ISU AD interested in 'Big Four' basketball stage in Des Moines

IOWA CITY - Iowa State Athletics Director Jamie Pollard would like to stage a "Big Four" basketball event in Des Moines, likely at Wells Fargo Arena, that could include games against Northern Iowa and Drake.

“We have always been very supportive of the Big Four concept and still are," Pollard said in a statement. "We think that concept would be great not only for Des Moines, but for the state of Iowa. It would provide all of us an opportunity to showcase basketball in our state and may be a great catalyst for Des Moines to eventually get an NCAA men's first round site.

"It appears there is some momentum to begin this concept sooner than later. As a result, we are holding on future individual contracts with Drake and UNI until we can fully vet this opportunity.”

Both Iowa and Iowa State have played non-conference games at Wells Fargo Arena in the last two years.

Both Iowa and Iowa State's contracts with Northern Iowa expire after this season. When asked if his school would consider playing Northern Iowa and Drake at neutral sites, Iowa Athletics Director Gary Barta told SourceMedia Group on Wednesday, "certainly something like that is a possibility."

"Rather than talk in any detail in fairness to the process and all four of us, I think I'll just wait until we have a chance to work out the details, and then we'll make an announcement shortly after basketball season or possibly before," Barta said.

It's likely the annual showdown between Iowa and Iowa State will will not change from its present home-and-home format, Iowa Coach Fran McCaffery said Thursday morning.

"I don't think so, but I don't know enough to say I know unequivocally," McCaffery said. "I can't imagine ..."

The men's basketball game is part of the all-sports Cy-Hawk Series sponsored by Iowa Corn. Through the last 30 years, the men's basketball series is tied 15-15.

The basketball game, perhaps second only to the annual football clash, ranks among the state's showcase sporting events.

"I think it probably always will," McCaffery said. "There are fans of both schools throughout the state who go to both games, who are passionate about both programs. I think it's as good of a rivalry as you're going to have for two teams that aren't in the same conference.

"To me the definition of a true rivalry is I've got to go through you to win a championship, you've got to go through us to win a championship. That's not the case with us and Iowa State. But that said, we've played and we'll continue to play. We'll play one year here, one year there. It's a great rivalry in other sports. That gives something for people to talk about. It's going to be a great atmosphere Friday night."