Iowa Men Travel to Face Northern Iowa Tuesday

Dec. 5, 2005

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THE SETTING
Iowa (7-1) plays the first of its three in-state rivals when the Hawkeyes travel to Northern Iowa (4-1) Tuesday, Dec. 6. Game time is 7:05 p.m. at the UNI-Dome (10,000). Iowa is 7-1 after a 72-59 win over Valparaiso in the title game of the Hawkeye Challenge Saturday. Northern Iowa improved to 4-1 Saturday with a 72-56 home win over Loyola-Chicago.

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. The Hawkeye Radio Network coverage includes a 60-minute pre-game show. Television: FOX Sports will telecast the game to a regional audience. Rob Brooks and Mac McCausland will call the action.

IOWA HISTORY
Iowa has played 2,351 games since beginning basketball in 1902. Overall Iowa’s record is 1,403-948 (.597). That includes an 877-306 (.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 283-80 (.780) record in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

IN THE RANKINGS
Iowa is ranked 12 in the Associated Press rankings and 13th in the ESPN/USA Today coaches poll. Iowa’s current ranking is its highest since early in the 2001-02 season. Iowa, that season, was ranked seventh (Nov. 26) in the Associated Press rankings and eighth (Nov. 19) in the coaches poll. This marks the first time the Hawkeyes 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.

IOWA IN CARVER-HAWKEYE ARENA
Iowa has compiled a 283-80 (.780) record in Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Iowa is 132-67 (.663) in Big Ten games and 151-13 (.921) 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 75-25 (.750) home record under Coach Steve Alford, including a 48-4 (.923) mark in non-conference home games.

IOWA PROGRAM REACHES 1,400 WINS
The Iowa basketball program reached 1,400 wins (now at 1,403) with a 79-46 victory over Texas-San Antonio on Nov. 26. Iowa is 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.

TWO NOMINATED FOR SENIOR CLASS AWARD
Iowa seniors Greg Brunner and Jeff Horner are two of 30 seniors from Division I basketball programs around the nation who have been named as candidates for the Bayer Advantage Senior CLASS Award. The award, now in its fifth year, is presented annually to the nation’s senior player-of-the-year. CLASS is an acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School. The award was launched during the 2001-02 season in response to the trend of college players leaving college early to turn professional. The nomination of Brunner, from Charles City, and Horner, from Mason City, make Iowa one of seven programs to have two candidates among the list of 30 players. Sportscaster Dick Enberg, who initiated the idea for the award and now serves as honorary Chairman, will announce the winner during the CBS telecast of the NCAA Men’s Final Four in April.

IOWA OPPONENTS RANKED
Six teams on Iowa’s 2005-06 schedule were in the initial national 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 were listed among teams receiving votes, including North Carolina State (ranked 21st at the time of Iowa’s win on 11/30/05), 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 were either ranked or receiving votes in the pre-season rankings.

IOWA WINS OWN CHALLENGE
Iowa won its own Hawkeye Challenge last weekend with victories over Fairfield (75-59) and Valparaiso (72-59). The Hawkeyes have won their own tournament 23 times in the 24-year history of the event. Seniors Greg Brunner and Jeff Horner, along with junior Adam Haluska, were named to the all-tournament team, with Horner earned the Most Valuable Player award.

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. Junior Adam Haluska was named to the all-tournament team in Kansas City, while senior Greg Brunner was named the Outstanding Player in the Iowa City regional portion of the event.

UNI COACH GREG MCDERMOTT
Greg McDermott is in his fifth season as the head coach at Northern Iowa and his 12th year as a college head coach. McDermott holds a 71-54 mark with the Panthers and his career record stands at 202-118. McDermott is an Iowa native and Northern Iowa graduate. He led the Panthers to a 21-10 record in 2004 and a 21-11 mark a year ago. The Panthers have advanced to the NCAA Tournament each of the past two seasons and they won the Missouri Valley Conference post-season tournament in 2004. The Panthers have won 20 games in back-to-back-seasons for the first time in school history. McDermott posted a 135-66 record in six years at Wayne State (NE) and posted a 15-11 record in one season at North Dakota State. The native of Cascade enjoyed a successful playing career at UNI, leading the team in field goal percentage for three straight seasons. McDermott concluded his playing career under Eldon Miller in 1988. McDermott is 2-2 vs. Iowa and Hawkeye Coach Steve Alford. Iowa and Northern Iowa did not meet during McDermott’s playing career.

