Hawkeyes Host Ohio State Saturday Evening

Feb. 1, 2008

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THE SETTING
Iowa (10-12, 3-6) hosts Ohio State (15-6, 6-2) Saturday, Feb. 2 as the Hawkeyes play four of their next five games at home. Game time is 5:05 p.m. CT in Carver-Hawkeye Arena (14,123). Iowa has won three of its last six games, but the Hawkeyes are coming off a 51-50 loss at Purdue Wednesday. Ohio State has won three straight, including a 68-56 win at Penn State Tuesday in its last outing. The Buckeyes defeated Iowa 79-48 Jan. 9 in Columbus. Iowa will recognize the 25th anniversary of Carver-Hawkeye Arena in pre-game festivities.

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: The Big Ten Network will carry the game to a national cable audience. The game can also be viewed on DIRECTV (channel 220) and the DISH Network (channel 439). Roger Twibell and Tim Doyle will call the action.

IOWA HISTORY
Iowa has played 2,430 games since beginning basketball in 1902. Overall Iowa’s record is 1,448-982 (.596). That includes a 910-313 (.744) record in home games, a 538-669 (.446) record in games away from Iowa City, a 687-671 (.506) mark in Big Ten games and a 316-87 (.784) record in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

IOWA IN CARVER-HAWKEYE ARENA
Iowa has compiled a 316-87 (.784) record in Carver-Hawkeye Arena since the facility opened in January, 1983. Iowa is 149-70 (.680) in Big Ten games and 167-17 (.908) in non-Big Ten games.

DATES AND TIMES SET
Dates and times for two more men’s basketball road games have been set. Iowa’s contest at Michigan State will be played Saturday, Feb. 23. That contest will start at 1 p.m. CT and will be televised by ESPN. Iowa’s final game of the regular season, at Northwestern, will be played Tuesday, March 4. The Big Ten Network will televise that contest, with an 8 p.m. start time. In addition, Iowa’s home contest against Michigan (Feb. 14) will be televised by ESPN, with an 8:05 p.m. CT start time. The date and time for Iowa’s final home game of the season, against Illinois, will be released later this month. That game will be played either Saturday or Sunday, March 1-2.

IN THE RANKINGS
Iowa has played a ranked opponent in four of its nine Big Ten games, while Ohio State and Purdue (2nd meeting) were also listed among teams receiving votes in both major polls. Michigan State was ranked sixth in both the Associated Press rankings and the ESPN/USA Today coaches poll. Indiana was No. 11/12 and No. 7/8 and Wisconsin was No. 24/25.

LICKLITER VS. RANKED TEAMS
Iowa Coach Todd Lickliter holds a 7-8 record when coaching against nationally ranked opponents, including a 1-3 mark at Iowa and a 6-5 record in six seasons at Butler. Iowa, this season, defeated sixth-ranked Michigan State (43-36), while dropping decisions to 11th-ranked Indiana (76-79), 24th-ranked Wisconsin (51-64) and seventh-ranked Indiana (65-43). Lickliter’s Butler teams defeated ranked opponents Louisville (14th), Maryland (18th), Mississippi State (20th), Ball State (21st), Tennessee (22nd) and Gonzaga (23rd). His teams are 0-3 vs. top five opponents, including losses to third-ranked Oklahoma in 2003, third-ranked Florida in 2007 and fifth-ranked Duke in 2003.

HAWKEYES IN NATIONAL STATS
In NCAA statistical rankings, Iowa ranks 10th in field goal defense (40.2%), and 48th in scoring defense (57.7). Senior guard Justin Johnson ranks 42nd nationally in three-point field goals per game (3.0).

IOWA TOUGH AT HOME
Iowa has won 40 of its last 47 games in Carver-Hawkeye Arena since the start of the 2004-05 season, including win streaks of 21 straight overall wins and 12 straight Big Ten Conference wins. Iowa has won 10 of its last 12 home games against ranked opponents. The Hawkeyes posted a 14-2 home record in 2006-07 (losses to Northern Iowa and Wisconsin) after a perfect 17-0 mark in 2006.

25 YEARS IN CARVER-HAWKEYE ARENA
The University of Iowa Athletic Department is celebrating 25 years in Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Hawkeye men and women’s athletics teams moved into the facility in January of 1983. Three celebrations honoring Carver-Hawkeye Arena will be held in February, beginning with Saturday’s men’s basketball game against Ohio State. Carver-Hawkeye Arena will also be recognized the following day when the women’s basketball team plays host to Indiana and the evening of Feb. 17th when the Hawkeye wrestlers tangle with Michigan. A special commemorative program and video will be created for fans attending any, or all, of the three events. Athletes from all teams who have competed in the arena have been invited back for the celebrations. Bump Elliott and Dr. Christine Grant, Iowa’s athletic directors in 1983, will take part in the celebration, along with former Iowa Wrestling Coach Dan Gable and members of the Roy J. Carver family, the building’s namesake.

