Iowa Closes Regular Season Saturday at Michigan

March 3, 2005

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THE SETTING
Iowa (18-10, 6-9) closes the regular season Saturday at Michigan (13-16, 4-11). Game time is 11:17 a.m. CT in Crisler Arena (13,751).

The Hawkeyes defeated Ohio State 74-72 Wednesday in Iowa City. Michigan has been idle since a 69-53 loss at Northwestern last Saturday. Michigan defeated the Hawkeyes 65-63 when the teams met Jan. 5 in Iowa City.

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 viewing area, including KGAN in Cedar Rapids and KDSM in Des Moines. Dick Bremer and Bob Ford will call the action.

IOWA HISTORY
Iowa has played 2,338 games since beginning basketball in 1902. Overall Iowa’s record is 1,393-945 (.596). That includes an 871-306 (.740) record in home games, a 522-639 (.450) record in games away from Iowa City, a 663-654 (.503) mark in Big Ten games and a 277-80 (.776) record in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

IOWA IN CARVER-HAWKEYE ARENA
Iowa has compiled a 277-80 (.776) record in Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Iowa is 132-67 (.663) in Big Ten games and 145-13 (.918) in non-Big Ten games. Iowa has drawn over five million fans for men’s basketball games since the arena opened in 1983. Iowa has posted a 69-25 (.734) home record under Coach Steve Alford, including a 42-4 (.913) mark in non-conference home games.

IN THE RANKINGS
Iowa was ranked for nine consecutive weeks this season, climbing as high as 14th in the Associated Press poll on Jan. 3. Iowa began the season receiving no votes in either poll. The Hawkeyes are 67th in the RPI rankings and 31st in the Sagarin Ratings.

BIG TEN TOURNAMENT NEXT
Iowa will participate in the Big Ten Conference Tournament March 10-13 at the United Center in Chicago. The Hawkeyes will open play on Thursday, against a yet to be determined opponent. Depending on the outcome of final conference games this weekend, Iowa could be the six, seven or eight seed.

IOWA SECURES FIVE IN A ROW
With 18 wins in 28 outings, Iowa has clinched a fifth straight winning season, a streak that matches the second longest consecutive winning seasons streak in Iowa basketball history.

The 18 wins matches the highest regular season victory total for Iowa under Steve Alford. Iowa won 18 regular season games in 2001 on the way to posting a 23-12 final record.

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.

IOWA HAS FAST START
With 12 wins in its first 13 games, Iowa enjoyed its best start under Coach Steve Alford. Iowa, in 2001, posted a 10-1 mark to start the season and ended the year with a 23-12 overall record. Iowa began both the 1997-98 and 1998-99 seasons with a 13-1 record. The 18 wins matches the highest total for regular season victories for Iowa under Steve Alford. The Hawkeyes had 18 wins during the 2001 regular season when they posted an overall 23-12 record.

Iowa’s nine-game win streak during non-conference action matched the best streak for an Iowa team under Alford, as the Hawkeyes opened the 2000-01 season with nine straight wins. The Hawkeyes also had six-game win streaks in 2003-04 and 2001-02.

Iowa posted 12 non-conference wins (not including post-season) for the first time since 1988-89.

HALUSKA EARNS ACADEMIC HONOR
Sophomore guard Adam Haluska has been selected to the CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine District VII academic all-America team.

Haluska is a finance major with a 3.46 grade point average. He is in his first season of action at Iowa after redshirting during the 2003-04 season.

Haluska (6-5, 210) is a native of Carroll, IA. He has started all 28 games, scoring in double figures in 22 games. He is averaging 14.4 points and 3.9 rebounds per game, shooting 48.5% from the field and 81% from the foul line.

HORNER ON COACHES DISTRICT TEAM
Junior guard Jeff Horner has been named to the NABC District 12 second team. The National Association of Basketball Coaches selects 15 district teams, with District 12 including Iowa, Missouri, Oklahoma, Nebraska and Kansas.

Horner has started 27 of 28 games, averaging 14 points, 5.5 assists, 4.4 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game.

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 263-158 (.625), including a 107-81 (.569) 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 fifth among Iowa’s head basketball coaches in career wins and he is 40-55 (.421) in Big Ten games. 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 is 3-7 vs. Michigan and 2-4 vs. Wolverine Coach Tommy Amaker.

