Iowa Hosts Michigan in Battle of First Place Teams

Feb. 3, 2006

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THE SETTING
Iowa (17-5, 6-2) faces its third straight home game against a ranked opponent Saturday, Feb. 4, hosting Michigan (16-3, 6-2) for the only meeting of the season with the Wolverines. Game time is 4:10 p.m. in Carver-Hawkeye Arena (15,500). The game is sold out. Iowa defeated Purdue 77-68 Wednesday night in West Lafayette, while Michigan won 71-65 at Penn State.

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 Regional will carry the game to a network of stations throughout the Big Ten viewing area, including KGAN Cedar Rapids, KDSM Des Moines, KWQC Quad Cities, KIMT Mason City and KYOU Ottumwa. Dick Bremer and Greg Kelser will call the action.

IN THE RANKINGS
Iowa is ranked 23rd in the Associated Press rankings and listed among teams receiving votes in the ESPN/USA Today coaches poll. 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. Michigan is 20th in the coaches poll and ranked 21st by the Associated Press.

IOWA HISTORY
Iowa has played 2,365 games since beginning basketball in 1902. Overall Iowa’s record is 1,413-952 (.597). That includes an 884-306 (.743) record in home games, a 528-646 (.450) record in games away from Iowa City, a 670-655 (.506) mark in Big Ten games and a 290-80 (.784) record in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

TICKETS GOING FAST FOR FINAL HOME GAMES
Two of Iowa’s final four home games are sold out, including Saturday’s game vs. Michigan. The March 4 contest against Wisconsin is also sold out. Roughly 2,500 tickets remain for the Feb. 14 game vs. Michigan State and 5,000 tickets remain for the March 1 contest vs. Penn State. 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.

IOWA IN CARVER-HAWKEYE ARENA
Iowa has compiled a 290-80 (.784) record in Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Iowa is 136-67 (.670) 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 82-25 (.766) 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.

IOWA HOPES TO EQUAL ARENA WIN STREAK
Iowa has won 14 straight games in Carver-Hawkeye Arena, one shy of the school record for the facility, which opened in 1983. Iowa won its final home contest last season vs. Ohio State and all 13 home dates this season. Iowa’s last home loss was a 75-65 decision to Illinois on Feb. 19, 2005. Iowa’s longest win streak in Carver-Hawkeye Arena is 15 games. That streak began Jan. 25, 1986 with a 79-69 win over Indiana and ended with an 80-76 loss to Ohio State on Jan. 24, 1987. The streak began with Coach George Raveling and ended with Coach Tom Davis. The 15-game win streak in 1986 and 1987 included nine conference and six non-conference games. Iowa’s current streak includes nine non-conference games as well.

HOME WIN STREAK IS BEST EVER
For the only time in its basketball history, Iowa has posted 13 consecutive home wins in a single season. Iowa’s last undefeated home season was in 1965-66 when the Hawkeyes won all 12 home games. Iowa has won 13 home games or more in 12 seasons, but never the initial 13 games of the season. Iowa has never completed a perfect record in Carver-Hawkeye Arena, which opened in January, 1983. The Hawkeyes lost just one home game in 1993 (15-1) and 1996 (14-1).

LOFTY POSITION FOR FEBRUARY
With a 6-2 Big Ten record at the midway point in conference play, Iowa is tied for first place with Michigan and Illinois. This marks the first time Iowa has been in first place in February since 1981-82. Iowa began that season with a 10-1 league record before suffering its second conference loss on Feb. 11. Minnesota (14-4) won the 1982 Big Ten title, while Iowa (12-6) tied for second. Iowa’s 17-5 record through 22 games matches the best start for a Hawkeye team under Steve Alford, as the Hawkeyes were also 17-5 in 2001.

IOWA STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE
Iowa is 10th in the RPI Index and 20th in the Sagarin Ratings. Both rank Iowa’s strength of schedule as 13th strongest in the nation. Iowa has played 10 games against top 50 teams in the RPI Index and the five teams that have defeated Iowa hold a combined record of 77-25 (.755). The Hawkeyes are 5-3 against teams that were ranked in the top 25 at the time of the game, including 2-1 against top 10 teams.

