Iowa and Iowa State Basketball Teams Both Get GREAT News

The outlook for the 2018-19 Iowa and Iowa State men's basketball teams are both looking brighter tonight. A key player for each squad has announced he'll return to his college team.

In Iowa City, the University of Iowa's Sports Information Department has announced redshirt junior Tyler Cook will return.

Tyler Cook had seven double-doubles (double figures in points and rebounds in a game) last season. He was 11th in scoring in the Big Ten (15.3 points per game) and 12th in rebounding (6.8 per game). Both were tops on the team. He was an honorable mention All-Big Ten honoree.

Cook had been gathering information about possibly entering the upcoming NBA draft, as was fellow Hawkeye Isaiah Moss. It was announced Tuesday that he will also return to the Hawkeyes for his junior season.

The return of Cook and Moss to the Iowa roster for the upcoming season means Iowa's number one and number four scorers from last season's team return. All five starters from the 2017-18 team will return.

Iowa State also got fantastic news today. Guard Lindell Wigginton has removed his name from consideration for the NBA draft. Instead, he'll return to the Cyclones for his sophomore season, according to the Iowa State Sports Information Department.

Wigginton had an incredible freshman season in which he averaged nearly 17 points per game, best ever for a Cyclone freshman. He also averaged 3.7 rebounds per game, along with 2.8 assists per contest. Wigginton was Honorable Mention All-Big 12.

I love Wigginton's quote in the release from the University:

I chose to come back to Iowa State because I didn’t want to settle. I know where I can help take our team this season and I want to be considered a winner. I am determined to be one of the best guards in college basketball and want to have a chance to play in March Madness and compete for a national championship for the best fans in college basketball.

You could make an argument that Wigginton was one of the best guards in college basketball last year and with that type of desire, you know he's only going to get better.

I think it's safe to say today has been a very good one for Iowa and Iowa State basketball fans.