Hawkeyes Return to Action at Arizona State

Nov. 23, 2006

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THE SETTING
Iowa (2-2) continues a five-game road swing Saturday, Nov. 25 at Arizona State (2-2). Game time is 8:35 p.m. CT at ASU’s Wells Fargo Arena (14,198). Iowa played three games in the Paradise Jam, defeating Toledo 78-65 in the first round. The Hawkeyes then lost to 10th-ranked Alabama 72-60 in the semi-finals and dropped an 89-60 decision to Villanova in the consolation round. Arizona State scored a 64-52 win over San Jose State Tuesday to stop a two-game losing streak. The Sun Devils are in the midst of a six-game home stand to open the season.

ON THE AIR
Radio: Iowa games are broadcast on the Hawkeye Radio Network. Gary Dolphin handles the play-by-play, along with color commentator Bob Hansen. The Hawkeye Radio Network coverage includes a 60-minute pre-game show.
Television: Fox Sports Network will televise Saturday’s game. Paul Sunderland and Marquis Johnson will call the action.

IOWA HISTORY
Iowa has played 2,381 games since beginning basketball in 1902. Overall Iowa’s record is 1,423-958 (.598). That includes an 889-306 (.744) record in home games, a 534-652 (.451) record in games away from Iowa City, a 675-658 (.506) mark in Big Ten games and a 295-80 (.787) record in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

COACH Steve Alford
Steve Alford (pronounced ALL-ford) is in his eighth season as head coach at the University of Iowa and his 16th season as a college head coach. Alford holds a career record of 293-171 (.631), including a 137-94 (.593) 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 career wins, just two wins from third place. Alford’s 293 career victories are the most in the nation among all head coaches who are 41-years old or younger. Alford has posted a 13-5 record in the Big Ten Conference Tournament, leading the Hawkeyes to the tournament title in both 2001 and 2006. His total wins and winning percentage in the event rank tops among all Big Ten coaches. Alford is 52-60 (.464) in Big Ten games after leading Iowa to a second place finish (11-5) in the 2006 regular season. Alford is 8-7 in the NCAA Tournament (3-4 in Div. I and 5-3 in Div. III) and 2-4 in the NIT. Alford is the only Iowa coach to lead his Hawkeye teams to six consecutive winning seasons. Iowa has advanced to post-season action in each of the past six years and the Hawkeyes have won 20 or more games in three of his seven seasons. 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 and 2006. 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 1-0 vs. Arizona State and 1-1 vs. ASU Coach Herb Sendek.

ALFORD MOVES TO FOURTH
Coach Steve Alford has collected 137 victories as Iowa’s head coach, a total that ranks fourth on Iowa’s list of coaches in career wins. Alford, in 2006, 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. Iowa’s top three coaches in career wins are Tom Davis (269), Lute Olson (168) and Rollie Williams (139).

ASU’S HERB SENDEK
Herb Sendek is in his first season at Arizona State, posting a 2-2 record. Overall, Sendek is in his 14th season as a college head coach with a record of 256-160. Sendek was most recently the head coach at North Carolina State, posting a 191-132 record in 10 seasons. He was the head coach at Miami, OH from 1993-96, compiling a 63-26 record. Sendek has also served as an assistant coach at Providence (1985-89) and Kentucky (1989-93). As a player, he was a three-year letterman at Carnegie-Mellon from 1981-84. Sendek is 0-1 vs. Iowa and 1-1 vs. Iowa Coach Steve Alford.

IOWA IN TEMPE
Iowa is 2-2 in games played in Tempe. The Hawkeyes split two games in 1980-81 while taking part in ASU’s Fiesta Classic, defeating Cincinnati (69-64) before losing to Arizona State (96-88). Iowa also competed in Tempe in the 1996 NCAA Tournament, defeating George Washington (81-79) before falling to Arizona (87-73) in the second round. That season marks the last time ASU has held NCAA Tournament first and second round games. Iowa played in Phoenix in the 1999 NCAA Tournament. The Hawkeyes won two games in Denver to advance to the Sweet 16. Connecticut, the eventual national champion, defeated the Hawkeyes 78-68 at America West Arena.