NATIONAL COACH OF THE YEAR
Iowa Coach Todd Lickliter was named the 2007 Division I national Coach of the Year by the National Basketball Coaches (NABC) after leading Butler to 29 wins and a spot in the NCAA Sweet Sixteen. With Iowa football Coach Kirk Ferentz earning national Coach of the Year in 2002, Iowa is one of three Division I institutions to have a former football and men’s basketball national Coach of the Year currently coaching their respective team. The others are Florida (Urban Meyer and Billy Donovan) and Tennessee (Phillip Fulmer and Bruce Pearl). Five current Big Ten Conference head coaches have earned national Coach of the Year honors.

HEAD COACH Todd Lickliter
Todd Lickliter is in his first season as the head basketball coach at the University of Iowa. Lickliter spent the last six seasons as the head coach at Butler University. Lickliter, in his seventh season as a college head coach, holds a career mark of 141-73 (.659), including a 10-12 record in his first season at Iowa. Lickliter posted a 131-61 (.682) record as Butler’s head coach. He led Butler to four post-season tournament berths, including trips to the NCAA Sweet 16 in 2003 and 2007. Lickliter was named the 2006-07 Division I Coach of the Year by the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) and was recognized as the High-Major Coach of the Year by collegehoops.net. He was also named 2007 Horizon League Coach of the Year for the second consecutive year after guiding the Bulldogs to a school and league-record 29 victories. He led Butler to the regular season co-championship in the Horizon League in 2007. The Bulldogs advanced to the Sweet 16 in the NCAA Tournament before falling to eventual national champion Florida (65-57). Butler during the 2006-07 season won three games over top 25 opponents (Tennessee, Gonzaga, Maryland) and recorded eight victories over teams that participated in the NCAA Tournament. Butler averaged 22 wins per year under Lickliter, winning league titles in 2002, 2003 and 2007 while winning at least 20 games in four of six seasons. Lickliter led the Bulldogs to an unbeaten home record (12-0) in 2002-03, and mentored Butler to a 70-12 (.854) home mark in his six seasons. His Bulldog teams were 6-5 against teams ranked in the “Top 25” and compiled four of the top 10 winning streaks in Butler history. In his first season as Butler’s head coach, Lickliter guided the Bulldogs to a then school-record 26 victories and a third consecutive Horizon League regular season title. Lickliter guided the 2003 Bulldogs to an even more impressive season in his second year as head coach. He led Butler to a 27-6 record, breaking the single-season mark for victories for a second consecutive year. Lickliter served as an assistant coach at Butler and Eastern Michigan and was a high school head coach in Indianapolis and Danville, IL. In his final two seasons as a Butler assistant coach, the Bulldogs compiled a 47-16 record, including “Top 25” wins over 10th-ranked Wisconsin and 23rd-ranked Wake Forest. The win over the Demon Deacons in the 2001 NCAA Tournament was Butler’s first NCAA Tournament victory in 39 years. Lickliter played his final two collegiate seasons at Butler, where he earned a B.S degree in secondary education in 1979. Lickliter is 0-2 vs. Ohio State and OSU Coach Thad Matta.

OSU COACH THAD MATTA
Thad Matta is in his fourth season as the head coach at Ohio State and his eighth year overall as a college head coach. Matta guided the Buckeyes to a 35-4 record a year ago as Ohio State advanced to the title game in the NCAA Tournament before falling to Florida, 84-75. The Buckeyes posted a 26-6 record in 2006, winning the Big Ten title (12-4) by one game over Iowa and Illinois. After a loss to Iowa in the 2006 Big Ten Tournament championship game the Buckeyes claimed both the regular season and tournament titles in 2007. Matta led OSU to a 20-12 record in his first season in Columbus in 2005. He has won 20 games in each of his seven seasons as a head coach. His career mark stands at 198-59 and he is 96-28 at OSU. Matta joined the Ohio State staff after serving as the head coach at Xavier for three seasons. He posted a 78-23 record in three seasons at Xavier (2002-04) and had a one-year record of 24-8 as Butler’s head coach in 2000-01, taking his alma mater to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Matta was the 2006 and 2007 Big Ten Coach of the Year. He was also the 2001 Midwestern Collegiate Conference Coach of the Year as Butler won regular season and post-season tournament titles. In 2002 he led Xavier to regular season and post-season tournament titles in the Atlantic 10 Conference and was named Coach of the Year. He was a 2003 Naismith National Coach of the Year finalist and he was the 2004 Ohio Coach of the Year. Matta is 3-3 vs. Iowa and 2-0 vs. Coach Todd Lickliter.

