Hawkeyes Host Second-Ranked Badgers Sunday on CBS

Jan. 26, 2007

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THE SETTING
Iowa (11-9, 3-3) plays the first of three games in seven days when it hosts #2/3 Wisconsin (20-1, 6-0) Sunday, Jan. 28. Game time is 12:07 p.m. in Carver-Hawkeye Arena (15,500). Iowa defeated Penn State 79-63 Wednesday night in Iowa City. Wisconsin remained perfect in the Big Ten with a 71-58 home win over Michigan Wednesday night.

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: CBS will televise the game. Kevin Harlan and Bill Raftery will call the action.

SUNDAY IS IOWA GOLD RUSH
Sunday’s home game vs. Wisconsin has been designated as the annual “Gold Rush” game for Hawkeye fans. All Iowa fans are encouraged to wear gold in support of the Iowa men’s basketball team. The game vs. the Badgers is sold out.

IOWA HISTORY
Iowa has played 2,397 games since beginning basketball in 1902. Overall Iowa’s record is 1,432-965 (.597). That includes an 898-307 (.745) record in home games, a 534-658 (.448) record in games away from Iowa City, a 678-661 (.506) mark in Big Ten games and a 304-81 (.790) record in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

IOWA IN CARVER-HAWKEYE ARENA
Iowa has compiled a 304-81 (.790) record in Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Iowa is 143-67 (.681) in Big Ten games and 161-14 (.920) 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 96-26 (.787) home record under Coach Steve Alford, including a 58-5 (.920) mark in non-conference home games. Two of the five non-conference home losses came in the National Invitation Tournament.

HAWKEYES SET ARENA RECORD
With the 79-63 win over Penn State, Iowa improved its home winning streak in Big Ten Conference games to 12 straight, the longest conference winning streak in the history of Carver-Hawkeye Arena, which opened in 1983. Iowa has not lost a Big Ten home game since a 75-65 loss to top-ranked Illinois on Feb. 19, 2005. Iowa won nine straight conference games in Carver-Hawkeye Arena on two occasions, the last occurring during the 1995-96 and 1996-97 seasons. Iowa’s record for consecutive home wins in league play is 14 straight. That mark was set during the 1980-81 and 1981-82 seasons when home games were played at the Iowa Field House.

IOWA TOUGH AT HOME
Iowa has won 28 of its last 29 home games in Carver-Hawkeye Arena. That streak includes 12 straight Big Ten Conference wins and eight straight wins against opponents who were ranked at the time. The Hawkeyes are 10-1 at home this season, with the loss being a 57-55 decision to Northern Iowa.

IN THE RANKINGS
Wisconsin is ranked second by the Associated Press and third in the ESPN/USA Today coaches poll. This marks Wisconsin’s highest ranking of the season. Iowa has posted a 1-2 record while facing three ranked opponents this season. Iowa lost to 10th-ranked Alabama 72-60 in the semi-finals of the Paradise Jam, defeated 24th-ranked Michigan State 62-60 Jan. 4 in Iowa City and lost to seventh-ranked Ohio State 82-63 Jan. 20 in Columbus. Under Steve Alford, Iowa is 2-5 when playing teams ranked among the top three in the nation. That includes a 1-3 mark vs. No. 1, a 1-1 record vs. No. 2 and a 0-1 record vs. No. 3.

IOWA ON CBS UNDER ALFORD
Iowa has posted a 7-7 overall record while playing on CBS under Coach Steve Alford. Sunday’s contest vs. the Badgers will mark the first CBS telecast from Carver-Hawkeye Arena since the Hawkeyes defeated Indiana 71-66 on Jan. 27, 2001. Under Alford, Iowa is 1-0 in home games on CBS, 0-2 in road games on CBS and 6-5 in neutral site games on CBS. The 11 neutral site games have taken place in the Big Ten Conference Tournament (5-2) and the NCAA Tournament (1-3).

DATE SET FOR IOWA AT PSU
Iowa’s game at Penn State has been set for Wednesday, February 28. The game will be televised on ESPNU with a 6:05 p.m. CT start time. ESPN selected the Michigan State at Michigan game for its telecast on Tuesday, Feb. 27. Other games on Wednesday include Indiana at Northwestern (ESPN2) and Minnesota at Purdue, (ESPN Plus).

