 2.4 apg; 45.8 FG%; 40.2 3FG%)
F Ezra Ausar (6’8″, 238 lbs; 11.1 ppg; 4.5 rpg; 0.8 apg; 57.4 FG%; 0.0 3FG%)
F Mike Sharavjamts (6’9″, 195 lbs; 8.1 ppg; 4.1 rpg; 3.3 apg; 49.3 FG%; 35.5 3FG%)
C Lawson Lovering (7’1″, 245 lbs; 11.4 ppg; 6.4 rpg; 2.2 apg; 65.8 FG%; 0.0 3FG%)
PREVIEW
It’s rare that Iowa sees the same non-conference opponent in consecutive seasons (outside of the annual date with Iowa State), but the Hawkeyes have some recent history with the Utes — Utah knocked Iowa out of the NIT in the second round last year, 91-82. Both teams have turned over the roster a bit since that game — Iowa returns three starters from that game, while the Utes have two returning starters from last year — but some of the most important faces should be familiar.
For the Utes, that starts with wing Gabe Madsen, who absolutely torched Iowa with 31 points in that NIT win last March, thanks to some blistering shooting from beyond the arc in that game (7-of-15). Madsen has been Utah’s top long-range shooter this season as well, as he leads the team in makes (39) and attempts (97) from three-point range and ranks second (40.2%) in percentage. He’s made at least two triples in every game this season, except for Utah’s 89-59 win over Florida A&M last week.
This year, Madsen has been joined at Utah by his twin brother, Mason, a transfer from Boston College. Mason Madsen has yet to start this season, but he’s still played heavy minutes (20.7 mpg) and been one of Utah’s top scorers (11.1 ppg). Like his brother, he’s also a crack shot from long range, making 31-of-68 (45.6%) attempts from outside the 3-point arc.
Three-point shooting is, unsurprisingly, a pretty big part of Utah’s offense. The Utes are shooting 38.2% from deep (38th nationally) and they get a lot of points from the three-point shot (39.1%, 30th) and take a lot of three-point attempts (47.4% of their field goals, 35th in three-point rate nationally). One interesting thing to watch: how Utah adjusts to the rims and the sight-lines at the Sanford Pentagon — we’ve seen teams struggle to shoot well from outside in past games in that arena.
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Shooting is a strength of Utah’s offense overall. The Utes have an effective FG% of 57.7%, which ranks 16th nationally. In addition to shooting 38.2% from 3-point range, Utah is also converting 58.1% of 2-point attempts (32nd). They only place on the floor where the Utes aren’t shooting well this year is the free throw line; the Utes are making just 64.2% of their attempts at the free throw line.
Otherwise, Utah doesn’t turn the ball over often (15.2%, 52nd) and they hit the offensive glass well (34.7%, 52nd). The biggest weakness of the Utah offense (outside of the poor free throw shooting) is their propensity to have shots blocked; the Utes have had 11.9% of their shots blocked by opponents this season.
Big men Lawson Lovering (7’1″, 245 lbs) and Ezra Aurar (6’8″, 238 lbs) are the other two Utes scoring in double figures this season. Lovering is averaging 11.4 ppg this season and does his damage near the rim (65.8% on shots inside the 3-point arc). He had six points and 10 rebounds against Iowa last year. Aurar, an East Carolina transfer, also does his damage in the painted area: he’s 35-of-50 (58.3%) on 2-point tries and 0-for-1 (0.0%) on three-point attempts
Utah has been generally sold on the defensive end this year as well, rating 58th in defensive efficiency this season. The Utes have been solid but not great at forcing turnovers (19.3% of opponent possessions, 108th nationally) or keeping teams off the free throw line (130th in opponent free throw rate). Their strengths on defense have been defending the glass and contesting shots.
The Utes rank 49th in keeping opponents away from the offensive glass (opponents have gotten offensive boards on just 25.9% of their possessions), but they’ve been especially good at contesting shots. Opponents have an effective field goal percentage of just 43.4% from the floor, which is the 10th best defensive effort nationally. Utah has been particularly good at contesting two-point attempts; opponents are converting those shots at 41.2% of 2-point shots this week.
Last year’s Iowa-Utah game was a high-tempo affair — 76 possessions — and this year’s game could be more of the same. Both Iowa and Utah like to push the pace and try to get out and run — the Hawkeyes rank 39th in tempo this season, while the Utes rank 46th.
Iowa
Vote: Who Should be Iowa’s High School Athlete of the Week? (4/19/2026)
Here are the candidates for High School on SI’s Iowa high school athlete of the week for April 13-18. Read through the nominees and cast your vote.
Voting closes at 11:59 p.m. PT on Sunday, April 26. The winner will be announced in the following week’s poll. Here are this week’s nominees:
Taylor Roose, Pella boys track and field
Roose competed in three events at the Norwalk Invitational, winning all three in the 100-meter dash, 200-meter dash and long jump.
Daxon Kiesau, Urbandale boys track and field
Kiesau swept the throwing events at the Norwalk Invitational, taking first place in the shot put and the discus.
Alex Burger, Southeast Valley boys track and field
Competing at home, Burger dominated, earning four gold medals. He won the 400-meter hurdles and the long jump while running on the winning 4×200-meter relay and shuttle hurdle relay.
Kolby Hodnefield, Clear Lake boys track and field
Hodenfield, a defending state champion, broke the meet, venue and school record in the 200 and the 400 at the Clear Lake Invitational. He added victories as part of the 4×100 and 4×400 relays. Both relays also set meet records.
Easton Moon, North Polk boys tennis
Moon has started off his senior season on the courts unbeaten, winning all four matches while dropping just one game in 44 played.
