Hawkeyes Host North Carolina State Wednesday Evening

Nov. 28, 2005

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THE SETTING
Iowa (4-1) takes part in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge by hosting North Carolina State (5-0) Wednesday, Nov. 30. Game time is 8:35 p.m. in Carver-Hawkeye Arena (15,500). Iowa is 4-1 after a 79-46 home win over Texas-San Antonio Saturday. North Carolina State improved to 5-0 with a 61-48 win over Notre Dame Saturday at the Wooden Tradition in Indianapolis. Iowa is ranked 15th in the latest ESPN/USA Today coaches poll, while North Carolina State is ranked 21st.

IOWA HISTORY
Iowa has played 2,348 games since beginning basketball in 1902. Overall Iowa’s record is 1,400-948 (.596). That includes an 874-306 (.741) record in home games, a 525-642 (.450) record in games away from Iowa City, a 664-653 (.504) mark in Big Ten games and a 280-80 (.777) record in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

IN THE RANKINGS
Iowa is ranked 15th in the ESPN/USA Today coaches poll and the Hawkeyes were 18th in the Associated Press rankings last week. This marks the first time the Hawkeyes have opened the season in the top 25 since 2001-02. Iowa, that season, was eighth in the first coaches poll and ninth in the Associated Press rankings. North Carolina State is ranked No. 21 in the most recent coaches rankings.

IOWA IN CARVER-HAWKEYE ARENA
Iowa has compiled a 280-80 (.778) record in Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Iowa is 132-67 (.663) in Big Ten games and 148-13 (.919) 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 72-25 (.742) home record under Coach Steve Alford, including a 45-4 (.918) mark in non-conference home games.

IOWA PROGRAM REACHES 1,400 WINS
The Iowa basketball program reached 1,400 wins with the 79-46 victory over Texas-San Antonio. Iowa becomes one of 34 NCAA Division I programs with as many as 1,400 wins. Iowa’s basketball history includes 71 winning seasons and 22 years in which the Hawkeyes have won 20 or more games. Iowa (with 21) is one of 31 programs to earn more than 20 invitations (Iowa has 21) into the NCAA Tournament.

IOWA OPPONENTS RANKED
Six teams on Iowa’s 2005-06 schedule were in the initial rankings, including both opponents who reached the semi-finals of the Guardians Classic. Texas was ranked second by the AP and third by the coaches, Michigan State fourth by the AP and fifth by the coaches, Kentucky ninth and10th, Illinois 17th in both, Indiana 23rd and 22nd and Iowa State 25th and 23rd. Additionally, five Hawkeye opponents are listed among teams receiving votes, including North Carolina State, Ohio State, Wisconsin, Michigan and Northern Iowa. The Hawkeyes will play 10 games against the six rated opponents and a total of 16 games against opponents who are either ranked or receiving votes.

IOWA SECOND IN GUARDIANS CLASSIC
Iowa made its second appearance in the Guardians Classic and was runner-up for the second time in five seasons. The Hawkeyes, in 2001, defeated Maryland-Eastern Shore (89-59), Boston University (90-61) and Memphis (75-71) before a 78-77 last-second loss to Missouri in the title game. This season the Hawkeyes defeated Maryland-Eastern Shore, Colgate and Kentucky before falling to Texas in the title game.

IOWA COACH Steve Alford
Steve Alford (pronounced ALL-ford) is in his seventh season as the head coach at the University of Iowa and his 15th season as a college head coach. Alford holds a career record of 270-161 (.626), including a 114-84 (.574) 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 is tied for fourth place among Iowa’s head basketball coaches in total wins. Alford is tied with Bucky O’Connor for fourth place. He is 41-55 (.427) in Big Ten games. Alford is 8-6 in the NCAA Tournament (3-3 in Division I and 5-3 in Division III) and 2-4 in the NIT. His record in the Big Ten Tournament is 10-5 in six seasons. Iowa won the tournament in 2001, returned to the title game in 2002 and just missed the championship game in 2005. Alford led Iowa into the second round of the 2001 NCAA Tournament in his second season and the Hawkeyes returned to the NCAA Tournament in 2005. Iowa advanced to the NIT in 2002, 2003 and 2004. 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. In 2004 he was one of five players selected to ESPN’s Big Ten Conference Silver Anniversary team. Alford is 0-1 vs. North Carolina State and Wolfpack Coach Herb Sendek.

