Hawkeyes Return to Action vs. Georgia State

Dec. 19, 2006

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THE SETTING
Iowa (5-6) meets Georgia State (4-5) Wednesday, Dec. 20 in the first of four straight home games. Game time is 7:05 p.m. in Carver-Hawkeye Arena (15,500). Iowa lost to Drake 75-59 in Des Moines Saturday. The Hawkeyes have won three of their last five games. Georgia State defeated Alabama State 64-56 on the road Saturday, ending a two-game losing streak.

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: ESPN Regional will carry the game to a network of stations that includes KGAN Cedar Rapids, KDSM Des Moines, KWQC Quad Cities, KYOU Ottumwa, CSS, Atlanta, GA (tape-delayed), Sportsnet, New York, NY, Mid-Atlantic Sports Network, Baltimore, MD, Cox-Northeast in Providence, RI, Metro Sports, Kansas City, MO and cable systems throughout the state of Iowa, including Council Bluffs-Omaha, Rochester-Mason City, Sioux City and Sacramento, CA. Larry Morgan and Mac McCausland will call the action.

IOWA IN CARVER-HAWKEYE ARENA
Iowa has compiled a 298-81 (.786) record in Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Iowa is 140-67 (.676) in Big Ten games and 158-14 (.919) in non-Big Ten games. Iowa has drawn over 5.4 million fans for men’s basketball games since the arena opened in 1983. Iowa has posted a 90-26 (.776) home record under Coach Steve Alford, including a 55-5 (.917) mark in non-conference home games. Iowa has won 22 of its last 23 home games. Two of the five non-conference home losses came in the National Invitation Tournament.

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 296-175 (.628), including a 140-98 (.588) 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 third among Iowa’s head basketball coaches in career wins. Alford’s 296 career victories are the most in the nation among all head coaches who are 42-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 has not coached against Georgia State or Panther Coach Michael Perry.

ALFORD THIRD IN CAREER WINS
Coach Steve Alford has collected 140 victories as Iowa’s head coach, a total that ranks third on Iowa’s list of coaches in career wins. With Iowa’s win over Iowa State, Alford moved past Rollie Williams (139) for third place on Iowa’s career win list behind Tom Davis (269) and Lute Olson (168). Davis coached the Hawkeyes from 1987-99, Olson was the Iowa coach from 1975-83 and Williams coached the Hawkeyes from 1930-42 and in 1950-51.

GSU COACH MICHAEL PERRY
Michael Perry is in his fifth season as a college head coach, all at Georgia State. Perry’s career mark stands at 55-60. Perry also posted a 6-1 record while subbing for then-head coach Lefty Driesell. Perry served as an assistant and as associate head coach at Georgia State for five years before taking over as head coach in January, 2003. As an assistant, Perry helped guide the Panthers to the second round of the 2001 NCAA Tournament and an NIT berth in 2002. The Panthers were 29-5 in 2001. Georgia State has won 20 or more games in three of the past five years. Perry joined the Georgia State staff as the first assistant hired by Driesell prior to the 1997-98 season. Perry has also served as an assistant at Virginia Union (1985-86) and Richmond (1986-97). As an assistant at Richmond, Perry saw the Spiders upset Syracuse in the 1991 NCAA Tournament, marking the first time a 15-seed defeated a two-seed. Richmond also defeated Georgia Tech in that NCAA Tournament that season. In 1988 Richmond defeated fourth-seeded Indiana, knocking the defending NCAA champions out of the tournament. Perry is a Richmond graduate, where he is a member of the Athletic Hall of Fame. He was a three-year captain and led Richmond in scoring in each of his four seasons. He earned honorable mention all-America recognition as a senior and was selected by the Kansas City Kings in the 1981 NBA draft. Perry has not coached against Iowa or Hawkeye Coach Steve Alford.

CINDERELLA ALMOST LOST
George Mason, the Cinderella of the 2006 NCAA Tournament with its run to the Final Four, almost didn’t make it to the dance. Georgia State met George Mason in the quarter-finals of the Colonial Athletic Association post-season tournament. George Mason needed overtime for a 51-46 win over the Panthers, and from there George Mason made its magical run to the semi-final game at the Final Four in Indianapolis.

THE SERIES
Iowa holds a 1-0 series advantage, defeating Georgia State 89-40 in Iowa City on Dec. 12, 1984. Greg Stokes led Iowa with 22 points, as he connected on 11-11 field goals. Iowa shot an even 50% from the field, while holding Georgia State to 24% shooting. The Hawkeyes also forced 27 turnovers. That Iowa team posted a 21-11 overall record and advanced to the NCAA Tournament.

