Randy Peterson
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April 02, 2025
So, you thought BillFennelly may have been signaling something during postgame remarks after his Iowa State women’s basketball team lost against Michigan in the first round of the NCAA Tournament a few weeks ago.
“As I get to the end, it's nice to be associated with people that do it the right way and represent themselves and our families at the school,” said Fennelly, who has been the Cyclones’ coach 30 seasons.
Say what?
"It means I'm 67 years old and my time is about up," Fennelly told reporters. "I don't know when, I really don't. I haven't thought much about it."
A few weeks later, he’s solidly putting to rest any concern that athletics director Jamie Pollard soon could be looking for a new coach. First came emphasized program commitments from Audi Crooks and Addy Brown (more on them later). Then on Wednesday, came the news that Jada Williams, a five-star guard out high school, was transferring from Arizona to the Cyclones.
Those three players combined to average 51.3 points, 9.8 assists and 18.7 rebounds last season. That’s a bunch, especially when you consider the only senior on last season’s 23-12 team was Emily Ryan.
Fennelly retire?
Never . . .
At least not in the foreseeable future.
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Back in the good ol’ days, college athletes didn’t have to announce when they’re returning for another year of eligibility. We assumed everyone was returning – unless informed otherwise.
I thought of that, while reading Tommy Birch’s story about Crooks and Brown announcing, via social media, that they’ll be playing again next season at Iowa State.
Unfortunately, both needed to do that, because unfortunately, many people have come to believe that everything they read on the social media is gospel.
If you’re leaving, announce it. But have we really gotten to that point, where star athletes actually have to tell us they’re returning to the school for whom they played the previous season – even when no one of journalistic legitimacy reported they weren’t?
That’s nothing against Crooks and Brown. Instead, it’s another example that one click-hunting, anonymous person can write anything they want to write, whether it’s true or not.
In this world of college athlete free agency, aka the transfer portal, apparently people just naturally assume star athletes are chasing money. And as we’ve discovered more times than not (especially among Iowa State stars) that’s not always the case.
Rocco didn’t chase money. Neither did Jaylin, Jaden, Tamin or Milan.
I’m assuming teams were tampering with them, Crooks and Brown included, waving more NIL money than they were being paid while starring for Iowa State. The “We Will Collective” stepped up. Local businesses did likewise.
Transferring because coaches leave, aside . . .
There’s still a generation of athlete that finds something attractive with attending school and participating in sports at a place where you get wonderful coaching, play in a packed arena or stadium, and in an ultra-competitive conference. We’ve certainly seen it go the other way, too, which leads to this question:
Are we really headed in the direction of assuming everyone with eligibility remaining is gone – until we’re told otherwise?
Unfortunately, that may be the situation.
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Duke is the best team remaining in the men’s Final Four -- but Houston will win the NCAA Tournament championship.
That’s how much respect I have for future Hall of Fame coach Kelvin Sampson, whose Cougars face the Dukies Saturday, after the Florida-Auburn game.
The late game will be about strategy, where Sampson is among a master coaching class. His team was built for a game like this -- the daily off-season 5 a.m., workouts, and the tougher practices than his team faced in most games.
Duke offense against Houston defense.
Over or under 136.5 points?
Houston’s finesse?
Duke’s physical post play?
Sampson will figure out a way to offset however many rebounds Cooper Flagg snares, and how many points he scores. And yes, Flagg is the nation’s best player. Unquestionably. He brings back memories of Larry Bird and Bill Walton. (Note that I didn’t day he’s better than them.)
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Speaking of Hall of Fame coaches . . .
UConn, with the great Geno Auriemma orchestrating front he sidelines, wins the women’s Final Four. Combine Auriemma with Paige Bueckers – with Sarah Strong and Azzi Fudd – and that’s a recipe for greatness.
**
Here’s something on which to analyze, and then over-analyze:
Of the 20 anticipated starters in the men’s Final Four, 11 arrived at their present school via the portal. Five once played for what we’d generally consider a mid-major program.
Is the notion overblown that mid-majors have become little more than a minor leagues for major programs?
You can decide.
(Award-winning columnist Randy Peterson can be, and has been, reached at randypete4846@gmail.com or at any Okoboji-area beverage/food establishment between the hours of open and close.)