Iowa State

Gregory L. Geoffroy, senior vice president for academic affairs and provost at the University of Maryland, College Park, was named the 14th president of Iowa State University last night. Geoffroy accepted the $275,000 position, taking himself out of the running for the presidency of the University of Kentucky, where he was also a finalist. He is scheduled to start the new job July 1. "I feel great for him," said UMCP President C.D. "Dan" Mote Jr. "It's actually great for Iowa State. He is very well-prepared for the job."

Ravens rookie offensive lineman Kelechi Osemele says the coaching staff has told him he would play a very substantial role this season. I agree. In fact, they should start him at left guard in the season opener Monday against the Cincinnati Bengals. The Ravens have shuffled offensive linemen throughout the preseason, and the No. 1 group should be Bryant McKinnie at left tackle, Matt Birk at center, Marshal Yanda at right guard, Michael Oher at right tackle and Osemele. It wasn't the upgrade Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome promised at the end of last season, but it's a good, solid starting five.

Gregory L. Geoffroy, the top academic administrator at the University of Maryland, College Park, is a finalist for the presidency of two state universities, it was announced yesterday. The 54-year-old Geoffroy is among five people being considered at Iowa State University and one of the final three at the University of Kentucky. "I want to emphasize that I am extremely happy here," said Geoffroy, who has been at UM less than four years. "It is a wonderful time to be in Maryland, both at the university and in the state because of the great support for higher education.

Editor's note: Each week, InsideMdSports.com provides this blog with a Maryland recruiting feature that previously appeared as premium content on its site. Maryland expanded its search for basketball prospects in the class of 2014 on Monday, extending an offer to rising junior Rashad Vaughn . Vaughn, a 6-foot-5, 190-pound small forward from Robbinsdale Cooper High School in Minneapolis, impressed the Terps' staff at the Under Armour Summer Jam in Milwaukee.

ALBANY, N.Y. - The streak is complete. Iowa State's Cael Sanderson is the only perfect wrestler in NCAA history. At 159-0 with four NCAA titles, Sanderson has done what no man before him could do - never lose. "Four years is a long time. That's a lot of matches to get ready for," said Sanderson, who moved up this year to 197 pounds. "To finally be finished with it, it's nice." Sanderson's dominance has been unparalleled. Only twice in his entire career has a wrestler come within a point of him. This season, only two opponents were able to last a full match.

MINNEAPOLIS -- Auburn may have lost its leading scorer, but the seventh-seeded Tigers have not lost their swagger. They seemed overly relaxed a day before facing No. 2 Iowa State (30-4) at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome. They played "hangman" on the locker-room chalkboard, and one of the answers read: "Final Four." Yet no one was laughing. "I really feel like we're the No. 1 seed," forward Mack McGadney said. "It's just unfortunate that the NCAA didn't pick us as the No. 1 seed. I think it would be an upset if Iowa State beats us."

MINNEAPOLIS -- A lady approached Iowa State's Marcus Fizer before yesterday's game after recognizing him from last week's Sports Illustrated cover. "So you're what all the fuss is about," she said. Fizer grinned and answered, "Just watch the game later." Iowa State's supporting cast backed Fizer's claim by assuming the lead roles yesterday during a slow start by its first-team All-American as the Cyclones stormed past seventh-seeded Auburn, 79-60, at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome. No. 2 Iowa State (31-4)

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Giant killers or mere road kill? For Iowa State and Mississippi State, the answer either will lead them to the NCAA tournament's Sweet 16 or send them home for the year. A pair of ninth seeds - the Cyclones and Bulldogs - will attempt to defrock a pair of No. 1 seeds in separate second-round games at Carolina-friendly Charlotte Coliseum today. To advance, however, Iowa State has to disrupt North Carolina's quick, deep lineup of stars, and Mississippi State needs to solve Duke's defensive mastery.

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- The Iowa State men's basketball team may have lacked the history, but not the tougher players. The undersized, second-seeded Cyclones turned "Showtime" into dead air, high-stepping their way to a 80-56 rout of No. 6 seed UCLA last night in a Midwest Regional semifinal at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Iowa State (32-4) took some monumental steps to national respectability, advancing to its first regional final in school history as well as collecting its first win ever over the legendary UCLA program.

