Iowa Travels to Drake for First of Three In-State Contests

Nov. 29, 2004

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THE SETTING
Iowa (3-1) travels to Drake (1-1) Tuesday, Nov. 30 for the first of three games in five days. Game time is 7:05 p.m. at the Knapp Center in Des Moines.

Iowa is 3-1 after placing second at the EA Sports Maui Invitational last week. Iowa has defeated Western Illinois, Louisville and Texas, while falling to North Carolina.

Drake is 1-1 after a home win over Akron and a loss at Iowa State.

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: The Iowa at Drake game can be seen on KFXA (Fox) in Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, Waterloo and Dubuque, KDSM Des Moines and KWQC Quad Cities. Rob Brooks and Mac McCausland will call the action.

IOWA HISTORY
Iowa has played 2,314 games since beginning basketball in 1902. Overall Iowa’s record is 1,378-935 (.596). That includes an 859-303 (.739) record in home games, a 519-633 (.451) record in games away from Iowa City, a 657-644 (.505) mark in Big Ten games and a 265-77 (.775) record in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

TWO STRAIGHT OVER RANKED TEAMS
Iowa’s back-to-back wins over Louisville and Texas marks the second time Iowa has won consecutive games against ranked opponents under Coach Steve Alford. The Hawkeyes, during the 2002-03 season, defeated 20th-ranked Michigan State 68-64 and 8th-ranked Illinois 68-61.

IOWA COACH Steve Alford
Steve Alford (pronounced ALL-ford) is in his sixth season as the head coach at the University of Iowa and his 14th season as a college head coach. Alford holds a career record of 248-149 (.625), including a 92-72 (.561) record at Iowa, a 78-29 (.729) record in four seasons (1992-95) at Div. III Manchester College and a four-year record (1996-99) of 78-48 (.619) at Southwest Missouri State. Alford ranks seventh among Iowa’s head basketball coaches in career wins and he is 34-46 (.425) in Big Ten games at Iowa. Alford is 8-5 in the NCAA Tournament (3-2 in Div. I and 5-3 in Div. III) and 2-4 in the NIT.

Alford led Iowa to the 2001 Big Ten Conference Tournament title and into the second round of the NCAA Tournament in his second season with the Hawkeyes. Iowa earned a return trip to the title game of the Big Ten Conference Tournament in 2002 and advanced to the NIT in post-season play in 2002, 2003 and 2004. The Hawkeyes set a Big Ten Conference Tournament record with seven straight wins over two seasons (2001-2002) before a last-second loss in the first round of the 2003 tournament. Alford’s record in the event is 8-4 in his five seasons.

Alford led Southwest Missouri State to the NCAA Sweet 16 in 1999 and in 1995 Manchester advanced to the NCAA championship game before suffering its first defeat of the season.

Alford is a 1987 graduate of Indiana, where he led the Hoosiers to the 1987 NCAA title. Alford was a member of the 1984 U. S. Olympic team that earned the Gold Medal and he was the 26th player selected in the NBA Draft following his senior season. Alford played four seasons in the NBA before beginning his coaching career.

At Indiana, Alford started 120 of 125 games in four seasons. He served as team captain in 1987 when the Hoosiers were 30-4. Steve concluded his college career as Indiana’s all-time scoring leader with 2,438 points and he holds the Indiana record for career steals with 178. He was a consensus first team All-American and the Big Ten MVP as a senior.

Alford is a member of the Manchester College M Association Hall of Fame and the Indiana University Athletics Hall of Fame. In 2001 he was named one of the “Top 50 Athletes” in the history of the state of Indiana and was selected as a member of the 15-man Indiana University all-Century team. A year ago he was one of five players selected to ESPN’s Big Ten Conference Silver Anniversary team, honoring Big Ten players from the past 25 seasons.

Alford holds a 12-0 record vs. Drake, including a 5-0 mark while at Iowa. Alford is 1-0 vs. Drake Coach Tom Davis.

