Cats Come Calling

Jan. 9, 2004

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THE SETTING
Iowa (8-3, 1-0) plays its second straight Big Ten Conference home game by hosting Northwestern (5-7, 0-1), Saturday, Jan. 10. Game time is 1:32 p.m. in Carver-Hawkeye Arena (15,500). Iowa defeated Purdue 71-61 Wednesday, while Northwestern lost 78-54 at Michigan Wednesday night.

ON THE AIR
Radio: Iowa games are broadcast on the Hawkeye Radio Network. Gary Dolphin handles the play-by-play with color commentator Bob Hansen. Television: ESPN Regional will carry the game to a network of stations throughout the Big Ten Conference viewing area, including KGAN in Cedar Rapids. Wayne Larrivee and Greg Kelser will call the action.

IOWA HISTORY
Iowa has played 2,292 games since beginning basketball in 1902. Overall Iowa’s record is 1,367-925 (.596). That includes an 854-300 (.740) record in home games, a 513-625 (.451) record in games away from Iowa City, a 649-637 (.505) mark in Big Ten games and a 260-74 (.778) record in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

IOWA IN CARVER-HAWKEYE ARENA
Iowa has compiled a 260-74 (.778) record in Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Iowa is 123-61 (.668) in Big Ten games and 137-13 (.913) in non-Big Ten games. Iowa has drawn over 4.8 million fans for men’s basketball games since the arena opened in 1983. Iowa has posted a 52-19 (.732) home record under Coach Steve Alford, including a 33-4 (.892) mark in non-conference home games.

LETTERMAN’S DAY
Iowa will host its annual Letterman’s Day Saturday when the Hawkeyes meet Northwestern. A number of former Hawkeye players will be recognized at the afternoon contest, with a reception to follow at the UI Athletic Hall of Fame.

OPENING BIG TEN WITH A WIN
With the 71-61 win over Purdue, Iowa has opened Big Ten action with a win in each of the last eight seasons. Iowa’s last loss to open Big Ten Conference play came at Purdue in 1996, but the Boilermakers were later forced to forfeit that win. A year ago, the Hawkeyes won their first three conference games of the year. Iowa won 68-63 at Northwestern and defeated Michigan State (68-64) and Illinois (68-61) in Iowa City before losing 74-61 at Wisconsin. Iowa has also been successful lately in its initial home Big Ten game of the season, winning 12 straight. Iowa’s last loss in its first home conference game of the season was an 80-77 defeat at the hands of Michigan in 1992.