IOWA/ASU NOTES

• Iowa is 37-24 all-time against current members of the Pacific 10 Conference, having played all 10 members at least once. Arizona State is 15-15 against the Big Ten Conference, having played all current members except Wisconsin. The Sun Devils also play at Minnesota this season.
• Iowa is 1-1 vs. Pacific 10 teams under Steve Alford. Along with the win over Arizona State last season, Iowa dropped a 72-58 contest to Stanford in the championship game of the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic early in the 1999-00 season in New York City. That marked Steve Alford’s first loss as Iowa’s head coach. Alford’s Iowa career began with a win over top-ranked Connecticut in the semi-finals of that event.
• Arizona State, last season, was the first Pacific 10 team to visit Carver-Hawkeye Arena since Iowa defeated UCLA 88-71 on Dec. 22, 1990.
• ASU Coach Herb Sendek is 0-1 vs. Iowa and 1-1 vs. Iowa Coach Steve Alford. The Hawkeyes scored a 45-42 win last season over Sendek’s North Carolina State team. That game was in Iowa’s Carver-Hawkeye Arena as part of the annual ACC/Big Ten Challenge. Sendek’s North Carolina State team defeated Alford’s Southwest Missouri State team 77-66 in the first round of the 1997 NIT. That game took place at North Carolina State.
• ASU Coach Herb Sendek and Iowa Coach Steve Alford both have fathers who were basketball coaches. Sam Alford was a long-time prep coach in Indiana before joining his son as an assistant coach at Southwest Missouri State and Iowa prior to his retirement. Herb Sendek, Sr. was a teacher and basketball coach at both the high school and junior college levels.
• ASU Coach Herb Sendek was an assistant coach at Providence College in 1987 when Providence reached the Final Four in New Orleans. Iowa Coach Steve Alford was a senior at Indiana in 1987, leading the Hoosiers to the national title. Providence and Indiana did not meet at the Final Four, as the Hoosiers defeated Nevada-Las Vegas in the semi-finals and Providence lost to Syracuse. Sendek was also an assistant coach at Kentucky in 1993 when the Wildcats reached the Final Four.
• ASU assistant Archie Miller is the brother of Xavier Coach Sean Miller. Xavier and Iowa recently competed in the Paradise Jam, but did not meet. Xavier lost in the title game to Alabama and Iowa lost to Alabama in the semi-finals.

IOWA NOTES

• Iowa is in the midst of a five game trip away from Iowa City. This marks the first time since early in the 2000-01 season that Iowa has played five straight games away from home. Like this season, that five-game stretch in 2000-01 also included three games at a neutral site (Rainbow Classic). Iowa’s longest consecutive road game streak under Steve Alford occurred in 1999-00 when the Hawkeyes played at Northern Iowa, Iowa State, Missouri and Drake, winning two of the four.
• Iowa has not lost three consecutive games since February, 2005 and the Hawkeyes have not lost three straight non-conference games under Coach Steve Alford.
• Senior guard Adam Haluska this week was one of 50 candidates named to the pre-season Watch List for the Naismith Award, which goes annually to the Player of the Year.
• With 18 points in Iowa’s most recent outing vs. Villanova, senior Adam Haluska became the 39th Hawkeye player to surpass 1,000 career points. Haluska is in his third season at Iowa and had 1,002 points. His career total, including one season at Iowa State, stands at 1,286.
• Freshman Tyler Smith was named to the all-tournament team at the Paradise Jam. Smith scored in double figures in all three games. He led Iowa to its win over Toledo on the first round, collecting 28 points, six rebounds and five assists. Smith added 19 points in the loss to 10th-ranked Alabama and 13 points in the loss to Villanova.

OVERCOMING DEFICITS
The biggest deficit Iowa has overcome to get a victory is six points, that vs. Toledo. The biggest deficit overcome by an Iowa opponent is seven points, that by Villanova.

SCORING BY HALVES
Iowa has outscored its opponents 130-125 in the first half and has been outscored 154-143 in the second half. Iowa has led at halftime in two of four games and the Hawkeyes have outscored their opponent in the second half in two games.

