Hawkeyes Return Home to Meet Indiana Tuesday

Jan. 23, 2006

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THE SETTING
Iowa (14-5, 3-2) returns to Carver-Hawkeye Arena for the first of two home games against nationally ranked opponents, hosting Indiana (12-3, 4-1) Tuesday, Jan. 24. Game time is 8:05 p.m. in Carver-Hawkeye Arena (15,500). Iowa dropped an 85-55 game at Michigan State Saturday, seeing a three-game win streak come to an end. Indiana improved to 4-1 in Big Ten play with a 62-49 home win over Purdue. Iowa has won 12 straight home games since a 75-65 loss to Illinois last Feb. 19, including all 11 games this season.

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: ESPN will carry the game to a national cable audience. Brent Musberger and Steve Lavin will call the action, along with courtside reporter Erin Andrews.

IOWA HISTORY
Iowa has played 2,362 games since beginning basketball in 1902. Overall Iowa’s record is 1,410-952 (.597). That includes an 882-306 (.742) record in home games, a 527-646 (.449) record in games away from Iowa City, a 667-655 (.505) mark in Big Ten games and a 288-80 (.783) record in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

IOWA IN CARVER-HAWKEYE ARENA
Iowa has compiled a 288-80 (.783) record in Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Iowa is 134-67 (.667) in Big Ten games and 154-13 (.922) in non-Big Ten games. Iowa has drawn over five million fans for men’s basketball since the arena opened in 1983. Iowa has posted an 80-25 (.762) home record under Coach Steve Alford, including a 51-4 (.927) mark in non-conference home games. Iowa’s current streak of 23 consecutive non-conference home wins ranks 15th-longest among Division I programs. That streak dates back to the final home game of the 2002-03 season, an NIT loss to Georgia Tech.

IN THE RANKINGS
Iowa was ranked 23rd by the Associated Press and 25th in ESPN/USA Today coaches poll on Jan. 16. Iowa has been ranked as high as 12th this season (AP, 12/5/05), its highest ranking since early in the 2001-02 season. Iowa, that season, moved as high as seventh (Nov. 26) in the Associated Press rankings and eighth (Nov. 19) in the coaches poll. Indiana is ranked 11th in the ESPN/USA Today coaches poll and 13th by the Associated Press.

IOWA STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE
Iowa is 14th in the RPI Index and 29th in the Sagarin Ratings. Iowa has played eight games against top 50 teams in the RPI Index and the four teams that have defeated Iowa hold a combined record of 70-19 (.787). The Hawkeyes are 3-3 against teams that were ranked in the top 25 at the time of the game, including 2-1 against top 10 teams.

HAWKEYES IN NATIONAL STATS
In NCAA statistical rankings, Iowa is fourth in field goal defense (37.4%), fifth in fouls per game (14.9) and sixth in scoring defense (58.9). Individually, Jeff Horner ranks 10th in assists per game (6.5), Erek Hansen is 11th in blocked shots per game (3.1) and Greg Brunner is 22nd in rebounds per game (10.5).

BRUNNER HAS BIG WEEK FOR HAWKEYES
Senior forward Greg Brunner has been named Big Ten Conference Player of the Week for his efforts last week. In two games, Brunner totaled 34 points and 34 rebounds. He had 17 points and 23 rebounds in a triple-overtime win over Minnesota and 17 points and 11 rebounds in a loss at Michigan State. Brunner established a Carver-Hawkeye Arena record with 23 rebounds against Minnesota. The previous mark of 21 was set by Dwayne Scholten of Washington State on 12/6/86. The previous best in the Arena by an Iowa player was 19 rebounds by Ryan Bowen vs. Long Island on 11/29/98. The 23 rebounds are the most by any player in the Big Ten Conference and the second most in Division I this season. Rashad Jones of Arkansas-Little Rock had 30 rebounds earlier in the year. The Iowa record for single game rebounds is 30, set by Chuck Darling vs. Wisconsin on 3/3/52. Brunner’s 23 rebounds tie as the fourth highest total in school history and it is the most by a Hawkeye player since Kevin Kunnert had 23 rebounds vs. Drake on 12/27/72.

SI.COM LIKES IOWA BACKCOURT
SI.com, in a vivid online photo gallery, has named Iowa’s backcourt of Jeff Horner and Adam Haluska as one of the best, ranking the Hawkeye duo ninth best in the nation. Haluska averages 14.9 points and 4.5 rebounds per game, while Horner averages 12.3 points, 6.5 assists and 3.8 rebounds.