THEIR PATHS HAVE CROSSED
Iowa Coach Todd Lickliter and Ohio State Coach Thad Matta go way back in the world of college basketball. Lickliter was an assistant coach at Butler University, his alma mater, in 1988-89 when Matta was a junior starter for the Bulldogs. Matta returned to his alma mater as an assistant coach prior to the 1996-97 season and served as Butler’s head coach in 2000-01. Lickliter rejoined the Butler staff in 1999-00, working as an assistant coach with Matta and then as an assistant under Matta in 2000-01. When Matta was named head coach at Xavier University following the 2001 season, Lickliter took over as the head coach at Butler, holding that position for six years before taking the head position at Iowa following the 2007 season. Both Lickliter and Matta earned conference Coach of the Year recognition as Butler’s head coach. In addition, Matta was an assistant coach at Butler throughout the playing career of Iowa assistant LaVall Jordan. Matta was Butler’s head coach in 2000-01 when Iowa assistant Joel Cornette was a sophomore for the Bulldogs and was responsible for recruiting Cornette to Butler.

THEY’VE MET TWICE
While Todd Lickliter and Thad Matta have been together at times during their careers, they have met twice as head coaches. Matta’s 2006 Ohio State team scored an early season 79-69 overtime win over Lickliter’s Butler squad in Columbus and the Buckeyes defeated Iowa 79-48 earlier this season in Columbus. Butler posted a 20-13 record in 2006 and lost in the second round of the post-season NIT. Ohio State concluded the 2006 season with a 26-6 record and won the Big Ten regular season title before a loss in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

THE SERIES
Iowa holds a 74-68 advantage over Ohio State in the series that began with a 17-16 Ohio State win in 1915. Ohio State won the first meeting, 79-48 Jan. 9 in Columbus. Ohio State won the only meeting in 2007 after Iowa won both meetings in 2006, 67-62 during the regular season in Iowa City and 67-60 in the title game of the Big Ten Tournament. Ohio State defeated Iowa 81-69 in the first meeting in 2005 before Iowa won 74-72 in Iowa City. Iowa won both meetings in 2004. Iowa has won six of the last 10 meetings and OSU has won nine of the last 16. The visiting team in the series has won eight of the last 15 games and the teams have split four games over the last six years at neutral sites in the Big Ten Tournament. Twelve of the last 19 meetings have been decided by 10 points or less, with eight decisions by five points or less. In the two meetings in 2005, the home team held serve, marking the first time since 1993 that the teams had split games in which each won on its home court. Iowa holds a 46-22 overall advantage in Iowa City and a 16-7 record vs. the Buckeyes in Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Iowa has won the last three meetings in Iowa City after the Buckeyes had won four straight here.

IOWA FALLS AT OHIO STATE
Iowa dropped its third straight conference game with a 79-48 loss at Ohio State Jan. 9. The Hawkeyes trailed by four points, 18-14, after a three-point basket with just under 11 minutes to play in the first half when Ohio State took control. The Buckeyes used a 15-1 scoring run over a seven minute period to increase their advantage to 33-15. A 12-2 burst by Ohio State left the Buckeyes with a commanding 45-17 halftime advantage as Iowa matched its lowest scoring first half of the season. The Buckeyes shot 58.8% from the field in the opening 20 minutes, controlled the rebounding (18-12) and collected five steals and had no turnovers. Iowa, on the other hand, shot just 28.6% from the field and aided the Buckeyes with nine turnovers. Iowa improved its shooting in the second to 37.1%, but for the game shot 33.9% overall and just 18.2% (6-33) from three-point range against OSU’s zone defense. OSU ended the game at 52.4% and held a 36-33 rebounding advantage. Junior Tony Freeman led Iowa with a career-best 21 points. He added three assists and three rebounds. Cyrus Tate added 10 points and six rebounds and Justin Johnson had nine points and seven rebounds. Davie Lighty and Othello Hunter led Ohio State with 14 points each, while Eric Wallace contributed 10 points and eight rebounds.

