I agree with your premise. But realistically, isn't that the way its been since the 60's when the UCLA dynasty dominated for a decade. The blue blood programs are the only ones that win the championships. Butler and Wiscy broke thru to the finals. But thats been the exception. I still think that at some point, there will be further divisions that play for championships.
IOWA will be spending over $10M on the 2026-27 roster (Portal opens on Tues, April 7)
- Thread starter Franisdaman
- Start date
Agreed. The blueblood’s aren’t building a dynasty, they’re just outspending everyone else to assemble one. This isn’t about coaching or development anymore, it’s about who has the deepest pockets and the fastest wire transfers. The whole thing feels less like college athletics and more like a corporate takeover, where the boosters sit in the boardroom, pat themselves on the back, and call it “tradition.” Everything that made it special is getting stripped out and replaced with the same old business playbook run by a bunch of executives who’d monetize a coin toss if they could.
Love the height of Decker, the playing time per game and production and having 2 years remaining.
Unfortunately, the key to winning championships now is having a great head coach AND enough money to buy the players the coach needs.
Michigan pulled it off this year and they are adding pieces now where they will be a favorite to win it all again next season.
Ben needed a big a year ago but he didn't have the money; will he have the money this time around or will he get outbid? We'll find out.
From a report from yesterday:
Iowa is pursuing a couple of guards:
(1) 6'3" Liberty guard Brett Decker (has 2 yrs left)
This season's averages:
34 min, 16.9 pts, 1.1 assists, 2.6 rebs. Shot 50% from the field & 47% from three.
(2) 6'1" Colorado guard Isaiah Johnson (has 3 yrs left)
This season's averages:
31 min, 16.9 pts, 3 assists, 2.9 rebs. Shot 49% from the field & 38% from three.
Brett Decker Jr. - Liberty Flames Guard - ESPN
View the profile of Liberty Flames Guard Brett Decker Jr. on ESPN. Get the latest news, live stats and game highlights.www.espn.com
Isaiah Johnson - Colorado Buffaloes Guard - ESPN
View the profile of Colorado Buffaloes Guard Isaiah Johnson on ESPN. Get the latest news, live stats and game highlights.
Speaking of Brett Decker, there is a story on him at the top of this web page.
Ah, the media. I trust that as much as I do walking on black ice. Good way to get your arse wet.
Cross I-Johnson off….From a report from yesterday:
Iowa is pursuing a couple of guards:
(1) 6'3" Liberty guard Brett Decker (has 2 yrs left)
This season's averages:
34 min, 16.9 pts, 1.1 assists, 2.6 rebs. Shot 50% from the field & 47% from three.
(2) 6'1" Colorado guard Isaiah Johnson (has 3 yrs left)
This season's averages:
31 min, 16.9 pts, 3 assists, 2.9 rebs. Shot 49% from the field & 38% from three.
Brett Decker Jr. - Liberty Flames Guard - ESPN
View the profile of Liberty Flames Guard Brett Decker Jr. on ESPN. Get the latest news, live stats and game highlights.
Isaiah Johnson - Colorado Buffaloes Guard - ESPN
View the profile of Colorado Buffaloes Guard Isaiah Johnson on ESPN. Get the latest news, live stats and game highlights.
<Texas>
You said that on the women's board also. Patience grasshopper.
6'3" guard Tylen Riley averaged 15.0 PPG, 4.4 APG and 3.9 RPG this season at Tulsa. He was named 2nd Team All-AAC.
He shot 45% overall and 39% from three.
He has just 1 year left.
www.espn.com
He shot 45% overall and 39% from three.
He has just 1 year left.
Tylen Riley - Tulsa Golden Hurricane Guard - ESPN
View the profile of Tulsa Golden Hurricane Guard Tylen Riley on ESPN. Get the latest news, live stats and game highlights.
www.espn.com
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#21, who makes the shot in the video below, is 6'3" guard Ace Glass. Iowa is reportedly showing strong interest, with plans to get him on campus quickly.
This season he averaged 29 min, 16.4 pts, 2.3 assists, 3 rebs. He shot 46% overall and 36% from three. He has 3 years left.
Ace Glass - Washington State Cougars Guard - ESPN
View the profile of Washington State Cougars Guard Ace Glass on ESPN. Get the latest news, live stats and game highlights.
Speaking of Ace Glass:
The Iowa staff conducted a Zoom visit with him last night.
Ace Glass - Washington State Cougars Guard - ESPN
View the profile of Washington State Cougars Guard Ace Glass on ESPN. Get the latest news, live stats and game highlights.
Speaking of Ace Glass, this story is at the top of this web page:
PORTAL TARGET BREAKDOWN: Washington State guard Ace Glass III
HawkeyeReport breaks down Iowa Men's Basketball portal target Ace Glass III, taking a look at his game and how he would fit at Iowa.
How much would 6'11" center/forward Sananda Fru cost?
Looks like he has 1 year left.
Last season he averaged 22 minutes, 9 pts, 6.1 rebs and 1.4 blocks.
He shot 75% from the floor.
Sananda Fru - Louisville Cardinals Forward - ESPN
View the profile of Louisville Cardinals Forward Sananda Fru on ESPN. Get the latest news, live stats and game highlights.
www.espn.com
Speaking of Sananda Fru, this story is at the top of this web page:
www.on3.com
PORTAL TARGET BREAKDOWN: Louisville center Sananda Fru
HawkeyeReport breaks down Iowa Men's Basketball portal target Sananda Fru, taking a look at his game and how he would fit at Iowa.