IOWA PROGRAM REACHES 1,400 WINS
The Iowa basketball program reached 1,400 wins (now at 1,410) 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 into the NCAA Tournament.

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 280-165 (.629), including a 124-88 (.585) 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 fourth among Iowa’s head basketball coaches in total wins. He is 44-57 (.436) 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 and his 10 wins rank as the most among all Big Ten coaches in the event. 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 5-6 vs. Indiana, including a 5-5 mark while at Iowa and a 0-1 record while at Southwest Missouri State. He is 5-4 vs. Hoosier Coach Mike Davis.

ALFORD MOVES TO FOURTH
Coach Steve Alford has collected 124 victories as Iowa’s head coach, a total that ranks fourth on Iowa’s list of coaches in career wins. Alford, earlier this season, 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).

INDIANA COACH MIKE DAVIS
Mike Davis is in his sixth season as the head coach at Indiana and as a college head coach. Davis has posted a 108-70 record. Davis was an assistant coach at Indiana for three seasons before taking over the top position. He led the Hoosiers to a share of the regular season Big Ten title in 2002 before Iowa defeated Indiana in the semi-finals of the Big Ten Tournament. Indiana then enjoyed great success in the NCAA Tournament, advancing to the NCAA championship game before falling 64-52 to Maryland. Davis played at Alabama and joined the Indiana staff after serving as a Crimson Tide assistant for two seasons. Along with his college coaching experience, Davis has coached in the CBA and overseas. Davis is 4-5 vs. Iowa and Hawkeye Coach Steve Alford.

THE SERIES
Indiana holds a 90-65 advantage in the series that began with an 18-12 Hoosier win in 1909. Iowa defeated the Hoosiers 72-57 in Iowa City in the only meeting a year ago for its second straight win in the series. Indiana won both meetings in 2002-03, 79-63 in Iowa City and 91-88 in overtime in Bloomington. The series is tied at 38-38 in games played in Iowa City, while Iowa holds a 13-8 advantage in Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Indiana had won two straight in Iowa City before the Hawkeyes won a year ago. The two teams have met twice at neutral sites in the Big Ten Tournament, with Iowa winning once in Chicago and once in Indianapolis. The teams will meet in Bloomington on Feb. 11.

IOWA, HOOSIER NOTES

• Iowa features the Big Ten leader in rebounding (Greg Brunner, 10.5), assists (Jeff Horner, 6.5) and blocked shots (Erek Hansen, 3.1). Indiana feature the Big Ten’s leading three-point shooter (Errek Suhr), the top free throw shooter (Marshall Strickland and Marco Killingsworth, who ranks second in both scoring and field goal percentage.
• Iowa ranks first in the Big Ten in field goal defense (37.4%) and Indiana is the top shooting team (.516) in the league.
• Iowa Coach Steve Alford was a four-time MVP at Indiana and an All-American while leading the Hoosiers to the 1987 NCAA title. Alford currently ranks second in career scoring at Indiana and he is a member of the Indiana University Hall of Fame.
• Steve Alford is 2-2 vs. Indiana in Iowa City, 1-1 vs. Indiana in Indianapolis, 1-0 vs. Indiana in Chicago and 1-3 vs. Indiana in Bloomington. Iowa lost at Indiana 74-71 in 2000, lost 79-51 in 2002 and lost 91-88 in OT in 2003.
• Iowa scored a 62-60 win over Indiana in the semi-finals of the 2001 Big Ten Tournament in Indianapolis and defeated the Hoosiers 63-61 in the Big Ten Tournament finals in Chicago in 2001. Alford’s Southwest Missouri State team lost to Indiana in Indianapolis in 1998. Alford guided Iowa to home wins over Indiana in 2001 and 2005, while the Hoosiers won in Iowa City in 2002 and 2003. Iowa’s double overtime win in 2004 marked Alford’s first win in Bloomington as the opposing coach.
• Iowa sophomore J.R. Angle is a native of Franklin, IN and Iowa assistant Coach Greg Lansing was an assistant coach at Indiana State before joining the Iowa staff. Angle is redshirting this season.
• The two teams played one common opponent outside of Big Ten competition. Iowa defeated Kentucky 67-63 in the semi-finals of the Guardians Classic in Kansas City, while the Hoosiers defeated the Wildcats 79-53 in Indianapolis.
• In conference games, Iowa has defeated Illinois at home and lost to Michigan State in East Lansing. Indiana also defeated Illinois at home and lost at Michigan State.