DRAKE COACH TOM DAVIS
Dr. Tom Davis, Iowa’s head coach from 1987-99, is in his second season as the Drake head coach. Davis compiled a 269-140 record at Iowa, earning more victories than any other Hawkeye basketball coach. His career record stands at 556-307. Davis is in his 29th season and he ranks 11th among active Division I coaches in total victories. He has enjoyed 16 seasons in which his teams won 20 or more games and he has taken 16 teams to post-season action. He guided nine of his Iowa teams to post-season play and was the 1987 AP National Coach of the Year after leading Iowa to a 30-5 overall record. Prior to coaching at Iowa, Davis was the head coach at Lafayette College (116-44, 1971-77), Boston College (100-47, 1977-82) and Stanford (58-59, 1982-86).

Davis is 0-1 vs. Iowa and Hawkeye Coach Steve Alford.

HORNER EARNS BIG TEN HONOR
Guard Jeff Horner was named Big Ten Conference Player of the Week for his efforts in Iowa’s three games in the EA Sports Maui Invitational.

Horner, a 6-3 junior from Mason City, led Iowa to wins over Louisville and Texas before the Hawkeyes lost to North Carolina in the championship game. Horner, who was a member of the Maui all-tournament team, had 27 points in the semi-final win over Texas and scored 18 points vs. Louisville and North Carolina. He led the tournament in scoring with 63 points and tied for second (with Iowa teammate Pierre Pierce) with 17 assists. Horner in the three games shot 65.2% (15-23) from three-point range, hitting 6-7 in the title game.

The honor is the second of Horner’s career. He earned the honor last Feb. 9 after leading Iowa to a double-overtime win at Indiana.

THE SERIES
Iowa holds a 51-7 advantage in the series that began with a 36-13 Iowa victory in 1909. Iowa has won 25 straight games over Drake, dating back to the 1978-79 season when the Bulldogs scored a 72-69 win in Des Moines. The teams met later that season in Iowa City, where Iowa’s 112-73 win started the current win streak.

Four of the last six meetings have gone down to the wire, with Iowa winning by four points in 1998-99, by seven points in two overtimes in 1999-00, by two points in 2000-01 and by one in 2002-03 in Des Moines.

Iowa holds a 26-5 advantage in games played in Des Moines. The Hawkeyes have won the last 12 meetings in Des Moines, including all six games played at the Knapp Center.

A YEAR AGO
Iowa controlled the action in the second half, breaking away for a 74-56 win over Drake in Iowa City after leading by just four points at the midway point. The Hawkeyes shot 51.7% from the field over the final 20 minutes, while holding Drake to just 29.2% shooting to earn their 25th straight win over the Bulldogs.

Iowa began the second half with an 18-6 scoring advantage in the first eight minutes to gain control of the game, leading by as many as 25 points in the final minutes.

The Hawkeyes won the rebounding battle by a 43-33 margin and had 23 assists and nine blocked shots, but were guilty of 23 turnovers. Iowa shot 33.3% from three-point range and 75% from the foul line.

Pierre Pierce led the scoring attack with 17 points, while adding a career-high nine rebounds and four steals. Greg Brunner and Jared Reiner added 13 points each and Nick DeWitz came off the bench to add 10 points and six rebounds. Reiner had eight rebounds and Brunner seven, while Jeff Horner added a career-high nine assists and Brunner added three blocked shots.

Drake was led by reserve Nate Richie, who hit 4-5 three-point attempts to score 12 points, the only Bulldog player in double figures. Chaun Brooks and Nick Grant each added nine points, while Quantel Murphy and Marcin Konarzewski led Drake with six rebounds each.

IOWA CONNECTIONS
Along with Coach Tom Davis, the Drake staff includes several individuals with Iowa connections:

• Assistant Coach Keno Davis earned his degree from Iowa and was an undergraduate assistant coach at Iowa from 1991-95 while his father was the Hawkeye head coach.
• Jason Bauer, a member of the Drake basketball support staff, was a member of the Iowa basketball team, earning letters in 1997, 1998 and 1999.
• Al Lorenzen is Drake’s assistant athletic director for external affairs. Lorenzen is a Cedar Rapids native who lettered at Iowa from 1985-88.