MICHIGAN COACH TOMMY AMAKER
Tommy Amaker is in his fourth season as the head coach at Michigan and his eighth season overall as a college head coach. Amaker is 64-58 at Michigan and his career mark stands at 132-113. He posted a 68-55 record in four seasons at Seton Hall. Amaker graduated from Duke University in 1987, where he earned all-America honors and was named National Defensive Player of the Year as a senior. Amaker scored 1,168 points during his playing career and ranks second in Duke history in career assists and steals. Amaker was a member of the Blue Devil coaching staff from 1989-97, serving as associate head coach his final two seasons before taking over at Seton Hall in 1997-98. Amaker is 4-2 against Iowa and Hawkeye Coach Steve Alford.

THE SERIES
Michigan holds an 80-52 advantage in the series that began with a 19-15 Wolverine win in 1912. Michigan won the first meeting, 65-63 Jan. 5 in Iowa City and the Wolverines won two of three meetings in 2004. Michigan has won nine of the last 13 meetings.

The Wolverines hold a 46-19 advantage in games played in Ann Arbor, where Iowa has lost four straight. Iowa won in Ann Arbor in both 1996 and 1999. Iowa had lost 14 straight games in Ann Arbor before the win in 1996. Iowa Coach Steve Alford has won road games against seven of 10 Big Ten teams, but he has not won at Michigan, Michigan State or Illinois.

BOTH IN HALL OF FAME
Iowa Coach Steve Alford and Michigan Coach Tommy Amaker are both members of the Athletic Hall of Fame of their respective alma maters. Alford attended Indiana, where he is a member of the Hall of Fame and Indiana’s all-Century team. Amaker is a member of the Duke University Hall of Fame.

GAME NOTES

• Iowa features the leading shot blocker in the Big Ten in Erek Hansen (29), while teammate Greg Brunner is ninth (0.9). Michigan’s Brent Petway (1.63) and Courtney Sims (1.62) rank fourth and fifth in the league, respectively.
• Steve Alford and Tommy Amaker met once as players, with Alford’s Indiana team defeating Amaker’s Duke team 88-82 in the regional semi-finals of the 1987 NCAA Tournament. Duke had played in the championship game the previous year, while Alford and the Hoosiers went on to win the NCAA title in 1987. Alford had 18 points, five assists and two rebounds in the win over Duke, while Amaker led the Blue Devils with 23 points.
• Iowa Coach Steve Alford was named to the all-Final Four team in 1987 when Indiana won the national title. Michigan Coach Tommy Amaker was named to the all-Final Four team in 1986 when Duke lost to Louisville in the NCAA title game.
• Michigan assistant Coach Charles E. Ramsey, in his fourth year on the Wolverine staff, was an assistant coach at Drake University in Des Moines in 1995 and 1996. Iowa defeated the Bulldogs in both of those seasons.
• Michigan assistant Coach Chuck Swenson, in his fourth season with the Wolverines, previously served as a graduate assistant at Indiana. He was an assistant at Duke when Steve Alford and Indiana defeated the Blue Devils in the 1987 tournament, he was an assistant at Duke when the Blue Devils defeated Iowa in 1996 and he was an assistant coach at Penn State from 1996-2001.

MICHIGAN WON IN IOWA CITY
Iowa got off to a slow start and saw a second half rally fall short as its nine-game winning streak was snapped in a 65-63 home loss to Michigan on Jan. 5. Michigan shot 53.3% from the field and 63.3% from three-point range in the opening half in building a 44-30 advantage at the midway point. Iowa rallied in the opening part of the second half, pulling to within one point, 47-48, on a jumper by Greg Brunner with 11:42 remaining. Jeff Horner hit a three-point basket with 1:31 to play, forcing the first tie of the game at 59-59. Iowa had one chance at the lead before missing a shot while trailing by a single point. Michigan increased the advantage to 65-62 with 26 seconds left on a pair of free throws before Iowa missed a three-point attempt. Iowa got the ball back with eight seconds remaining after Michigan missed two free throws, and Pierre Pierce was fouled on a three-point attempt with 1.6 seconds remaining. Pierce missed the first free throw attempt before making the second. His intentional miss on the third attempt missed the rim and Michigan ran out the clock from there.