IOWA STOPS INDIANA A YEAR AGO
Iowa used one of its best shooting games of the season and a strong defense to register a 72-57 win over Indiana last Jan. 29 in Iowa City. The Hawkeyes shot 57.8% from the field, including 58.3% from three-point range, while holding Indiana to 38.5% shooting. Indiana twice led by three points in the opening minutes before a lay-up by Greg Brunner gave Iowa a 13-12 advantage with 14 minutes left in the half. Iowa never trailed again and led by as many as 10 points on three occasions in the opening half before holding a 35-28 advantage at the midway point. The Hoosiers cut the margin to seven early in the second half, but could never get closer. Iowa’s biggest advantage, 17 points, came in the final minutes. Iowa’s solid shooting was stretched over the entire game, as the Hawkeyes hit 60.9% from the field in the first half and 54.5% over the final 20 minutes. Indiana, on the other hand, never found its shooting touch against an aggressive Iowa defense. The Hoosiers shot 39.3% in the first half and 37.5% in the second. Indiana shot just 21.4% (3-14) from three-point range. Iowa had 20 assists and collected 13 steals while forcing 16 Indiana turnovers. The Hoosiers held a 31-27 rebounding advantage. Pierre Pierce led Iowa with 25 points, hitting 9-14 field goal attempts. Jeff Horner added 16 points and nine assists for the Hawkeyes, while Brunner had 13 points and nine rebounds. Indiana was led by D.J. White with 23 points and seven rebounds, while Bracey Wright added 10 points and Marshall Strickland added nine.

HAWKEYE TIDBITS

• Iowa has posted a 3-3 record vs. ranked teams. The Hawkeyes defeated 7th-ranked Kentucky (67-63), 21st-ranked North Carolina State (45-42) and 6th-ranked Illinois 63-48. Iowa has lost to 2nd-ranked Texas (59-68), 24th-ranked Wisconsin (52-66) and 11th-ranked Michigan State (55-85).
• Iowa has made more free throws (273) than its opponents have attempted (270).
• Iowa is 2-0 when scoring 80 points or more, 6-0 when scoring between 70-80 points, 5-1 when scoring between 60-70 points and 1-4 when scoring less than 60 points. Iowa is 10-0 when holding its opponent to less than 60 points, 2-3 when holding its opponent between 60-70 points and 2-2 when the opponent scores over 70 points.
• Iowa is 10-1 when collecting more assists than the opponent, 2-4 when the opponent has more assists and 2-0 when assists are equal.
• Iowa is 9-2 when having fewer turnovers than its opponent and 5-3 when the opponent has fewer turnovers.
• Iowa is 4-1 when collecting more steals than its opponent, 9-4 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 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, 4-0 when four reach double figures, 6-2 with three in double figures and 3-3 when two are in double figures.
• Iowa is 14-3 when leading at halftime, 0-2 when trailing at intermission and 0-0 when tied at halftime.
• Iowa is 12-2 when controlling the opening tip and 2-3 when not controlling the tip.
• Iowa is 6-2 in games decided by 10 points or less, 5-1 in games decided by five points or less and 1-1 in overtime.
• Iowa has held six opponents to 50 points or less and nine to under 60 points. Only seven Iowa opponents have shot as well as 40% from the field.
• Iowa has won at least 11 games before the start of Big Ten play four times in seven years under Coach Steve Alford. Along with the 11 wins this season, the Hawkeyes won 12 games prior to Big Ten play last season and 11 games in both 2001 and 2002.
• Under Steve Alford, Iowa is 35-6 when shooting at least 50% from the field, including 2-0 in 2005-06.
• Michigan State is the only Iowa opponent to shoot 50% (30-60) from the field this season. 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.