IOWA, GSU NOTES

• Iowa is 8-0 all-time against current members of the Colonial Athletic Association, having played Delaware (1-0), Drexel (1-0), George Mason (1-0), Georgia State (1-0), James Madison (1-0), Northeastern (1-0) and Virginia Commonwealth (2-0). Iowa and Virginia Commonwealth both participated in the Paradise Jam earlier this season, but the teams did not meet.
• Georgia State is 1-1 against the Big Ten, having played Iowa and Wisconsin. The win over the Badgers (50-49) came in the first round of the 2001 NCAA Tournament.
• GSU Coach Michael Perry was an assistant coach at Richmond when the Spiders defeated Georgia Tech in the 1988 NCAA Tournament. A senior starter for Georgia Tech that season was Craig Neal, Iowa’s associate head coach.
• Georgia State assistant Mark Macon played at Temple and played in the NBA for six seasons. Macon is a member of the Temple Athletic Hall of Fame. He remains as the all-time leading scorer in the Atlantic 10 Conference with 2,609 career points. Macon was 0-1 in his career against Iowa, as the Hawkeyes defeated Temple 73-71 in Iowa City in the first round of the pre-season National Invitation Tournament in 1990-91. In his senior year, Macon had eight points, five rebounds, five assists and five steals while playing all 40 minutes of that contest.

HENDERSON RETURNS TO ACTION
Senior guard Mike Henderson, who missed Iowa’s first seven games after suffering a hand injury in practice on Oct. 30, saw his first action of the season in Iowa’s win over Coppin State. Henderson suffered a fracture to the pinkie finger on his right hand and underwent surgery two days later. Henderson had the cast removed Nov. 27 before playing eight minutes vs. Coppin State and 11 minutes vs. Northern Iowa. Henderson scored eight points in 15 minutes vs. Iowa State and played 26 minutes in the loss at Drake. 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.

IOWA NOTES

• As a team, Iowa leads the Big Ten Conference and ranks 10th in the nation in free throw percentage, making 75.5% (123-163) of its attempts. Individually, Adam Haluska is shooting 92.2% (47-51) from the line to rank 19th.
• Iowa completed a five-game road swing in November that saw the Hawkeyes travel nearly 8,000 miles while competing in the Paradise Jam in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, along with playing single games at Arizona State and Virginia Tech. Iowa has played in four different time zones (Atlantic, Eastern, Central, Mountain). 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 already played opponents from six of the stronger leagues in the nation, including the Atlantic Coast (Virginia Tech), Big East (Villanova), Big 12 (Iowa State), Missouri Valley (Drake & Northern Iowa), Pac-10 (Arizona State) and Southeastern (Alabama).
• Senior guard Adam Haluska has started all 109 games in his career, a streak that ranks as the longest in the nation among current players.
• Senior guard Adam Haluska was recently named 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 loss to Villanova, Adam Haluska became the 39th Hawkeye player to surpass 1,000 career points. Haluska is in his third season at Iowa and has 1,137 points to rank 26th on Iowa’s career list. His career total, including one season at Iowa State, stands at 1,421.
• 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.

SMITH AMONG FRESHMAN LEADERS
Iowa’s Tyler Smith ranks high among freshmen in the Big Ten, He is third in scoring (14.5) and assists, fourth in rebounding (4.6) and steals (1.3), 13th in field goal percentage (.471) and 16th in free throw percentage (.650) and three-point field goal percentage (.250).

HAWKEYE TIDBITS

• Four Hawkeye opponents (Alabama, Villanova, Arizona State, Drake) have shot better than 50% from the field. In 34 games a year ago, Iowa allowed just three opponents to shoot as well as 50% from the field. Those were road games at Michigan State, Purdue and Minnesota, with Iowa losing two of the three. Iowa is 4-12 over the past four seasons when its opponent shoots 50% or better from the field.
• Iowa is 1-0 when scoring 80 points or more, 3-0 when scoring between 70-80 points, 1-4 when scoring between 60-70 points and 0-2 when scoring less than 60 points.
• Iowa is 3-1 when holding its opponent to less than 60 points, 2-2 when holding its opponent between 60-70 points and 0-3 when the opponent scores over 70 points.
• Iowa is 4-2 when collecting more assists than the opponent and 1-4 when the opponent has more assists.
• Iowa is 4-4 when having fewer turnovers than its opponent and 1-2 when the opponent has fewer turnovers.
• Iowa is 2-3 when collecting more steals than its opponent, 1-3 when the opponent has more steals and 2-0 when steals are equal.
• Iowa has had four players score in double figures in one game (Toledo) and three players score in double figures in seven games. Iowa is 1-0 when four reach double figures, 3-4 with three score in double figures and 0-3 with two players in double figures.
• Iowa is 5-2 when leading at halftime and 0-4 when trailing at intermission.
• Iowa is 2-3 when controlling the opening tip and 3-3 when not controlling the tip.
• Iowa is 0-3 in games decided by 10 points or less and 0-3 in games decided by five points or less.