ALFORD MOVES TO FOURTH
Coach Steve Alford has collected 117 victories as Iowa’s head coach, a total that ranks Alford fourth on Iowa’s list of coaches in career wins. Alford recently moved past Bucky O’Connor, Iowa’s head coach from 1952-58 (he also was Iowa’s head coach for 11 games in 1950), who earned 114 wins as Iowa’s basketball coach. Iowa’s top three coaches in career wins are Tom Davis (269), Lute Olson (168) and Rollie Williams (139).

THE SERIES
Iowa holds a 30-5 advantage in the series that began with a 51-9 Iowa win in 1906, but the teams have split the last four meetings. Iowa won last season by a 76-73 score in Iowa City. Iowa holds a 10-5 advantage in games played in Cedar Falls. Northern Iowa has won the last two meetings at the UNI-Dome, including a 77-66 decision in Iowa’s last visit. With Northern Iowa constructing a new home for men’s basketball, this could be Iowa’s last basketball game in the UNI-Dome. The teams did not meet between 1917-1980, and Iowa holds a 16-4 advantage since the series resumed. Iowa has won all 20 games played in Iowa City, including all nine games played in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

A YEAR AGO
Iowa led most of the way, but had to hold off the Panthers at the end of a 76-73 win last season in Iowa City. UNI led 9-4 in the early going, but Iowa would lead by as many as 13 points in the opening half before holding a 40-32 halftime advantage. UNI made eight of its first 11 field goal attempts in the second half, but Iowa also shot well and still led by 13 with just under 10 minutes to play. The Panthers rallied to within a point with 34 seconds remaining and had a shot to take the lead after a missed Iowa free throw. After a defensive stop, Jeff Horner hit two free throws with 4.5 seconds remaining to set the final score as a final desperation shot by UNI at the buzzer was off target. Both teams shot 52.6% from the field and UNI won the rebounding battle 33-29. Greg Brunner led Iowa’s scoring attack with 23 points. Horner added 16 points and Erek Hansen scored 14. Horner led Iowa with nine rebounds. Ben Jacobson scored 25 points to lead Northern Iowa, while Eric Coleman collected 16 points and 11 rebounds and Grant Stout added 15 points.

IOWA’S MYTHICAL TITLE AT STAKE
This is Iowa’s first contest in the series of games among Iowa’s four Division I men’s basketball programs that decides the mythical state title. After playing at Northern Iowa, the Hawkeyes travel to Iowa State Dec. 9 and host Drake Dec. 20. Iowa State defeated Northern Iowa 68-61 Nov. 29 in Ames and the Cyclones play at Drake Monday, Dec. 5. Northern Iowa and Drake meet Jan. 21 in Cedar Falls and Jan. 28 in Des Moines. The Hawkeyes earned the mythical title a year ago with a win at Drake and home wins over the Panthers and Cyclones.

BRUNNER JOINS TOP TEN
Senior forward Greg Brunner has raised his career rebounding total to 747, a total that ties for 10th on Iowa’s career list. Brunner also is tied for 23rd in career scoring (1,145) and is ninth (89) in career blocked shots.

HORNER ONE SHY OF 500
Senior guard Jeff Horner needs just one assist to become the fourth Iowa player ever to total 500 career assists. Horner currently ranks 15th in career scoring (1,193) and he has 499 assists and 470 rebounds. In career numbers, Horner also ranks third in three-point field goals (205), second in three-point attempts (559) and fourth in assists. Horner needs just six steals to move into Iowa’s top 10 in that category.