HAWKEYES VS. RANKED FOES
Iowa has posted a 5-3 record against teams in the top 25 rankings at the time of the game. The five wins vs. ranked foes is the highest total for a Steve Alford-coached Hawkeye team and the most since the Hawkeyes posted a 5-9 record vs. ranked teams in 1998-99.

IOWA TOPS CONSECUTIVE RANKED FOES
With wins over No. 11 Indiana and No. 16 Ohio State last week, Iowa has defeated ranked teams in consecutive games on three occasions under the direction of Coach Steve Alford. A year ago, Iowa defeated 11th-ranked Louisville and 13th-ranked Texas in the first two rounds of the Maui Invitational. In 2002-03, Iowa recorded back-to-back wins over 20th-ranked Michigan State and eighth-ranked Illinois.

HAWKEYES IN NATIONAL STATS
In NCAA statistical rankings, Iowa is sixth in field goal defense (37.9), seventh in fouls per game (14.5), 19th in scoring defense (59.5) and 29th in blocks per game (5.2). Individually, Jeff Horner is tied for ninth in assists per game (6.3), Erek Hansen is 11th in blocked shots per game (3.0) and Greg Brunner is 12th in rebounds per game (10.2).

IOWA SECURES WINNING SEASON
With 17 wins in 22 games, Iowa has clinched its sixth consecutive winning season. The current streak ranks as the second longest in the history of Iowa basketball. Iowa’s record for 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 had five consecutive winning seasons on three occasions, 1979-83, 1985-89 and 1995-99. Iowa is one of four Big Ten teams to post a winning season in each of the previous five seasons, 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.

HORNER IS COUSY FINALIST
Senior guard Jeff Horner is one of 16 players named as a finalist for the 2006 Bob Cousy Award. The list of finalists includes 12 Division I players and two each from Division II and III. The winner will be announced at the Final Four in Indianapolis. Horner, a native of Mason City, IA, has played in all but four games throughout his career, missing four games earlier this season with a knee injury. Horner is averaging 12.9 points, 6.3 assists and 3.9 rebounds per game. He has scored over 1,300 career points and has over 500 career assists and 500 rebounds, the only player in Iowa history to surpass those totals. Horner and his teammates have posted a 17-5 record, securing a winning season for the fourth time in his career.

HALUSKA EARNS BIG TEN HONORS
Junior guard Adam Haluska was named co-Player of the Week in the Big Ten Conference after helping the Hawkeyes to wins over 11th-ranked Indiana and 16th-ranked Ohio State last week. Haluska recorded the first double-double of his Hawkeye career with 20 points and 10 rebounds against Indiana and he added 18 points and seven rebounds later in the week in a win over Ohio State. Haluska hit 6-9 field goals and 9-9 free throws vs. Indiana. Against the Buckeyes he hit two free throws to give Iowa a 65-62 advantage with 24 seconds to play. Haluska has scored in double figures in 20 of 22 games and he is averaging 15.1 points per game. He scored a career-high 29 points earlier this season in a road win at Penn State. The double-double vs. Indiana is Haluska’s first as a Hawkeye. He did record one double-double during his freshman season at Iowa State, collecting 10 points and 11 rebounds in a win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff. The Player of the Week honor is the first for Haluska and the first for an Iowa player this season.

HORNER IS THREE-POINT LEADER
With seven three-point field goals in Iowa’s 77-68 win at Purdue, senior guard Jeff Horner became Iowa’s career leader in made three-pointers. Horner has made 230 treys, moving past Chris Kingsbury, who had 226 during his career (1994-96). Horner currently is second in three-point attempts (625), just 20 from passing Kingsbury in that category. Horner made 7-10 treys while scoring a career-high 32 points against the Boilermakers. The seven three-pointers tie as the third best single-game performance in school history. Horner’s previous scoring high of 27 points came a year ago vs. Texas in a semi-final win at the Maui Invitational. Horner also ranks third in career assists, just 18 shy of the school record (575), held by Andre Woolridge (1995-97). He is 14th in career scoring (1,327) and ninth in career steals (148).

BRUNNER SETS REBOUND RECORD
Senior forward Greg Brunner Brunner established a Carver-Hawkeye Arena record with 23 rebounds in a win over 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 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 Kunnert had 23 rebounds vs. Drake on 12/27/72. Brunner has moved into second place on Iowa’s career rebounding chart, raising his total to 900. Kevin Kunnert (1971-73) is Iowa’s career leader with 914 rebounds.