NC STATE COACH HERB SENDEK
Herb Sendek is in his 10th season at North Carolina State and his 13th season overall as a college head coach. Sendek holds a career record of 237-148 and he is 174-122 with the Wolfpack. A 1985 graduate of Carnegie Mellon, Sendek posted a 63-26 record in three seasons at Miami, OH. Sendek has led his team into the NCAA Tournament in each of the past four seasons and he was the 2004 ACC Coach of the Year. The Wolfpack last season posted a 21-14 record while advancing the NCAA Sweet Sixteen. He has directed his teams to post-season play in 11 of his 12 seasons as a head coach, including all three years at Miami, OH. Sendek has not coached against Iowa and he holds a 1-0 record vs. Hawkeye Coach Steve Alford.

THEY’VE MET BEFORE
Herb Sendek’s North Carolina State team defeated Steve Alford’s Southwest Missouri State team 77-66 in the first round of the 1997 post-season NIT. That contest took place in Raleigh, NC when Alford was in his second season at Southwest Missouri State and Sendek was in his first season with the Wolfpack.

ALFORD MOVES TO FOURTH
Coach Steve Alford collected win No. 114 as Iowa’s head coach in Saturday’s 79-46 win over Texas-San Antonio. That total ties Alford for fourth place on Iowa’s list of career wins, equaling the total of Bucky O’Connor, Iowa’s head coach from 1952-58 (he also was Iowa’s head coach for 11 games in 1950).

IOWA IN THE BIG TEN/ACC CHALLENGE
For the first time since the 2001 season, Iowa is hosting a game in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge in Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The Hawkeyes hold a 1-3 record in the event. Iowa lost to Maryland in Baltimore in 2000 before defeating Georgia Tech in Iowa City in 2001. Iowa lost to Duke at the United Center in Chicago in 2002 and lost at Florida State in 2003. Iowa did not participate in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge in 2004 and 2005.

THE SERIES
North Carolina State holds a 3-2 advantage in the series, with all five games being played at neutral sites. The Wolfpack claimed a 102-96 double-overtime win in the second round of the NCAA Tournament in 1989 when the teams last met. All five meetings have taken place in tournaments, including three different NCAA Tournaments. The teams first met in the Dixie Classic in Chapel Hill, NC in 1956-57, the season after Iowa had placed second in the NCAA Tournament. Iowa’s first win over the Wolfpack (77-64) came in the second round of the 1980 NCAA Tournament in Greensboro, NC. That Iowa team went on to the Final Four. NC State defeated Iowa in the first round of the 1986 NCAA Tournament before Iowa won in overtime in the semi-finals of the Great Alaska Shootout early in the 1986-87 season.

IOWA, NC STATE NOTES

• NC State Coach Herb Sendek and Iowa Coach Steve Alford both have fathers who were basketball coaches. Sam Alford was a long-time prep coach in Indiana before joining his son as an assistant coach at Southwest Missouri State and Iowa prior to his retirement. Herb Sendek, Sr. was a teacher and basketball coach at both the high school and junior college levels.
• NC State Coach Herb Sendek was an assistant coach at Providence College in 1987 when Providence reached the Final Four in New Orleans. Iowa Coach Steve Alford was a senior at Indiana in 1987, leading the Hoosiers to the national title. Providence and Indiana did not meet at the Final Four, as the Hoosiers defeated Nevada-Las Vegas in the semi-finals and Providence lost to Syracuse. Sendek was also an assistant coach at Kentucky in 1993 when the Wildcats reached the Final Four.
• Iowa Coach Steve Alford is 73-29 in non-conference games at Iowa, including a 45-4 record in non-conference home games. Herb Sendek is 100-31 in non-conference games with the Wolfpack, including a 53-5 home record. Bobby Hansen, currently the color analyst for the Hawkeye Radio Network, was a member of the Iowa squad when the Hawkeyes defeated NC State in the second round of the 1980 NCAA Tournament.
• Iowa holds a 10-18 record against current members of the Atlantic Coast Conference. Iowa’s most recent contest against a member of the ACC came early last season when the Hawkeyes dropped a 106-92 decision to North Carolina, the eventual national champion, in the title game of the EA Sports Maui Invitational.
• NC State is 35-16 against current members of the Big Ten, having played all 11 schools.
• North Carolina State is the first team from the Atlantic Coast Conference to play in Carver-Hawkeye Arena since Georgia Tech defeated Iowa 79-78 in the NIT at the conclusion of the 2003 season. The Wolfpack has posted a 4-2 record while taking part in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge, defeating Purdue in Raleigh a year ago.
• Iowa and NC State met three common foes a year ago. Iowa lost to North Carolina at a neutral site, while the Tar Heels defeated the Wolfpack twice. Iowa won two of three games with Purdue and NC State defeated the Boilermakers in their only meeting. Iowa lost two games to Wisconsin, while the Badgers won their only meeting with NC State.