IOWA AT UNI NOTES

• Iowa holds an all-time record of 115-32 vs. current members of the Missouri Valley Conference and will play one additional MVC opponent this season, hosting Drake Dec. 20. Northern Iowa is 6-34 against the Big Ten, but has only played Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin.
• Iowa’s roster includes 10 players from the state of Iowa, while the Northern Iowa roster includes seven Iowans.
• The projected starting line-ups include seven Iowans, with Iowa starting four native Iowans. Three players, Iowa’s Dan Bohall and UNI’s Ben Jacobson and Dylan Grimsley, are all from Sioux City, with Bohall and Jacobson both attending East HS.
• Iowa’s Mike Henderson and Carlton Reed, both from Waterloo, competed against UNI senior Ben Jacobson in the Iowa state championship game. Jacobson helped his Sioux City East team win that state title 2002, while
• Henderson led his Waterloo East HS team to the state title as a senior the following season when Reed was a junior.
• The largest crowd to ever attend a basketball game in the state of Iowa was on hand at the UNI-Dome in 1990 when Northern Iowa defeated Iowa 77-74 in front of 19,042 fans.
• Iowa assistant Coach Brian Jones played college basketball at Northern Iowa.
• Iowa Director of Athletics Bob Bowlsby joined the Iowa staff after serving in the same position at Northern Iowa.
• Rick Hartzell, UNI’s athletic director, was an assistant baseball coach at Iowa from 1980-82.

HAWKEYES TOP VALPARAISO FOR TITLE
Senior guard Jeff Horner scored a season-high 19 points and handed out six assists in leading Iowa to a 72-59 win over Valparaiso in the Hawkeye Challenge, giving Iowa its fourth straight win. Horner received scoring support from Mike Henderson (15) and Adam Haluska (14), while fellow senior Greg Brunner led Iowa with 13 rebounds. Iowa led by as many as 11 points in the first half before taking a 34-27 halftime advantage. Valparaiso cut the deficit to three points early in the second half before Henderson scored seven straight points for Iowa to stretch the advantage to eight at the 14-minute mark. Two free throws and a lay-up on the break by Horner gave Iowa a 58-47 advantage with 6:47 to play and the Hawkeyes led by 10 or more points the rest of the way. The Hawkeyes shot 41.4% from the field and 81% from the free throw line, while winning the rebounding battle 43-35 and holding Valpo to 38.5% shooting. Horner earned tournament MVP honors while Haluska and Brunner were also named to the all-tournament team.

SHARING THE HONORS
Iowa’s players have been sharing the honors this season. Senior forward Greg Brunner was named the Most Outstanding Player as Iowa opened the season with two wins in the regional rounds of the Guardians Classic. At the Classic finals, where the Hawkeyes defeated Kentucky before losing to Texas in the championship game, junior guard Adam Haluska was named to the all-Tournament team after scoring 23 points vs. the Longhorns. Last week as Iowa won its own Hawkeye Challenge, senior guard Jeff Horner earned tournament MVP honors as Brunner and Haluska were named to the all-tournament team as well. Horner recorded a scoring and assist (12-10) double-double vs. Fairfield and added 19 points against Valparaiso. Brunner had 23 points and 11 rebounds vs. Fairfield and nine points and 13 rebounds vs. Valparaiso. Haluska, in the two games, totaled 25 points and 11 rebounds.

SEASON HIGHS LIFT HAWKEYES
Senior Erek Hansen and junior Mike Henderson played key rolls as Iowa defeated Fairfield and Valparaiso last weekend to win the Hawkeye Challenge. In the win over Fairfield, Hansen matched his career-high with seven blocked shots and added eight points and six rebounds in the win over Fairfield. He added six points, five rebounds and three blocks in the win over Valpo. Through eight games, Hansen is averaging 6.4 points and 5.1 rebounds and he leads the Big Ten with 2.9 blocked shots per game. Henderson played a key role in the championship game win over Valpo, matching his season scoring high with 15 points, hitting 5-6 field goals and 4-5 free throws. Henderson also had six rebounds and five assists. During a key stretch in the second half he scored seven straight Hawkeye points as Iowa increased its lead from three to eight points. Henderson is averaging 8.1 points and 4.4 rebounds per outing through eight games, improving his shooting to 48.7% from the field and 78.1% from the free throw line.

HALUSKA STREAK AMONG LONGEST
Junior guard Adam Haluska has started all 72 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).