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 302-178 (.629), including a 146-101 (.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. Alford ranks third among Iowa’s head basketball coaches in career wins. Alford’s 302 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 55-63 (.466) in Big Ten games and led 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 5-10 vs. Wisconsin (4-10 while at Iowa) and 4-8 vs. Badger Coach Bo Ryan.

ALFORD THIRD IN CAREER WINS
Coach Steve Alford has 302 career wins and 146 victories as Iowa’s head coach. With Iowa’s win over Iowa State earlier this season, Alford moved past Rollie Williams (139) for third place on Iowa’s career win list behind Tom Davis (269) and Lute Olson (168). Iowa’s 62-60 win over 24th-ranked Michigan State was win No. 300 for the Hawkeye head coach. 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.

WISCONSIN COACH BO RYAN
Bo Ryan is in his sixth season at Wisconsin after leading the Badgers to consecutive Big Ten regular season titles in 2002 and 2003. The Badgers won the Big Ten Tournament title in 2004. He was named Big Ten Conference Coach of the Year in both 2003 and 2004. Ryan has posted a 132-50 record with the Badgers. Ryan is in his 23rd season as a college head coach, with a career record of 515-153. Ryan moved to Madison after posting a 30-27 record in two seasons at Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Ryan’s UW-Milwaukee team posted a 15-13 record in 2001, including a narrow 83-79 loss to Iowa in Iowa City. Ryan was the head coach at Wisconsin-Platteville for 15 seasons, leading that school to four NCAA Division III national titles (1991, 1995, 1998, 1999) and eight conference titles. Overall his record at Platteville was 353-76. Ryan has been named national Coach of the Year four times. He is the winningest coach in Division III history and was the winningest coach in the NCAA (all divisions) in the 1990’s. He served as an assistant coach for the gold-medal winning USA team at the 1995 World University Games and an assistant coach for the gold-medal winning North team at the 1993 U.S. Olympic Festival. Ryan previously was an assistant at Wisconsin for eight seasons (1977-84), working under Bill Cofield and Steve Yoder. Ryan is 7-4 vs. Iowa (7-3 while at Wisconsin) and 8-4 vs. Hawkeye Coach Steve Alford.

COACHES MET FOR DIVISION III TITLE
Iowa Coach Steve Alford and Wisconsin Coach Bo Ryan first coached against each other in the NCAA Division III championship game in 1995. In that game, Ryan’s Wisconsin-Platteville team defeated Alford’s Manchester College team by a 69-55 margin. Alford and Ryan also met in 2001 when Alford’s second Iowa team opened the season with an 83-79 win over Ryan’s Wisconsin-Milwaukee team in Iowa City.

THE SERIES
Iowa holds a 76-69 advantage in the series that began with a 30-9 Wisconsin win in 1909. The teams split two games during the 2006 regular season, Wisconsin winning 66-52 in Madison and Iowa winning 59-44 in Iowa City. The Iowa win at the end of the regular season snapped Wisconsin’s six-game winning streak in the series. The Badgers won both meetings in 2005 by three points, 72-69 in Madison during the regular season and 59-56 in the Big Ten Conference Tournament semi-finals. Wisconsin won 54-52 in Iowa City in the only meeting in 2004 and the Badgers won both meetings in 2003, 74-61 in Madison and 61-53 in Iowa City. Iowa won two of three meetings in 2002, the first time the teams had ever met three times in the same season. In 2002, the Hawkeyes won in Iowa City and lost in Madison before defeating the Badgers in the quarter-finals of the Big Ten Tournament in Indianapolis. Iowa and Wisconsin have met three times at the Big Ten Tournament, with the Badgers winning twice. Wisconsin won in Chicago in 1999 and 2005 and Iowa won in Indianapolis in 2002. Iowa holds a 48-22 advantage in Iowa City, including a 14-7 mark in Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Wisconsin has won five of the last seven meetings in Iowa City.