IOWA, BUCKEYE NOTES

• Iowa and Ohio State each earned one of the Big Ten titles in 2006 before the Buckeyes won both a year ago. Ohio State won the regular season title, finishing one game ahead of second place Iowa and Illinois. The Hawkeyes claimed the Big Ten tournament title with a win over Ohio State.
• Iowa and OSU have met in four of the last seven Big Ten Tournaments. Iowa won 75-66 in the quarter-finals in 2001 and went on to win the tournament. The teams met in the championship game in 2002, with the Buckeyes winning 81-64. OSU defeated Iowa 66-64 in the first round of the 2003 Big Ten Tournament and the Buckeyes went on to the title game before placing second. In 2006, Iowa, the No. two seed, defeated the top-seeded Buckeyes 67-60 for the tournament title. The teams also met at a neutral site in 1968, with OSU defeating Iowa 85-81 in a playoff game in West Lafayette, IN after the teams tied for the Big Ten regular season title.
• OSU Coach Thad Matta was an administrative assistant at Butler when Iowa defeated the Bulldogs 114-92 early in the 1991-92 season in Tampa, FL.
• Iowa senior Seth Gorney is a native of Vandalia, OH, where he attended Butler HS. Iowa assistant Joel Cornette is a native of Cincinnati, OH.
• OSU assistant Archie Miller was an assistant coach last season at Arizona State when the Sun Devils scored a last minute 67-64 win over the Hawkeyes.
• Iowa junior Tony Freeman and OSU freshman Evan Turner both attended St. Joseph’s HS in Chicago.

IOWA FALLS SHORT AT PURDUE
Iowa rallied to tie the game with five seconds remaining before Purdue used a free throw with one second remaining to take a 51-50 win over the Hawkeyes in West Lafayette. Trailing by as many as seven points in the second half, Iowa fought back from a 50-45 deficit with 1:54 remaining. Jeff Peterson scored from the lane to cut the Purdue advantage to three points with 47 seconds to play and the Hawkeye defense forced a missed shot with 12 seconds left. Peterson grabbed the rebound and passed up court to Jake Kelly, who drove to the basket and was fouled with five second remaining. Purdue was called for goal tending on the play and Kelly made his free throw attempt to tie the game. After each team used its last timeout, Purdue’s Keaton Grant drove to the basket and was fouled with 1.4 seconds remaining. His first attempt was good and Iowa was unable to get a shot when the second attempt was missed. The Hawkeyes enjoyed their best shooting night of the season, shooting 52.8% (19-36) from the field. Iowa shot 43.8% from three-point range and held a 27-21 rebounding advantage, but the Hawkeyes were guilty of 22 turnovers and shot just 55.6% (5-9) from the foul line. Kelly’s free throw to tie the game in the final seconds was Iowa’s only free throw attempt of the second half. The Boilermakers led by five points on two occasions in the first half. Iowa rallied to lead by as many as three late in the half before Purdue led 25-24 at intermission. Overall, the game featured four ties and 10 lead changes. Justin Johnson led Iowa’s scoring attack with 14 points, while Tony Freeman added 13. Johnson, Freeman, Cyrus Tate and Seth Gorney each had five rebounds, while Gorney added three assists and Freeman collected three steals.

OSU WINS AT PENN STATE
Ohio State used a solid second half of defense to take a 68-56 win at Penn State in its last outing. The game was tied at 34 at the midway point as OSU shot 48.1% and PSU shot 43.3% in the first 20 minutes. The Buckeyes held Penn State to 26.7% shooting in the second half to pull away for the win. Penn State made just 4-19 three-point attempts in the second half and just 9-32 (28.1%) for the game. The Buckeyes also forced 15 Penn State turnovers. Ohio State hit 50% from the field in the second half and 49% for the game, including 38.1% from three-point range. Senior guard Jamar Butler led Ohio State with 20 points and six assists, while Kosta Koufos and Matt Terwilliger each added 10 points. Evan Turner and Othello Hunter each had seven rebounds.

COLE TO MISS REMAINDER OF SEASON
Iowa freshman Jarryd Cole suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during Iowa’s 57-50 win over Southeastern Louisiana Dec. 29 and will miss the remainder of the season. He had surgery Friday, Jan. 4. Cole is a 6-7, 250-pound forward who played in Iowa’s first 13 games, with six starts. The native of Kansas City, MO (Winnetonka HS) is averaging 6.6 points and 4.8 rebounds, while shooting .667 from the field. He had season-bests of 15 points and nine rebounds against Iowa State. Cole was in the starting line-up in Iowa’s final non-conference win, contributing four points and four rebounds. His dunk with 11:55 remaining gave Iowa a 32-31 advantage. The injury occurred just after his basket. The injury to Cole is the second major injury suffered by a member of the Hawkeye program this season. Junior guard Tony Freeman played in just three of Iowa’s 13 non-conference games after suffering a foot injury during Iowa’s pre-season exhibition game.

