Iowa

Rewind: Jermari Harris was exceptional on otherwise-iffy day for Iowa DBs

Published

1 year ago

September 15, 2024

Rewind: Jermari Harris was exceptional on otherwise-iffy day for Iowa DBs

Iowa Hawkeyes defensive back Jermari Harris (27) intercepts a pass during a game between the Iowa Hawkeyes and the Troy Trojans at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)

IOWA CITY — Troy seemed to try picking on Iowa cornerback Jermari Harris during Saturday’s football game, and that strategy did not fare well for the Sun Belt Conference team on Saturday.

Harris’ receivers were targeted a team-high five times, as tracked by Pro Football Focus, and the sixth-year cornerback did not allow any receptions.

The Chicago native was responsible for the Hawkeyes’ biggest defensive play of the afternoon when he intercepted Troy’s Matthew Caldwell in the third quarter and returned it for a touchdown at Kinnick Stadium.

With Iowa in zone coverage on first-and-10, Harris dropped back from his flat and easily picked off the pass intended for star wide receiver Devonte Ross. Then with great blocking from his teammates, especially linebacker Nick Jackson, he returned it 28 yards for the score.

Harris almost had another interception earlier in the game when he closely contested a pass intended for Ross on a third-and-6 in the second quarter. Harris broke up another third-down pass intended for Ross on a slant route in the third quarter.

He was the bright spot for the secondary on an afternoon where Iowa gave up 63- and 62-yard touchdown receptions to Ross. Third-year cornerback T.J. Hall was covering Ross on both of the big plays.

When Troy’s quarterbacks targeted Harris’ receivers, they were 0-for-5 with one interception, per PFF. When targeting receivers covered by other Hawkeyes, Troy’s quarterbacks were 16-of-19 for 229 yards.

Some problems with pass protection

Troy, after not recording any sacks in its first two games, took down Iowa quarterback Cade McNamara twice on Saturday.

The first sack happened when Troy linebacker Jordan Stringer pierced through the A-gap with ease as Iowa center Logan Jones barely slowed him down. The sack was despite Troy only rushing three defenders (with another three showing blitz before dropping back into coverage).

The second sack was on a second-and-eight on Iowa’s first drive of the second half. Troy’s Julian Peterson and Jordan Stringer both penetrated the A-gap between Jones and Connor Colby. Peterson quickly got past Colby, and Jones did not seem to see Stringer. Kaleb Johnson picked up Stringer in pass protection, but that left Peterson free to quickly pursue McNamara.

Both sacks proved to be drive-killers. The first sack, which was on third-and-2, preceded Troy’s 77-yard punt return for a touchdown. The second sack preceded a third-and-long and subsequent punt.

Kaleb Johnson leading the nation, with some good run blocking ahead of him

Johnson is No. 1 in the country with 479 rushing yards so far this season.

It is not a perfect stat, as Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty and Rutgers’ Kyle Monangai have played in one less game than Johnson due to their teams’ early byes. But even when looking at rushing yards per game, Iowa’s Johnson ranks third with 159.7.

Maintaining that pace is no guarantee, particularly as Iowa’s competition gets significantly stiffer in Big Ten play. But Johnson’s 159.7 yards per game, if continued over 12 regular-season games and a bowl game, would be at pace to break Shonn Greene’s program record for rushing yards in a single season.

One of the most impressive plays for Johnson, along with the run blocking ahead of him, was on the first play of Iowa’s second drive. Iowa operated in “12” personnel — one running back and two tight ends — with the ball on its own 23-yard line. McNamara pitched the ball to Johnson on the zone run.

Picture-perfect blocking, combined with Johnson’s breakout speed, meant Johnson essentially went untouched as he cleared the first and second levels and gained 39 yards. It was Johnson’s sixth run of 25-plus yards this season (and his seventh happened later in the game as well).

How much to take away from Week 3 result

Make any grand conclusions about the 2024 season from Saturday’s 17-point win at your own risk.

Since the Big Ten expanded the conference schedule to nine games in 2016, there has been very little correlation between Iowa’s margin of victory in the nonconference finale and Iowa’s number of Big Ten wins.

Iowa won six Big Ten games in 2016 and 2019. In the 2016 nonconference finale, the Hawkeyes lost to North Dakota State. In the 2019 nonconference finale, they throttled Middle Tennessee, 48-3.

In one of Iowa’s Big Ten West-winning seasons, the Hawkeyes won by only 10 points over Colorado State. In the other division title season, the Hawkeyes won by 31 over Western Michigan.

Comments: john.steppe@thegazette.com

Source link

Iowa

Iowa Lottery Pick 3 Midday, Pick 3 Evening results for March 1, 2026

Published

6 hours ago

March 2, 2026

Press Room

The Iowa Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big with rewards ranging from $1,000 to millions. The most an Iowan has ever won from playing the lottery was $343 million in 2018 off the Powerball.