HAWKEYES RACE PAST ROADRUNNERS
After a sluggish start, Iowa dominated the final 30 minutes in taking a 79-46 win over Texas-San Antonio Saturday afternoon in Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Leading by a single point midway through the first half, Iowa used a 15-1 scoring run over the final seven minutes of the half to take a 36-21 lead at intermission. Iowa dominated the second half by a 43-25 margin to put the game away midway through the second period. The Hawkeyes shot 47.4% from the field, held a 42-34 rebounding advantage and made 22-31 (71%) free throws. The Iowa defense had another strong outing, as UTSA shot just 35.7% from the field and 28.6% from three-point range. The Hawkeyes forced 23 turnovers while collecting 11 steals while no Iowa player saw more than 27 minutes of action. Junior Adam Haluska led Iowa’s balanced scoring attack with 15 points, while Greg Brunner added 14, Jeff Horner 13 and sophomore Alex Thompson a career-high 11. Doug Thomas led Iowa with eight rebounds and Haluska added seven, while Horner and freshman Tony Freeman each had four assists.

HALUSKA NAMED ALL-TOURNAMENT
Junior guard Adam Haluska was named to the all-Tournament team at the Guardians Classic. Haluska led Iowa’s scoring in the championship game, scoring a season-high 23 points. Haluska hit 9-23 field goal attempts and 1-2 free throws. He also added seven rebounds. Haluska had nine points and four rebounds in Iowa’s semi-final win over seventh-ranked Kentucky and he closed out the week with 15 points and seven rebounds vs. Texas-San Antonio. Having started all 69 games he has played in his career, Haluska’s consecutive starts streak ranks fifth longest among all Division I players, according to STATS — Chicago. Haluska trails Gerry McNamara (Syracuse). Joe Herber (West Virginia), Patrick Sparks (Kentucky) and Donald Wilson (Portland).

TWO HAWKEYES NAMED TO NAISMITH LIST
Senior forward Greg Brunner and senior guard Jeff Horner are two of 50 players named as pre-season candidates for the Naismith Trophy, presented annually to the Player of the Year. Brunner was named the Most Valuable Player in the Iowa City regional of the Guardians Classic. Brunner scored 16 points in each of the two Iowa wins and averaged 7.5 rebounds. The Charles City native shot 57.1% from the field and 77.8% from the free throw line. He added four assists, two steals and two blocked shots. Brunner leads Iowa with an 8.2 rebounding average through five games and he is scoring 13.8 points per contest. He had scored in double figures in four of five games and had season high marks of 17 points and 12 rebounds in a win over Kentucky. For the second straight season, Brunner is the top returning rebounder in the Big Ten. This marks the fourth time in the last five seasons Iowa has had the top returning rebounder. Reggie Evans led the league in rebounding in 2001 and returned to defend his title in 2002. Jared Reiner led the Big Ten in rebounding in 2003 and returned in 2004. As has been the case in each of the past three seasons, Horner leads Iowa in assists. Horner has 34 assists in five games and is averaging 11.2 points per game. Horner has also converted all of his 12 free throws through five games and is tied for second on the team with six steals. Like Brunner, Horner has started 97 of the 98 games Iowa has played over the last three-plus seasons.

1,000 POINT CLUB ADDS MEMBERS
Seniors Jeff Horner and Greg Brunner joined Iowa’s 1,000 Point Club as juniors a year ago. Horner has scored 1,151 points (ranks 22nd) and is the only Iowa player ever to score over 1,000 points, grab over 400 rebounds and distribute over 400 assists. Horner was honorable mention all-Big Ten a year ago. Brunner has scored 1,104 career points (ranks 28th) and he has 717 rebounds. Brunner has ranked second in Big Ten rebounding in each of the past two seasons. He was named second team all-Big Ten last season and earned a gold medal at the World University Games last summer. Brunner ranks ninth in career blocked shots (87) and is near Iowa’s top 10 in career rebounds.