IN-STATE PLAYERS
The Iowa roster includes eight players from the state of Iowa, while Drake’s media guide lists six players who played prep basketball in Iowa. The Iowa roster includes Jeff Horner (Mason City), Jack Brownlee (Ft. Dodge), Mike Henderson and Carlton Reed (Waterloo), Greg Brunner (Charles City), Adam Haluska (Carroll), Alex Thompson (Ames) and Justin Wieck (North Liberty). The Drake roster includes Pete Eggers (Dubuque), Zach Egli (Ankeny), Robert Gaffey (Iowa City), Klayton Korver (Pella), Josh Powell (Des Moines) and Aliou Keita, a native of Senegal who attended Regina HS in Iowa City.

IOWA, DRAKE NOTES

• Iowa holds an all-time record of 113-32 against current members of the Missouri Valley Conference, having played nine of the current 10 members (Iowa has not played Southwest Missouri State). Iowa’s only other game this season against a team from the Missouri Valley Conference is Dec. 7 vs. Northern Iowa.
• Drake holds an all-time mark of 21-81 against current members of the Big Ten, having played everyone except Ohio State, Penn State and Wisconsin.
• Iowa holds a 15-0 advantage over Drake in the current home arenas of each school. The Hawkeyes are 9-0 vs. Drake in Carver-Hawkeye Arena and 6-0 in games played at the Knapp Center on the Drake campus.
• Three Iowa players, Jack Brownlee, Erek Hansen and Justin Wieck, attended Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids, as did Drake’s Pete Eggers, a native of Dubuque.

BIG FOUR IN-STATE SERIES
The Iowa Drake game is the first for the Hawkeyes in their pursuit of state bragging rights. Iowa last season defeated Drake and lost at Northern Iowa and at Iowa State. Iowa later this season hosts Northern Iowa (Dec. 7) and Iowa State (Dec. 10).

Drake lost to Iowa State (73-46) last week and will meet Northern Iowa Jan. 29 (home) and Feb. 16 (away). Iowa State plays at Northern Iowa Dec. 1.

ALFORD VS. DAVIS
During Steve Alford’s playing career at Indiana (1984-87), Iowa teams coached by Tom Davis posted a 4-4 record against the Hoosiers. In those games vs. Iowa, Alford averaged 16.4 points and 2.1 assists, shooting 48.4% from the field and 92.3% from the free throw line. Alford scored in double figures in seven of the eight games, with a high of 25 points in Indiana’s 80-73 win in 1986.

IOWA FALLS IN MAUI FINAL
After consecutive wins over ranked opponents, Iowa lost to 11th-ranked North Carolina 106-92 in the championship game of the EA Sports Maui Invitational.

The Tar Heels shot 57.9% from the field in the opening half, building a 59-40 halftime advantage. Iowa fought through severe foul problems, as Greg Brunner and Erek Hansen had three fouls in the first half and four others had two in the first 20 minutes.

The Hawkeyes played better in the second half, shooting 65.4% from the field. Iowa made 54.7% of its field goal attempts in the game, shot 58.3% from three-point range and won the rebounding battle, 35-33. North Carolina forced 22 Iowa turnovers, a season-high for the Hawkeyes, while turning 12 steals into several easy baskets.

Iowa’s balanced attack was led by Adam Haluska, who had a career-high 19 points. Jeff Horner scored 18, and Pierre Pierce added 13. Brunner scored 12, all in the second half. Horner led Iowa with nine rebounds and Pierce added six assists.

IOWA STATE STOPS DRAKE
Drake was guilty of 23 turnovers and was cold from the field in suffering a 73-46 loss at Iowa State Nov. 23. Iowa State gained control early, taking advantage of Drake mistakes and hot shooting (65.5% from the field) to take a 43-19 halftime advantage. Drake was guilty of 23 turnovers in the game and for the night shot just 31.6% from the field. The Bulldogs made just 3-22 (13.6%) of their three-point attempts and had just eight assists.

The Bulldogs were led by Pete Eggers with 11 points, the only Drake player to reach double figures. Eggers and Aliou Keita led Drake with seven rebounds each, while Eggers and Lonnie Randolph each had three assists and Randolph added five steals.