Iowa held the Wolverines to just 21 points in the second half and forced 25 turnovers in the game, but the first half deficit and Michigan’s 40-28 rebounding edge was too much to overcome. Iowa made all eight of its free throw attempts in the first half, but missed all eight three-point attempts. In the second half, Iowa made 4-8 treys, but shot just 53.8% (7-13) from the foul line.

Pierce led Iowa with 15 points, while Horner, Brunner and Adam Haluska each added 14. Brunner led Iowa with eight rebounds.

Brent Petway led Michigan with 14 points, while Daniel Horton scored 13, Dion Harris 12 and Courtney Sims 10. Sims led both teams with 13 rebounds and Petway added seven.

ALFORD REACHES 100 HAWKEYE WINS
Coach Steve Alford collected win No. 100 as Iowa’s head coach in the 73-63 victory over Air Force. Career victory No. 250 came in the 88-53 win over Centenary in early December. His career mark stands at 263-158.

Alford is 107-81 at Iowa, moving into fifth place on the Iowa list for coaching victories. Iowa’s top four coaches in career wins include Tom Davis (269), Lute Olson (168), Rollie Williams (139) and Bucky O’Connor (114).

ALL IOWANS IN THE STARTING LINE-UP
Iowa’s starting line-up in games vs. Northwestern and Purdue consisted of five native Iowans, including Alex Thompson (Ames), Greg Brunner (Charles City), Adam Haluska (Carroll), Jeff Horner (Mason City) and Mike Henderson (Waterloo).

This season marks the first time that has occurred since 1997-98 when Ricky Davis (Davenport), Ryan Bowen (Ft. Madison), Dean Oliver (Mason City), Kent McCausland (Waterloo) and Kyle Galloway (Sioux City) started four games late in the regular season and the NIT loss to Georgia. That group won games against Ohio State, Purdue and Northwestern and lost at Illinois before the post-season loss to Georgia.

Both the 1998 line-up and the all-Iowa line-up this season included two players from Mason City (Jeff Horner and Dean Oliver were both coached at Mason City HS by Jeff’s father, Bob) and Waterloo (McCausland attended West HS and Henderson attended East HS). Both also include a first year Hawkeye. Davis and Oliver were true freshmen in 1997-98. Thompson is a true freshman and Haluska, a sophomore, is in his first season of action at Iowa.

IOWA STOPS OHIO STATE
Iowa’s Jeff Horner scored on a 15-foot jump shot with 3.4 seconds remaining to lift Iowa past Ohio State in Iowa City. Iowa forced a turnover in the final seconds before OSU was able to get a shot as the Hawkeyes won their 18th game of the season.

Iowa’s Doug Thomas had converted a three-point play with 42 seconds remaining to give Iowa a 72-69 advantage, but OSU’s Terence Dials tied the score on a three-point play with 27 seconds left in the game. OSU led for the first 11 minutes of the second half before Iowa pulled even at 54-54. The Hawkeyes built a six point advantage with five minutes remaining before OSU rallied. Iowa never trailed in the closing minutes but the score was tied three times in the last two minutes.

Iowa started slow, shooting just 37.9% in the opening half. Ohio State shot 56.5% in the first half and led by as many as nine points early in the game. The Hawkeyes trailed 35-34 at intermission as a three-point basket by Jack Brownlee in the final second gave Iowa a lift going into the break. Iowa shot 58.3% in the second half and made 10-11 (90.9%) second half free throws. Iowa shot 85% from the line and won the rebounding battle by a 30-27 margin.

Horner led Iowa with one of his best games. He scored 25 points, a career-high in Big Ten play, and added eight rebounds, eight assists and no turnovers. His first basket of the game, a three-pointer with 16:42 left in the first half, put him over 1,000 career points. Adam Haluska added 22 points and Greg Brunner led both teams with 10 rebounds.

NORTHWESTERN TOPS MICHIGAN
Michigan started slowly and never got back in the game in dropping a 69-53 decision Feb. 26 at Northwestern. The Wildcats started the game with a 24-2 scoring spree that the Wolverines could not overcome in a game of low possessions. Michigan shot 46.5% from the field in the game, including 50% in the second half. Michigan shot just 15.4% from three-point range, failing to connect on all six of its three-point attempts in the second half. The Wildcats, however, shot 56.5% from the field in the game, including 63.2% in the second half when Northwestern made 12-19 field goal attempts, 6-9 three-point attempts and 3-4 free throws. For the game, Northwestern had a 12-2 advantage in three-point field goals.