IOWA FALLS AT DRAKE
Drake University used a strong shooting night from the field and a large rebounding advantage to defeat Iowa 75-59 in Des Moines, ending a 27-game losing streak in the series. The Bulldogs won their sixth straight game as Iowa lost for the first time in the Knapp Center after seven straight wins. The Hawkeyes played well in the early going, hitting eight of their first 12 field goal attempts. The score was tied at 22-22 before Drake used a 13-2 run over a three minute span to gain control. Drake eventually built a 38-28 advantage at the break. Drake built the advantage to 15 points with 13 minutes to play before Iowa rallied behind the outside shooting of Justin Johnson. Johnson hit three consecutive three-pointers within one minute to cut the deficit to 55-43 with 10 minutes remaining. Drake was able to pick up the defensive pressure from there, holding Iowa scoreless for just over five minutes in rebuilding the margin to 63-45 with five minutes remaining. Drake shot 53.1% from the field and held a 41-23 rebounding advantage while playing in front of the largest crowd ever (7,268) at the Knapp Center. Adam Haluska led Iowa with 21 points and seven rebounds. Freshman Tyler Smith added 16 points and five rebounds and Johnson ended the game with 12 points, hitting 4-5 three-pointers. Iowa shot just 39.2% from the field and was outscored 18-10 at the free throw line.

GSU WINS AT ALABAMA STATE
Georgia State stopped a two-game losing streak with a 64-56 win at Alabama State Saturday evening. The Panthers rode the hot hand of Lance Perique, who led all players with 29 points. Perique hit 9-17 field goals and 10-13 free throws, while also collecting eight rebounds. Brandon Cartwright added 13 points, hitting 7-8 free throws, and matched Perique with eight rebounds. GSU shot 42.9% from the field, compared to 43.9% for Alabama State, but the Panthers also added 20-28 (71.4%) free throws, compared to 3-9 for Alabama State. Alabama State also hit just 3-18 (16.7%) of its three-point attempts.

HALUSKA NAMED CAPTAIN
Senior Adam Haluska is 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 1,421 career points, including 1,137 with the Hawkeyes. He was named the tournament MVP in Iowa’s Hawkeye Challenge after scoring 31 points and collecting nine rebounds and nine assists in the title game.

EARLY SEASON HONORS FOR HALUSKA
Senior guard Adam Haluska has earned recognition for his action on and off the floor. Following are Haluska’s early 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.
• Named Most Valuable Player in Iowa’s Hawkeye Challenge, collecting 31 points, nine rebounds and nine assists in the title game. He had eight points, five rebounds, four rebounds and three steals in an opening round win over Texas-Pan American.

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.

THE HAWKEYE ROSTER
The Iowa roster includes 14 players. One of those players, David Palmer, will redshirt as a transfer from another Division I program. The squad includes two seniors, three juniors, six sophomores and three freshmen. Nine of the players are in their first year with the Iowa program. Along with the four Iowans on the roster, there are two players from Illinois, Indiana and Tennessee and one from California, Ohio and Texas and St. John’s, Antigua.

THE RETURNING CAST
Iowa returns two starters and five lettermen from 2006. The returning starters include seniors Adam Haluska and Mike Henderson, who each started all 34 games last season. Haluska was a third team all-Big Ten selection and an academic all-American. With just five players returning from a year ago, Iowa returns 38.8% of its scoring, 27.9% of its rebounding, 40.8% of its assists and 41.8% of its steals. Iowa’s returning players shot 42.9% from the field, 34.9% from three-point range and 77.4% from the free throw line.