MSU SHOOTS PAST IOWA
Michigan State shot 50% from the field for the game, including 60.7% in the second half, in handing Iowa an 85-55 defeat Saturday in East Lansing. Despite early foul problems, Iowa stayed close and trailed by a 37-28 margin at intermission. Greg Brunner had 11 points and eight rebounds in the opening half and Adam Haluska added 10 points to keep Iowa within striking distance. Starting center Erek Hansen and reserve center Doug Thomas each collected two quick fouls, with Hansen playing three minutes and Thomas five in the first half. MSU opened the second period with a 10-2 run and shot 75% from the field in the first 10 minutes of the half, never giving the Hawkeyes a chance to get back in the game. The Spartans made 9-19 (47.4%) of their three-point attempts and added 16-18 (88.9%) free throws while collecting 26 assists on their 30 field goals. Iowa shot 33.9% from the field and won the rebounding battle (39-36), but shot just 58.3% from the foul line and had 18 turnovers, 13 in the second half. Haluska led with Iowa with 19 points, while Brunner added 17 points and 11 rebounds. Jeff Horner added five assists and Seth Gorney collected a career-best six rebounds.

HOOSIERS STOP PURDUE AT HOME
Indiana pulled away in the second half to take a 62-49 win over Purdue Saturday in Bloomington. The Hoosiers led 26-22 at intermission despite shooting just 30.4% from the field. Indiana shot 47.8% from the field in the second half, including 57.1% from three-point range, while holding Purdue to 32.1%. Indiana also held a 38-31 rebounding advantage in the game while forcing 16 Purdue turnovers. Marco Killingsworth led the Hoosiers with 18 points and 10 rebounds. Robert Vaden contributed 14 points and eight rebounds and Roderick Wilmont added 14 points.

OVERTIME NOTES

• With the 76-72 triple overtime win over Minnesota last week, Iowa is now 2-4 all-time in triple overtime games, with three of the six games being played vs. Minnesota.
• Iowa had lost four straight triple overtime games and had not won a triple overtime game since a 112-111 win over Purdue on Feb. 11, 1974.
• Iowa has played just one four overtime game (83-80 win over Cal in 1960-61) and its overall record in all overtime games now stands at 46-50. Iowa lost at Northern Iowa in single overtime earlier this season.
• The win over Minnesota was the first triple overtime game ever in Carver-Hawkeye Arena, where the Hawkeyes began playing home games during the 1983 season. Iowa’s most recent triple overtime game in Iowa City was a 57-55 loss to Minnesota on Feb. 27, 1982 in the last Big Ten Conference game played in the Iowa Fieldhouse.

BRUNNER & HORNER SEE DOUBLE, AGAIN
Forward Greg Brunner and guard Jeff Horner both registered double-doubles in Iowa’s win over Minnesota last week. Brunner collected 17 points and 23 rebounds and Horner had 10 points and 10 rebounds. The Minnesota game marks the fourth time during their careers that Brunner and Horner have posted a double-double in the same game. Earlier this season, Brunner had 23 points and 11 rebounds in a win over Fairfield, while Horner added 12 points and 10 assists. In an 88-75 win over Western Carolina on 12/18/04, Brunner had 11 points and 11 rebounds and Horner collected 20 points and 10 assists. In an 84-82 double overtime win at Indiana on 2/7/04, Brunner had 23 points and 13 rebounds and Horner had 17 points and 10 rebounds.

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.

BRUNNER JOINS TOP FIVE
Senior forward Greg Brunner has raised his career rebounding total to 876, moving into third place on Iowa’s career list. Brunner is just one rebound away from second place on Iowa’s career list and he needs just 35 rebounds to become Iowa’s career leader. Brunner is 13th in career scoring (1,295) and is tied for sixth (92) in career blocked shots. Brunner has 29 career double-doubles, most among active players in the Big Ten Conference. Brunner has nine scoring and rebounding double-doubles this season while scoring in double figures in 12 games and collecting 10 or more rebounds in 11 outings. He had 26 points at Northern Iowa and led Iowa with 17 points and 12 rebounds in a win over Kentucky. He leads the Big Ten in rebounding (10.5) and is averaging 13.7 points per game.

HORNER OVER 500 ASSISTS
Senior guard Jeff Horner has become just the fourth Iowa player ever to total over 500 assists. Horner ranks third in career assists with 540, moving past B.J. Armstrong with his nine assists in the win at Penn State. Horner ranks 14th in career scoring (1,280) and he has 497 rebounds. In other career stats, Horner is second in three-point field goals (221), second in three-point attempts (606) and ninth in steals (145). Horner missed four games in December with a partially torn posterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, stopping his consecutive games streak at 102. The injury occurred during Iowa’s game at Northern Iowa Dec. 6. Horner made a solid return in Iowa’s 60-50 win at Saint Louis, collecting 17 points and six assists in 36 minutes. He had 11 points and three assists vs. Wisconsin and 16 points, six rebounds, six assists and three steals in a win over Illinois. He added 17 points and nine assists at Penn State and had 10 points and 10 assists vs. Minnesota. He is averaging 12.3 points and 6.5 assists per game.

