Running Blog: Sweet 16 Central

Welcome to "Sweet 16 Central" at CycloneFanatic.com. From now until the end of the weekend, keep refreshing this page for a compilation of links, musings and more regarding Iowa State’s Road to the Final Four. 

Friday, March 28 — 11:00 a.m.

*** If this doesn’t make you laugh, I’m not sure what will. — ABC 5

*** Good stuff here from Travis Hines on the bond between Monte Morris and Mateen Cleaves. — Ames Tribune 

*** Bobby La Gesse caught up with Jamie Pollard to talk unions and college athletics. — Ames Tribune 

Thursday, March 27 — 6 p.m.

I’ve made my way to New York and have been here all day. It’s been a busy one, for sure. Here are some updated links for you. 

*** Reporters caught up with former Michigan State Spartan and Monte Morris mentor Mateen Cleaves. — Cyclone Fanatic 

*** I came up with 16 sweet nuggets from Thursday at MSG. — Cyclone Fanatic 

*** I had never heard this angle of the Fred Hoiberg/Kevin Ollie relationship. — Cylone Fanatic 

*** DeAndre Kane: "Not one-on-one." — Cyclone Fanatic 

*** A one-on-one with Fred Hoiberg. — CBSSports.com

*** Paul Rhoads’ boy is taking Fred Hoiberg’s daughter to prom. Seriously. — Des Moines Register 

*** All kinds of NBA influence in Friday’s game writes Mike Hlas. — Cedar Rapids Gazette 

Thursday, March 27 — 9 a.m.

Currently posting this from somewhere in the air between Des Moines and New York City. On a scale of 1-10, how amazing is airplane WiFi? I give it a 16.5. Some fresh links for you…

*** Rob Dauster features the DeAndre Kane/Shabazz Napier matchup in this blog. — NBC Sports

*** "Shabazz Napier will outduel DeAndre Kane," writes Scott Gleeson. — USA TODAY

*** Reasons why all remaining 16 teams can win a championship. — FOX Sports

*** Ranking the Sweet 16 matchups. — CBSSports.com 

*** A good read on Fred Hoiberg and Kevin Ollie. — NBA.com

*** Austin Narber gives his Sweet 16 predictions. — Cyclone Fanatic 

*** Fred Hoiberg talks about slowing down Shabazz Napier. — Cyclone Fanatic

Wednesday, March 26 — 6:00 p.m.

Some early evening links for you…

*** More reporting on how tough of a ticket Friday night’s games at the Garden is turning out to be. — ESPN

*** A good read on Fred Hoiberg from Steve Malchow. — Cyclones.com

*** Travis Hines chimes in on Fred Hoiberg’s dancing. — Ames Tribune 

*** Rob Gray on how the Cyclones will tackle defending Shabazz Napier. — Cedar Rapids Gazette

*** Adam Gray joins me on the final Cyclone Fanatic Podcast before Friday’s game. We make predictions, talk Fred Hoiberg and more. — Cyclone Fanatic 

Wednesday, March 26 — 12:15 p.m.

A few addition lunch links for you. 

*** ESPN’s Myron Medcalf calls DeAndre Kane the best player left in the NCAA Tournament. — ESPN.com

*** Jeff Borzello ranks the starters of the 16 teams remaining in the Big Dance. Kane is the only Cyclone that cracks the top 10. — CBSSports.com

*** The New York post catches up with Iowa State assistant coach Matt Abdelmassih. — NY Post

NOTE: The point spread for Friday’s game is now -2 in favor of the Cyclones. 

Wednesday, March 26 — 10:45 a.m.

A few fresh links for you this morning…

*** Our Brent Blum previews Iowa State/UConn in the Sweet 16 — Cyclone Fanatic

*** Shabazz Napier vs. DeAndre Kane…It’s a one-on-one matchup for the ages. A great read here that hoops junkies will eat up. — ShotAnalytics.com 

Tuesday, March 25 — 10:00 p.m.

LINKS…

*** Randy Peterson warns readers that Fred Hoiberg and the NBA will be brought up this week in New York. — The Des Moines Register 

*** Hoiberg talks all things UConn. A comprehensive read on Friday’s game. — Hartford Courant

A few videos from before today’s practice for you…

Tuesday, March 25 — 2:08 p.m.

I know how much you all love podcasts. Blum and Tron did a great job of recapping San Antonio and previewing New York on last night’s CF Sweet 16 Preview Show. CLICK HERE for the podcast. I’ll get this page updated with more links and what not throughout the day.