HAWKEYES SET SECOND RECORD
Iowa set its second single-game record of the season in the loss to North Carolina. The Hawkeyes blocked 12 shots in the game, as Erek Hansen led the way with five blocks. Greg Brunner added three blocks, Pierre Pierce had two and Doug Thomas and Seth Gorney each had one.

The previous record of 11 blocked shots, was set in an 80-65 win at Drake on Jan. 4, 1993.

IOWA SETS FREE THROW MARK
Iowa set school and Carver-Hawkeye Arena records in its opening win over Western Illinois by making all 20 of its free throw attempts. Six Hawkeyes contributed to the record, with Pierre Pierce and Erek Hansen each making four. The previous best for a perfect free throw percentage (18-18) came in a win at Indiana in 1979. The previous record for Carver-Hawkeye Arena was 94.7%, when Iowa made 18-19 attempts vs. Wisconsin in 2001.

NEW FACES CONTRIBUTE EARLY
Several new faces have been big contributors in Iowa’s first four games. Junior college transfer Doug Thomas scored 14 points and led Iowa with nine rebounds in the opening win over Western Illinois, while sophomore Adam Haluska added 14 points. Haluska added 14 points vs. Louisville and a career-high 19 points in the loss to North Carolina. Thomas added eight points and five rebounds vs. North Carolina and he had six rebounds in the win over Texas.

Iowa newcomers contributed 31 points and 13 rebounds in the opening win and 37 points and 11 rebounds vs. North Carolina.

TRI-CAPTAINS NAMED FOR 2005
Iowa’s tri-captains for the season include juniors Greg Brunner, Jeff Horner and Pierre Pierce. Pierce, a native of Westmont, IL, started all 29 games a year ago, leading the team in scoring (16.1) while averaging 5.7 rebounds per game. Brunner, a native of Charles City, started 26 of 29 games. His 8.2 rebounds per game were a team best and ranked second in the Big Ten. Horner, a Mason City native, has started all 60 games over the past two seasons. He led the team in assists in each of the last two seasons while also averaging 13 points and 5.3 rebounds last year.

THE RETURNING CAST
Iowa returns three starters and six lettermen from 2004. Those six returning lettermen last season scored over 1,200 points and totaled over 600 rebounds. The six players, in 2004, scored 60.1% of Iowa’s points, had 56.9% of the rebounds, 67.5% of the assists, 64.4% of the blocked shots and 45.2% of the steals.

In 29 games, a sophomore led Iowa in scoring 26 times and a sophomore was the top rebounder in 22 games. The Hawkeyes return their statistical leader from last season in all categories, with the exception of steals (Brody Boyd). The 13-man squad includes one senior, six juniors, two sophomores and four freshmen. The roster includes eight Iowans, plus one player from California, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and Texas.

NEWCOMERS GAIN ATTENTION
Iowa’s class of newcomers includes seven players. That list includes juniors Doug Thomas and Justin Wieck, sophomore Adam Haluska and freshmen J.R. Angle, Seth Gorney, Carlton Reed and Alex Thompson.

The group is ranked the second best incoming class in the Big Ten and 20th in the nation by Hoop Scoop in the June issue of Basketball Times.

Street and Smith’s ranks the group as the top incoming class in the Big Ten and names Thompson on the all-Midwest team on its list of Top 100 Freshman.

Lindy’s rates the incoming class as 14th best nationally and lists Haluska fourth among its top 10 transfers. Athlon Sport’s also lists Haluska among the top transfers in the nation and rates the overall class fourth best in the Big Ten.

IOWA VS. RANKED FOES
Steve Alford has posted a 17-24 record against ranked opponents as Iowa’s head coach. Iowa, this season, has defeated 11th-ranked Louisville 76-71 and 13th-ranked Texas 82-80, with a loss to 11th-ranked North Carolina. Those three games were at the Maui Invitational.