IOWA EARNS KEY NOVEMBER WINS
Iowa Coach Steve Alford has led five of his Hawkeye teams to key wins over ranked opponents in November. Those victories have included:

• Iowa defeated top-ranked Connecticut 70-68 in the semi-finals of the 1999 Coaches vs. Cancer event in New York’s Madison Square Garden in Alford’s first game as the Hawkeye head coach. The Huskies were the defending NCAA national champions. The Hawkeyes fell to Stanford in the title game.
• Iowa defeated 12th-ranked Memphis 75-71 in the semi-finals of the 2001 Guardians Classic at Kansas City’s Kemper Arena. After losing to fifth-ranked Missouri (77-78) in the finals, the Hawkeyes later that season defeated the Tigers (ranked second at the time) 83-65 in Columbia.
• Iowa defeated 16th-ranked Louisville 70-69 in overtime in the 2003 Wooden Classic in Indianapolis.
• Iowa defeated 11th-ranked Louisville (76-71) and 13th-ranked Texas (82-80) on back-to-back days at the Maui Invitational a year ago. The Hawkeyes fell to North Carolina, the eventual NCAA champion, in the finals.
• After two opening round wins in Iowa City, Iowa defeated seventh-ranked Kentucky 67-63 in the semi-finals of the 2005 Guardians Classic in Kansa City. The Hawkeyes fell to second-ranked Texas in the finals.

IOWA VS. RANKED FOES
Steve Alford has posted a 19-31 record against ranked opponents as Iowa’s head coach, including a 1-1 mark in 2005-06. The Hawkeyes defeated seventh-ranked Kentucky (67-63) and lost to second-ranked Texas (68-59). Iowa, a year ago, defeated 11th-ranked Louisville (76-71), 13th-ranked Texas (82-80) and 10th-ranked Michigan State (71-69), 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), 75-65 to top-ranked Illinois in Iowa City, 59-56 to #22 Wisconsin in the Big Ten Tournament and 64-76 to #23 Cincinnati in the NCAA Tournament. Alford’s Hawkeye teams are 7-13 when playing teams ranked in the top 10, including wins over top-ranked Connecticut (70-68 in 1999-00), second-ranked Missouri (83-65 in 2001-02), fifth-ranked Ohio State (67-64 in 1999-00), seventh-ranked Kentucky (67-63 in 2005-06), seventh-ranked Illinois (78-62 in 2000-01), eighth-ranked Illinois (68-61 in 2002-03) and 10th-ranked Michigan State (71-69 in 2005). The 13 losses to top 10 teams have been three times to No. 1 (Duke, 2001-02 and Illinois twice in 2004-05), once to second-ranked (Texas, 2005-06), once to third-ranked (Illinois, 2000-01), twice to fourth-ranked (Michigan State, 1999-00 and 2000-01), twice to fifth-ranked (Tennessee, 2000-01 and Missouri, 2001-02), once to ninth-ranked (Kentucky, 2000-01) and three times to 10th-ranked (Michigan State, 2000, Illinois, 2002 and Michigan State, 2005). In the 50 games against ranked teams, Alford and his Iowa team are 6-9 in home games, 10-11 at neutral sites and 3-11 when playing ranked teams in their home arena.

IOWA DEFENSIVE IN EARLY SEASON
Iowa’s defense has led the way as the Hawkeyes have won four of their first five games. Iowa opponents are averaging just 53.8 points per game, shooting 35.6% from the field and 33.3% from three-point range. Iowa has collected 44 steals and forced 95 turnovers while collecting 27 blocked shots. The Hawkeyes have held each opponent under 70 points and won the rebounding battle in four of five games.

HAWKEYES STEAL THE SHOW
In its season opening win over Maryland-Eastern Shore, Iowa collected 17 steals while forcing 25 turnovers. The 17 steals are the most by a Steve Alford coached Hawkeye team. Iowa had not had as many as 17 steals in a game since collecting 18 steals in an 84-74 win over Penn State on Jan. 27, 1999, a string of 205 games. Tony Freeman, Adam Haluska, Jeff Horner and Doug Thomas led the way with three steals each, while eight of the 12 Hawkeyes who played collected at least one steal. Iowa added eight steals in the win over Colgate. Iowa’s record for steals in a game is 23. The 25 turnovers are the most by an Iowa opponent since Liberty University was guilty of 24 turnovers on Dec. 22, 2002. Iowa forced 23 turnovers by Texas-San Antonio in a recent 79-46 win.