HALUSKA OVER 1,000 POINTS
Junior guard Adam Haluska surpassed 1,000 career points with his career-high 29 point performance in the win at Penn State. He has 1,035 points in his career, with 284 of those coming in his freshman season at Iowa State, and joins teammates Jeff Horner and Greg Brunner as 1,000-point scorers. Haluska hit 6-10 three-pointers at PSU and 5-6 free throws and he had 12 points and four rebounds in the win over Minnesota, scoring Iowa’s first four points in the decisive third overtime. He added 19 points vs. Michigan State, reaching double figures for the 17th time in 19 games. He leads Iowa in scoring at 14.9 points per game, he is averaging 4.5 rebounds and he has led Iowa in steals in eight games. Haluska hit two crucial three-point baskets in the final 96 seconds against Drake and he added 18 points and nine rebounds in a win over Robert Morris. Haluska scored 17 points in Iowa’s win at Saint Louis, hitting 6-10 field goals and 4-6 treys. He added 15 points (9-10 FTs) in a win over Illinois. Haluska has started all 83 games he has played in his career. His 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).

HANSEN CONTRIBUTES AT BOTH ENDS
Center Erek Hansen is making key plays on both offense and defense in his senior season. Hansen scored a career-high 20 points in the win over Minnesota, hitting 7-12 FGs and 6-6 free throws. He connected on two free throws to tie the score at the end of the second half and added two more to force a third overtime. Hansen also had six rebounds and five blocked shots while playing a career-high 38 minutes. Hansen ranks third in career blocked shots with 182 and his 59 blocks this years ranks seventh best for a single season. Hansen matched his career-high with seven blocked shots in a win over Fairfield and he had 14 points at Iowa State. He has collected three blocked shots or more in 12 games. Hansen had seven points, six rebounds and six blocked shots at Penn State, converting a three-point play on offense and a key blocked shot on defense in the final minutes. Hansen is averaging 6.6 points and 4.3 rebounds. He leads the Big Ten and ranks 11th nationally with 3.1 blocked shots per game.

HENDERSON NUMBERS IMPROVED
Junior guard Mike Henderson has played a key role in Iowa’s success this season, as he has improved his numbers in several categories from a year ago. Henderson matched his season scoring high with 15 points, hitting 5-6 field goals and 4-5 free throws, against Valparaiso. Henderson also had six rebounds and five assists. He added 10 points vs. Arizona State and he had 12 points, eight rebounds and four assists vs. Drake. Henderson played a solid defensive game in Iowa’s home win over Illinois and he also had 10 points and eight rebounds. He collected nine points, seven rebounds and two assists in the win over Minnesota, including 5-6 free throws at crucial times. Henderson is averaging seven points and 4.4 rebounds per outing, improving his shooting to 41.8% from the field and 78% from the free throw line. Henderson has scored in double figures in six games this year after scoring 10 or more points just three times in his first two seasons.

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 13.7 points and 10.5 rebounds per game. He has recorded nine double-doubles and set a Carver-Hawkeye Arena record with 23 rebounds vs. Minnesota. He ranks third in career rebounds (876), is tied for sixth in blocked shots (92) and is 13th in career scoring (1,295). Horner had a season-high 19 points vs. Valparaiso, 10 assists in wins over Fairfield and Minnesota and 17 points vs. Saint Louis in his return to action after missing four games. He led Iowa’s win over Illinois with 16 points, six rebounds, six assists and three steals and he added 17 points and nine assists at Penn State. He is averaging 12.3 points, 3.8 rebounds and 6.5 assists per game. Horner ranks 14th in career scoring (1,280), third in career assists (540) and ninth in career steals (145). Brunner has played in all 112 games in his career, with 100 starts. Horner has started 107 of the 108 games he has played at Iowa, missing four games in December due to injury.

