Alford's Squad: ESPN's No. 20

Oct. 28, 2005

Coach Steve Alford’s Iowa men’s basketball team will open its 2005-06 season ranked among the nation’s elite, according to ESPN which included the Hawkeye in their pre-season Top 25 released today.

Iowa, which advanced to the NCAA Tournament a year ago after posting a winning record for the fifth consecutive season, is No. 20 in this week’s ESPN list. The Hawkeyes rank behind only Michigan State (fifth) and Illinois (17th) among its Big Ten peers. Indiana (No. 22) is the only other league team in the elite list.

Duke and Connecticut are at Nos. 1 and 2 in the list. Texas is No. 3. Click HRE to review the entire poll.

The Longhorns, Kentucky (No. 10) and West Virginia (No. 15) join Iowa as the four host schools for first and second round games of the 2005 Guardians Classic that will be played on the campus of the host schools. The Hawkeyes will open the regular season Nov. 14 against Maryland-Eastern Shore in first round action of this year’s Classic. Iowa will also play a Classic game inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena the following night.

Season tickets, mini-season tickets, single-game tickets, and discounted group tickets for the home games of the 2005-06 Iowa men’s basketball team are on sale now. To purchase tickets online click HERE. Fans can also purchase over the phone by calling 1-800 IA-HAWKS or in person at the UI Athletic Ticket Office in Carver-Hawkeye Arena or the Iowa City Coralville Convention and Visitors Bureau information desk at nearby Coral Ridge Mall.