THE LAST MEETING
Iowa scored a 62-43 win over Arizona State last season in Iowa City. Playing without senior guard Jeff Horner, who had suffered a knee injury earlier in the season, Iowa’s veteran team used a solid defensive effort to take control late in the first half. Leading 13-6, Iowa used a 15-6 scoring spurt over the final seven minutes of the half to take a 28-12 advantage at halftime. ASU shot just 26% from the field in the first half. Iowa led by as many as 20 points in the second half before ASU cut the margin in half (42-32) with 10 minutes to play. The Hawkeyes held Arizona State to 34% shooting from the field and forced 17 turnovers. Iowa shot 40% from the field and held a 15-4 advantage in made free throws. Adam Haluska led Iowa’s scoring attack with 17 points, while Greg Brunner scored 12 and Mike Henderson added 10. Brunner led all players with 15 rebounds as Iowa held a 41-35 rebounding advantage. Kevin Kruger led the Sun Devils with 12 points.

THE SERIES
The series is tied 1-1 after Iowa’s 62-43 win in Iowa City last season, with each team winning on its home floor. ASU defeated the 12th-ranked Hawkeyes 96-88 in the championship game of ASU’s Fiesta Classic in Tempe early in the 1980-81 season. Iowa, coming off an appearance in the 1980 Final Four, posted a 21-7 record that season, while ASU ended the season with a 24-4 record. Both teams advanced to the 1981 NCAA Tournament, Iowa as a three seed and ASU as a two seed. Both were assigned to first and second round games in Wichita, KS, setting up a possible second meeting. Both teams lost in the second round after having a first round bye. ASU lost to Kansas 88-71 while Iowa lost to Wichita State. Kenny Arnold led Iowa’s balanced attack with 21 points vs. ASU, while Vince Brookins added 16, Mark Gannon 13 and Kevin Boyle 10. Arnold and Brookins were named to the all-tournament team. Bobby Hansen, a current member of Iowa’s radio broadcast team, was a sophomore on that Iowa team, but did not play vs. Arizona State due to a knee injury. Arizona State was led by Layfette Lever with 21 points, while Byron Scott and Sam Williams each scored 20.

IOWA WIN STREAK RANKS THIRD
Iowa currently holds the third longest home winning streak in the nation. Iowa won all 17 home games a year ago and has won 19 straight dating back to the final home game of the 2005 season. Iowa’s last home loss was a 75-65 decision to Illinois on Feb. 19, 2005. Last season marked Iowa’s first unbeaten home season in Carver-Hawkeye Arena, which opened in 1983. The 17 victories set a school record for home wins in a season. The Hawkeyes lost just one home game in 1993 (15-1) and 1996 (14-1). The 19-game streak is a new mark for Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Iowa’s record for consecutive home wins is 24. That streak began in 1946-47 and ended in 1948-49. Last season marked Iowa’s seventh perfect home season in school history and the first since 1966. Iowa’s current streak of 24 consecutive non-conference home wins ranks 14th-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.

VILLANOVA STOPS IOWA
Villanova used its experience and depth and a smothering defense to take an 89-60 win over Iowa in the consolation championship of the 2006 Paradise Jam. Villanova, an Elite Eight team in the NCAA Tournament last season, forced 22 Hawkeye turnovers and held Iowa to 41.3% shooting from the field. The Hawkeyes shot just 31.3% in the first half as the Wildcats built a 41-24 halftime advantage. Iowa pulled to within 18-17 on two free throws by Kurt Looby midway through the first half before the Wildcats scored 16 straight points to take control. Villanova’s long range shooting ability kept Iowa from closing the gap in the second half. Villanova shot 60.7% from the field over the final 20 minutes, including 70% (7-10) from three-point range. For the game the Wildcats shot 52.6% from the field and held a 32-26 rebounding advantage. Iowa built a 10-3 lead in the opening minutes, helped by six straight free throws from senior Adam Haluska. But Iowa committed 13 turnovers before the break and the Wildcats turned a number of those mistakes into easy baskets. Haluska led Iowa in scoring with 18 points, hitting 5-13 field goals and 7-8 free throws. Haluska increased his career scoring total to 1,286, including 1,002 as a Hawkeye. After fighting foul problems in a loss to Alabama, Kurt Looby fought back against Villanova with 13 points and a team-high seven rebounds. Freshman Tyler Smith, who earned a spot on the all-tournament team, added 12 points, three rebounds and two steals and Tony Freeman added five assists.