Michigan was led in scoring by Dion Harris with 12 points, while Ron Coleman and Brent Petway each added 11. Graham Brown led Michigan with five rebounds.

HOT SHOOTING FIRST HALF AT PSU
When Iowa made 20 of 31 field goal attempts in the first half of the 78-56 win at Penn State, the 64.5% shooting marked the seventh time this season the Hawkeyes have shot 60% or better from the field in a half. Iowa’s best shooting half of the season, 75% (15-20), came in the second half of a 73-63 win over Air Force. Iowa also shot 65.4% in the second half vs. North Carolina, 61.3% in the second half vs. Western Carolina, 60.9% in the first half vs. Indiana, 60% in the first half vs. Air Force and 60% in the first half vs. Centenary. The Hawkeyes shot 58.3% in the second half of the 74-72 win over Ohio State.

Iowa ended the win over Penn State shooting 52.5% from the field. The Hawkeyes have made over 50% of their field goal attempts in nine games, posting an 8-1 mark in those games. The Hawkeyes have made at least 50% of their field goals in 22 of 56 halves this season.

FAST START, BIGGEST ADVANTAGE
With the fast start in the win at Penn State, Iowa held a 47-20 halftime advantage. The 27-point margin tied the largest halftime lead for Iowa in 188 games under Coach Steve Alford, and it marked Iowa’s biggest halftime lead since a 45-22 margin last season in a home win over the Nittany Lions. The 27-point halftime advantage equaled Iowa’s lead (45-18) in an 89-59 win over Maryland-Eastern Shore on Nov. 13, 2001.

NOT GETTING THE CLOSE ONES
Iowa, in 15 Big Ten games, has lost two games in overtime, two road games by three points each and another by two points at home. The Hawkeyes lost to Michigan 63-65 to open Big Ten play and dropped a 69-72 decision at #20 Wisconsin and a 66-63 contest at Purdue. Iowa has lost overtime games at top-ranked Illinois (68-73) and at Northwestern (74-75).

Five of Iowa’s six conference wins have come on the home court and Iowa’s margins of victory have been six, 14, 15, 10, 22 and two points. Even with the 6-9 Big Ten record, Iowa has outscored its league opponents by a 67.8-66.9 margin.

On the season, Iowa is 9-7 in games decided by 10 points or less, with all seven losses coming in conference action.

LEADER ACROSS THE BOARD
Sophomore Adam Haluska led Iowa in the win over Northwestern, leading the Hawkeyes in points (20), rebounds (eight), assists (five) and steals (four), field goals (seven), three-point field goals (four) and free throws (two). Haluska hit 7-14 field goals, 4-6 treys and 2-3 free throws, while committing just one turnover and collecting no personal fouls.

Haluska’s performance marks the first time one player had led Iowa in scoring, rebounding, assists and steals in one game since the 2002-03 season. Jeff Horner, as a freshman, led Iowa to a 68-61 win over 8th-ranked Illinois in Iowa City, collecting 16 points, 11 rebounds, five assists and four steals.

NO SECOND CHANCE FOR WILDCATS
In Iowa’s 64-54 win over Northwestern, the Hawkeyes did not allow the Wildcats to collect any offensive rebounds. Iowa won the rebounding battle by a 34-22 margin and all 22 of Northwestern’s rebounds came on Iowa missed shots. That game marks the only time in 187 games that a Steve Alford coached Iowa team did not allow an opponent an offensive rebound.

The previous low was by Wisconsin, as the Badgers had just one offensive rebound in Iowa’s 61-55 win in Madison on Jan. 29, 2000.

HAWKEYES BETTER ON THE BOARDS
Iowa has won the rebounding battle in five of its last six games. Iowa held a 34-22 advantage in the home win over Northwestern, a 39-32 advantage in the loss at Purdue, a 36-21 advantage in the loss to Illinois, a 36-31 margin at Penn State and a 30-27 margin vs. Ohio State. In Iowa’s most recent loss, Minnesota held a 44-39 rebounding edge, including a 20-13 advantage in offensive rebounds.

Minnesota’s 20 offensive rebounds marked the eighth time this season Iowa’s opponent has had 15 or more offensive rebounds. The most offensive rebounds allowed, 21, came in non-conference action vs. North Carolina Greensboro. For the season Iowa holds a 36.0-34.8 rebounding advantage, while Iowa’s margin is 34.5-33.7 in Big Ten games.