IOWA GAME NOTES

• Iowa shot 52.8% (19-36) from the field in the loss at Purdue, its best shooting performance of the season. The 36 field goal attempts marked a season low as Iowa was guilty of 20 or more turnovers for the sixth time this season.
• Iowa’s 27 rebounds at Purdue mark its lowest total of the season, but the Hawkeyes still maintained a 27-21 rebounding edge over the Boilermakers.
• Iowa has won eight of its last nine meetings against Penn State, including the last six in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
• In the win over Penn State, Iowa featured four players with 10 or more points for just the third time this season. The Hawkeyes also hit 19-22 (86.4%) free throws, surpassing 80% for just the third time in 21 games. Jeff Peterson led the Hawkeyes at the line, hitting all nine of his attempts.
• Iowa’s win at Michigan marked its third straight win in Ann Arbor, the first time Iowa has won more than two consecutive games there. Iowa’s fourth straight victory over the Wolverines is its longest in the series since a four-game streak in 1980-82.
• Iowa’s victory at Michigan was keyed by four players who reached career-bests in three different categories. Tony Freeman (28) and Cyrus Tate (21) had scoring highs, Seth Gorney (12) and Tate (11) had rebounding bests and Jeff Peterson matched his career best with nine assists.
• With the 43-36 win over sixth-ranked Michigan State, Iowa has won 10 of its last 12 home games against ranked opponents.
• In defeating Michigan State 43-36, Iowa won a game while scoring less than 50 points for the first time since Nov. 30, 2005 when the Hawkeyes defeated North Carolina State, also in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
• The 36 points scored by Michigan State in Iowa’s 43-36 win are the fewest scored by an Iowa opponent since the Hawkeyes defeated Penn State 65-38 in Iowa City on March 1, 2006. The last time an Iowa opponent scored less than 36 points occurred Dec. 4, 1992 when Iowa defeated Texas-Pan American, 85-29.
• In scoring 36 points in a loss at Iowa on Jan. 12, Michigan State was held to its lowest scoring output in 13 seasons under Coach Tom Izzo.
• The 36 points scored by Michigan State tie for the second lowest total an opponent has scored against a Todd Lickliter team in his seven seasons as a college head coach. Butler allowed 34 points to Birmingham Southern in a 70-34 win on Dec. 1, 2001 and the Bulldogs defeated Detroit 56-36 Feb. 24, 2007.
• Iowa is allowing just 57.7 points per game, as eight opponents have been held to 50 points or less and only eight have scored over 60.
• Iowa opponents are shooting 40.2% from the field as 11 opponents have shot less than 40%.
• Iowa opponents are shooting 32.8% from three-point range as nine opponents have shot less than 30% from beyond the arc.
• Iowa holds a +3.4 rebounding advantage while collecting more rebounds than the opponent in 12 games.
• In a 62-55 win at Northern Iowa, the Hawkeyes made their final eight free throw attempts of the game. After missing the first attempt and making 1-2 in the first half, Iowa made all seven attempts in the final 20 minutes for a season-best 88.9% accuracy. Iowa has been over 80% from the foul line in four games.
• Junior guard Tony Freeman is averaging 15.1 points in 12 games and senior guard Justin Johnson is averaging 13. Freeman recently scored 19 or more points in four straight games, with a career-best 28 at Michigan. Johnson has scored 19 or more points in six games and has scored 21 or more points in four games, with a career-best 29 against Indiana.
• Senior forward Kurt Looby leads Iowa in rebounding (5.9), field goal percentage (.697) and blocked shots (1.6). He has 10 or more rebounds in three games, with a career-best 12 against Louisiana-Monroe.

JOHNSON AMONG SINGLE GAME LEADERS
Senior guard Justin Johnson has made 66 three-point field goals, shooting 35.9% from behind the arc. The 66 treys rank ninth best for a single season and his 184 attempts ranks eighth. He connected on six straight three-point shots in the final two minutes at home against Indiana, and even converted one of the attempts into a four-point play after being fouled. Johnson made 8-13 three-point attempts in that game while scoring a career-best 29 points, 19 of those in the final two minutes. He made his first two three-point shots at Wisconsin, giving him eight straight over two games before his first miss against the Badgers. The eight three-pointers against Indiana are the third most in a single game in Iowa history. Chris Kingsbury twice had nine treys during the 1994-95 season. Johnson’s eight treys are the most by a Hawkeye in a Big Ten game and tie for ninth place in the Big Ten Conference. Johnson also made seven treys in two games (Idaho State and Eastern Illinois) this season. Johnson set a Hawkeye Challenge record with 13 three-point baskets in two games. He had 26 points vs. Louisiana-Monroe and added 25 points vs. Eastern Illinois in earning a spot on the all-tournament team. Johnson was also named to the all-tournament squad at the South Padre Island Invitational. He recorded his first career double-double against Louisiana-Monroe with 26 points and 10 rebounds. Johnson is averaging 13 points and 4.8 rebounds per game after collecting 14 points and five rebounds in the loss at Purdue. He ranks second in the Big Ten in three-point field goals per game (3.0) and third in minutes played (35.0).