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- Has there ever been a home-court disadvantage? The Michigan State players awoke yesterday to a banner headline in the Detroit Free Press that read, "Indy-structible," after the Spartans' comeback win Thursday over Syracuse. A few hours later, the Spartans were badgered by local reporters about a return trip to the Final Four and how anything less than a national championship would be a supreme disappointment. But top-seeded Michigan State still has a game tonight against second-seeded Iowa State in the Midwest Regional final before booking its flight to the Final Four in Indianapolis.

Kelechi Osemele at a glance Offensive lineman, Iowa State Ht./Wt.: 6 foot 5,  335 pounds Born: June 24, 1989, Houston, Texas High School: Langham Creek High College highlights:  He was a co-captain for the Cyclones in his senior season and was a 2011 first-team All-Big 12 selection. … He started 44 consecutive games and played in 49 games overall in his career. … He redshirted his freshman season in 2007. Personal: He capable of playing both tackle and guard.

MEN'S THIRD ROUND ON TV Syracuse vs. Kansas State 13, 9Noon Gonzaga vs. Ohio State 13, 92:30 Marquette vs. Murray State 13, 95 Wisconsin vs. Vanderbilt TNT6 Indiana vs. VCU TBS7 Kentucky vs. Iowa State 13, 97:30 Baylor vs. Colorado TNT8:30 Louisville vs. New Mexico TBS9:30 WOMEN'S FIRST ROUND ON TV...

We're on cruise control this week, with no changes in the top 13 even though Oregon, TCU and Auburn all had to serve detention for falling asleep in class. There never has been an easier week to have Boise State at No. 1 after the Broncos played Friday night lights out against Idaho. USC, our preseason No. 20, used a big win at Arizona to move up six spots to 19, while Texas A&M makes its debut just in time to host one-loss Nebraska. Utah, like Wile E. Coyote, walked off a cliff, stood there for a second with a dumbfounded look, then dropped like an Acme anvil ... poof.

Hey, it really wasn't that hard: Auburn beat South Carolina, which beat Alabama. So Auburn is No. 8 this week, followed by South Carolina and Alabama. Oregon State defeated Arizona, so it moves ahead of 'Zona, which stays ahead of Iowa. OK, time for lunch. Boise State, our No. 1 since Day 1, could be No. 1 in Sunday's first Bowl Championship Series standings, which at least temporarily would halt the hate mail to my Idaho in-box. Note to 'Bama fans bemoaning steep drop to No. 10: In 2003, LSU rallied from No. 12 in the first BCS standings to win the national title.

Each Wednesday we'll bring you a Q&A with a Ravens player to help you learn a little more about the team. Today's guest is fourth-year offensive tackle Marshal Yanda, who talks about his development since being thrown into action as a rookie, a devastating knee injury his second year and a hit he made on an unsuspecting Iowa State player while at Iowa that still gets hits on YouTube. Question: Does your recent performance against the Pittsburgh Steelers and LaMarr Woodley a benchmark of sorts in your career?

Cincinnati Bengals Jermaine Gresham, TE, Oklahoma (1st round, 21st overall) Carlos Dunlap, DE, Florida (2nd round, 54th overall) Jordan Shipley, WR, Texas (3rd round, 84th overall) Brandon Ghee, CB, Wake Forest (3rd round, 96th overall) Geno Atkins, DT, Georgia (4th round, 120th overall) Roddrick Muckelroy, ILB, Texas (4th round, 131st overall) Otis Hudson, OG, Eastern Illinois (5th round, 152nd overall) Dezmon Briscoe, WR, Kansas (6th round, 191st overall)

SAN ANTONIO -- Was that Tyus Edney, or Cameron Dollar? Were those the UCLA Bruins on their way to a national championship under Jim Harrick in 1995, or Steve Lavin's team prolonging his fairy-tale first season in Westwood?It was hard to tell last night at the Alamodome.With a drive by Dollar that was reminiscent of the one Edney made against Missouri in the second round of the NCAA `D tournament two years ago, the second-seeded Bruins survived their struggle against sixth-seeded Iowa State in the semifinals of the Midwest Regional.

BOISE, Idaho - Hampton guard Marseilles Brown had been here before, so he knew what would happen if his team was in position to win late in the game. "The crowd is going to be on your side," said Brown, who helped Richmond upset third-seeded South Carolina in the 1998 NCAA tournament. "Being the underdog, they are going to cheer for you." And the crowd did. So, the Pirates, in their first NCAA tournament game, gave the fans that filled BSU Pavilion last night what they wanted - a thrilling 58-57 upset of second-seeded Iowa State.