IOWA CITY — Melsahn Basabe’s mother has had her fingernails painted in Iowa Hawkeyes colors, and has been wearing outfits with those colors to work. For the last two weeks. “Ever since the NIT started,” said Mom, whose name is Aloha Wilks. “As long as they’ve been winning, it’s black-and-yellow every day.” Iowa’s men’s [...]

Iowa State Cyclones head coach Fred Hoiberg yells to his players during the first half an NCAA college basketball game against the Iowa Hawkeyes Friday, Dec. 7, 2012 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa. (Brian Ray/The Gazette-KCRG) AMES — Following a day in which reports flew out of the Twin Cities that Minnesota was [...]

  It’s safe to say this year’s NIT Final Four of Baylor, BYU, Iowa and Maryland won’t make everyone in Manhattan stop and bow in the direction of Madison Square Garden. The world’s most famous arena, as it calls itself, will host performances in April alone by Fleetwood Mac, Alicia Keys, Eric Clapton, and the [...]

IOWA CITY – Kayla McBride witnessed it first-hand Sunday. The Notre Dame junior chased Tennessee-Martin’s Heather Butler for most of the first half, as the 5-foot-5 guard poured in 23 points. McBride laughed last. The Erie, Penn., native not only saw her team win Sunday, she led the Irish to 74-57 win on Tuesday against [...]

DAYTON, Ohio — It’s Iowa State’s multipronged offense against Ohio State’s multi-thorned defense. Today’s NCAA tournament West Regional third-round game (11:15 a.m., Central time, CBS) at the University of Dayton Arena pits two teams that both wear red, but don’t look much alike. The second-seeded Buckeyes, 27-7 and winners of their last nine games, rely [...]

DAYTON, Ohio — Iowa State is a 7-point NCAA men’s basketball tournament underdog Sunday to an Ohio State team that has won its last nine games, including the postseason tournament of the nation’s strongest conference. Yet, CBS’ lead play-by-play college basketball announcer likes the Cyclones’ chances. Nantz didn’t flat-out predict an ISU win over OSU, [...]

  Let’s say Iowa beats Stony Brook in tonight’s second-round NIT game in Iowa City, wins its third-round game, and goes to New York’s Madison Square Garden for that version of the Final Four. It’s entirely possible, and perhaps likely, that tonight’s sold-out second-round NIT game at 15,400-seat Carver-Hawkeye Arena will out-draw the two sessions [...]

Dolphins are the second-most intelligent animal, behind humans. Or so some say. I’ve been around dolphins on the Florida Keys. They seemed a lot smarter than some of the people I’ve encountered. I sure wouldn’t want to match wits with one. They’re fast, too. Man, they’re fast. Anyway, dolphins at the Georgia Aquarium filled out NCAA [...]

  Do not dismiss the Stony Brook Seawolves.  Iowa Coach Fran McCaffery won’t. He’s rooted in coaching at the mid-major level, at Lafayette, UNC-Greensboro and Siena. He knows what kind of desire Stony Brook will bring to Carver-Hawkeye Arena Friday night. Iowa’s second-round NIT opponent earned its NCAA-leading 13th road win of the season Wednesday [...]