IOWA HAS FEWEST TURNOVER TOTAL
Iowa was guilty of just six turnovers in a loss at Wisconsin, a season-low and the lowest number for Iowa in 188 games under Coach Steve Alford. For the second straight game, the Hawkeyes had just one turnover in the second half. The Hawkeyes were guilty of just nine turnovers in the win over Ohio State.

The Hawkeyes are 7-8 in 15 games under Alford in which they commit less than 10 turnovers, with six of those games taking place this season.

OPPONENTS HITTING FREE THROWS
Iowa attempted more free throws than its opponent in its first 15 games of the season. Over the last 13 games, Iowa’s opponents have attempted more free throws in nine games, with the free throw attempts being equal in two games. In the loss at Wisconsin, the Badgers converted 27-35 attempts, compared to 7-14 for Iowa. Against Michigan State, Iowa made 32-42 free throw attempts, compared to 23-29 for MSU. In a win over Northwestern, the Wildcats had an 18-10 advantage in attempts, with both teams shooting just 50%. Purdue made 15-20 free throws compared to Iowa’s 10-16, Minnesota held an 18-13 advantage in attempts and Penn State a 20-11 margin. In Iowa’s two overtime losses on the road, the Hawkeyes did not attempt a free throw in the opening half.

HAWKEYES COLLECTING BLOCKED SHOTS
Iowa has totaled 155 blocked shots in 28 games, a total that ranks as the third highest season total in school history. The Iowa record for a season is 165, set in 1993. The Hawkeyes blocked 161 shots in 1992 and 153 in 1991.

With 11 blocked shots in the loss at Minnesota, Iowa nearly tied the single-game record for blocks. Iowa has established its single-game record of 12 blocked shots in three games this season, collecting 12 blocks vs. North Carolina, North Carolina-Greensboro and Saint Louis. The previous record of 11 blocked shots was set in an 80-65 win at Drake on Jan. 4, 1993. Junior center Erek Hansen led the way with five blocks against North Carolina and UNC Greensboro, and he had seven in the win over Saint Louis.

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.

Along with the record-setting performance against Western Illinois, Iowa has made over 80% of its free throw attempts in three other games. Iowa shot 85% (17-20 in both games) against Ohio State and shot 80.8% (21-26) in a home loss to Illinois.

NEW FACES MAKE CONTRIBUTION
Several new faces have been big contributors this season. The newcomers are averaging 23.9 points and 11.9 rebounds per outing.

Sophomore Adam Haluska has scored in double figures in 22 of 28 games, including a career-high 24 points vs. Michigan State. He added 22 points at Penn State and in the home win over Ohio State. He had 21 vs. Drake and Texas Tech and he added 20 points in home wins over Iowa State and Northwestern and the home loss to Illinois.

Junior college transfer Doug Thomas scored 14 points and led Iowa with nine rebounds in the opening win over Western Illinois, and he added 10 rebounds vs. UNC Greensboro and Northwestern. Thomas added eight points and five rebounds vs. North Carolina, six rebounds in the win over Texas and five rebounds at Illinois. In the win over Purdue, Thomas matched his scoring high with 14 points and added nine rebounds, and he had eight rebounds vs. Michigan State. At Penn State he contributed nine points and five rebounds and he had seven points in the win over Ohio State, including a three-point play in the final minute.

In the win at Drake, freshman Carlton Reed scored 14 points, while freshman Alex Thompson added five rebounds in the win over Texas Tech and nine rebounds in a loss at Minnesota. Seth Gorney played a key defensive role and had five rebounds in a win over Minnesota and he added six points at Penn State and five vs. Ohio State. Reed had a career-best five assists in the win over Purdue and added eight points at Northwestern.

Newcomers contributed 39 points and 15 rebounds vs. Drake, 37 points and 11 rebounds vs. North Carolina, 37 points and 12 rebounds at Penn State, 36 points in the win over Ohio State and 31 points and 13 rebounds vs. Western Illinois.

ANOTHER STRONG SCHEDULE
As has been the case in recent years, the Iowa schedule is very demanding. Eight of Iowa’s 13 non-conference games were against teams that advanced to post-season play a year ago. Iowa this season is 8-7 against teams that were in post-season play a year ago, including a 5-5 record vs. teams that were in the 2004 NCAA Tournament.