SUN DEVILS DEFEAT SAN JOSE STATE
Arizona State stopped a two-game losing streak Tuesday with a 64-52 home win over San Jose State. The Sun Devils outscored the visitors by a 34-23 margin in the second half after leading by just one, 30-29, at halftime. ASU shot 50% from the field in the second half and 45.8% for the game. ASU held San Jose State to just 38.9% shooting and forced 16 turnovers. The Sun Devils featured a balanced scoring attack, as four players scored in double figures. Freshman guard Christian Polk came off the bench to collect 14 points and five assists. Sophomore Jeff Pendergraph added 12 points and 12 rebounds, reserve Sylvester Seay added 11 points and guard Jerren Shipp also had 11. ASU’s reserves scored 34 of the 64 points.

HENDERSON OUT OF ACTION DUE TO INJURY
Senior guard Mike Henderson is expected to be out of action for three to six weeks after suffering a hand injury in practice on Oct. 30. Henderson suffered a fracture to the pinkie finger on his right hand and underwent surgery two days later. Henderson (6-3, 200), a Waterloo, IA native, started all 34 games a year ago. He averaged 7.6 points and 3.9 rebounds per outing while shooting 46.4% from three-point range. He earned the team “Most Improved Award” at the conclusion of the season. As a junior Henderson scored in double figures in 11 games. He matched a career-high with 17 points in a win at Purdue and scored 16 points vs. Michigan State in the Big Ten Tournament and in a home win over Penn State. Henderson added 15 points and seven rebounds in an early season win over ninth-ranked Kentucky as Iowa was 11-0 when he scored in double figures.

HALUSKA NAMED CAPTAIN
Senior Adam Haluska will serve as Iowa’s 2006-07 team captain. Haluska is a native of Carroll, IA who has started every game for the Hawkeyes over the past three seasons. A year ago he earned third team all-Big Ten recognition. Haluska averaged 13.9 points and 4.7 rebounds last season. He has scored 1,286 career points, including 1,002 with the Hawkeyes. He was named to the Guardians Classic all-tournament team a year ago and was an all-tournament selection in Iowa’s Hawkeye Challenge.

PRE-SEASON HONORS FOR HALUSKA
Senior guard Adam Haluska has earned pre-season recognition for his action on and off the floor. Following are Haluska’s pre-season honors:

• Named the recipient of the 2006-07 Anson Mount Scholar/Athlete Award. The award is presented by Playboy Magazine and recognizes a student-athlete who excels in the classroom and on the court. The magazine will donate $5,000 to the University of Iowa general scholarship fund.
• Named to pre-season all-Big Ten team, as selected by vote of media representatives attending Big Ten Conference Basketball Media Day.
• One of 50 players named to the pre-season Watch List for the John R. Wooden all-America team.
• One of 50 players named to the pre-season Watch List for the Naismith Award, which goes each year to the national Player of the Year.

Haluska earned academic all-America honors last season and is a two-time academic all-Big Ten honoree. He earned third team all-Big Ten honors a year ago after averaging 13.9 points and 4.7 rebounds per game. He ranks among Iowa’s career leaders in three-point field goals and three point attempts.

HALUSKA OVER 1,000 POINTS
Guard Adam Haluska heads into his final season as Iowa’s most honored player, both on the court and off. Along with earning third team all-Big Ten honors a year ago, Haluska is a two-time academic all-Big Ten honoree and a year ago he was recognized as an academic all-American. Haluska has earned the Chris Street Award, one of the top Iowa team awards presented at the end of each season, in each of the past two years. Last season he was also named to the NABC District 12 all-District second team and he was a member of the all-tournament team in both the Hawkeye Challenge and the Guardians Classic. Haluska surpassed 1,000 career points with his career-high 29-point performance in a win at Penn State last season. He has 1,286 points in his career, with 1,002 of those coming with the Hawkeyes. His 185 three-point field goals attempts last season rank sixth best at Iowa. He ranks eighth in career three-point field goals (131) and seventh in career attempts (368). Haluska began the season with 29 points in the win over The Citadel, matching his career high. He also added five rebounds and six assists. He added 10 points and five rebounds in the win over Toledo and 18 points vs. Villanova. Haluska increased his consecutive free throw streak to 21 (including three last season) before missing his final attempt vs. Villanova. He scored in double figures in 27 of 34 games a year ago and was named co-Big Ten Player of the Week for his play in wins over Indiana and Ohio State. He averaged 13.9 points and 4.7 rebounds and led Iowa in steals in 11 games. Haluska has started all 102 games he has played in his career. His consecutive starts streak ranks 10th longest among all Division I players, according to STATS — Chicago.

