Iowa Announces Men's Non-Conference Basketball Slate

Iowa Announces Men's Non-Conference Basketball Slate

Aug. 21, 2007

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The University of Iowa’s 2007-08 non-conference men’s basketball schedule features nine home games, including a Nov. 26 date with Wake Forest in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge, a Dec. 14 contest with in-state rival Drake and the annual Hawkeye Challenge. Iowa’s Big Ten schedule, which includes nine home dates as well, was released last week. Game times and television information will be released when finalized.

Iowa’s season-opening exhibition contest is Nov. 1 against Simpson College. The Hawkeyes officially open the Todd Lickliter era against Friday, Nov. 9 when Iowa host Idaho State in the first of four straight home games. Iowa will meet Northern Colorado (Nov. 14) before hosting two preliminary round games in the South Padre Invitational. Florida Gulf Coast University visits Iowa City Sunday, Nov. 18 and Iowa hosts Maryland-Eastern Shore Nov. 20 as part of that event.

This season will mark just the fourth time in school history the Hawkeyes have hosted as many as 18 games. Iowa played 19 home games in 1985 (16-3) and 18 in both 1995 (13-5) and 2003 (11-7).

“With the success this team has had in Carver-Hawkeye Arena, we are excited about the number of home games,” said Lickliter, the 2007 national Coach of the Year at Butler. “We would like to continue, and build on, that success. The support of our fans plays a key role in that home court success.”

Iowa’s first action away from Iowa City is Nov. 23-24 when the Hawkeyes travel to Texas for the finals of the South Padre Invitational. Iowa will meet Bradley on Friday and face either Utah State or Vanderbilt on Saturday.

Iowa’s third home game in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge takes place Monday, Nov. 26 as the Hawkeyes host Wake Forest in a game to be televised on ESPN2. Iowa defeated Georgia Tech (85-67) in 2000-01 and North Carolina State (45-42) in 2005-06 in previous home games in the event.

The 26th-annual Hawkeye Challenge (Nov. 30-Dec. 1) includes Iowa facing Louisiana-Monroe in the first round after an opening game that has Eastern Illinois meeting Rice University.

The in-state series includes a home date with Drake (Dec. 14) and road games at Northern Iowa and Iowa State. The Hawkeyes will make their first visit to UNI’s McLeod Center Dec. 5 in a game to be televised by FOX, while the Dec. 8 contest at Iowa State will be televised on ESPNU.

The Hawkeyes close the non-conference schedule by hosting Southeastern Louisiana Dec. 29 before beginning Big Ten Conference play Jan. 2 by hosting Indiana.

“The in-state series is good, and it provides very demanding games,” added Lickliter. “Those games, home or away, are on the level of Big Ten Conference games. They give us the opportunity to prepare in a conference-type environment for the Big Ten season. The in-state games, along with Wake Forest and the games in the South Padre tournament, gives us competition against teams from several of the major conferences.”

Iowa posted a 14-2 home record a year ago after winning all 17 home games in 2005-06. The Hawkeyes are 31-2 in Carver-Hawkeye Arena over the past two seasons, including a 15-1 mark in Big Ten games.

Following is Iowa’s complete 2007-08 schedule:

Date            Opponent                      SiteSat., Oct. 27   Black and Gold Blowout        Iowa City                presented by MediacomThur., Nov. 1   Simpson College (Exb.)        Iowa CityThe annual Miracle Game presented by the Children's Miracle Network to benefit the Children's Hospital of IowaFri., Nov. 9    Idaho State                   Iowa CityWed, Nov. 14    Northern Colorado             Iowa CitySun., Nov. 18   #Florida Gulf Coast           Iowa CityTue., Nov. 20   #Maryland-Eastern Shore       Iowa CityFri-Sat.,Nov. 23-24      at South Padre Invitational   South Padre, TXFri., Nov. 23   (Iowa vs. Bradley; Utah State vs. Vanderbilt)Mon., Nov. 26   Wake Forest                   Iowa CityFri.-Sat.,Nov. 30-Dec. 1  Hawkeye Challenge           Iowa City, IAFri., Nov. 30   Eastern IL vs. Rice;                Louisiana-Monroe vs. Iowa     Iowa CityWed., Dec. 5    at Northern Iowa              Cedar Falls, IASat., Dec. 8    at Iowa State (Cy-Hawk Series) Ames, IAFri., Dec. 14   Drake                         Iowa CitySat., Dec. 29   Southeastern Louisiana        Iowa CityWed., Jan. 2    Indiana                       Iowa CitySat., Jan. 5    at Wisconsin                  Madison, WIWed., Jan. 9    at Ohio State                 Columbus, OHSat., Jan. 12   Michigan State               Iowa CityWed., Jan. 16   Purdue                       Iowa CitySat., Jan. 19   at Michigan                  Ann Arbor, MIWed., Jan. 23   at Indiana                   Bloomington, INSat., Jan. 26   Penn State                   Iowa CityWed., Jan. 30   at Purdue                    West Lafayette, INSat., Feb. 2    Ohio State                   Iowa CityWed., Feb. 6    Wisconsin                    Iowa CitySat., Feb. 9    at Minnesota                 Minneapolis, MNThu., Feb. 14   Michigan                     Iowa CityTue., Feb. 19   Northwestern                 Iowa CitySat or Sun.,Feb. 23-24      at Michigan State            East Lansing, MIWed., Feb. 27   at Penn State                State College, PASat. or Sun.,Mar. 1-2        Illinois                     Iowa CityTue., Wed., or Thu.,Mar. 4-6        at Northwestern              Evanston, ILThu-Sun.,Mar. 13-16      at Big Ten Tournament        Indianapolis, IN

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