IOWA, BADGER NOTES

• Iowa’s Adam Haluska and Wisconsin’s Alando Tucker, a pair of senior guards, were both named to the pre-season all-Big Ten team. Haluska leads the Big Ten in scoring for all games (20.3) and league games (20.5), while Tucker is second in all games (19.2) and fourth in conference play (15.8).
• Iowa’s Steve Alford holds a 13-10 record vs. Wisconsin as a player and coach. Indiana won all eight games vs. Wisconsin during Alford’s playing career. As a coach, Alford is 5-10 vs. the Badgers. Alford’s Southwest Missouri State team defeated Wisconsin in the first round of the 1999 NCAA Tournament and Wisconsin has won 10 of the 14 meetings since Alford became the Iowa coach.
• Wisconsin Assistant Coach Gary Close was an assistant coach at Iowa for 13 seasons (1987-99). He later was the head boys basketball coach at Regina High School in Iowa City for three years, leading his team to the state tournament his last two seasons.
• Will Ryan, Wisconsin’s Director of Basketball Operations, is the oldest son of Badger Coach Bo Ryan. Will Ryan played under his father at both Wisconsin-Platteville and Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
• Matt Ryan, a Wisconsin program assistant, is the youngest son of Badger Coach Bo Ryan.
• Iowa’s Tony Freeman and Wisconsin’s Mickey Perry are both from Maywood, IL. Freeman attended St. Joseph’s HS and Perry attended Proviso East.

THEY SPLIT A YEAR AGO
Iowa closed the home season with a 59-44 win over the Badgers last season, earning a split after Wisconsin had won 66-52 in Madison. Poor shooting from the field in the second half proved to be the difference in Iowa’s loss at Wisconsin to open Big Ten play. The Hawkeyes shot 46.2% from the field while building a 34-32 halftime advantage, including 57.1% (4-7) from three-point range. But that changed in the final 20 minutes. The Hawkeyes misfired on their first 13 field goal attempts before Jeff Horner connected on a three-pointer with 11:46 to play. By that time, the Badgers had built a seven point advantage and, after Wisconsin answered with a three-pointer with 11:04 remaining, Iowa was never closer than 10 points the rest of the way. The Hawkeyes made just 5-30 (16.7%) of their field goal attempts in the second half and shot 30.4% for the game. Iowa stayed in the contest by hitting 13-17 free throws, by holding a 41-36 rebounding advantage and by committing just 11 turnovers. Horner and Adam Haluska led Iowa’s scoring attack with 11 points each, while Doug Thomas came off the bench to add 10 points and eight rebounds. Greg Brunner scored eight points and led both teams with 10 rebounds. Alando Tucker led the Badgers with 27 points. Kammron Taylor added 11 points and Brian Butch and Michael Flowers each had eight rebounds.

Iowa used another solid defensive effort to take a 59-44 win in Iowa City, securing a second place finish in the regular season standings. The Hawkeyes missed their first eight shots and fell behind 16-7 after 10 minutes. From there Iowa found its shooting touch, scoring nine straight points to tie the score at 16. Iowa would go on to take a 24-22 halftime advantage. Iowa started fast in the second half, scoring the first five points while holding the Badgers scoreless for over five minutes. Iowa led by a 39-30 margin with 12 minutes to play, but had three starters on the bench with three fouls each. The Hawkeye reserves took over as Iowa scored nine straight points over the next four minutes to put the game away. The Badgers were never closer than 12 in the final minutes. Iowa’s defense held Wisconsin to 29.4% field goal shooting. The Hawkeyes won the rebounding battle (42-33) and collected 12 steals while forcing 16 Badger turnovers. Iowa shot 41.1% from the field, including 53.8% in the second half. Jeff Horner led Iowa with 22 points and Adam Haluska added 16. Reserve Doug Thomas led all players with nine rebounds and Horner and Haluska each had seven. Kammron Taylor led Wisconsin with 11 points and Alando Tucker added 10 points and six rebounds.

SMITH AMONG FRESHMAN LEADERS
Iowa’s Tyler Smith ranks high among freshmen in the Big Ten in nearly all statistical categories. He is first in scoring (15.6), second in assists (3.6), fourth in rebounding (4.7) and steals (1.3), 13th in field goal percentage (.471) and free throw percentage (.707) and 14th in three-point percentage (.293).