HENDERSON NUMBERS IMPROVED
Guard Mike Henderson played a key role in Iowa’s 2006 success, improving his numbers in several categories from his sophomore season while earning the team “Most Improved Award”. Henderson matched his career scoring high with 17 points in the win at Purdue. Henderson led Iowa in a home win over Penn State, collecting 16 points while connecting on 6-7 field goals and 3-4 free throws. Henderson averaged 7.6 points and 3.9 rebounds per outing, improving his shooting to 48.7%. In Big Ten games only, he ranked sixth in league field goal percentage (54.9%). Henderson scored in double figures in 11 games after scoring 10 or more points just three times in his first two seasons.

SMITH STEPS FORWARD IN PARADISE
Freshman Tyler Smith, who had just two points in his first college game, led Iowa with 28 points in the win over Toledo. Smith connected on 11-17 field goal attempts and 5-8 free throws. He also led Iowa with five assists and collected six rebounds in 32 minutes of action. Smith had another solid outing in the loss to Alabama, collecting 19 points, six rebounds, four assists and two steals in 37 minutes. Against Villanova, he added 12 points and three rebounds. He was named to the Paradise Jam all-tournament team and through four games is averaging 15.3 points, 3.8 rebounds and three assists per game, shooting 54.5% from the field.

FREEMAN SOLID AT THE POINT
Guard Tony Freeman had a solid first season with the Hawkeyes a year ago and played well in Iowa’s opening win. Freeman had a career high 11 assists and six rebounds in the opening game of the season. He added a career-best eight rebounds in the win over Toledo and added 16 points, four rebounds and three assists against Alabama. He led Iowa with five assists vs. Villanova. Freeman, last season, played in 33 of 34 games, with four starts in the non-conference season. Freeman averaged 3.4 points and 1.3 rebounds and collected 53 assists and 19 steals. He is averaging eight points, 4.8 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game through four games.

LOOBY HITS THE BOARDS
After sitting out last season as a redshirt, junior Kurt Looby began to prove that his hard work from a year ago will pay dividends. Looby led Iowa with 14 rebounds in the win over The Citadel and added three blocked shots as well. After playing just two minutes in the first half against Toledo, he ended the game with 13 points and nine rebounds, all in the second half. Looby added 13 points, seven rebounds and three blocked shots in Iowa’s mot recent outing vs. Villanova. He leads Iowa in rebounding (8.0) and blocked shots (2.0) and is scoring 7.5 points per game. He is a native of St. John’s Antigua. His mother, Olivet, was able to visit the Virgin Islands last week to see her son play college basketball for the first time.

GORNEY ADDS TO THE MIDDLE
Junior center Seth Gorney started for the first time in his career against The Citadel and responded with 10 points, two rebounds and three steals, matching his career scoring high. Gorney hit 4-7 field goals and 2-2 free throws in 25 minutes. Gorney added 10 points (4-6 FGs) and five rebounds vs. Toledo and he had 10 points and three assists in the loss to Alabama. Last season Gorney had 10 points in an early season win over Maryland-Eastern Shore before scoring just 17 points the rest of the season while averaging four minutes per game. His 25 minutes of action in each of Iowa’s first two games more than doubled his previous high (12 minutes vs. Penn State) and he played 28 minutes vs. Alabama.

TATE ON TARGET IN FIRST ACTION
Sophomore forward Cyrus Tate connected on 6-7 field goal attempts to score 13 points vs. The Citadel in his first action as a Hawkeyes. It was more of the same in Iowa’s win over Toledo as Tate hit 3-5 field goals and 3-4 free throws, collecting nine points, seven rebounds and two steals in 18 minutes. He is shooting 68.8% from the field and averaging 6.8 points and 3.8 rebounds per game. Tate attended junior college one season before joining the Iowa program.