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 Hawkeyes lost twice to top-ranked Illinois (once in overtime), lost to 10th-ranked Michigan State 75-64 and dropped a 72-69 decision at #20 Wisconsin.

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

Iowa will play 16 games against teams that advanced to post-season play last season.

NON-CONFERENCE SCHEDULE STRENGTH
According to the February issue of Basketball Times, Iowa’s non-conference schedule ranked as the 18th-strongest in the nation. Among Big Ten teams, only Indiana (7th), Wisconsin (8th) and Purdue (12th) played stronger non-conference schedules. The remaining Big Ten teams and their ratings included Illinois (66), Michigan (106), Michigan State (142), Minnesota (148), Ohio State (159), Northwestern (214) and Penn State (276).

At the time the ratings were compiled, Iowa was one of eight teams ranked in the top 25 that also had a top 25 non-conference strength of schedule. The other teams on that list included Wake Forest, Kansas, North Carolina, Arizona, Georgia Tech and Wisconsin.

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 VS. RANKED FOES
Steve Alford has posted a 17-28 record against ranked opponents as Iowa’s head coach, including a 2-5 mark in 2004-05. Iowa, this season, has defeated 11th-ranked Louisville 76-71 and 13th-ranked Texas 82-80, with losses to 11th-ranked North Carolina (92-106), at No. 1 ranked Illinois (68-73), in overtime, to 10th-ranked Michigan State (64-75) at home, at #20 Wisconsin, 72-69 and 75-65 to top-ranked Illinois in Iowa City.

Alford’s Hawkeye teams are 5-12 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 12 losses to top 10 teams have been three times to No. 1 (Duke, 2001-02 and Illinois twice in 2004-05), 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 three times to 10th-ranked (Michigan State, 2000, Illinois, 2002 and Michigan State, 2005).

In the 45 games against ranked teams, Alford and his Iowa team are 6-9 in home games, 8-8 at neutral sites and 3-11 when playing ranked teams in their home arena.

HANSEN ON BLOCKS CHART
Junior center Erek Hansen has collected 78 blocked shots in 27 games, moving among Iowa’s leaders in blocks for a season and career. A year ago Hansen blocked 40 shots in 22 games. The 78 blocks rank fifth best for a single season and his 118 career blocks ranks fifth among Iowa’s career leaders. Hansen had a career-best seven blocked shots vs. Iowa State and Saint Louis and he had six blocks in a win over Texas Tech and a loss to Michigan.

He has blocked five or more shots in eight games, and he is averaging five points and 2.4 rebounds while shooting 44% from the field and 72.1% from the free throw line. He had a career-high 14 points vs. Northern Iowa, he had 11 points and six rebounds vs. Texas and he had nine points at Minnesota.

HORNER SURPASSES 1,000 POINTS
Junior guard Jeff Horner has become the 37th member of Iowa’s 1,000-Point Club. A three-point basket early in the win over Ohio State put Horner over 1,000 points. Horner has become the only player in Iowa history with over 1,000 points, over 400 rebounds and over 400 assists as his current numbers include 1,024 points, 416 rebounds and 418 assists. He is also the only player in Iowa history to collect over 200 points, 100 rebounds and 100 assists in three different seasons.

Horner is averaging 14 points per game, along with 5.5 assists, 4.4 rebounds and 1.5 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. His 73 made three-point baskets this season rank as the fourth-best single season total and he had 65 three-pointers a year ago.

Horner was named Big Ten Player of the Week for his play in Maui. The honor is the second of Horner’s career, as he earned it last Feb. 9 after leading Iowa to a double-overtime win at Indiana.

Horner had 25 points, including the game-winning basket with 3.4 seconds remaining, in the win over Ohio State, a career-high in Big Ten games. He played all 40 minutes against the Buckeyes with no turnovers, while collecting eight rebounds and eight assists.

He added 21 points in the win at Drake and his first career scoring and assist double-double in the win over UNC Greensboro with 14 points and a career-best 11 assists. He added 16 points and nine rebounds in the win over Northern Iowa, scoring Iowa’s final five points in the last 95 seconds.

Horner played 40 of 45 minutes at Northwestern, collecting seven points and six assists, with no turnovers, and he added 16 points, nine assists and just one turnover in the home win over Indiana. Against Michigan State he had 13 points with just one turnover, he had 19 points, five rebounds, four assists and no turnovers at Wisconsin and 19 points and five assists at Penn State.