PANTHERS BACK ON TRACK
Northern Iowa rebounded from its only loss of the season, a 68-61 decision at Iowa State, with a 72-56 home win over Loyola. The Panthers shot 53.1% from the field and 82.4% from the free throw line in the win. UNI also held Loyola to 33.3% shooting from the field. Ben Jacobson led the Panthers with 20 points, while Eric Coleman scored 15 and Erik Crawford 12. Jacobson also led UNI with seven rebounds and four assists and Coleman had six rebounds.

LOW TOTAL FOR A WIN
The 45 points scored by Iowa in a win over North Carolina State marks the fewest points scored by Iowa since the Hawkeyes scored 49 in a 49-51 loss at Northwestern on March 3, 2004. The point total is the lowest for Iowa in a winning effort since a 50-49 win at Drake on Nov. 11, 2002. The 45 points are the fewest by an Iowa team in a winning effort in Carver-Hawkeye Arena since a 42-39 win over Northwestern on Jan. 12, 1984. The 45 points match the lowest total scored by Iowa under the direction of Steve Alford, as the Hawkeyes lost a 45-54 contest at Wisconsin on Feb. 23, 2000.

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 is averaging 13.8 points and 8.9 rebounds per game, shooting 46.9% from the field and 73.2% from the foul line. He has recorded two double-doubles in eight games is currently tied for 10th in career rebounds with 747. Horner had a season-high 19 points vs. Valparaiso and 10 assists in a win over Fairfield. He is averaging 12.3 points, 4.4 rebounds and seven assists per game. Horner ranks 15th in career scoring and fourth in career assists. Both Brunner and Horner have played in 101 games at Iowa, with Horner starting all but one contest and Brunner earning 89 starts.

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 1,193 points (ranks 15th) 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 1,145 career points (tied for 23rd) and he has 747 rebounds (tied for 10th). 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. He also ninth in career blocked shots (89).

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.
• As part of the Big Ten/ACC Challenge, Iowa defeated 21st-ranked North Carolina State 45-42 Nov. 30, 2005 in Carver-Hawkeye Arena, giving the Hawkeyes their second win over a ranked opponent in the first six games of the season.

IOWA VS. RANKED FOES
Steve Alford has posted a 20-31 record against ranked opponents as Iowa’s head coach, including a 2-1 mark in 2005-06. The Hawkeyes defeated seventh-ranked Kentucky (67-63) and 21st-ranked North Carolina State (45-42), while dropping a 68-59 decision to second-ranked Texas. 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 51 games against ranked teams, Alford and his Iowa team are 7-9 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 seven of their first eight games. Iowa opponents are averaging just 53.6 points per game, shooting 34.6% from the field and 30.5% from three-point range. Iowa has collected 63 steals and forced 145 turnovers while collecting 49 blocked shots. The Hawkeyes have held each opponent under 70 points and won the rebounding battle in seven of eight 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 and North Carolina State was guilty of 24 turnovers.

SCORING BY HALVES
Iowa has outscored its opponents 278-198 in the first half and 278-231 in the second half. Iowa has led at halftime in all eight games and the Hawkeyes have outscored their opponent in the second half in six games. The second half scoring was even (20-20) vs. NC State.

HOME, AWAY COMPARISONS
In its six home games, Iowa has outscored its opponents by a 71.7-49.7 margin, shooting 45% from the field while holding its opponent to 33.7% shooting. Iowa holds a 41.7-34.5 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.

CRUNCH TIME FREE THROWS
Iowa has made 8-11 (72.7%) free throws in the final four minutes of its three games that have been decided by 10 points or less. Iowa’s opponents in those games have made 10-11 (83.3%) of their free throw attempts in the final four minutes and overtime periods. Iowa is 2-1 in those games.

HAWKEYE TIDBITS

• Iowa is 5-0 when scoring between 70-80 points, 1-0 when scoring between 60-70 points and 1-1 when scoring less than 60 points. Iowa is 6-0 when holding its opponent to less than 60 points and 1-1 when holding its opponent between 60-70 points.
• Iowa is 4-1 when collecting more assists than the opponent, 1-0 when the opponent has more assists and 2-0 when assists are equal.
• Iowa is 5-1 when having fewer turnovers than its opponent and 2-0 when the opponent has fewer turnovers.
• Iowa is 4-0 when collecting more steals than its opponent, 2-1 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 eight 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, 2-0 with three in double figures and 2-1 when two are in double figures.
• Iowa is 7-1 when leading at halftime, 0-0 when trailing at intermission and 0-0 when tied at halftime.
• Iowa is 5-0 when controlling the opening tip and 2-1 when not controlling the tip.
• Iowa is 2-1 in games decided by 10 points or less and 2-0 in games decided by five points or less.
• Under Steve Alford, Iowa is 35-6 when shooting at least 50% from the field, including 2-0 in 2005-06.
• None of Iowa’s first seven 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.