Alford’s Hawkeye teams are 5-8 when playing teams ranked in the top 10, including wins over top-ranked Connecticut (70-68 in 1999-00), 2nd-ranked Missouri (83-65 in 2001-02), 5th-ranked Ohio State (67-64 in 1999-00), 7th-ranked Illinois (78-62 in 2000-01) and 8th-ranked Illinois (68-61 in 2002-03). The eight losses to top 10 teams have been once to top-ranked (Duke, 2001-02), once to 3rd-ranked (Illinois, 2000-01), twice to 4th-ranked (Michigan State, 1999-00 and 2000-01), twice to 5th-ranked (Tennessee, 2000-01 and Missouri, 2001-02), once to 9th-ranked (Kentucky, 2000-01) and once to 10th-ranked (Illinois, 2002).

In the 41 games against ranked teams, Alford and his Iowa team are 6-7 in home games, 8-8 at neutral sites and 3-9 when playing ranked teams in their home arena.

SEEKING FIVE STRAIGHT IN `05
Iowa is seeking a fifth straight winning season, a streak that would match the second longest consecutive winning seasons record in the history of Iowa basketball. Iowa’s longest streak of consecutive winning seasons is seven, from 1950 through 1956. Pops Harrison, Bucky O’Connor and Rollie Williams all coached the Hawkeyes during those years. Only a 10-10 record in 1949 kept Iowa from 13 consecutive winning seasons (1944-56).

Lute Olson coached Iowa to five straight winning seasons from 1979-83, George Raveling and Tom Davis combined to coach Iowa to winning seasons from 1985-89 and Davis coached Iowa to winning seasons from 1995-99.

ANOTHER STRONG SCHEDULE
As has been the case in recent years, the Iowa schedule is very demanding. In non-conference action, Iowa took part in the EA Sports Maui Invitational early in the season, defeating #11 Louisville and #13 Texas, while falling to #11 North Carolina.

The non-conference slate also includes Northern Iowa, Iowa State, Texas Tech, Air Force and Saint Louis, five teams that participated in post-season play a year ago. Northern Iowa, Texas Tech and Air Force all participated in the NCAA Tournament.

Iowa also hosts non-conference games vs. Western Illinois and Western Carolina and plays at Drake. The Gazette Hawkeye Challenge includes Centenary College, North Carolina-Greensboro and Southern Mississippi.

All in all, Iowa will play 16 games against teams that advanced to post-season play a year ago.

IOWA’S GAZETTE HAWKEYE CHALLENGE
The Gazette Hawkeye Challenge, Friday and Saturday in Carver-Hawkeye Arena, features Southern Mississippi meeting UNC-Greensboro in the opening game on Friday and Iowa hosting Centenary College in the second game. Southern Mississippi, which placed second to Iowa in the event early in 2002, is now coached by former Iowa State Coach Larry Eustachy.

IOWA IN TOURNAMENT PLAY
Iowa has faired well while taking part in regular-season tournaments over the past 23 years. In that time Iowa has won the Great Alaska Shootout (1986-87), the Cal-Irvine Anteater Classic (1986-87), the Maui Classic (1987-88), the San Juan Thanksgiving Shootout (1992-93), the San Juan Christmas Shootout (1997-98), the Big Ten Conference Tournament in 2001 and its own invitational 21 times.

In addition, Iowa was runner-up in the 1985-86 Far West Classic, the 1987-88 All-College Tournament, the 1988-89 Chaminade Classic, the 1991-92 Tampa Tribune Holiday Invitational, the 1994-95 Rainbow Classic, the 1995-96 Great Alaska Shootout, the 1999-00 Coaches vs. Cancer Classic, the 2001-02 Guardians Classic, the 2002 Big Ten Conference Tournament and the 2004 Maui Invitational.

IOWA IN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT
Iowa made its 20th appearance in the NCAA Tournament in 2001, defeating Creighton 69-56 in the opening round of the East regional before falling to second-seeded Kentucky 92-79 in the second round. Iowa, which earned the Big Ten’s automatic bid, was seeded seventh in the East.

The Hawkeyes hold an overall record of 27-22 in the tournament, advancing to the Final Four in 1955 (fourth), 1956 (second) and 1980 (fourth). Iowa has advanced to at least the second round in its last 10 tournament appearances, last losing in the first round in 1986. Iowa reached the regional championship in 1987 and lost in the regional semi-final in 1988 and 1999.