IOWA IN TOURNAMENT PLAY
Iowa has faired well while taking part in regular-season tournaments over the past 24 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 22 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, the 2004 Maui Invitational and the 2005 Guardians Classic.

SCORING BY HALVES
Iowa has outscored its opponents 187-120 in the first half and 177-149 in the second half. Iowa has led at halftime in all five games and the Hawkeyes have outscored their opponent in the second half in four of five games.

IOWA SEEKS SIXTH STRAIGHT WINNING SEASON
Iowa is seeking a sixth straight winning season, a streak that would rank as the second longest in the history of Iowa basketball. Iowa enjoyed seven straight winning seasons from 1950-56. Iowa has had five consecutive winning seasons on four occasions, 1979-83, 1985-89, 1995-99 and 2001-05. Iowa is one of four Big Ten teams to post a winning season in each of the last five years, joining Illinois, Michigan State and Wisconsin. Iowa advanced to post-season play for the fifth straight season a year ago, returning to the NCAA Tournament.

SEVEN STRAIGHT IS IOWA 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). Harrison coached Iowa to five straight winning seasons from 1944-48, Lute Olson coached Iowa to 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 ON THE TUBE
Every Iowa game throughout the 2005-06 season will be televised. Iowa will appear on national cable television (ESPN and ESPN2) as many as 11 times. Hawkeye games not selected for national coverage will be televised regionally by ESPN Plus, while several conference games will be televised throughout the Big Ten Conference viewing area as part of the Big Ten regional network agreement with ESPN Plus.

ANOTHER STRONG SCHEDULE
Iowa’s non-conference schedule has the Hawkeyes meeting teams from nearly every major conference in the nation. The Hawkeyes participated in the Guardians Classic to begin the season, advancing to the championship game, defeating seventh-ranked Kentucky before falling to second-ranked Texas. Iowa’s non-conference home schedule is highlighted by games vs. Arizona State of the Pac 10 Conference and North Carolina State of the Atlantic Coast Conference. Iowa will also host Fairfield, Tulane and Valparaiso in the Hawkeye Challenge and Maryland-Eastern Shore, Colgate and Utah Valley State in the first round of the Guardians Classic. Iowa will meet Texas-San Antonio, Drake and Robert Morris in home games as well. Non-conference road games are at Northern Iowa, Iowa State and Saint Louis. Following are pre-season views on some of Iowa’s non-conference opponents:

• Kentucky is picked to win the Southeastern Conference and is ranked third nationally by Street & Smith’s
• Texas is picked to win the Big 12 and is ranked fifth nationally by Street & Smiths
• Iowa State is picked third in the Big 12 and is ranked 12th nationally by Street & Smith’s
• Northern Iowa is picked to win the Missouri Valley by Street & Smith’s and advance to the NCAA Sweet 16
• North Carolina State is picked fourth in the Atlantic Coast Conference by Street & Smith’s
• In the Big Ten, Street & Smith’s picks Michigan State (8th), Indiana (17th), Michigan (19th) and Illinois (21st) among its top 25
• Iowa opponents in Lindy’s top 25 include Michigan State (3rd), Texas (5th), Wisconsin (14th), North Carolina State (15th), Ohio State (16th), Kentucky (19th) and Illinois (22nd). Lindy’s has Iowa ninth.
• Iowa opponents in the USA Today/ESPN Coaches Poll include Texas (3rd), Michigan State (5th), Kentucky (10th), Illinois (17th), Indiana (22nd) and Iowa State (23rd). Iowa is 20th.
• Iowa opponents in Sports Illustrated’s pre-season top 20 include Texas (2nd), Michigan State (4th), Kentucky (13th), Northern Iowa (17th) and Illinois (19th). Iowa is 18th.

IOWA’S HAWKEYE CHALLENGE
Iowa’s Hawkeye Challenge, Friday and Saturday, Dec. 2-3 in Carver-Hawkeye Arena, features Tulane meeting Valparaiso in Friday’s opening game and Iowa hosting Fairfield in the second game. All three teams are taking part in the tournament for the first time, while Fairfield and Tulane are making their first-ever trip to Iowa City and Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Iowa defeated Valparaiso in Iowa City in the first round of the 2003 NIT.