FREEMAN HITS SCORING BEST
Junior guard Tony Freeman scored a career-high 28 points in Iowa’s win at Michigan, hitting a career-best six three-point field goals and adding 6-9 free throws. He scored 19 or more in four straight games before adding 14 points at Indiana. Freeman collected 13 points, five rebounds and three steals in the loss at Purdue. Freeman suffered a fracture to the fifth metatarsal in his left foot during Iowa’s exhibition win over Simpson College Nov. 1. He saw his first action of the season in Iowa’s 62-55 win at Northern Iowa (Dec. 5). Freeman played 24 minutes against Northern Iowa, collecting 15 points, three assists and one rebound. After missing the Iowa State game, he returned to play 22 minutes in the loss to Drake, contributing nine points. He added 15 points, seven rebounds, four assists and three steals in 34 minutes in Iowa’s win over Southeastern Louisiana and added 12 points and nine assists against Indiana. Freeman scored 21 points in Iowa’s loss at Ohio State and added 22 and four steals in the win over Michigan State. He is averaging 15.1 points and 3.2 assists in 12 games. He leads the Big Ten in three-point field goals per game (3.1) in league games only.

TATE STEPPING UP
Junior Cyrus Tate has improved his numbers while stepping in and playing more minutes due to Jarryd Cole’s injury. He reached career high marks in Iowa’s win at Michigan with 21 points (8-10 FGs) and 11 rebounds. The double-double is the second of his career, as he had 11 points and 10 rebounds a year ago in a win over Purdue. Tate improved on his rebounding best with 13 in the win over Penn State. Tate has started Iowa’s nine Big Ten games, averaging 9.2 points and 7.4 rebounds per game, while shooting 72.5% from the field. He leads the Big Ten in field goal percentage for league games only and ranks third in rebounds. Tate had eight points and five rebounds at Indiana, 10 points at Ohio State and 10 points and five rebounds against Purdue (at home). He led Iowa with eight rebounds at Wisconsin, seven against Indiana and six at Ohio State. He collected nine points and seven rebounds in the win over Michigan State and for the season is averaging 6.4 points and 4.6 rebounds.

LOOBY IN THE PAINT
Kurt Looby has played well in the paint during his senior season. Looby is averaging a team-best 5.9 rebounds and is scoring 4.9 points a game while shooting 69.7% (46-66) from the field. Looby, who had a career-best 12 rebounds against Louisiana-Monroe, also leads Iowa with 35 blocked shots. Looby has 88 career blocks, moving into Iowa’s career top 10. He matched his career-high for the sixth time with six blocked shots against Purdue (at home). His 88 blocks are the most by any two-year player at Iowa. Looby had 12 points and eight rebounds in a loss to Bradley and 10 points and eight rebounds vs. Utah State. He has 10 or more rebounds in three games and had nine points and eight rebounds in a win over Michigan State. Looby ranks fifth in the Big Ten in blocked shots and 14th in rebounds.

GORNEY GETS REBOUND BEST
Senior Seth Gorney led Iowa’s rebounding efforts in the win at Michigan with a career-best 12 rebounds. He added four points and two assists in the road win and for the season is averaging 3.6 points and 4.8 rebounds. Gorney contributed a season-best 11 points and eight rebounds in the win over Penn State, including the first three-point basket of his career. He added five points, five rebounds and three assists in the loss at Purdue. Gorney’s numbers have improved in conference action, where he is averaging 4.4 points and 6.9 rebounds.

KELLY SHARING THE BALL
Freshman guard Jake Kelly moved into the starting line-up in Iowa’s last 15 games and has led the team in assists four times. He played just five minutes against Indiana after suffering an ankle injury in the opening minutes of the game, but he was back in the starting line-up three days later. He scored 12 points in a home loss to Purdue and added six points, including two free throws in the final minutes, in the win at Michigan. Kelly scored 11 points, including 3-4 three-pointers, in the win over Penn State. At Purdue, he contributed a three-point play to tie the score with five seconds left in the game. He scored 19 points in a win at Northern Iowa, hitting 6-13 field goal attempts and 3-5 treys while collecting two steals. Kelly had six assists against Louisiana-Monroe and four assists in the win over Eastern Illinois. At Iowa State he contributed 13 points, five rebounds and five assists. Kelly is averaging 6.4 points and two rebounds per game.

PETERSON WAS PERFECT
Freshman guard Jeff Peterson was perfect in his shooting while scoring 19 points in Iowa’s win over Penn State. On the eve of his 19th birthday, Peterson made all four of his field goal attempts (2-2 three-pointers) and all nine free throws. He added five assists, three rebounds and one steal in 27 minutes. He ranks fourth in free throw percentage (.905, 19-21) in league games only. Peterson had made 14 straight free throws before a miss at Purdue. Peterson has started 11 games and ranks third in minutes played. He had 12 points, nine assists and no turnovers in his first college game. He added 20 points in a win over Northern Colorado and added nine points and four assists against Florida Gulf Coast. Peterson matched his career-high with nine assists in the win at Michigan and added a pair of key free throws in the closing minutes. He is averaging 6.1 points and 3.3 assists per game, while leading the team with 17 steals.