1,000 POINT POSSIBILITIES
Iowa has three players, all juniors, who could reach the 1,000 point plateau this season. Pierre Pierce has scored 779 points, Jeff Horner has 705 and Greg Brunner has 602. Some notes on Iowa’s 1,000-Point Club include:

• 35 Hawkeye players have scored over 1,000 points, the most recent being Glen Worley last season
• The last Hawkeye to reach 1,000 points in three seasons was Dean Oliver in 2000
• Iowa has had three 1,000-point scorers on the roster in the same season on three occasions. Jess Settles, Kenyon Murray and Chris Kingsbury in 1996, Roy Marble, B.J. Armstrong and Jeff Moe in 1988 and Marble, Armstrong and Ed Horton in 1989

HORNER OFF TO FAST START
Junior guard Jeff Horner is off to a fast start through four games, leading the team with an 18.3 scoring average. Horner also is averaging 5.8 assists, 5.5 rebounds and three steals per game. Horner had a career-high 27 points in the win over Texas and he led the Maui Invitational in scoring with 63 points in three games.

Horner made 15-23 three-point attempts in the three games in Hawaii, moving into Iowa’s top 10 in both three-pointers and three-point attempts. In four games he is shooting 53.7% from the field, 58.6% from three-point range and 75% from the free throw line.

Horner earned third team all-Big Ten honors a year ago.

PIERCE WELL BALANCED
Junior guard Pierre Pierce is proving to be a very versatile player through Iowa’s first four games. Pierce is averaging 15.8 points, 5.7 assists and 5.3 rebounds per game. He has scored in double figures in all four games, has at least six assists in three of four games and five or more rebounds in three of four games.

Pierce made a three-point basket in the final minute to lead Iowa in a win over Texas, scoring 18 points vs. the Longhorns and 16 points vs. Louisville in Iowa’s first two games of the Maui Invitational.

Pierce earned third team all-Big Ten honors a year ago when he led Iowa in scoring.

BRUNNER WORKING THE BOARDS
Junior forward Greg Brunner leads Iowa in rebounding after four games with an average of six per outing. Brunner, who ranked second in the Big Ten in rebounding last season, had a season-best 10 rebounds in the win over Louisville and he had eight rebounds in the win over Texas. Brunner has scored in double figures in each of Iowa’s four games, with a season-high of 17 vs. Texas, and he is averaging three assists per game. He is shooting 55.9% from the field and 82.4% from the foul line.

HANSEN BLOCKING THE WAY
Junior center Erek Hansen has picked up where he left off a year ago, making an art of blocking shots. Hansen led the Big Ten in blocked shots last season and has 16 blocks in four games this year.

Playing with added confidence at both ends of the floor, Hansen is averaging 9.8 points and 3.8 rebounds per game, shooting 51.7% from the field and 72.7% from the foul line. He had 13 points in the opening win over Western Illinois and added 11 points, six rebounds and four blocked shots in a win over Texas. Hansen had five blocked shots vs. both Louisville and North Carolina.

HALUSKA HITS NEW HIGH
Sophomore Adam Haluska reached a career-high 19 points in the loss to North Carolina. In his first season at Iowa, Haluska has scored in double figures in three of four games. In scoring 19 in the title game in Maui, Haluska made 11-13 free throws and he leads Iowa with 24 free throw attempts on the season.

Haluska had 14 points in his first game for the Hawkeyes vs. Western Illinois and he added 14 in a win over Louisville. He is averaging three rebounds per outing and has five steals in four games.

SCORING BY HALVES
Iowa has been outscored by its opponents 110-134 in the first half, but holds a 140-123 scoring advantage in the second half. Iowa has led at halftime in just one of four games, but the Hawkeyes have outscored their opponent in the second half of all four games to date.