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 15.1 points and 4.9 rebounds per game, while Horner averages 12.9 points, 6.3 assists and 3.9 rebounds. Horner is one of 16 finalists for the 2006 Bob Cousy Award.

IOWA PROGRAM REACHES 1,400 WINS
The Iowa basketball program reached 1,400 wins (now at 1,413) 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 72 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 283-165 (.632), including a 127-88 (.591) 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. He has led Iowa to six straight winning seasons. Alford ranks fourth among Iowa’s head basketball coaches in total wins. He is 47-57 (.452) 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 4-7 vs. Michigan and 3-4 vs. Wolverine Coach Tommy Amaker.

MICHIGAN COACH TOMMY AMAKER
Tommy Amaker is in his fifth season as head coach at Michigan and his ninth season overall as a college head coach. Amaker is 80-63 at Michigan and his career mark stands at 148-118. He posted a 68-55 record in four seasons at Seton Hall. Amaker graduated from Duke University in 1987, where he earned all-America honors and was named National Defensive Player of the Year as a senior. Amaker scored 1,168 points during his playing career and ranks second in Duke history in career assists and steals. Amaker was a member of the Blue Devil coaching staff from 1989-97, serving as associate head coach his final two seasons before taking over at Seton Hall in 1997-98. Amaker is 4-3 against Iowa and Hawkeye Coach Steve Alford.

ALFORD MOVES TO FOURTH
Coach Steve Alford has collected 127 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).

THE SERIES
Michigan holds an 80-53 advantage in the series that began with a 19-15 Wolverine win in 1912. The teams split last season, with Michigan winning 65-63 Jan. 5 in Iowa City and Iowa winning 74-72 in overtime at Ann Arbor. The Wolverines won two of three meetings in 2004 and Michigan has won nine of the last 14 meetings. Iowa holds a 33-32 advantage in games played in Iowa City, including a 12-9 advantage in Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Iowa has won three of the last five games in Iowa City and four of the last seven. Michigan holds a 2-0 advantage in games played at neutral sites, winning 77-66 in the 1998 Big Ten Conference Tournament in Chicago and 79-70 in the 2004 Big Ten Tournament in Indianapolis. This is the only meeting between the two teams during the regular season.

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

GAME NOTES

• Iowa and Michigan rank first and second, respectively, in blocked shots, for all games and in Big Ten games only. In all games, Michigan leads the Big Ten in field goal percentage (.496) and Iowa is first in field goal percentage defense (.372).
• Michigan’s Courtney Sims leads the Big Ten in field goal percentage for all games, while Iowa’s Erek Hansen leads in field goal percentage in league games (.605). Hansen and Sims also rank first and second, respectively, in blocked shots.
• Steve Alford and Tommy Amaker met once as players, with Alford’s Indiana team defeating Amaker’s Duke team 88-82 in the regional semi-finals of the 1987 NCAA Tournament. Duke had played in the championship game the previous year, while Alford and the Hoosiers went on to win the NCAA title in 1987. Alford had 18 points, five assists and two rebounds in the win over Duke, while Amaker led the Blue Devils with 23 points.
• Iowa Coach Steve Alford was named to the all-Final Four team in 1987 when Indiana won the national title. Michigan Coach Tommy Amaker was named to the all-Final Four team in 1986 when Duke lost to Louisville in the NCAA title game.
• Michigan Assistant Coach Chuck Swenson, in his fifth season with the Wolverines, previously served as a graduate assistant at Indiana. He was an assistant at Duke when Steve Alford and Indiana defeated the Blue Devils in the 1987 tournament. He was an assistant at Duke when the Blue Devils defeated Iowa in 1996 and he was an assistant coach at Penn State from 1996-2001.

IOWA FEATURED ON “THE SEASON”
The University of Iowa’s men’s basketball program is one of five college programs to be featured on ESPN2’s acclaimed series, The Season: College Basketball presented by Capital One.

During the 10 week series, fans will get an inside look into the lives of the players and the team dynamics of Iowa, Bucknell, Florida Atlantic, Memphis and Washington. The current series marks the third season in which selected college basketball programs have been featured.