HALUSKA A TOP SENIOR
Iowa senior guard Adam Haluska is one of 30 candidates for the 2007 Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award. The award is presented annually to an NCAA Division I male and female basketball player who excel both on and off the court. A list of 10 finalists will be announced in February. Fans, coaches and media will have the opportunity to vote in the process, with the winners being announced during the men’s and women’s respective Final Four weekends. The CLASS Award is an acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School. Conceived by sportscaster Dick Enberg, the award is based on areas of excellence in classroom, character and community, as well as performance on the court.

HENDERSON BACK IN 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 on Dec. 2. 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. He returned to the starting line-up for the first time vs. Georgia State and had a career-high nine assists and eight points. He has helped the Hawkeyes to a 6-3 record since moving into the starting line-up. Henderson played a critical role in Iowa’s win over Michigan State, connecting on five of six free throw attempts in the final 40 seconds. Henderson’s two free throws with six seconds remaining gave Iowa a 62-57 advantage to seal the victory. He had a season-high 12 points in the win over Penn State, along with three assists, two steals and just one turnover in 32 minutes. 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 eighth in the nation in free throw percentage, making 75.6% (273-361 of its attempts.
• In individual statistics, Adam Haluska ranks 23rd in free throw percentage (88.9%, 96-108) 25th in scoring (20.3) and 34th in three-point field goals per game (3.1).
• 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 shot a season-best 89.2% (33-37) from the free throw line in a win over Texas Southern. The made free throws and the free throw attempts are the most for Iowa since the Hawkeyes converted 32-42 in a home loss to Michigan State on 2/5/05.
• Iowa, in non-conference action, played seven 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 118 games in his career, a streak that ranks as the longest in the nation among current players.
• 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 1,346 points to rank 15th on Iowa’s career list. His career total, including one season at Iowa State, stands at 1,630.
• 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.

HAWKEYE TIDBITS

• Six Hawkeye opponents (Alabama, Villanova, Arizona State, Drake, Illinois, Ohio State) 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 4-14 over the past four seasons when its opponent shoots 50% or better from the field.
• Iowa has held eight opponents to less than 40% shooting from the field, including a season low 33.9% by The Citadel and Minnesota. Iowa has won seven of the eight games, with the only loss a two-point decision to Northern Iowa.
• Under Steve Alford, Iowa is 42-6 when shooting at least 50% from the field, including 9-0 over the past two seasons.
• Iowa is 29-36 vs. ranked teams under Coach Steve Alford. That includes a 14-9 home record, an 11-12 record at neutral sites and 4-15 mark in road games. Iowa is 1-2 vs. ranked opponents in 2006-07, with both losses to teams ranked in the top 10.
• Iowa is 3-0 when scoring 80 points or more, 4-1 when scoring between 70-80 points, 4-6 when scoring between 60-70 points and 0-2 when scoring less than 60 points.
• Iowa is 6-1 when holding its opponent to less than 60 points, 5-2 when holding its opponent between 60-70 points and 0-6 when the opponent scores over 70 points.
• Iowa is 7-2 when collecting more assists than the opponent, 3-7 when the opponent has more assists and 1-0 when assists are even.
• Iowa is 10-4 when having fewer turnovers than its opponent and 1-5 when the opponent has fewer turnovers.
• Iowa is 7-4 when collecting more steals than its opponent, 2-5 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 13 games.
• Iowa is 1-0 when four reach double figures, 7-6 when three score in double figures and 2-4 with two players in double figures.
• Iowa is 11-3 when leading at halftime and 0-6 when trailing at intermission.
• Iowa is 6-4 when controlling the opening tip and 5-5 when not controlling the tip.
• Iowa is 1-5 in games decided by 10 points, including a 1-4 record in games decided by five points or less.