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 scored 20 or more points in five of 11 games, including a career-high 31 points vs. Coppin State. Haluska has raised his career scoring total to 1,421, including 1,137 in three seasons at Iowa. His 185 three-point field goals attempts last season rank sixth best at Iowa. He ranks sixth in career three-point field goals (153) and career attempts (423). 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. Haluska scored 24 points in close road losses at Arizona State and Virginia Tech and had 21 points and seven rebounds at Drake. He added 18 points vs. Villanova and increased his consecutive free throw streak to 21 (including three last season) before missing his final attempt vs. Villanova. He is shooting 92.2% (47-51) from the free throw line to rank 19th in the nation in free throw percentage. Haluska has started all 109 games he has played in his career. His consecutive starts streak ranks as the longest in the nation 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. Henderson missed the first seven games of this season with a hand injury before returning to see limited action in Iowa’s last four games. He scored eight points in 15 minutes in the win over Iowa State and played a season-high 26 minutes at Drake.

SMITH STEPS FORWARD IN PARADISE
Freshman Tyler Smith, who had just two points in his first college game, led Iowa with 28 points in a win over Toledo in the first round of the Paradise Jam. 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 a semi-final 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 and he added 12 points, five assists, four rebounds and two steals at Arizona State. Smith had 12 points, five rebounds, four steals and three assists vs. Texas-Pan American and 16 points and seven rebounds vs. Coppin State. Smith led Iowa with 20 points (9-15 FGs) and added six rebounds vs. Northern Iowa and he added 16 points and a career-best six assists in the win over Iowa State. He added 16 points and five rebounds in a loss at Drake. Smith was named to the Paradise Jam all-tournament team and the Hawkeye Challenge all-tournament team. He is averaging 14.5 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game.

FREEMAN SOLID AT THE POINT
Guard Tony Freeman had a solid first season with the Hawkeyes a year ago and had a career high 11 assists and six rebounds in the opening game this 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 and added 11 points (4-5 FGs, 2-2 FTs) against Virginia Tech. Freeman collected 10 points and five assists in the win over Texas-Pan American and six points and five assists vs. Coppin State. He scored 11 points and added four rebounds and four assists vs. Northern Iowa. Freeman led Iowa with three steals in the win over Iowa State and he added 11 points and five assists. He is averaging eight points and 4.4 assists per game.

JOHNSON LEADS FROM LONG RANGE
Junior guard Justin Johnson is making his mark in his first season with the Hawkeye program, as he currently leads the Big Ten in three-point field goal percentage. Johnson has started six games, averaging 7.3 points and 2.7 rebounds per game while shooting 53.3% (24-45) from three-point range. He made 4-5 three-point shots in the loss at Drake, including three straight in a one-minute span in the second half. Johnson contributed nine points and six rebounds at Virginia Tech and he led the team with 14 points and five rebounds in a win over Texas-Pan American. Johnson added 13 points, five rebounds and four assists in Iowa’s win over Coppin State and was named to the Hawkeye Challenge all-tournament team.

A STITCH IN TIME
Junior Justin Johnson has taken over the team lead in stitches. Johnson was cut above the right eye in the late stages of the game at Drake and had to get three stitches. Freshman Tyler Smith had two stitches after suffering a cut during Iowa’s win over Coppin State in the Hawkeye Challenge.

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 vs. Villanova and he added six points, four rebounds and three blocked shots vs. Virginia Tech. He leads Iowa in rebounding (4.6) and blocked shots (1.8) and is scoring 4.8 points per game. He led the team with six rebounds in a win over Iowa State and added five points and two steals. He is a native of St. John’s Antigua. His mother, Olivet, was able to visit the Virgin Islands to attend the Paradise Jam, seeing 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. He added eight points and four rebounds in a win over Texas-Pan American and added eight points and a team-high nine rebounds vs. Northern Iowa. Gorney added six points and four rebounds in the win over Iowa State and five rebounds vs. Drake. He is averaging 5.8 points and 3.9 rebounds per game while shooting 52.7% from the field and 85.7% from the free throw line.