Ava Lohrbach, Gilbert girls golf
One of the top golfers in the state, Lohrbach has had a hot start, firing a 35 in her nine-hole debut and a 72 for her 18-hole opener.
Nathan Manske, Algona boys golf
An elite quarterback and basketball player, Manske is showing his golfing skills this spring, coming out with a state-low 30 in a nine-hole event.
Ella Hein, Tipton girls track and field
Hein set school records in the 400-meter run and long jump at the Tiger/Tigerette Relays while also locking in the Blue Standard and qualifying for the Drake Relays. She won the long jump (18-6) and was second in the 400.
Maeve Bowen-Burt, Iowa City High girls track and field
The sophomore helped the Little Hawks land three Drake Relays events on the last night of qualifying, advancing in the 400 hurdles, along with the sprint medley and 4×400 relays.
About Our Athlete of the Week Voting
High School on SI voting polls are meant to be a fun, lighthearted way for fans to show support for their favorite athletes and teams. Our goal is to celebrate all of the players featured, regardless of the vote totals. Sometimes one athlete will receive a very large number of votes — even thousands — and that’s okay! The polls are open to everyone and are simply a way to build excitement and community around high school sports. Unless we specifically announce otherwise, there are no prizes or official awards for winning. The real purpose is to highlight the great performances of every athlete included in the poll.
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Iowa
Houston icon George Foreman laid to rest in Iowa, drawn by a peaceful 1988 visit
The late boxing great George Foreman lies buried in a cemetery in the northwestern corner of Iowa – a place he has no connection to outside of a lone visit to the region nearly 40 years ago.
Foreman died March 21, 2025, at the age of 76 in Houston and was buried in Logan Park Cemetery at Sioux City, Iowa, a month later, city officials confirmed. Foreman’s family returned Thursday to his burial site, holding a news conference with Sioux City Mayor Bob Scott to reveal Foreman’s burial place, marked by a large monument that bears an image of him as a teen following his Olympic gold medal boxing win.
The family explained in a statement released by Sioux City officials that he had visited the Iowa city in 1988, and often recalled the sense of peace he experienced there.
After traveling to the city on April 17 last year to bury Foreman, his family said they immediately understood the region’s appeal.
“Our father lived a life of purpose, faith and gratitude,” the family said in a statement released by Sioux City officials. “To see him laid to rest in a place that brought him peace means everything to us.”
Scott joined the family at Foreman’s monument that lies just a few miles north of the Missouri River in an upper Midwest city of nearly 87,000 people. The cemetery overlooks the scenic Loess Hills, created by windblown silt deposits that reach up to 200 feet high (about 61 meters) and line the river along the Iowa border for 200 miles (322 kilometers).
“Their story is a reminder of how one place can stay with someone for a lifetime,” Scott said.
A native Texan, Foreman rose to fame when he made the 1968 U.S. Olympic boxing team, winning gold in Mexico City. He became the heavyweight champion of the world in 1973 by defeating the great Joe Frazier, only to lose the title a year later to Muhammad Ali in the famous “Rumble in the Jungle.”
A full 20 years later in 1994, Foreman became the oldest man to win the heavyweight championship at 45, defeating Michael Moorer in an epic upset.
Foreman retired in 1997 with a 76-5 career record.
He then moved on to the next chapter in his life as a businessman, pitchman and occasional actor, becoming known to a new generation as the face of the George Foreman Grill. The simple cooking machine sold more than 100 million units and brought him more wealth than boxing.
A biographical movie based on Foreman’s life was released in 2023.
Copyright © 2026 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.
Iowa
GOP governor candidate Zach Lahn pitches Iowa-first platform at Dubuque town hall
DUBUQUE, Iowa (KCRG) — About 50 Iowans braved the threat of severe storms to hear from Republican candidate for governor Zach Lahn at his town hall in Dubuque Friday night.
Lahn, a farmer and businessman, said his campaign is about solving the long-term systemic issues facing Iowans.
One priority is addressing what Lahn calls a cancer crisis in Iowa, as the state has the second-highest cancer rate in the country. Solving the crisis means ensuring Iowans have access to clean, nitrate-free drinking water, working with farmers to reduce agricultural runoff.
“Iowans are just ready for something that they should be able to count on, like clean drinking water,” Lahn said. “We have ways to clean up the drinking water in Iowa that isn’t on the backs of farmers, but is working alongside with them because they’re drinking the water too, and they want to do what’s right.”
Lahn also wants to stop Iowa’s “brain drain,” as more of Iowa’s college graduates left the state for opportunities elsewhere.
“Don’t leave! Give me some time! I’m going to fight to keep you here,” Lahn said. “I was one of these kids. I thought I had to leave the state to find something better. We have to prioritize Iowa’s incentive dollars to make sure they’re going to grow Iowa businesses that are going to be here for the long haul, so our kids have places to work.”
Running a distinct campaign feels challenging this election, as Lahn is one of five GOP candidates who want to be Iowa’s next governor, facing U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra, former Department of Administrative Services Director Adam Steen, state Rep. Eddie Andrews and former state Rep. Brad Sherman.
Iowa Auditor Rob Sand is the only Democrat running for the state’s top office.
Lahn said he stands out by promising Iowa will be for Iowans, pledging to ban the use of eminent domain for private gain and tax out-of-state landowners and data centers at higher rates to lower property taxes.
“It always goes back to follow the money, so when it comes to not being a weak-kneed Republican today, I believe the paramount piece of that is answering only to the citizens of Iowa, not to special interests to pad their bottom line, but what’s best for the people of Iowa,” Lahn said.
Copyright 2026 KCRG. All rights reserved.
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