During the taping of these shows, The Season captured Iowa as it defeated previously undefeated Illinois, won at Penn State and defeated Minnesota in Iowa City.

HAWKEYE TIDBITS

• Trailing 33-25 at halftime at Purdue, Iowa outscored the Boilermakers 52-35 over the final 20 minutes to earn a 77-68 win. The 52 points mark Iowa’s highest scoring second half of the season. Iowa also shot 64% from the field in the second half, which ranks as Iowa’s second best performance in a half this year. The Hawkeyes shot 68.8% in the second half of a 73-60 win over Indiana. Iowa also shot 60% in the second half of a win over Maryland-Eastern Shore in the opening game of the season.
• Iowa has posted a 5-3 record vs. ranked teams. The Hawkeyes defeated 7th-ranked Kentucky (67-63), 21st-ranked North Carolina State (45-42), 6th-ranked Illinois 63-48, 11th-ranked Indiana 73-60 and 16th-ranked Ohio State 67-62. 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 (327) than its opponents have attempted (301).
• Iowa is 2-0 when scoring 80 points or more, 8-0 when scoring between 70-80 points, 6-1 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, 5-3 when holding its opponent between 60-70 points and 2-2 when the opponent scores over 70 points.
• Iowa is 12-1 when collecting more assists than the opponent, 2-4 when the opponent has more assists and 3-0 when assists are equal.
• Iowa is 10-2 when having fewer turnovers than its opponent and 7-3 when the opponent has fewer turnovers.
• Iowa is 5-1 when collecting more steals than its opponent, 11-4 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 seven games, with a season-best five players in the win over Maryland-Eastern Shore. Iowa is 1-0 when five players score 10 points or more, 6-0 when four reach double figures, 7-2 with three in double figures and 3-3 when two are in double figures.
• Iowa is 16-3 when leading at halftime, 1-2 when trailing at intermission and 0-0 when tied at halftime. Iowa has trailed at halftime in road games at Iowa State, Michigan State and Purdue.
• Iowa is 14-2 when controlling the opening tip and 3-3 when not controlling the tip.
• Iowa is 8-2 in games decided by 10 points or less, 6-1 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 eight 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 36-6 when shooting at least 50% from the field, including 3-0 in 2005-06.
• Michigan State and Purdue are the only Iowa opponents to shoot 50% or better from the field, and Iowa split those two road games. 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 RALLIES AT PURDUE
Iowa rallied from a 33-25 halftime deficit to defeat Purdue at West Lafayette. The Hawkeyes trailed the entire opening half and were down by as many as 11 points before Jeff Horner converted a three-point play in the final seconds of the half to cut the deficit to eight. Iowa shot just 34% from the field in the first half, compared to 50% for the Boilermakers, and Iowa had 10 turnovers at the break. The Hawkeyes found their shooting touch at halftime and responded by scoring a season-high 52 points in the second half. Iowa shot 64% from the field in the final 20 minutes, including 72.7% (8-11) from three-point range. The Hawkeyes were guilty of just one turnover in the second half. Trailing 46-39 with 15:52 to play, Iowa used an 11-0 scoring run over a five minute period to take a 50-46 advantage. Mike Henderson keyed the rally, hitting a three-pointer and a lay-up while collecting two steals. Once the Hawkeyes led at 47-46, they never trailed again. Iowa led by as many as nine points, but didn’t seal the win until Horner gave his team a 72-66 lead on a three-pointer with 1:29 to play. Horner scored a career-high 32 points, hitting 7-10 treys while becoming Iowa’s career leader in that category. Henderson matched his career-high with 17 points and Henderson and Horner each collected three of Iowa’s 12 steals. Adam Haluska added 11 points and six rebounds and Greg Brunner had 10 points and seven rebounds.

MICHIGAN WINS AT PENN STATE
Michigan extended its winning streak to five straight with a 71-65 win at Penn State. The Wolverines shot 51% from the field, connecting on 12-25 (48%) three-pointers. Michigan led 33-31 at intermission before shooting 54.2% from the field in the second half. The Wolverines led 62-49 in the second half before a 12-2 PSU scoring run cut the margin to three points with 2:52 remaining. A three-point basket by Daniel Horton with 1:29 left gave Michigan a 69-63 advantage and Penn State could get no closer. Dion Harris led Michigan with 23 points, hitting 7-11 treys. Horton added 13 points and 12 assists and Ron Coleman scored 10 points. Graham Brown led the Wolverines with eight rebounds and Courtney Sims collected seven.