There's a report that Iowa has also targeted 6'1" Colorado guard Isaiah Johnson (was an All-Big 12 Honorable Mention). He has 3 years left.
This season he averaged 16.9 pts, 3.0 assists and 2.9 rebs. He shot 49% from the field and 38% from three.
Isaiah Johnson - Colorado Buffaloes Guard - ESPN
View the profile of Colorado Buffaloes Guard Isaiah Johnson on ESPN. Get the latest news, live stats and game highlights.
Hopefully it didn't come down to Texas having more money to offer.
Free story.
Not really, Scott drew is a great coach and he won a national championship few years ago. Puts lots of players in the NBA. Proven track record plus I’m sure they threw a bag
When's the last time you heard someone refer to these players as "student-athletes."
5 schools in 5 years for this athlete. May the highest bidder win.
sports.yahoo.com
5 schools in 5 years for this athlete. May the highest bidder win.
PJ Haggerty transferring to Texas A&M from Kansas State, playing for 5th school in 5 seasons
Haggerty was the nation's fourth-leading scorer this past season, averaging 23.4 points per game.
sports.yahoo.com
Sounds like the agent has become a major pain and came back with more demands. Don’t know any more than that but I don’t feel as good about this anymore .
I would prefer Fru. McKeever has size, but Fru is only 4” shorter and much more athletic. They all might have agents who are major pains, though!
I think Fru is highly sought after though. That might be tough honestly.
Looks like Iowa is having talks with 6'9" Belmont PF Drew Scharnowski.
This season he averaged 22 min, 10.7 pts, 6 rebs, 2.6 assists and 1.3 blocks.
He shot 68% overall from the field but just 43.6% from the FT line (61-140).
3 point shooting is not part of his game; he was just 1 of 5 attempts.
He has 2 years left.
Story from this morning:
www.on3.com
www.espn.com
This season he averaged 22 min, 10.7 pts, 6 rebs, 2.6 assists and 1.3 blocks.
He shot 68% overall from the field but just 43.6% from the FT line (61-140).
3 point shooting is not part of his game; he was just 1 of 5 attempts.
He has 2 years left.
Story from this morning:
PORTAL TARGET BREAKDOWN: Belmont forward Drew Scharnowski
HawkeyeReport breaks down Iowa Men's Basketball portal target Drew Scharnowski, taking a look at his game and how he would fit at Iowa.
Drew Scharnowski - Belmont Bruins Forward - ESPN
View the profile of Belmont Bruins Forward Drew Scharnowski on ESPN. Get the latest news, live stats and game highlights.
www.espn.com
That sucks.
In case people forget/don't know who you are talking about:
Andrew McKeever - Saint Mary's Gaels Center - ESPN
View the profile of Saint Mary's Gaels Center Andrew McKeever on ESPN. Get the latest news, live stats and game highlights.
www.espn.com
Agents don't give a damn about these kids...they are mere pieces of the money puzzle for the 20% cut of the NIL deal...sheesh...
It's crazy that we "only" need a PG and a center and $5M for those 2 pieces might not be enough.
Iowa never was in serious consideration from everything I've heard. He's from LA and originally was high on USC and Arizona. Sounded like he was leaning to Arizona until Texas brought a bag $$ to the table.Hopefully it didn't come down to Texas having more money to offer.
Free story.
A lot of point guard names have been bandied about. Not sure Ben and his staff were as high on some as thought. Ace Glass to Iowa may have legs but the devil is in the details to get him.
6'3" guard Tylen Riley averaged 15.0 PPG, 4.4 APG and 3.9 RPG this season at Tulsa. He was named 2nd Team All-AAC.
He shot 45% overall and 39% from three. He has just 1 year left.
Tylen Riley - Tulsa Golden Hurricane Guard - ESPN
View the profile of Tulsa Golden Hurricane Guard Tylen Riley on ESPN. Get the latest news, live stats and game highlights.
Speaking of Tylen Riley:
PORTAL TARGET BREAKDOWN: Tulsa guard Tylen Riley
HawkeyeReport breaks down Iowa Men's Basketball portal target Tylen Riley, taking a look at his game and how he would fit at Iowa.
Tylen Riley - Tulsa Golden Hurricane Guard - ESPN
View the profile of Tulsa Golden Hurricane Guard Tylen Riley on ESPN. Get the latest news, live stats and game highlights.
www.espn.com
Any Zoom or visit scheduled yet? Sign him up...I want Iowa to have a headband guy...Speaking of Tylen Riley:
PORTAL TARGET BREAKDOWN: Tulsa guard Tylen Riley
HawkeyeReport breaks down Iowa Men's Basketball portal target Tylen Riley, taking a look at his game and how he would fit at Iowa.
Tylen Riley - Tulsa Golden Hurricane Guard - ESPN
View the profile of Tulsa Golden Hurricane Guard Tylen Riley on ESPN. Get the latest news, live stats and game highlights.
Any Zoom or visit scheduled yet? Sign him up...I want Iowa to have a headband guy...
Good question.
Hopefully this visit happens.
The 6-foot-2 guard is also receiving interest from DePaul, Oklahoma State, Santa Clara, George Mason and many others.
Averaged 10.0 PPG, 2.7 RPG and 1.8 APG in 2025-26.
He shot 50% overall and 42% from three.
Has 3 years left.
The 6-foot-2 guard is also receiving interest from DePaul, Oklahoma State, Santa Clara, George Mason and many others.
Averaged 10.0 PPG, 2.7 RPG and 1.8 APG in 2025-26.
He shot 50% overall and 42% from three.
Has 3 years left.