2005-06 SCHEDULE NOTES

• Iowa’s schedule includes 16 games against teams that advanced to post-season play a year ago, including 14 games against teams that were in the NCAA Tournament. That includes two games against Illinois (NCAA), Indiana (NIT), Michigan State (NCAA), Minnesota (NCAA), and Wisconsin (NCAA), single games vs. Arizona State (NIT), Iowa State (NCAA), North Carolina State (NCAA), Northern Iowa (NCAA), Kentucky (NCAA) and Texas (NCAA).
• Arizona State will be the first team from the Pac 10 Conference to play in Carver-Hawkeye Arena since Iowa defeated UCLA 88-71 on Dec. 22, 1990. Iowa’s last contest against a Pac 10 team came in the championship game of the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic in 1999-00. Stanford defeated Iowa 72-58 at Madison Square Garden in New York, handing Iowa its first loss under Steve Alford after the Hawkeyes had defeated Connecticut, the top-ranked team in the nation and the defending NCAA champion, in the semi-finals. The Hawkeyes will play a return game in Tempe next season.
• Valparaiso last visited Iowa City for the first round of the 2003 NIT when Iowa scored a 62-60 win. The Crusaders were coached at the time by Scott Drew, who had taken over for his father, long-time Valparaiso Coach Homer Drew. When Scott left Valpo to take over at Baylor, Homer returned from retirement as the head coach. Bryce Drew, Homer’s son and Scott’s brother, is in his first season on the Crusader coaching staff.
• Iowa will look for its second straight mythical state title after sweeping Drake, Iowa State and Northern Iowa a year ago. Iowa hosts Drake, and former Hawkeye Coach Tom Davis, but must travel to both Iowa State and Northern Iowa to face teams that were also in the NCAA Tournament a year ago.

HOME, AWAY COMPARISONS
In its three home games, Iowa has outscored its opponents by a 79.3-46 margin, shooting 49.2% from the field while holding its opponent to 34.5% shooting. Iowa holds a 41.7-33 rebounding advantage. In two games away from Carver-Hawkeye Arena (both neutral site games), Iowa has been outscored 65.5-63.0. The Hawkeyes are shooting 36% from the field while opponents are shooting 37.1% and Iowa is being out-rebounded by a 40-41.5 margin.

HAWKEYE TIDBITS

• Iowa is 3-0 when scoring between 70-80 points, 1-0 when scoring between 60-70 points and 0-1 when scoring less than 60 points. Iowa is 3-0 when holding its opponent to less than 60 points and 1-1 when holding its opponent between 60-70 points.
• Iowa is 3-1 when collecting more assists than the opponent and 1-0 when assists are equal.
• Iowa is 4-1 when having fewer turnovers than its opponent.
• Iowa is 3-0 when collecting more steals than its opponent, 0-1 when the opponent has more steals and 1-0 when steals are equal.
• Iowa has had four players or more score in double figures in three of five games, with a season-best five players in the win over Maryland-Eastern Shore. Iowa is 0-0 when six players score in double figures, 1-0 when five players score 10 points or more, 2-0 when four reach double figures, 0-0 with three in double figures and 1-1 when two are in double figures.
• Iowa is 4-1 when leading at halftime, 0-0 when trailing at intermission and 0-0 when tied at halftime.
• Iowa is 2-0 when controlling the opening tip and 1-2 when not controlling the tip.
• Iowa is 1-1 in games decided by 10 points or less and 1-0 in games decided by five points or less.
• Under Steve Alford, Iowa is 34-6 when shooting at least 50% from the field, including 1-0 in 2005-06.
• None of Iowa’s first five opponents have shot 50% from the field. Iowa allowed just four opponents to shoot at least 50% from the field last season, and Iowa was 3-1 in those games. Iowa was 0-5 when its opponent shot at least 50% from the field in 2004.

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 from 7-8:30 p.m. and the dates are Nov. 28; Dec. 5, 8, 12 and 19; Jan. 10, 16, 23 and 30; Feb. 6, 12, 20 and 27; and March 6, 13 and 20.

AFTER THIS
Iowa continues a busy week by hosting the Hawkeye Challenge this Friday and Saturday. The Hawkeyes will meet Fairfield in the first round Friday (8:11 p.m.), following a 5:45 p.m. contest between Valparaiso and Tulane. The consolation and championship games will follow the same time format Saturday evening.