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 VS. RANKED FOES
Steve Alford has posted a 28-35 record against ranked opponents as Iowa’s head coach, including a 10-4 mark in 2005-06. Iowa has played one ranked opponent this season, dropping a 72-60 decision to 10th-ranked Alabama. The Hawkeyes, last season, defeated seventh-ranked Kentucky (67-63), 21st-ranked North Carolina State (45-42), sixth-ranked Illinois (63-48), 11th-ranked Indiana (73-60), 16th-ranked Ohio State (67-62), 20th-ranked Michigan (94-66), 21st-ranked Indiana (70-67), 16th-ranked Michigan State (66-54), 25th-ranked Wisconsin (59-44) and seventh-ranked Ohio State (67-62). Iowa dropped a 68-59 decision to second-ranked Texas, fell 66-52 at 24th-ranked Wisconsin, was defeated 85-55 at 11th-ranked Michigan State and lost at eighth-ranked Illinois, 71-59. Alford’s Hawkeye teams are 9-15 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 Ohio State (67-60 in 2005-06), 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 15 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 eighth-ranked Illinois, 2005-06), once to ninth-ranked (Kentucky, 2000-01) and four times to 10th-ranked (Michigan State, 2000, Illinois, 2002, Michigan State, 2005 and Alabama, 2006-07). In the 63 games against ranked teams, Alford and his Iowa team are 13-9 in home games, 11-12 at neutral sites and 4-14 when playing ranked teams in their home arena.

IOWA PROGRAM REACHES 1,400 WINS
The Iowa basketball program reached 1,400 wins (now at 1,426) 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 SCHEDULE NOTES

• Iowa has reached the title game in 12 of 14 in-season tournaments under Coach Steve Alford. The Hawkeyes have won their own Hawkeye Challenge in each of the eight years. Iowa was second in the Guardians Classic in both 2002 and 2006, second in the Maui Invitational in 2005 and second in the IKON Coaches vs. Cancer Classic in 2000. In the only events Iowa did not advance to the title game, the Hawkeyes placed third in the Rainbow Classic in 2001 and lost in the semi-finals of the 2006 Paradise Jam. Under Alford, Iowa is 28-7 while playing in tournament events during the season, plus 13-5 in the Big Ten Tournament and a combined 3-6 in the NIT and NCAA tournaments.
• Iowa is slated to play two schools which are headed by former University of Iowa presidents. Mary Sue Coleman is the President at the University of Michigan and David Skorton at Cornell University.
• Herb Sendek, the first year coach at Arizona State, was the head coach at North Carolina State a year ago when the Hawkeyes defeated the Wolfpack 45-42 in Iowa City as part of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge.
• Iowa Coach Steve Alford and LaSalle Coach John Giannini met when both were coaching in the NCAA Division III ranks. Alford’s Manchester College team defeated Giannini and Rowan University 79-66 in the national semi-final game of the NCAA Tournament. Manchester lost to Wisconsin-Platteville in the title game that season before Alford left to become the head coach at Southwest Missouri State. Giannini led Rowan to the Division III national title the following season.
• Seth Greenberg, now the head coach at Virginia Tech, was the head coach at Long Beach State when Iowa defeated the Forty-Niners 101-79 in the finals of the 1993 Hawkeye Challenge.

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 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 2006 and its own invitational 24 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 2005-06 Guardians Classic, the 2002 Big Ten Conference Tournament and the 2004 Maui Invitational.

IOWA IN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT
Iowa made its 22nd appearance in the NCAA Tournament in 2006, falling to Northwestern State in the opening round at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Iowa earned the Big Ten Conference’s automatic bid by virtue of claiming the league’s tournament title. The Hawkeyes hold an overall record of 27-24 in the tournament, advancing to the Final Four in 1955 (fourth), 1956 (second) and 1980 (fourth). Iowa reached the regional championship in 1987 and lost in the regional semi-final in 1988 and 1999.

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

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:

• Elementary, junior high and high school fans of Iowa’s men’s basketball teams can gain free admission to games vs. Georgia State (Dec. 20) and Texas Southern (Dec. 23) by presenting a copy of their report card to receive a free game ticket. Elementary students must present a copy of their most recent report card or “progress report.” Junior high and high school students must present their most recent report card with at least one “A” grade. The cards must be presented at any of the athletic ticket office windows on game day/night. The students must be accompanied by an adult, who must have a full-priced ticket. The student tickets may also be exchanged in advance at the Athletic Ticket Office in Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Those students who present a progress report or report card at either game will also have their name included in a drawing for a home computer system from Best Buy. The drawing for the computer system will be held during the UI women’s basketball game Jan. 14 vs. Michigan State.
• 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.
• “Youth Basketball Nights” have been set for 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.

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.

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: January 8, 17, 22 and 29; February 5, 12, 19 and 28; March 5 and 12.

COMING UP NEXT
Iowa closes its non-conference schedule by hosting Texas Southern (Dec. 23, 12:05 p.m.) and Cornell University (Dec. 30, 12:05 p.m.). The Hawkeyes host Michigan State Thursday, Jan. 4 (8:05 p.m., ESPN) to begin Big Ten Conference play.