Audi Crooks and the eighth-seeded Iowa State women’s basketball team kick off their March Madness campaign with a first-round matchup against ninth-seeded Syracuse on March 21. The Cyclones, who finished seventh in the Big 12 conference, enter the tournament with a 22-9 record. Crooks, a standout scorer for Iowa State, has been a dominant force throughout her career, setting multiple school records and leading the team in scoring. Crooks has averaged 22.6 points per game while shooting 60.1% from the field over her three seasons with the Cyclones. Her performance has been instrumental in shaping Iowa State’s program, as she holds the school’s records for single-game points, single-season points, and field goals. In November 2025, she shattered her own single-game scoring record with 47 points against Indiana, including 19 field goals—both marks set a new standard for the program. Her 329 made field goals in the 2024-25 season remain the best single-season total in school history. Crooks’ achievements extend beyond her collegiate career. She broke her mother’s high school field goal percentage record while playing at Bishop Garrigan in Algona, Iowa. Her mother, a former player at the same school, had previously held the record, making Crooks the first to surpass it. Crooks was named first-team All-State as a freshman, joining her high school teammate Molly Joyce, who also earned the honor. The duo is believed to be the first freshman pair in Iowa history to achieve first-team All-State recognition in the same season. Crooks continued her dominance through high school, earning All-State honors every year and being named Iowa Miss Basketball her senior year. Her success at the collegiate level has also earned her national recognition.#iowa_state #march_madness #audi_crooks #syracuse #mortgage_matchup_center
Syracuse Should Consider Three Head Coaching Candidates Before Finalizing Gerry McNamara Hire Bryan Hodgson of South Florida and Josh Schertz of Saint Louis have been removed from Syracuse's list of potential head coaching candidates, with Siena's Gerry McNamara emerging as the leading contender for the Orange's vacant position, at least for now. McNamara has transformed Siena's program in his two seasons at the helm, guiding the Saints to their first NCAA Tournament appearance in program history. The team, which won just four games in the 2024-25 season before his arrival, now faces No. 1 seed Duke in the East Region of the NCAA Tournament as a No. 16 seed. His success has generated buzz for the Syracuse job, though officials may still explore other options. McNamara's rapid turnaround at Siena has been remarkable. After leading the Saints to a 21-13 record in his first season, the program secured an automatic bid to the 2026 NCAA Tournament. His ability to elevate a struggling program to national relevance has positioned him as a top candidate for Syracuse, which has struggled to find stability in its coaching ranks. However, the Orange's leadership may weigh other prospects before making a final decision. While hiring McNamara would be a positive move, I personally hope Syracuse's leadership explores other options, though I would fully support him regardless. The decision should prioritize long-term success over short-term hype. Before settling on McNamara, here are three additional candidates who could be viable choices for the Orange. John Groce, the head coach of Akron, has led the Zips to a 29-5 record and an automatic NCAA Tournament bid after winning the Mid-American Conference Tournament.#john_groce #gerry_mcnamara #siena #syracuse #shaheen_holloway
Siena coach Gerry McNamara: Focus on tournament, not Syracuse Siena head coach Gerry McNamara addressed rumors linking him to the vacant Syracuse coaching position, calling the speculation "inevitable," but emphasized his commitment to preparing his team for the NCAA tournament. Speaking ahead of the Saints’ opening-round matchup against No. 1 seed Duke, McNamara stated his priority was the game and his players. "These kids have given me everything they’ve got every day this season, and they deserve my full attention," he said. "That’s where my focus is." McNamara, a former Syracuse player and member of the 2003 national championship team, spent 15 years as an assistant coach with the Orange before joining Siena in 2023. Under his leadership, the Saints compiled a 23-11 record this season, including a MAAC tournament championship. His success, combined with his deep ties to Syracuse’s program, has placed him in the conversation for the vacant head coaching job at the Orange, which was vacated after Adrian Autry was fired following two consecutive NCAA tournament misses. McNamara acknowledged the speculation but framed it as a natural outcome of his achievements. "Because of what we’ve done here, my name is coming up," he said. "You get good players, you coach them right, you win, and everybody gets recognition." He noted that the timing of the Syracuse vacancy and Siena’s recent success made the situation "obviously going to be some speculation." Syracuse’s struggles in the NCAA tournament have been stark. The program has not advanced past the first round since 2021, a far cry from its dominant era in the 2000s when McNamara was a key player. He was a four-year starter for the Orange, leading them to four straight tournament appearances.#gerry_mcnamara #siena #syracuse #adrian_autry #jim_boeheim