OFF THE BENCH
The Iowa reserves scored eight points and had five rebounds in the loss to Villanova, compared to 35 points and 14 rebounds for the Villanova reserves. Iowa is 1-1 when the reserves outscore the opponent’s reserves, 1-1 when the opponent reserves score more points and 0-0 when the reserve scoring is even. Iowa is 1-1 when the Hawkeye reserves have more rebounds than the opponent reserves, 1-1 when the opponent reserves have more rebounds and 0-0 when the reserve rebounding is even.

IOWA SEEKS SEVENTH STRAIGHT
Iowa, in 2007, is seeking its seventh consecutive winning season. The current streak of six straight 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 record in each of the last six seasons, joining Illinois, Michigan State and Wisconsin. Iowa, in 2006, advanced to post-season play for the sixth straight season and returned to the NCAA Tournament for the second straight season.

IOWA PROGRAM REACHES 1,400 WINS
The Iowa basketball program reached 1,400 wins (now at 1,423) with a 79-46 victory over Texas-San Antonio on Nov. 26, 2005. Iowa is one of 37 NCAA Division I programs with as many as 1,400 wins. Iowa’s basketball history includes 72 winning seasons and 24 years in which the Hawkeyes have won 20 or more games. Iowa (with 22) is one of 31 programs to earn more than 20 invitations into the NCAA Tournament.

IOWA ON THE TUBE
Nearly every Iowa game throughout the 2006-07 season will be televised, with the only exception being the first round of the Paradise Jam in November. Fox Sports will televise the semi-finals, third place game and championship game of the eight-team tournament. The majority of Iowa’s non-conference games will be televised on ESPN Regional. Games at Drake and Virginia Tech will be aired on ESPNU and the contest at Arizona State can be seen on Fox Sports. During the Big Ten season, Iowa games vs. Michigan State, Indiana (twice), at Wisconsin and at Penn State will be televised on ESPN. Iowa’s home game with Wisconsin can be seen on CBS and the home finale against Illinois could appear on either CBS or ESPN. All other conference games will be on ESPN Regional, 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.

IOWA HAS STRONG FINISH
Following is a list of Iowa’s accomplishments in 2006:

• Posted 25 wins, which ranks as the second highest total in school history. The Hawkeyes won 30 games in 1987 and 24 games in 1988. The 22 regular season wins tie as the second most in school history. The Hawkeyes won 27 regular season games in 1987 and 22 in both 1988 and 1989.
• Posted 10 wins in 14 games against top 25 teams. Iowa was 3-2 against top 10 teams.
• Prior to tournament play, Iowa was the only Division I team in the nation to record 10 wins against teams that were ranked in the top 25 at the time of the game.
• Posted 11 Big Ten wins, the most for an Iowa team since the 1996-97 team won 12 conference games. The 11 Big Ten wins are the most for Iowa since the Big Ten went to a 16-game league schedule in 1998.
• Won the Big Ten Conference Tournament with three straight wins. Iowa also won the event in 2001 and was second in 2002. Iowa is one of three teams with two tournament titles and Coach Steve Alford is the only Big Ten coach to take three teams to the championship game.
• Earned a tie for second place in the regular season standings. Iowa had not placed as high as second in the regular season since earning a tie for second with a 12-6 record in 1997.
• Earned a third seed in the NCAA Tournament. The three seed is the highest since the Hawkeyes were seeded second in the 1987 event. Iowa was also a three seed in 1981.
• Earned the No. two seed in the Big Ten Tournament. Iowa’s previous best seed in the event was fourth in 2004.
• Advanced to the title game of the Big Ten Conference Tournament for the third time since 2001.
• Defeated seven top 25 opponents in Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Iowa set school records for home wins and total wins over ranked opponents last season.
• Completed its first-ever undefeated home season in Carver-Hawkeye Arena, which opened in 1983, and its first undefeated home season since 1966.
• Completed the seventh season in Iowa history with an undefeated home record. Iowa was also undefeated at home in 1902 (3-0), 1926 (9-0), 1945 (11-0), 1948 (12-0), 1950 (6-0) and 1966 (12-0).
• Established a school record 17 home wins in one season. The previous record of 16 was established in 1985.
• Improved its overall home winning streak to 18 games, a streak that ranks longest in the Big Ten and fourth best in the nation.

