Nov. 6, 2007
Six University of Iowa men’s basketball games from the past are featured among the 36 epic match-ups on the Big Ten Network series, “THE BIG TEN’S GREATEST GAMES.”
The selection of games includes Iowa’s win over Connecticut in the semi-finals of the 1995 Great Alaska Shootout, Iowa’s overtime win at Michigan State in 1993 and the 76-72 triple-overtime win over Minnesota in Carver-Hawkeye Arena in 2006.
The series also includes Iowa’s 69-67 triple-overtime loss at Michigan in 1985, a 91-88 overtime loss at Indiana in 2003 and a 51-48 loss at Northwestern in 2006. The selection of games features all 11 Big Ten teams and includes intense rivalries, improbable buzzer-beaters and impossible comebacks, ingredients of some of the most exciting moments in Big Ten men’s basketball history.
Throughout the winter, basketball fans will have the opportunity to re-live the 36 games selected for the series, which will highlight some of the best moments in the rich histories of all 11 Big Ten basketball programs.
Series producers have interviewed many legendary players and coaches from those games along with those who were on hand to cover the event. Their insight and memories will be integrated into each episode.
Big Ten Network President Mark Silverman said the “Greatest Games” series honors the legacy of the conference’s past, and will be a consistent presence year-round. “As a fan, you never forget your team’s most emotional wins or heartbreaking losses. We know fans will enjoy watching these games,” Silverman said.
The series premieres at 5 p.m. CT Thursday, Nov. 8 with the 1989 Michigan-Duke match-up. In that game, Sean Higgins led the Wolverines with a career-high 32 points as Glen Rice, Rumeal Robinson and Michigan defeated Christian Laettner, Bobby Hurley and Duke, 113-108 in overtime.
Iowa’s win over Connecticut can be seen Wednesday, Nov. 14. The Hawkeyes, ranked 10th in the nation, defeated Ohio University in the first round and fell to Duke in the title game after the semi-final win over the sixth-ranked Huskies.
Iowa’s 96-90 overtime victory at Michigan State on Jan. 28, 1993 marked the first game for the Hawkeyes following the tragic death of junior forward Chris Street. The Hawkeyes trailed by 15 points with just over three minutes remaining before guard Val Barnes and center Acie Earl led the comeback. The replay of that contest will air on the Big Ten Network Tuesday, Dec. 18.
Earlier this fall, the Big Ten Network became the first new network in cable or satellite television history to reach 30 million homes in its first 30 days. The network is available through DIRECTV, DISH Network, AT&T U-Verse, Insight Communications, WideOpenWest, RCN, Service Electric and more than 150 other cable operators.
Following is a complete list of the Iowa games selected as part of the series, and the dates they will air on the Big Ten Network:
Wed., Nov. 14
Iowa 101, Connecticut 95 (OT), Nov. 11, 1995
Tue, Dec. 18
Iowa 96, at Michigan State 90 (OT), Jan. 28, 1993
Wed., Jan. 2
at Indiana 91, Iowa 88 (OT), March 1, 2003
Tue., Feb. 12
at Michigan 69, Iowa 67 (3 OT), Jan. 19, 1985
Tue., Feb. 26
at Iowa 76, Minnesota 72 (3 OT), Jan. 18, 2006
Tue., Mar. 4
at Northwestern 51, Iowa 48, Feb. 8, 2006
Following is a list of all 36 games that will air as part of the series, “THE BIG TEN’S GREATEST GAMES”
Thursday, November 8th
Duke at Michigan – 12/09/89
Wednesday, November 14th
Connecticut vs. Iowa (Great Alaskan Shootout) – 11/24/1995
Friday, November 16th
Michigan State at North Carolina – 12/1/1999
Wednesday, November 21st
Minnesota vs. Georgetown – 3/31/1993
Tuesday, November 27th
Ohio State at LSU – 12/31/2005
Georgia Tech at Illinois – 1/22/1989
Tuesday, December 4th
Kentucky at Indiana – 12/18/1990
Purdue vs. Duke (Great Alaska Shootout) – 11/29/2003
Tuesday, December 11th
Pittsburgh at Wisconsin – 12/16/2006
Wednesday, December 12th
LSU at Illinois – 12/22/1990
Tuesday, December 18th
Indiana at Northwestern – 1/11/1988
Iowa at Michigan State – 1/28/1993
Wednesday, December 26th
Minnesota at Illinois – 3/9/1996
Michigan at Ohio State – 1/18/1988
Wednesday, January 2nd
Iowa at Indiana – 3/1/2003
Michigan State at Minnesota – 2/13/1999
Tuesday, January 8th
Indiana at Purdue – 1/18/1994
Indiana at Illinois – 3/1/1987
Tuesday, January 15th
Michigan State at Ohio State – 3/3/1991
Minnesota at Wisconsin – 1/22/1990
Tuesday, January 22nd
Minnesota at Ohio State – 2/2/1983
Illinois at Northwestern – 1/14/2004
Tuesday, January 29th
Penn State at Michigan State – 1/3/2001
Minnesota at Wisconsin – 3/8/1997
Tuesday, February 5th
Michigan State at Purdue – 2/8/2000
Indiana at Ohio State – 2/17/1991
Tuesday, February 12th
Iowa at Michigan – 1/19/1985
Indiana at Wisconsin – 2/16/1987
Tuesday, February 19th
Wisconsin at Ohio State – 2/25/2007
Purdue at Indiana – 2/23/1985
Tuesday, February 26th
Minnesota at Iowa – 1/18/2006
Purdue at Michigan – 2/18/1991
Tuesday, March 4th
Iowa at Northwestern – 2/8/2006
Indiana at Minnesota – 2/9/2000
Tuesday, March 11th
Illinois at Indiana – 3/5/1989
Illinois at Penn State – 1/31/2001
About the Big Ten Network: The Big Ten Network is dedicated to covering the Big Ten Conference and its 11 member institutions. The Big Ten Network provides unprecedented access to an extensive schedule of conference sports events and shows; original programs in academics, the arts and sciences; campus activities; and associated personalities. Sports programming includes live coverage of more major men’s and women’s events than ever before, along with news, highlights and analysis, all complemented by hours of university-produced campus programming. The network is available to all cable and satellite carriers and television distributors nationwide, with most programs offered in stunning high-definition television (HDTV). The Big Ten Network is a joint venture between subsidiaries of the Big Ten Conference and Fox Cable Networks. For more information regarding the Big Ten Network, visit www.BigTenNetwork.com.
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