1,000 POINT CLUB ADDS MEMBERS
Seniors Greg Brunner and Jeff Horner joined Iowa’s 1,000 Point Club as juniors a year ago and junior Adam Haluska surpassed 1,000 career points in Iowa’s win at Penn State. Brunner ranks 13th in career scoring with 1,295 points, while Horner is 14th with 1,280. 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 is tied for sixth in career blocked shots (92). Horner is the only Iowa player ever to score over 1,000 points, grab over 400 rebounds (497) and distribute over 400 assists (540). Horner was honorable mention all-Big Ten a year ago. Haluska has 1,035 career points, with 284 of those coming during his freshman season at Iowa State. He has scored 751 points at Iowa. He leads Iowa in scoring (14.9 ppg) and has scored in double figures in 17 games.

SHARING THE HONORS
Iowa’s players have shared the honors. 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. Senior guard Jeff Horner was named MVP of Iowa’s Hawkeye Challenge, while 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.

IOWA VS. RANKED FOES
Steve Alford has posted a 21-33 record against ranked opponents as Iowa’s head coach, including a 3-3 mark in 2005-06. The Hawkeyes defeated seventh-ranked Kentucky (67-63), 21st-ranked North Carolina State (45-42) and sixth-ranked Illinois (63-48). Iowa dropped a 68-59 decision to second-ranked Texas, fell 66-52 at 24th-ranked Wisconsin and were defeated 85-55 at 11th-ranked Michigan State. Alford’s Hawkeye teams are 8-13 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), sixth-ranked Illinois (63-48 in 2006), 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 54 games against ranked teams, Alford and his Iowa team are 8-9 in home games, 10-11 at neutral sites and 3-13 when playing ranked teams in their home arena.

SCORING BY HALVES
Iowa has outscored its opponents 630-493 in the first half and 610-601 in the second half. Iowa has led at halftime in 17 games and the Hawkeyes have outscored their opponent in the second half in 11 games. The second half scoring was even (20-20) vs. NC State. Iowa and its opponents have both scored 25 points in two overtime games, a single overtime loss at Northern Iowa and a triple overtime win vs. Minnesota.

HOME, AWAY COMPARISONS
In its 11 home games, Iowa has outscored its opponents by a 69.9-52 margin, shooting 43% from the field while holding its opponent to 34.1% shooting. Iowa holds a 43-36 rebounding advantage. In eight games away from Carver-Hawkeye Arena (two neutral site games), Iowa has been outscored 62.0-68.4. The Hawkeyes are shooting 37.9% from the field while opponents are shooting 41.9% and Iowa is being out-rebounded by a 38.0-38.1 margin.

IOWA FROM THE FREE THROW LINE
Iowa had made over 80% of its free throws in three games and at least 70% of its free throws in 11 of 19 games, with a season-best 83.3% (20-24) in a win over Fairfield. Iowa has posted a 9-2 record when shooting at least 70% from the free throw line.

OFF THE BENCH
The Iowa reserves are averaging 14.2 points and 11.4 rebounds per game, compared to 11.4 points and 9.3 rebounds for the opponent reserves. Iowa is 7-2 when the reserves outscore the opponent’s reserves, 6-2 when the opponent reserves score more points and 1-1 when the reserve scoring is even. Iowa is 10-3 when the Hawkeye reserves have more rebounds than the opponent reserves and 4-2 when the opponent reserves have more rebounds.

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 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.

CAPTAINS NAMED FOR 2006
Iowa’s captains are seniors Greg Brunner and Jeff Horner. Brunner, a native of Charles City, has started 100-112 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 107 of 108 games in his career, missing four games in December due to an injury. He has led the team in assists in each of the last three seasons and ranks among Iowa’s career leaders in scoring, assists, three-point field goals and steals.

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
Following is information on Iowa basketball ticket options for remaining games. 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.

• General public single game tickets are available for $25.
• Youth tickets ($10) are available for the Penn State game on Mar. 1.
• Single game student tickets are available for $15 for all remaining home games. Approximately 300 student tickets remain for Saturday Big Ten Conference games vs. Ohio State, Michigan and Wisconsin.
• 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.

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: Jan. 23 and 30; Feb. 6, 12, 20 and 27; and March 6, 13 and 20.

AFTER THIS
Iowa will host Ohio State Saturday, Jan. 28 at 7:05 p.m. Iowa plays at Purdue Feb. 1 and hosts Michigan Feb. 4.