He is shooting 42.3% from the field, 42.7% from three-point range and 77.7% from the free throw line. Horner was named to the all-tournament team at the Maui Invitational and he was co-MVP of Iowa’s Gazette Hawkeye Challenge. Horner, who is averaging 36.2 minutes per game, has committed one or no turnovers in 11 of 28 games and he is averaging one turnover every 14.9 minutes of action.

BRUNNER WORKING THE BOARDS
Junior forward Greg Brunner is Iowa’s top returning rebounder from a year ago. He is averaging 8.4 rebounds for the season and 9.1 in conference games, ranking second in the Big Ten for league games and all games. Brunner leads current Big Ten players with 10 scoring and rebounding doubles-doubles this season and he ranks first with 19 in his career. In Big Ten games only, Brunner ranks first in rebounds (9.1), ninth in scoring (15.3), eighth in steals (1.5), ninth in blocked shots (0.9) and 15th in FG% (.488).

Brunner had a career-high 28 points at Northwestern, hitting 11-17 field goals and 6-8 free throws, and he also had three blocked shots. Brunner has raised his career total to 80 blocks, moving in to 10th on Iowa’s list of career leaders. At Wisconsin he had 27 points (12-21 FGs) and seven rebounds and he added 16 points and a solid defensive effort in the home win over Northwestern. At Purdue he collected 19 points and 10 rebounds and he added 15 points and nine rebounds in a home loss to Illinois. Brunner matched his career-best with 14 rebounds at Penn State, adding 14 points and equaling a career-best with five assists.

Brunner was named Big Ten Player of the Week for his play against Wisconsin and Northwestern. Brunner earned the recognition for the second time in his career, as he was honored early in the 2004 season after leading Iowa to wins over Drake and Louisville.

Brunner had 13 points and 11 rebounds in a win over Minnesota, 16 points and 11 rebounds in the overtime loss at Illinois and 13 points and nine rebounds vs. Indiana. Brunner had 13 rebounds in the win over Iowa State and he has 10 rebounds or more in 10 additional games.

Brunner has scored in double figures in 25 games. His career totals include 947 points and 6326 rebounds. He is shooting 51.4% from the field and 69.6% from the foul line. He was named to the all-tournament team of Iowa’s Gazette Hawkeye Challenge.

HALUSKA HEATS UP
Sophomore Adam Haluska has increased his overall production over Iowa’s last eight games. In those games he is averaging 19.4 points and 4.9 rebounds, shooting 51.9% from the field, 35.5% from three-point range and 82.1% from the free throw line.

Haluska scored a career-high 24 points in the loss to Michigan State, including 9-11 free throws, and he added six rebounds. He added 16 points in a loss at Wisconsin and led Iowa with 20 points and eight rebounds in a home win over Northwestern. At Purdue, he added 12 points and five rebounds and he had 20 points and seven rebounds in a home loss to Illinois. He led Iowa with 19 points in the loss at Minnesota and he added five rebounds. At Penn State, he hit 10-14 field goals, collecting 22 points, four rebounds, three assists and three steals. He scored 22 points in the win over Ohio State. He has scored in double figures in 22 of 28 games, including 21 in wins over Texas Tech and Drake. Playing against his former school, he added 20 points in a win over Iowa State, hitting 4-8 treys. Haluska had 19 points in the loss to North Carolina and 17 points vs. UNC Greensboro. He had career-bests of five assists and four steals in the win over Northwestern.

In his first season at Iowa, Haluska is shooting 48.5% from the field, 39.8% from three-point range and 81% from the free throw line while averaging 14.4 points and 3.9 rebounds per game.

THOMAS HELPS ON THE GLASS
Junior Doug Thomas is making a major contribution to Iowa’s rebounding efforts, as he is third on the team with an average of 4.4 per game. He had nine rebounds and 14 points in a win over Purdue, eight rebounds vs. Michigan State and nine points and five rebounds at Penn State. He added seven points in the win over Ohio State, including a three-point play in the final minute that gave Iowa a three point lead.

Thomas had nine rebounds in his first game as a Hawkeye and added 10 in a win over UNC Greensboro. Thomas had six points and six rebounds in the win over Texas Tech, he had five rebounds in the overtime loss at Illinois and he had eight points vs. Indiana. The 14 points vs. Purdue matched his season high. Thomas is averaging 4.6 points while shooting 55.2% from the field.