COLE HAD BEST NIGHT AT ISU
Freshman forward Jarryd Cole had the best game of his young college career in Iowa’s loss at Iowa State. Cole connected on 7-10 field goal attempts, scoring 15 points and grabbing nine rebounds, both season-bests. He made all six of his field goal attempts while scoring 12 points and collecting five rebounds against Drake. In an earlier loss to Wake Forest he came off the bench to score 14 points (7-10 FGs) and grab seven rebounds in 33 minutes. Cole, who started for the first time against Louisiana-Monroe, added 10 points and four rebounds in a win over Eastern Illinois. He averaged 6.6 points and 4.8 rebounds per game while shooting 66.7% from the field in 13 games. He will miss the remainder of the season after suffering a torn left ACL in a win over Southeastern Louisiana.

HAWKEYES FEATURE YOUNG LINE-UP
Iowa’s starting line-up in four games included freshmen Jarryd Cole, Jeff Peterson and Jake Kelly. Cole is now out of action for the remainder of the season due to injury. Kelly has started 15 games and Peterson 11. The three have combined for 32 starts. Iowa had not started three freshmen in a game since the 2000-01 season. That season, Brody Boyd, Jared Reiner and Glen Worley started in a game at Illinois. Boyd, Worley and Sean Sonderleiter started in a game at Michigan State and Boyd, Worley and Cortney Scott started in a game at Michigan.

NEVER SAY NEVER . . .
It may have happened before 1920, but historical records of Iowa basketball do not show a game prior to Iowa’s 56-51 loss to Drake (Dec. 14) in which the Hawkeyes failed to record a free throw attempt. Drake was guilty of 10 fouls in the game, four in the first half. The Bulldogs were called for six fouls in the second half, the last at the 7:52 mark with Iowa holding a 39-38 advantage. Prior to the 1920-21 season, Iowa’s records do not show free throw attempts by game. From the beginning of the 1921-22 season, until the Dec. 14 contest vs. Drake, Iowa had made at least one free throw attempt in 2,147 consecutive games. Prior to the contest vs. Drake, Iowa’s lowest output from the free throw line, in recent history, occurred during a 61-53 loss to Michigan (March 1, 1979 in Iowa City) when the Hawkeyes made one of two free throw attempts.

HAWKEYES HIT THE BOARDS
In a 62-55 win at Northern Iowa, the Hawkeyes held a 37-16 rebounding advantage. No Northern Iowa player had more than five rebounds and only four of the nine Panthers who played had any rebounds. Kurt Looby led Iowa with seven rebounds, while six Hawkeyes had at least four. The plus 21 rebounding advantage is the largest for Iowa since the second game of the 2006-07 season when the Hawkeyes held a 51-30 rebounding advantage in a 78-65 win over Toledo in the Paradise Jam.

HOME, AWAY COMPARISONS
In its 13 home games, Iowa has outscored its opponents by a 5.5 margin, shooting 42.7% from the field while holding its opponent to 37.5% shooting. Iowa holds a 34.9-29.6 rebounding advantage. In nine games away from Carver-Hawkeye Arena (including two neutral site games), Iowa has been outscored 63.6-54.1. The Hawkeyes are shooting 41.8% from the field while opponents are shooting 44.1%. Iowa holds a 32.4-29.6 rebounding margin.

OFF THE BENCH
The Iowa reserves are averaging 15.6 points and 8.6 rebounds per game, compared to 12.9 points and 8.1 rebounds by the opponent reserves. Iowa is 8-6 when the reserves outscore the opponent’s reserves, 2-5 when the opponent reserves score more points and 0-1 when reserve scoring is even. Iowa is 6-6 when the Hawkeye reserves have more rebounds than the opponent reserves, 4-5 when the opponent reserves have more rebounds and 0-1 when rebounding by the reserves is even.

OVERCOMING DEFICITS
The biggest deficit Iowa has overcome to get a victory is 14 points, that in a 57-50 win over Southeastern Louisiana. The Hawkeyes trailed by seven at halftime. The biggest deficit overcome by an Iowa opponent is 16, that by Louisiana-Monroe in a 72-67 overtime win at Iowa.

SCORING BY HALVES
Iowa has been outscored 604-565 in the first half and holds a 678-648 advantage in the second half. The Hawkeyes have been outscored 17-12 in their only overtime period. Iowa has led at halftime in 10 games and has outscored its opponent in the second half in 11 games. The first half scoring was even in the loss to Indiana and the second half scoring was even in a win over Idaho State and a loss at Purdue.