Don’t miss out on the winnings. Here’s a look at Sunday, March 1, 2026, winning numbers for each game:

Winning Pick-3 numbers from March 1 drawing

Midday: 6-9-4

Evening: 4-2-5

Check Pick-3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick-4 numbers from March 1 drawing

Midday: 1-7-4-8

Evening: 7-6-9-1

Check Pick-4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from March 1 drawing

10-11-12-35-56, Bonus: 04

Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

When are the Iowa Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 10:00 p.m. CT on Tuesday and Friday.
Lotto America: 9:15 p.m. CT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Lucky for Life: 9:38 p.m. CT daily.
Pick 3 (Day): 12:20 p.m. CT daily.
Pick 3 (Evening): 10:00 p.m. CT daily.
Pick 4 (Day): 12:20 p.m. CT daily.
Pick 4 (Evening): 10:00 p.m. CT daily.
Millionaire for Life: 10:15 p.m. CT daily.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by an Iowa editor. You can send feedback using this form.

Source link

Iowa

Nebraska Men’s Basketball’s Week Ahead: Crucial Games at UCLA and Home vs. Iowa

Published

18 hours ago

March 1, 2026

Press Room

Nebraska Men’s Basketball’s Week Ahead: Crucial Games at UCLA and Home vs. Iowa

Nebraska men’s basketball faces a critical week that will determine its Big Ten Conference and NCAA Tournament seeding.

The Huskers play at UCLA on Tuesday night and finish the regular season next Sunday at home vs. Iowa.

The Huskers are currently tied for second place in the Big Ten with Michigan State. Both teams have four conference losses. They are one game in the loss column ahead of Illinois and Purdue, with five losses. Wisconsin has six losses.

The top four teams earn the coveted triple bye for the Big Ten Tournament. Regular-season champion Michigan has one spot locked up.

Here are the remaining schedules of the contenders for the triple bye, with conference record in parentheses:

Nebraska (14-4)
* Tuesday: at UCLA
* Sunday: vs. Iowa

Michigan State (13-4)
* Sunday: at Indiana
* Thursday: vs. Rutgers
* Sunday, March 8: at Michigan

Illinois (13-5)
* Tuesday: vs. Oregon
* Sunday, March 8: at Maryland

Purdue (12-5)
* Sunday: at Ohio State
* Wednesday: at Northwestern
* Saturday: vs. Wisconsin

Wisconsin (12-6)
* Wednesday: vs. Maryland
* Saturday: at Purdue

Maintaining an NCAA seed no worse than 3 should benefit the Huskers, who wouldn’t have to play, theoretically, the No. 1 seed until the Elite Eight game.

It’s a ton to play for in the final week of a historic regular season for Nebraska. But that’s what March is all about.

Nebraska at UCLA

When: Tuesday, 10 p.m. CT
Where: Pauley Pavilion, Los Angeles
Records: Nebraska, 25-4, 14-4 in Big Ten; UCLA, 19-10, 11-7 in Big Ten
TV: FS1

Rankings updated based on games through Saturday.

UCLA rankings

* Associated Press Top 25: Not ranked
* NCAA Net Ratings: 40
* USA Today Coaches Poll: Not ranked
* Kenpom.com: 41
* ESPN Power Index: 34
* Top 25 and 1: Not ranked
* Team Rankings.com: 41

In Joe Lunardi’s latest Bracketology projections for ESPN, UCLA is a 9-seed for the 68-team NCAA Tournament. The next Bracketology will be released Tuesday.

Nebraska rankings

* Associated Press Top 25: 12
* NCAA Net Ratings: 12
* USA Today Coaches Poll: 10
* Kenpom.com: 11
* ESPN Power Index: 15
* Top 25 and 1: 8
* Team Rankings.com: 11

In Joe Lunardi’s latest Bracketology projections for ESPN, Nebraska is a 3-seed for the 68-team NCAA Tournament.

Nebraska-UCLA analysis

The Bruins are coming off a strange week. They crushed visiting rival USC, 81-62, on Tuesday, then lost at Minnesota, 78-73, on Saturday.

UCLA is 16-1 at home, its only loss to Indiana, 98-97, in double overtime on Jan. 31.

The game will be a homecoming for Huskers forward Berke Buyuktuncel, who played at UCLA in 2023-24, his freshman season. Buyuktuncel has started 27 games and averages 6.7 points and 5.6 rebounds per game this season for the Huskers and frequently earns praise from coach Fred Hoiberg.

Nebraska thoroughly dispatched USC on Saturday, 82-67, an impressive performance on the road against a Trojans team desperate for a statement win to help — or save — their NCAA hopes.

Pryce Sandfort scored 32 points — one short of his career high — as the Huskers won their 14th conference game, a school record. Nebraska is 7-2 on the road in conference games.

