Iowa

Underdog to top dog: Iowa City Liberty has same approach as last year

Published

2 years ago

July 11, 2024

Underdog to top dog: Iowa City Liberty has same approach as last year

Liberty’s Ryan Schmierer celebrates during a game between Iowa City Liberty and Iowa City High at Liberty High School in North Liberty, Iowa on Monday, June 24, 2024. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)

IOWA CITY — The hunter is now the hunted.

The sentiment my be saturated with hyperbole but in the course of a year Iowa City Liberty went from unexpected qualifier to a favorite for another state berth.

After being a lower seed a year ago, the No. 9 Lightning have been a mainstay in the Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Association rankings and earned the No. 1 seed in Class 4A Substate 8 bracket that begins Friday.

Liberty (24-13) has qualified for state the last two years and opens the postseason at home against sixth-seeded Waterloo East (13-18).

“I think where the experience helps us the most is that It keeps us grounded,” Liberty Coach Uby Martinez said. “We were that team that people were kind of looking by and looking ahead to the substate final.

“We know anything can happen. We’ve been that team two years in a row. We’re not going to take it for granted. We still have to do our job and play our game. If we’re going to win, we have to be sharp, regardless.”

The approach is the same as last season. The Lightning were the only ones that didn’t receive notice they weren’t supposed to win. They felt poised for the postseason run. Liberty will bring a similar confidence and won’t take any wins for granted.

“Last year, we knew we had the pieces and knew we weren’t really the underdogs,” Lightning senior Ryan Schmierer said. “Everyone around us thought we were the underdogs.

“We still know who we are and where we can be. We saw that earlier this year. It’s the same approach where we’re going to be aggressive, attack and play our kind of baseball. See where it goes from there.”

The Lightning went 2-2 in their last four regular-season games. They did close with an 8-2 victory over 3A No. 7 Solon. Martinez has noticed rediscovered energy from the players, who were bouncing around and enjoying Wednesday’s batting practice. They were ready to get back at it again Thursday.

“I feel we’re at a really good place,” Martinez said. “They were excited about practice today and wanted to know if the cages would be open early. It’s never going to be a thing about ability for us. It’s going to be more about focus. We’re back in to where we need to be.”

One perk for top seeds is a second-round bye to the substate final with a first-round win. The bracket would allow Liberty to use ace Mason Waterbury in each game. Waterbury has been nearly untouchable, posting a 9-0 record with a rare 0.14 earned-run average over 51 innings in 10 appearances. He has allowed just one earned run and only five total, striking out 53.

“It’s huge,” Schmierer said. “The entire team knows when Waterbury is on the mound, we not only have a chance to win but we’re going to win. The consistency that he has brought this year has been incredible. I’ve never seen anything like it. He carries himself in such a good way, too, that the team loves him and we all rally around him. We feed off his energy that he brings to the table.”

Schmierer has made his own impact as well. He sits at the top of the lineup, leading the Lightning with 48 hits and 23 RBIs. Schmierer is batting .393 with a .456 on-base percentage.

“I’ll do anything to get on base,” Schmierer said. “I’ll do the dirty work. I’ll bunt. I will take pitches, trying to work counts and get walks. I’ll take pitches so my teammates can see what the pitcher is throwing. I just do anything to help out the team and get us to be the best we can be.

“Anything to put us in better position to win.”

Liberty has a streak going and its own aspirations to reach the state tournament July 22-26 at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Cedar Rapids. The Lightning have faith in their ability to advance, making a run at an all-time best finish.

“It’s been our goal all year,” Schmierer said. “This year we have the pieces and tools to make it to the state tournament and do some damage at state and wins some games there.”

Along with Liberty, top-seeded Cedar Rapids Kennedy, Linn-Mar and Iowa City High will host first-round games. The top-ranked Cougars face Waterloo West at Herkelman Field on Friday in 4A Substate 5.

Linn-Mar, ranked No. 6, welcomes Cedar Rapids Jefferson in 4A Substate 6 at Oak Ridge Middle School. Third-ranked Iowa City High hosts Clinton in 4A Substate 7 at Mercer Park. Iowa City West travels to Cedar Rapids Prairie for another 4A Substate 7 first-round game.

Cedar Rapids Washington travels to Southeast Polk for 4A Substate 3 competition.

In Class 3A, No. 2 Marion will host South Tama. Cedar Rapids Xavier hosts Nevada. The winner of both games will face off in the 3A Substate 6 semifinals Monday.

Comments: kj.pilcher@thegazette.com

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Iowa

Where Iowa State basketball stands in NCAA Tournament bracketology

Published

3 hours ago

March 2, 2026

Press Room

Where Iowa State basketball stands in NCAA Tournament bracketology

We’re heading down the homestretch.

Iowa State men’s basketball has two regular-season games left, followed by the Big 12 Tournament.

Iowa State enters the final week of the regular season with a 24-5 overall record and an 11-5 mark in Big 12 action.

The Cyclones have a NCAA Tournament resume-bolstering opportunity on Monday, March 2 with a road game against Arizona, before wrapping up the regular-season on Saturday, March 7 against Arizona State.

Plenty can still change with bracketology from now until Selection Sunday on March 15, but here is where experts are projecting Iowa State to land in the NCAA Tournament entering the final week of the regular season:

Iowa State basketball’s computer metrics as of Tuesday

Eugene Rapay covers Iowa State athletics for the Des Moines Register. Contact Eugene at erapay@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @erapay5

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

Published

15 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.

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

Published

1 day 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.

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