IOWA SHOOTS PAST PENN STATE
Iowa used a solid second half performance in taking a 79-63 win over Penn State in Iowa City. The Hawkeyes started slow and trailed 25-17 with five minutes remaining in the first half. Iowa started finding its shooting touch from there, using an 11-2 scoring run to close the half and take a 28-27 halftime advantage. The score was tied at 27-27 five minutes into the second half when Iowa gained control. Adam Haluska hit three free throws, Mike Henderson added a basket and Haluska hit a three-pointer to give Iowa an eight point advantage with 13 minutes remaining. The margin was never closer than five points the rest of the way and Iowa led by as many as 18 in the final minutes. The Hawkeyes shot 65.4% from the field over the final 20 minutes and shot 51.9% for the entire game. Iowa also hit 4-6 three-pointers in the second half and shot 47.1% for the game. After committing six turnovers in the first half, Iowa had just two turnovers in the final 20 minutes. The Hawkeye defense held Penn State to 35% shooting from the field and the Nittany Lions hit on only 6-23 (26.1%) three-point attempts. Iowa won despite having a 44-32 rebounding deficit. Adam Haluska led Iowa’s scoring attack with 24 points, while Tyler Smith added 19 and Henderson scored a season-high 12. Kurt Looby and Seth Gorney each had six rebounds, while Smith added five and Henderson collected three assists and two steals.

WISCONSIN STOPS MICHIGAN
Alando Tucker and Brian Butch each scored 16 points in leading Wisconsin to a 71-58 win over Michigan in Madison, improving the longest winning streak in the nation to 16 games. The Badgers trailed by as many as nine points in the early going as both teams were finding the range. The Badgers shot 56.5% from the field in building a 33-26 halftime lead, while the Wolverines shot 47.8% from the field. Michigan cooled off to shoot 42.3% in the second half as Wisconsin built its advantage to as many as 24 points with just under eight minutes to play before Michigan closed the gap in the closing minutes. Wisconsin shot 52% in the second half and 54.2% for the game, and forced 19 Michigan turnovers. Tucker hit 6-9 field goals and Butch 6-8 to lead the Badger shooting. Joe Krabbenhoft led Wisconsin with five rebounds and Kammron Taylor added eight points and four assists.

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.
• One of 30 candidates for the Lowe’s Senior Class Award.
• 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.
• Named Big Ten Player of the Week after averaging 28.5 points per game in two Iowa wins. He shot 57.1% from the field, 50% from three-point range and 90% from the free throw line in wins over Georgia State and Texas Southern.

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 as a junior 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:

IOWA VS. RANKED FOES
Steve Alford has posted a 29-36 record against ranked opponents as Iowa’s head coach, including a 1-2 record this season and a 10-4 mark in 2005-06. Iowa, this season, lost to 10th-ranked Alabama (72-60) on a neutral court, defeated 24th-ranked Michigan State (62-60) in Iowa City and lost to seventh-ranked Ohio State (82-63) in Columbus. Iowa has won eight straight home games against ranked opponents. Alford’s Hawkeye teams are 9-16 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 16 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 seventh-ranked (Ohio State, 2006-07), 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 65 games against ranked teams, Alford and his Iowa team are 14-9 in home games, 11-12 at neutral sites and 4-15 when playing ranked teams in their home arena.

HALUSKA OVER 1,000 POINTS
Senior guard Adam Haluska ranks 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 12 games this season, including four of six Big Ten games and eight of the last nine. He scored a career-high 36 points vs. Georgia State and 31 vs. Coppin State. He added 21 points in a win over Texas Southern to earn Big Ten Player of the Week recognition. He added 29 points against Cornell with the best shooting performance of his career. He connected on 10-13 field goal attempts, including 6-9 three-pointers. He made all seven of his field goal attempts in the second half and ended the game hitting nine straight overall, including his last five three-pointers. He also collected four steals and three rebounds. Haluska made his first attempt vs. Michigan State, extending his consecutive streak to 10 straight field goals (six three-pointers) before missing. Haluska had a solid all around game against the Spartans, collecting 14 points, five rebounds, four assists and three steals, with no turnovers in 37 minutes. He added 25 points against Illinois, including a career-best 12 free throws. Haluska had connected on 12 straight free throw attempts vs. Illinois (18 straight over two games) before missing his final attempt. He made 21 straight attempts earlier this season and is shooting 88.9% (96-108) to rank 23rd in the nation in free throw percentage. He contributed 22 points (8-10 FTs) and four rebounds in a win over Minnesota, 21 points and four rebounds at Indiana and 15 points and four rebounds vs. Ohio State. Haluska led Iowa with 24 points against Penn State and he added three rebounds and two assists. Haluska has raised his career scoring total to 1,630, including 1,348 in three seasons at Iowa. He ranks 15th in career scoring and is fourth in career scoring among players who played just three seasons at Iowa. His 185 three-point field goals attempts last season rank sixth best at Iowa. He ranks fourth in career three-point attempts (493) and fifth in career three-point field goals (183). Haluska began the season with 29 points in the win over The Citadel. 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. Haluska has started all 118 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. Haluska currently leads the Big Ten in scoring (20.3) and three-point field goals per game (3.1). He is second in free throw percentage (.889) and eighth in steals (1.3).