HAWKEYE TIDBITS

• Iowa’s contest at Drake is the only true road game for the Hawkeyes in non-conference play. Iowa played three neutral site games at the EA Sports Maui Invitational and will play Texas Tech at a neutral site (Dec. 21 at the United Center in Chicago).
• After playing four games in six days to open the season, Iowa’s contest at Drake marks another busy week. The Hawkeyes play three games in five days, hosting the Gazette Hawkeye Challenge Friday and Saturday. Iowa had a season-best six players score in double figures in the win over Western Illinois and four players score in double figures in each of the three games in Maui. Iowa is 1-0 when six players score in double figures and 2-1 when four reach double figures.
• Iowa is 1-0 when leading at halftime and 2-1 when trailing at intermission.
• Iowa is 2-1 when controlling the opening tip and 1-0 when not controlling the tip.
• Iowa is 2-0 in games decided by 10 points or less, and have not played an overtime game.
• Under Steve Alford, Iowa is 26-5 when shooting at least 50% from the field, but 0-1 this season.
• North Carolina became the first Iowa opponent to shoot over 50% from the field this season. Last season, Iowa was 0-5 when its opponent shot at least 50% from the field.

NOTES FROM A YEAR AGO

• Iowa is one of four Big Ten teams to post a winning season in each of the last four years, joining Illinois, Michigan State and Wisconsin. Iowa advanced to post-season play for the fourth straight season a year ago.
• Iowa’s 9-7 Big Ten record earned a fourth place finish in the conference race, a feat that was accomplished despite the fact that Iowa lost an average of 30 points and 17 rebounds from the team that posted a 9-4 record through its first 13 games of the season.
• Iowa collected four Big Ten road wins in 2004 and seven in the last two seasons. In Big Ten play, only Illinois (six) and Michigan State (five) won more road games a year ago as Iowa won at Indiana, Purdue, Ohio State and Minnesota. The Hawkeyes won three road games in 2003. Under Steve Alford, Iowa has won at least three Big Ten road games in three of five seasons.
• For the first time since 1987-88, Iowa did not lose consecutive games in Big Ten play. Michigan State was the only other conference team to avoid consecutive losses during the conference season.
• Iowa outscored its opponents 491-397 from the free throw line, attempting 731 free throws compared to 575 for the opponents. Iowa outscored 20 of 29 opponents from the free throw line while averaging 25.2 free throws per outing. In Big Ten games, Iowa made as many free throws (294) as its opponents attempted.
• Iowa ranked second in the Big Ten, for all games, in five statistical categories, including scoring offense, field goal defense, three-point field goal percentage, rebounding margin and assists per game.
• Iowa’s single-game bests in 2003-04 included Pierre Pierce with 28 points vs. Michigan, a career-high. Greg Brunner had 14 rebounds in the double-overtime win at Indiana, also a career-high. Jeff Horner had a career-high nine assists in the win over Drake and 2004 Brody Boyd had seven steals in Iowa’s win over Northern Illinois.

HALK TALK WITH Steve Alford
Fans of the University of Iowa basketball program may join Iowa Coach Steve Alford and radio announcer Gary Dolphin each week during the season for the “Hawk Talk with Steve Alford” radio call-in show. The show takes place each week at Carlos O’Kelly’s Mexican Café in Iowa City. The show airs from 6-7:30 p.m. on the following dates: Nov. 29 (from Des Moines); Dec. 6, 13; Jan. 3, 10, 17, 24, 31; Feb. 7, 14, 21, 28; and Mar. 7.

IOWA ON THE TUBE
Every Iowa game throughout the 2004-05 season is slated for television. Iowa appeared on national cable television (ESPN and ESPN2) in three games in the Maui Invitational and the Dec. 21 game vs. Texas Tech in Chicago is slated for national cable television on ESPN2. Iowa games not selected for national coverage will be televised regionally by ESPN Plus, while several conference games are scheduled to be carried throughout the Big Ten Conference viewing area as part of the Big Ten regional network agreement with ESPN Plus.

AFTER THIS
Iowa hosts its own Gazette Hawkeye Challenge Friday and Saturday, Dec. 3-4, meeting Centenary College in the first round and either UNC-Greensboro or Southern Mississippi Saturday evening. The Hawkeyes host Northern Iowa Dec. 7 and Iowa State Dec. 10.