This should be a great matchup — UCLA a strong team playing at home vs. a Nebraska team playing well and full of confidence. This feels like a one-possession game.

Nebraska guard Sam Hoiberg goes to the basket as Iowa forward Cooper Koch defends during the first meeting in Iowa City. | Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images

Iowa at Nebraska

When: Sunday, March 8, 4 p.m. CT
Where: Pinnacle Bank Arena
Records: Nebraska, 25-4, 14-4 in Big Ten; Iowa, 20-9, 10-8 in Big Ten
TV: Fox

Rankings updated based on games through Saturday.

Iowa rankings

* Associated Press Top 25: 33
* NCAA Net Ratings: 28
* USA Today Coaches Poll: 30
* Kenpom.com: 24
* ESPN Power Index: 35
* Top 25 and 1: Not ranked
* Team Rankings.com: 31

In Joe Lunardi’s latest Bracketology projections for ESPN, Iowa is an 8-seed for the 68-team NCAA Tournament.

Nebraska rankings

* Associated Press Top 25: 12
* NCAA Net Ratings: 12
* USA Today Coaches Poll: 10
* Kenpom.com: 11
* ESPN Power Index: 15
* Top 25 and 1: 8
* Team Rankings.com: 11

In Joe Lunardi’s latest Bracketology projections for ESPN, Nebraska is a 3-seed for the 68-team NCAA Tournament.

Nebraska forward Braden Frager defends a fast-break layup attempt by Iowa guard Bennett Stirtz in the teams’ first meeting on Feb. 17. | Julia Hansen/Iowa City Press-Citizen / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Nebraska-Iowa analysis

The Hawkeyes are coming off a puzzling, 71-69 loss at Penn State on Saturday. Iowa led 67-62 with 3:49 to play, and then scored only one more basket. Iowa plays host to Michigan on Thursday.

Nebraska will get a final curtain call at Pinnacle Bank Arena, where the Huskers are 15-2.

Nebraska should have revenge on its mind after losing at Iowa, 57-52, on Feb. 17, in Sandfort’s return to Iowa City, where he played for two seasons.

Whatever Nebraska nerves were a factor at Iowa shouldn’t be in play at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Nebraska shot only 21 percent from distance in Iowa City. Sandfort scored 13 points, his lowest total since Jan. 10, when he scored 12 at Indiana.

Iowa’s Bennett Stirtz scored 25 points. That won’t happen in this game. Neither will Nebraska’s ice-cold shooting from distance, especially if the game could determine the triple bye for the Huskers.

More From Nebraska On SI

Stay up to date on all things Huskers by bookmarking Nebraska Cornhuskers On SI, subscribing to HuskerMax on YouTube, and visiting HuskerMax.com daily.

Source link

Iowa

Iowa Boys High School State Basketball Tournament Sets Two Classes

Published

1 day ago

March 1, 2026

Press Room

Iowa Boys High School State Basketball Tournament Sets Two Classes

The Class 1A and Class 2A Iowa high school boys basketball state tournament brackets are now official following substate action.

The Iowa High School Athletic Association Boys State Tournament begins Monday, March 9 from the Casey’s Center in Des Moines, Iowa.

St. Edmond, the top-seed in 1A, gets Woodbine in a rematch of a quarterfinal from a year ago. Woodbine ended the run of defending state champion Madrid in a substate final on the same court that St. Edmond qualified on when they defeated Riverside.

Burlington Notre Dame plays Bellevue, MMCRU meets Boyden-Hull and Bishop Garrigan battles Bellevue Marquette Catholic in the other elite eight games.

The other substate finals saw Burlington Notre Dame defeat Calamus-Wheatland, MMCRU eliminated North Union, Bishop Garrigan downed South Winneshiek, Bellevue bested East Marshall and Bellevue Marquette Catholic topped Montezuma.

In 2A, Kuemper Catholic is the No. 1 seed and will face Union Community in the opening game on Wednesday, March 11. The other quarterfinals see Treynor vs. Grundy Center, Unity Christian vs. defending state champion Western Christian and Iowa City Regina vs. Aplington-Parkersburg.

Kuemper Catholic survived vs. Roland-Story, Union knocked off Pella Christian in a nail-biter, Treynor bested Underwood, Grundy Center downed Beckman Catholic, Unity Christian handled Southeast Valley, Western Christian ran past Tri-Center, Iowa City Regina downed Northeast and Aplington-Parkersburg defeated Cascade.

Here are the Iowa High School Athletic Association Boys State Basketball Tournament pairings for Class 1A and Class 2A.

Quarterfinals

Tuesday, March 10

Semifinals

Thursday, March 12

Championship

Friday, March 13

Wednesday, March 11

Semifinals

Thursday, March 12

Championship

Friday, March 13