IOWA’S HAWKEYE CHALLENGE
Iowa will once again host its own Hawkeye Challenge on Friday and Saturday, Dec. 1-2. Iowa will meet Texas-Pan American in the second game on Friday, following the opening game that pits Coppin State against LaSalle. LaSalle is making its third appearance in the tournament after placing second in 1996 and fourth in 2001. Texas-Pan American finished fourth in 1992 in its only appearance in the event and Coppin State is taking part in the tournament for the first time. Coppin State played in Iowa City during the 1998-99 season.

IOWA INTRODUCES SOLDIERS FIRST PROGRAM
Coach Steve Alford and the Iowa Hawkeyes have introduced a new program that thanks active members of the U.S. Military for their service to the country by providing them the opportunity to enjoy a home game of the Iowa Hawkeyes with their family and/or friends. The “Soldiers First” program offers five men or women who are on “active duty” with any branch of the U.S. Military the opportunity to cheer Alford’s 2006-07 Iowa squad with three guests. Ticket requests will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Eligible servicemen and servicewomen can call the UI Sports Marketing Office at (319) 335-9431 to learn more about the “Soldier’s First” program. Information and a registration form are also on the home page for men’s basketball at hawkeyesports.com, the official world wide web site of the Iowa Hawkeyes.

BASKETBALL TICKETS AVAILABLE
The following is information on Iowa basketball tickets.

Season tickets are available for 2006-07, including general public ($300), UI faculty and staff ($243) and UI students ($85). Single game tickets are available for $20 and $25, depending on the date of the game. UI students can purchase single game tickets for $15 on the day of the game, when available.

There are several options available for fans interested in purchasing tickets for selected games:

• A three-game package is available for $57 that includes games vs. Northern Iowa, Michigan State and Indiana.
• The Big Ten mid-week package is available for $68 and includes games vs. Michigan State, Penn State, Northwestern and Purdue.
• The Big Ten weekend package includes games vs. Minnesota, Wisconsin, Indiana and Illinois and is available for $100.
• The pre-Big Ten season package includes both nights of the Hawkeye Challenge and games vs. Iowa State, Texas Southern and Cornell, for $80.
• The Holiday Special package, which includes games vs. Cornell, Michigan State and Minnesota, is $54.
• Tickets for the two nights of the Hawkeye Challenge are $36.
• “Youth Basketball Nights” have been set for both nights of the Hawkeye Challenge and games vs. Georgia State, Texas Southern, Cornell, Penn State, Northwestern and Purdue. Tickets for students high school age or younger are $10 for these games.
• Discounted tickets to select home games, earmarked for purchase by groups of 20 or more, are also available for purchase. For information about group ticket packages, fans should call the UI Sports Marketing Office at (319) 335-9431.

Fans interested in obtaining men’s basketball tickets can do so at the UI Athletic Ticket Office, located in Carver-Hawkeye Arena, by calling the ticket office at 1-800-IA-HAWKS or by visiting the UI website at hawkeyesports.com.

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. This marks the second year of the “Heroes Among Us” program, as 15 Iowans were recognized at home games a year ago.

HALK TALK WITH Steve Alford
Fans of the University of Iowa basketball program may join Iowa Coach Steve Alford and radio announcer Gary Dolphin each week during the season for the “Hawk Talk with Steve Alford” radio call-in show. The show takes place each week at Carlos O’Kelly’s Mexican Café in Iowa City from 6 to 7:30 p.m. The show will take place on the following dates: November 27; December 4, 11 and 18; January 8, 17, 22 and 29; February 5, 12, 19 and 28; March 5 and 12.

COMING UP NEXT
The Hawkeyes play at Virginia Tech Nov. 29 (6:05 p.m. CT, ESPNU) as part of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. Iowa’s next home contest is Friday, Dec. 1 against Texas-Pan American in the first round of the Hawkeye Challenge.