Hawk Central Hour

In a podcast-only edition of Hawk Central this week, the Register's Chad Leistikow and Tyler Tachman go wire-to-wire with a surprise appearance (you'll see why) via Caitlin Clark in the middle of a football segment. We talk WNBA Draft, the transfer-portal options for Lisa Bluder, spring football, men's hoops and the band AJR.

The remarkable 34-5 Iowa women's basketball season is in the books. The Register's Chad Leistikow and Dargan Southard take time to reflect on their time in Cleveland and what this team accomplished, both on the court and off of it ... from Caitlin Clark to the other seniors like Kate Martin and Gabbie Marshall. Also in this episode we'll dive into some spring football storylines and men's basketball roster-shaping.

Iowa knew it would take a near-flawless effort to topple these mighty Gamecocks. The Hawkeyes had flashes of brilliance, including a double-digit lead early, but South Carolina's relentless depth eventually wore Iowa down en route to an 87-75 win. Caitlin Clark's decorated college career has come to an end after an incredible stretch that has redefined Iowa women's basketball expectations. Live from Cleveland, the Register's Dargan Southard and Chad Leistikow sift through the aftermath.

The Hawkeyes needed every ounce they had to sneak by mighty UConn in Friday's Final Four matchup. Iowa needed a second-half rally after sluggish start, then had to hold off the Huskies down the stretch. But Iowa did it, and now gets South Carolina Sunday afternoon for it all. Live from Cleveland, the Register's Chad Leistikow and Dargan Southard dissect another crazy night.

The Register's Chad Leistikow and Dargan Southard go through what worked in the LSU game plan and what it means for Iowa to reach this point yet again, as it pertains to the legacies of Caitlin Clark and Lisa Bluder. More importantly, we look at some of the key storylines in this UConn matchup.

Another massive moment, another memorable performance for Caitlin Clark. The Hawkeyes are heading back to the Final Four after a thrilling 94-87 win over LSU in a rematch of last season's national title game. Live from Albany, the Register's Chad Leistikow and Dargan Southard break it all down.

With LSU having already won earlier in the day, the Hawkeyes did their part with a resounding win over Colorado in the Sweet 16. Balanced scoring was everywhere as Iowa took control immediately and never looked back, with Caitlin Clark again leading the way. Now comes the LSU rematch everyone has wanted. Live from Albany, the Register's Dargan Southard and Chad Leistikow break it all down.

A tense 64-54 win against West Virginia has sent the Hawkeye women's basketball team to the Sweet 16 in Albany, and Chad Leistikow and Dargan Southard report back from sitting courtside to offer insight into the gripping details of that game and what's ahead against fifth-seeded Colorado. Tyler Tachman joins Chad to discuss the roster turnover for men's basketball and we dig into spring football after Kirk Ferentz's Tuesday press conference.

Well, that escalated quickly. In less than 24 hours, Kadyn Proctor went from expected starting left tackle at Iowa to on his way back to Alabama (it appears). The Register's Chad Leistikow is joined by Tyler Tachman to discuss the bombshell within the Iowa football program and the implications on and off the field. Plenty of men's and women's basketball discussion, too.

The Hawkeyes didn't have to wait around long on Selection Sunday, coming off the board as the second No. 1 seed in the Albany 2 regional. While unfamiliarity is usually an element that needs hurdling this time of year, that's not the case with Iowa and this bracket. The Hawkeyes have faced a 1/3 of the other 15 teams in their bracket either last year or this year, and that doesn't even in Creighton. Will this help or hurt Iowa? The Register's Chad Leistikow and Dargan Southard dissect all that and more.

Iowa associate head coach Jan Jensen joins this week's Hawk Central Hour, speaking with the Register's Chad Leistikow about recruiting success, the joy of winning the Big Ten Tournament and the way this team has been formulated for postseason success. Later, Chad is joined by colleague Tyler Tachman to break down the Iowa men ahead of their must-win scenarios this week in Minneapolis.

A third consecutive Big Ten Tournament title did not come easy for the Hawkeyes, which had to erase an eight-point deficit in less than three minutes to force overtime and eventually topple pesky Nebraska. It wasn't the greatest shooting weekend for Caitlin Clark, but the Iowa superstar delivered clutch buckets when the Hawkeyes absolutely needed them. Back home from Minneapolis, the Register's Chad Leistikow and Dargan Southard dissect the weekend and what it means for the NCAA Tournament ahead. Plus, Tyler Tachman joins the show to recap a tough Sunday for Fran McCaffery's Hawkeyes.

Payton Sandfort, the reigning Big Ten player of the week, joins Chad Leistikow to discuss the Hawkeyes' surge onto the NCAA Tournament bubble and what he's seeing with this team in the home stretch. Payton has some fun perspective about brother Pryce, too. Chad is later joined by Tyler Tachman on the men's chances and Dargan Southard ahead of the women's trip to the Big Ten Tournament in Minneapolis.

Caitlin Clark turned a pedestrian Thursday afternoon into a monumental day after announcing she will enter the 2024 WNBA Draft once this Iowa women's basketball season concludes. Clearing out this potential distraction should allow the Hawkeyes to enter March with a clear mind and will give Clark the perfect springboard into life leading the Indiana Fever. The Register's Chad Leistikow and Dargan Southard break it all down.

It could be an interesting March in Iowa City with Fran McCaffery’s crew and Lisa Bluder’s bunch both having plenty on the table still. On the women’s side, the Hawkeyes can continue charging toward a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament with a big win Sunday on senior day against No. 2 Ohio State. On the men’s side, Iowa has inched closer to the March Madness bubble with two huge Quad 1 opportunities upcoming. The Register’s Chad Leistikow is joined by colleagues Tyler Tachman and Dargan Southard to break it all down.

Iowa's 78-71 victory at Michigan State gives top billing to the men in this week's Hawk Central Hour, and the Register's Chad Leistikow and Tyler Tachman talk about that fresh result, how it happened and what it means for team going forward. Later, Dargan Southard joins Chad to talk Caitlin Clark, Pistol Pete and the Hawkeye women's outlook the rest of the way.

Iowa basketball gets some "DVR Monday" treatment this week on radio, as we dissect the trouble spots in the Iowa women's fourth-quarter meltdown at Nebraska and the men's comeback miracle against Minnesota. Chad Leistikow, Dargan Southard and Tyler Tachman look ahead to a critical midweek slate for both teams.

While the Tim Lester introductory press conference was a big deal, we kick off this week's Hawk Central with the biggest Hawkeyes story going, Caitlin Clark and Iowa women's basketball. Chad Leistikow and Dargan Southard size up Clark's Division I record pursuit and dig deeper into the importance of Saturday's road win at Maryland. Chad is then joined by Tyler Tachman to pluck some of the new offensive coordinator's most interesting remarks before an Iowa men's basketball preview of two winnable games.

Officially announced on Wednesday, Tim Lester is Iowa's new offensive coordinator. The Register's Tyler Tachman and Chad Leistikow talk some basketball first before diving into what the Lester era might look/feel like for Hawkeye football.

In a surprising move that will generate many questions among the Iowa football fan base, Kirk Ferentz is hiring Tim Lester to become the Hawkeyes' new offensive coordinator. While former Duke OC Kevin Johns seemed to have all the momentum late last week and through the weekend, Ferentz opted for the guy who most recently was a senior analyst with the Green Bay Packers following six season as the Western Michigan head coach. The Register's Chad Leistikow and Dargan Southard dissect the decision that went official Sunday afternoon.