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 missed the first seven games of this season with a hand injury before returning to see limited action in Iowa’s last 13 games. He scored eight points in 15 minutes in the win over Iowa State and played 26 minutes at Drake. Henderson returned to the starting line-up in a win over Georgia State and Iowa has won five of eight games with Henderson in the starting line-up. He scored eight points while collecting a career-best nine assists in a season-best 30 minutes of action vs. Georgia State. He added nine points, nine assists and three steals in a win over Texas Southern and six points, four assists and two steals in a win over Cornell. Henderson played a solid defensive game in Iowa’s win over Michigan State and came up big at the end, connecting on 5-6 free throws in the final 40 seconds to secure Iowa’s victory. He hit 3-4 field goals in scoring seven points in a home win over Minnesota and added five points and four rebounds at Indiana. Henderson hit all four of his field goal attempts in scoring eight points and grabbing four rebounds at Ohio State. He scored a season-high 12 points in a win over Penn State and added three assists, two steals and just one turnover in 32 minutes.

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. He 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 and 15 points, five rebounds, five assists and two steals in a win over Georgia State. He scored 25 points (4-5 treys, 5-5 FTs) and had five assists in a win over Texas Southern and added 18 points, six rebounds and four assists in a win over Cornell. In his first Big Ten Conference game, Smith contributed 10 points, four rebounds and four assists in the win over Michigan State. He added 12 points, seven rebounds and four assists in the loss at Illinois. Smith had 15 points (7-7 FTs), three rebounds and three assists in a win over Minnesota. At Indiana he contributed 17 points, six rebounds, six assists and two steals. Smith started slow vs. Ohio State, scoring all 21 of his points in the second half. He also had four rebounds and five assists against the Buckeyes. Smith had just four points in the first half of the win over Penn State before ending the game with 19 points, five rebounds and two assists. Smith was named to the Paradise Jam all-tournament team and the Hawkeye Challenge all-tournament team. He is averaging 15.6 points, 4.7 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.3 steals per game. Smith had led Iowa in scoring in five games, in rebounding six times, in assists nine times and steals in 11 games.

FREEMAN SOLID IN GUARD COURT
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 eight rebounds in a 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 scored 12 points (3-4 treys) in a win over Georgia State and added six points and seven assists in a win over Cornell. He had a solid floor game against Michigan State, contributing five assists and three steals, with just a single turnover. Freeman added a career-high nine rebounds and seven points in a home win over Minnesota. Freeman returned to the starting line-up at Ohio State and responded with six points and five assists. He is averaging 6.8 points and 3.9 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 ranks fourth in the Big Ten in three-point field goal percentage. Johnson has started seven games, averaging 6.2 points and 2.8 rebounds per game while shooting 46.6% (34-73) from three-point range. He made 4-5 three-point shots in a loss at Drake, including three straight in a one-minute span in the second half. Johnson added eight points, six rebounds and four assists in the win over Georgia State and nine points and two steals vs. Texas Southern. Johnson, who did not attempt a free throw in Iowa’s first 11 games, has made 12-14 (85.7%) of his attempts this season. He added six rebounds and three blocked shots in Iowa’s win over Cornell and scored 11 points (3-3 three-pointers) at Illinois. Johnson had a career-best eight rebounds in a home win over Minnesota and he added nine points (3-5 treys) in a win over Penn State. 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.