IOWA DEFENSIVE SO FAR
Iowa’s defense has led the way as the Hawkeyes have won 17 of 22 games. Iowa opponents are averaging just 59.5 points per game, shooting 37.9% from the field and 32.2% from three-point range. Iowa has collected 146 steals and forced 335 turnovers while collecting 115 blocked shots. The Hawkeyes have held 17 opponents under 70 points and have won the rebounding battle in 17 games. Iowa ranks high nationally in scoring defense, field goal defense and fewest fouls per game.

ASU HELD TO A DOZEN
Iowa held Arizona State to just 12 first half points in a 62-43 win in Iowa City. That marks the lowest first half total scored by an Iowa opponent in 207 games under Coach Steve Alford. The previous low of 15 points was scored by Northwestern in Iowa’s 72-55 win in the first round of the 2001 Big Ten Tournament in Chicago. Arizona State made 6-23 (26.1%) field goal attempts in the first half, missing three three-point attempts and two free throws.

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.

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.

OVERTIME NOTES

• With the 76-72 triple overtime win over Minnesota, 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. 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.

BRUNNER MOVES TO SECOND
Senior forward Greg Brunner has raised his career rebounding total to 900, moving into second place on Iowa’s career list. Kevin Kunnert (1971-73) is Iowa’s career leader with 914 rebounds. Brunner is 13th in career scoring (1,339) and sixth (93) 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 15 games and collecting 10 or more rebounds in 12 outings. He leads the Big Ten in rebounding (10.2) and is averaging 13.8 points per game. Brunner had 17 points and nine rebounds vs. Ohio State and 17 points and eight rebounds in a win over Indiana last week before adding 10 points and seven rebounds in a win at Purdue.

HORNER HITS 500, AGAIN
Senior guard Jeff Horner, just the fourth Iowa player ever to total over 500 assists, collected career rebound No. 500 in Iowa’s win over Indiana. Horner ranks third in career assists with 557 and he has 510 career rebounds. Horner ranks 14th in career scoring (1,327). In other career stats, Horner is Iowa’s career leader in three-point field goals (230), he is second in three-point attempts (630) and ninth in steals (148). 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. In Iowa’s most recent outing, Horner had a career-high 32 points in the win at Purdue. He is averaging 12.9 points, 6.3 assists and 3.9 rebounds per game.

HALUSKA OVER 1,000 POINTS
Junior guard Adam Haluska surpassed 1,000 career points with his career-high 29 point performance in a win at Penn State. He has 1,084 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, 20 points and 10 rebounds vs. Indiana and 18 points and seven rebounds vs. Ohio State. He has scored in double figures in 20 of 22 games and was named co-Big Ten Player of the Week for his play in wins over Indiana and Ohio State. He leads Iowa in scoring at 15.1 points per game, he is averaging 4.9 rebounds and he has led Iowa in steals in eight games. This is the fifth time Iowa has had three 1,000 point scorers on the same team. In happened in 2005 (Brunner, Horner and Pierre Pierce, 1996 (Jess Settles, Kenyon Murray and Chris Kingsbury), 1989 (Roy Marble, B.J. Armstrong and Ed Horton) and 1988 (Marble, Armstrong and Jeff Moe). Haluska has started all 86 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 added 11 points (4-5 FGs) and six blocks in Iowa’s win over Indiana. Hansen had eight points vs. Ohio State, including two free throws to give Iowa the lead for good late in the contest. He leads the Big Ten in field goal percentage (.605) in league games only. Hansen ranks third in career blocked shots with 189 and his 66 blocks this year ranks sixth 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 13 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 6.7 points and 4.0 rebounds. He leads the Big Ten and ranks 11th nationally with 3.0 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 career scoring high with 17 points in the win at Purdue. He sparked an 11-0 scoring run in the second half that led to Iowa’s win as he hit 7-10 field goals and added three steals. His previous scoring high of the season was 15 points against Valparaiso. He added 10 points vs. Arizona State and 12 points, eight rebounds and four assists vs. Drake. Henderson played a solid defensive game in Iowa’s home win over Illinois and also had 10 points and eight rebounds. Henderson is averaging 7.6 points and 4.4 rebounds per outing, improving his shooting to 45.8% from the field and 75% from the free throw line. Henderson has scored in double figures in seven games this year after scoring 10 or more points just three times in his first two seasons.

