Climbing the Charts

Dec. 6, 2004

Six wins in seven games will catch lots of attention. So, it should come as no surprise that Coach Steve Alford’s Iowa Hawkeyes jumped six positions in this week’s Associated Press Top 25 and its first appearance in the elite list of USA Today/ESPN.

The Hawkeyes, who are preparing to entertain a pair of intrastate rivals this week in Carver-Hawkeye Arena, are No. 17 in AP’s poll after making their first appearance in more than a year last week when the cracked the Top 25 at No. 23.

Iowa collected 496 points in AP’s voting. The Hawkeyes are one of four Big Ten Conference teams in the poll. Illinois (No. 1), Michigan State (No. 20) and Wisconsin (No. 24) are the other league teams listed this week.

The Hawkeyes are also one of four Big Ten teams in this week’s USA Today Top 25, checking in at No. 24. Illinois (No. 1), Michigan State (No. 16) and Wisconsin (No. 21) are also ranked.

Alford’s squad entertains Northern Iowa Tuesday at 7 p.m. in the Arena. Iowa and Iowa State square off in the next event in the new Hy-Vee Cy-Hawk Series Friday night. A pair of victories will give Iowa a sweep in the intrastate series. The Hawkeyes defeated Drake in Des Moines last Tuesday.