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. Looby had 12 rebounds to go with six points, four blocked shots and two steals in the win over Georgia State and he led the team with six rebounds and two blocks in a win over Texas Southern. He led the team with six rebounds in a win over Iowa State and added five points and two steals. Looby leads Iowa in rebounding (4.9) and blocked shots (1.8) and is scoring 4.2 points per game. He had a career-best five blocked shots and five rebounds in a win over Cornell and had seven points and three rebounds vs. Michigan State. He added six points, six rebounds and three blocked shots in the win over Penn State. 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. 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, he had five rebounds vs. Drake and eight points and five rebounds in a win over Georgia State. Gorney made his first four field goal attempts in the win over Texas Southern, improving his streak to eight straight made attempts over three games before missing a shot in the second half. He ended the contest with 10 points, three rebounds and two steals. He contributed six points at Illinois and had six points and four rebounds in a win over Minnesota. Gorney contributed a timely field goal and two key free throws in the final minutes of the win over the Gophers. At Indiana, Gorney scored a career-high 12 points (5-7 FGs) and grabbed five rebounds. He had four points and four rebounds in 14 minutes at Ohio State before leaving the game with an injury. He was back in the starting line-up in the win over Penn State, collecting six rebounds. He is averaging six points and four rebounds per game while shooting 54.6% from the field and 81.3% from the free throw line.

TATE ON TARGET IN FIRST SEASON
Sophomore forward Cyrus Tate connected on 6-7 field goal attempts to score 13 points vs. The Citadel in his first action as a Hawkeye. 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. Tate collected four points, seven rebounds and two assists at Virginia Tech and he had six points and season-best nine rebounds vs. Coppin State. Tate came up big in the first Big Ten game of his career in Iowa’s win over Michigan State. He scored a season-best 14 points (6-7 field goals) and matched his season-high with nine rebounds. Tate is averaging 4.4 points and four rebounds per game, shooting 47.7% from the field and 74.3% from the free throw line. Tate attended junior college one season before joining the Iowa program.

IOWA PROGRAM REACHES 1,400 WINS
The Iowa basketball program reached 1,400 wins (now at 1,432) 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
Single game tickets remain for Iowa’s six remaining home games, although there is a very limited supply remaining for weekend home games vs. Wisconsin, Indiana and Illinois. Tickets are available for $20 and $25, depending on the game. UI students can purchase single game tickets for $15 on the day of the game, when available. The following options are also available:

• “Youth Basketball Nights” have been set for games vs. 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.

SHOOT AT CARVER FOLLOWING HOME GAMES
Young fans of the University of Iowa men’s basketball team who have longed for the opportunity to drop a free throw or make a lay-up on the playing floor of Carver-Hawkeye Arena will have that opportunity following upcoming home games. The UI Department of Intercollegiate Athletics will provide the opportunity for interested fans to experience the thrill of making a basket inside the UI’s award-winning facility after home games Jan. 28 against Wisconsin and Feb. 3 against Indiana. As soon as possible after the conclusion of each game, 20 minutes will count down on the game clock, providing fans the opportunity to line up to shoot a free throw or attempt a lay-up at the basket nearest the Hawks Nest. “I think this is a simple and fun way to provide an opportunity for our younger fans to be a little more engaged in our basketball program and to add to their experience of watching a game at Carver,” said UI Coach Steve Alford. “Who knows, eight, 10 or 12 years from now one of the boys or girls who take advantage of the opportunity might find themselves wearing the uniform of the Iowa Hawkeyes.” Fans will be required to wear either gym shoes or socks while on the playing floor. The allotted time of 20 minutes is a starting point that should strike a balance between the interest of the fans of the Hawkeyes and the UI’s need to have the facility emptied for clean-up and security.

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 29; February 5, 12, 19 and 28; March 5 and 12.

COMING UP NEXT
Iowa closes out the month of January with a Wednesday, Jan. 31 contest at Michigan (7:05 p.m., ESPN Regional). The Hawkeyes return home Saturday, Feb. 3 to host Indiana (1:05 p.m., ESPN).