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 1,339 points, while Horner is 14th with 1,327. 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. Horner is the only Iowa player ever to score over 1,000 points, grab over 500 rebounds (510) and distribute over 500 assists (557). Horner was honorable mention all-Big Ten a year ago. Haluska has 1,084 career points, with 284 of those coming during his freshman season at Iowa State. He has scored 800 points at Iowa. He leads Iowa in scoring (15.1 ppg) and has scored in double figures in 20 of 22 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 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 23-33 record against ranked opponents as Iowa’s head coach, including a 5-3 mark in 2005-06. The Hawkeyes defeated seventh-ranked Kentucky (67-63), 21st-ranked North Carolina State (45-42), sixth-ranked Illinois (63-48), 11th-ranked Indiana 73-60 and 16th-ranked Ohio State 67-62. Iowa dropped a 68-59 decision to second-ranked Texas, fell 66-52 at 24th-ranked Wisconsin and was 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 56 games against ranked teams, Alford and his Iowa team are 10-9 in home games, 10-11 at neutral sites and 3-13 when playing ranked teams in their home arena.

HOME, AWAY COMPARISONS
In its 13 home games, Iowa has outscored its opponents by a 69.9-53.4 margin, shooting 43.4% from the field while holding its opponent to 34.3% shooting. Iowa holds a 42.5-35.1 rebounding advantage. In nine games away from Carver-Hawkeye Arena (two neutral site games), Iowa has been outscored 63.7-68.3. The Hawkeyes are shooting 39% from the field while opponents are shooting 43% and Iowa is being out-rebounded by a 36.7-37.0 margin.

IOWA FROM THE FREE THROW LINE
Iowa had made over 80% of its free throws in four games and at least 70% of its free throws in 14 of 22 games, with a season-best 83.3% (20-24) in a win over Fairfield. Iowa has posted a 12-2 record when shooting at least 70% from the free throw line.

OFF THE BENCH
The Iowa reserves are averaging 13.2 points and 10.6 rebounds per game, compared to 11.9 points and 9.2 rebounds for the opponent reserves. Iowa is 8-2 when the reserves outscore the opponent’s reserves, 8-2 when the opponent reserves score more points and 1-1 when the reserve scoring is even. Iowa is 11-3 when the Hawkeye reserves have more rebounds than the opponent reserves and 6-2 when the opponent reserves have more rebounds.

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.

ANOTHER STRONG SCHEDULE
Iowa’s non-conference schedule saw 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 was highlighted by games vs. Arizona State of the Pac 10 Conference and North Carolina State of the Atlantic Coast Conference. Iowa also hosted 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. Additional non-conference home games were against Drake and Robert Morris. The schedule included non-conference road games at Northern Iowa, Iowa State and Saint Louis. 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).

HAWKEYES LOOKING FOR HEROES

Is there a hero among you, your friends, your family? Coach Steve Alford and the Iowa Hawkeyes are looking for heroes, people who have gone above and beyond to help others. “There are wonderful things being done each day in every community across the state of Iowa by outstanding people,” said Hawkeye Coach Steve Alford. “Our basketball staff feels the “Heroes Among Us” program is an easy way to salute the friends and neighbors of ours who are making a different in the lives of their friends and neighbors.” Nomination forms for the “Heroes Among Us” program are available online at hawkeyesports.com, the official web site of the Iowa Hawkeyes. Fans can print their nomination form by visiting the men’s basketball home page and clicking on the “Heroes Among Us” line under the “Features” heading. The UI will select one here to be saluted at each Hawkeye home game throughout the remainder of the season. The hero, and the individual who nominated them, will be provided pairs of tickets to the game and a $10 gift certificate to the Official Iowa Hawk Shop. The hero will also be recognized when they are in attendance.

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

AFTER THIS
Iowa hits the road for two games next week, playing at Northwestern Wednesday, Feb. 8 (7 p.m.) and at Indiana Saturday, Feb. 11 (11:05 a.m. CT).