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.

CAPTAINS NAMED FOR 2006
Iowa’s captains are seniors Greg Brunner and Jeff Horner. Brunner, a native of Charles City, has started 89-101 games in his career and ranks among Iowa’s career leaders in scoring, rebounds and blocked shots. He earned second team all-Big Ten honors in 2005 and placed second in the league in rebounding in each of the past two seasons. Horner, a Mason City native, has started 100 of 101 games in his career. He has led the team in assists in each of the last three seasons and ranks among Iowa’s career leaders in scoring, assists and three-point field goals.

THE RETURNING CAST
Iowa returns five starters and 11 lettermen from 2005. The returning starters include three players, Greg Brunner, Adam Haluska and Jeff Horner, who earned all-Big Ten recognition a year ago. Iowa returns 84.6% of its scoring from 2005, 90.9% of its rebounding, 81.6% of its assists and 78.5% of its steals. Iowa’s returning players shot 45.5% from the field, 38.7% from three-point range and 71.9% from the free throw line. The Hawkeyes return their statistical leader from last season in all categories,

THE HAWKEYE ROSTER
The Iowa roster includes 16 players, including 10 who played prep basketball in the state of Iowa. The squad includes five seniors, four juniors, four sophomores and three freshmen. Along with the 10 Iowans, there is one player from California, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Texas and St. John’s, Antigua. Three players, freshman Dan Bohall, sophomore J.R. Angle and junior Kurt Looby, are slated to redshirt this season and have not see any game action.

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 23 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.

IOWA IN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT
Iowa made its 21st appearance in the NCAA Tournament in 2005, falling to Cincinnati in the opening round at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis. Iowa earned the bid after posting a 21-win season, including wins over Purdue and 10th-ranked Michigan State in the 2005 Big Ten Tournament. The Hawkeyes hold an overall record of 27-23 in the tournament, advancing to the Final Four in 1955 (fourth), 1956 (second) and 1980 (fourth). Iowa had advanced to at least the second round in its last 10 tournament appearances before last season. Iowa reached the regional championship in 1987 and lost in the regional semi-final in 1988 and 1999.

BASKETBALL TICKETS AVAILABLE
The following is information on Iowa basketball tickets for this season. Iowa basketball tickets may be purchased in person at the athletic ticket office at the north entrance of Carver-Hawkeye Arena or at the Iowa City/Coralville Convention and Visitors Bureau information desk inside Coral Ridge Mall. Tickets may also be purchased online at www.hawkeyesports.com, or by calling 1-800-IA-HAWKS.

• Season tickets are available at a cost of $387
• Season tickets for faculty/staff are $313
• Student tickets are $95
• Single game tickets are available $25
• Single game student tickets are available for $15
• Fan may purchase an eight-game ($184) or four-game ($100) ticket package, selecting the games they wish to attend from a collection of conference and non-conference games pre-determined by the UI.
• A two-game holiday package is available for $50 for games vs. Robert Morris (Dec. 22) and Illinois (Jan. 7).
• Youth tickets ($10) are available for games vs. Drake (Dec. 20), Robert Morris (Dec. 22) and Penn State (Mar. 1).
• Discounted tickets to select home games and earmarked for purchase by groups of 24 or more are also available for purchase. For information about group tickets, fans should call the UI Group Sales Office at (319) 335-9328.

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.

HAWK 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 Dec. 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 travels to Iowa State Friday, Dec. 9 (7:05 p.m.) before taking a break for semester exams. The Hawkeyes return to action Dec. 17, hosting Arizona State. Iowa will host Drake (Dec. 20) and Robert Morris (Dec. 22) before closing non-conference action Dec. 30 at Saint Louis.