HENDERSON SETTLES IN
Sophomore Mike Henderson is getting settled as a member of the starting line-up, playing well in Iowa’s last seven games. Henderson collected a career-high 11 points at Purdue, he had eight points in the win over Northwestern and he had five rebounds in games vs. Northwestern, Wisconsin and Illinois. At Minnesota he added eight points and five rebounds, he had six points and three assists at Penn State and six points in the home win over Ohio State.

Henderson is a solid defensive player as well. In Iowa’s win over Northwestern, Henderson played a key roll in holding Wildcat guard T.J. Parker to just two points on four field goal attempts.

SCORING BY HALVES
Iowa has outscored its opponents 970-878 in the first half and 1,090-998 in the second half, and the Hawkeyes have been outscored 17-11 in two overtime periods. Iowa has led at halftime in 16 of 28 games and the Hawkeyes have outscored their opponent in the second half in 16 games.

HAWKEYE TIDBITS

• Iowa has played two overtime games, losing in single overtime at Illinois and at Northwestern. Iowa was 2-0 in overtime games a year ago, defeating Louisville in single overtime on a neutral court and winning at Indiana in two overtimes.
• Iowa’s contest at Drake was 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 played Texas Tech at the United Center in Chicago.
• In the 70-63 win over Iowa State, Iowa held the Cyclones without a three-point basket as ISU missed all six of its attempts. That marks the first time an Iowa opponent did not make at least one three-point basket since early in the 2001-02 season, when Iowa State missed all eight of its three-point attempts in a 78-53 loss to Iowa in Ames.
• As a team, Iowa set two Gazette Hawkeye Challenge tournament records and tied a third, in a win over UNC Greensboro. The Hawkeyes set a tournament record and tied their own school record with 12 blocked shots. That record was set earlier this season in a loss to North Carolina. Iowa also shot 57.9% (11-19) from three-point range to set a tournament record and the 11 three-point field goals tied a tournament mark.
• Iowa is 14-1 when scoring between 70-89 points and 8-0 when holding its opponent to less than 60 points.
• Iowa is 13-4 when collecting more assists than the opponent, 14-3 when having fewer turnovers and 12-4 when collecting most steals than the opponent.
• Iowa has had four players or more score in double figures in 13 of 28 games, with a season-best six players in the win over Western Illinois.
• Iowa is 1-0 when six players score in double figures, 1-0 when five players score 10 points or more, 8-3 when four reach double figures, 5-5 with three in double figures and 3-2 when two are in double figures.
• Iowa has three players averaging between 14 and 14.4 points per game and four players averaging between 3.9 and 8.4 rebounds per outing.
• Iowa is 14-2 when leading at halftime, 4-7 when trailing at intermission and 0-1 when tied at halftime.
• Iowa is 11-5 when controlling the opening tip and 7-5 when not controlling the tip.
• Iowa is 9-7 in games decided by 10 points or less, including 0-2 in overtime.
• Under Steve Alford, Iowa is 33-6 when shooting at least 50% from the field, including 8-1 this season.
• North Carolina, Northern Iowa, Northwestern (second meeting) and Ohio State (second meeting) are the only Iowa opponents to shoot at least 50% from the field this season, and Iowa is 3-1 in those games. Last season, Iowa was 0-5 when its opponent shot at least 50% from the field.

CAPTAINS NAMED FOR 2005
Iowa’s captains are juniors Greg Brunner and Jeff Horner. Brunner, a native of Charles City, started 26 of 29 games last season and 27 of 28 in 2005. His 8.2 rebounds per game were a team best and ranked second in the Big Ten. Horner, a Mason City native, has started 87 of 88 career games over the past three seasons. He led the team in assists in each of the last two seasons while also averaging 13 points and 5.3 rebounds a year ago.

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, five juniors, three sophomores and four freshmen. The roster includes nine Iowans, plus one player from California, Indiana, Ohio and Texas.

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 final show of the year airs Monday, March 7 from 6-7:30 p.m.

AFTER THIS
The Hawkeyes will compete in the opening round of the Big Ten Tournament Thursday, March 10 at the United Center in Chicago. Games times and pairings will be announced Sunday, March 6.