IOWA FROM THE FREE THROW LINE
Iowa has made at least 80% of its free throws in four games and at least 70% of its free throws in seven games, with a season-best 88.9% (8-9) at Northern Iowa. The Hawkeyes shot 86.4% (19-22) from the line in their win over Penn State. Iowa has posted a 5-2 record when shooting at least 70% from the free throw line.

CRUNCH TIME FREE THROWS
Iowa is 44-93 (.603) from the free throw line in the final four minutes of its 11 games that have been decided by 10 points or less. Iowa’s opponents in those games have made 41-65 (.631) free throw attempts in the final four minutes. Those figures include all free throw attempts in Iowa’s single overtime game. Iowa is 4-7 in games decided by 10 points or less, including one overtime loss.

HAWKEYE GAME NOTES & TRENDS

• Iowa is 0-0 when scoring 80 points or more, 0-1 when scoring between 70-80 points, 5-3 when scoring between 60-70 points and 5-8 when scoring less than 60 points.
• Iowa is 9-4 when holding its opponent to less than 60 points, 1-5 when holding its opponent between 60-70 points and 0-3 when the opponent scores over 70 points.
• Iowa is 6-5 when collecting more assists than the opponent, 4-7 when the opponent has more assists and 0-0 when assists were even.
• Iowa is 3-0 when having fewer turnovers than its opponent, 7-11 when the opponent has fewer turnovers and 0-1 when turnovers are equal.
• Iowa is 4-0 when collecting more steals than its opponent, 6-11 when the opponent had more steals and 0-1 when steals are equal.
• Iowa is 0-0 when five reach double figures, 2-1 when four reach double figures; 1-2 when three score in double figures, 5-4 when two players score in double figures and 2-5 when one scores in double figures.
• Iowa is 9-1 when leading at halftime, 1-10 when trailing at intermission and 0-1 when tied at halftime.
• Iowa is 8-7 when controlling the opening tip and 2-5 when not controlling the tip.
• Iowa is 4-7 in games decided by 10 points or less, including a 0-5 record in games decided by five points or less and a 0-1 mark in overtime.
• Iowa is 0-2 in neutral site games, dropping contests to Bradley and Utah State at the South Padre Island Invitational in late November.

HAWKEYES SET ARENA RECORD
Iowa set a Carver-Hawkeye Arena (opened in 1983) record with 12 consecutive Big Ten Conference home wins over the course of the 2006 and 2007 seasons. The streak was snapped Jan. 28, 2007 when second-ranked Wisconsin won in Iowa City. Following the loss to Wisconsin the Hawkeyes concluded the season by winning their final four home games, improving to 15-1 in Big Ten games and 31-2 overall over the past two seasons in Carver-Hawkeye Arena. 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 ON THE TUBE
All but one Iowa game throughout the 2007-08 season will be televised, with the only exception being the final round of the South Padre Island Invitational against Utah State. The majority of Iowa’s non-conference games appeared on the Big Ten Network. Iowa’s home game with Wake Forest was televised on ESPN2. The contest at Northern Iowa was on FOX 28 and the game at Iowa State appeared on ESPNU. Remaining games at Minnesota, at home with Michigan and at Michigan State will be televised on ESPN.

IOWA ON THE BIG TEN NETWORK
A majority of Iowa’s games throughout the 2007-08 season will appear on national cable television via the Big Ten Network. The Big Ten Network is available on the basic level of service offered by 67 locally-owned and locally-operated cable television systems across the state of Iowa. It is also available through the nation’s two satellite television companies, DirectTV and Dish Network. Currently, more than 50 percent of the homes in Iowa have access to the Big Ten Network, as do more than 30 million homes nationwide. The Big Ten Network is the fastest growing television network in television history, reaching 30 million homes in its first 30 days of existence.

IOWA PROGRAM REACHES 1,400 WINS
The Iowa basketball program reached 1,400 wins (now at 1,448) with a 79-46 victory over Texas-San Antonio on Nov. 26, 2005. Iowa ranks 34th on the all-time list for victories and is one of 41 NCAA Division I programs with as many as 1,400 wins. Iowa’s basketball history includes 73 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.

THE HAWKEYE ROSTER
The Iowa roster includes 11 players. The squad includes three seniors, three juniors, two sophomores and three freshmen. Along with Iowa native Dan Bohall, the roster includes two players from Illinois and Indiana and one from Maryland, Missouri, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas and St. John’s, Antigua.

BIG TEN SINGLE GAME TICKETS ON SALE
Single game tickets for Iowa’s Big Ten Conference home games are now on sale. Tickets may be purchased online at www.hawkeyesports.com, by calling the UI Athletics Ticket office at 1-800-IA-HAWKS, or in person at the Athletics Ticket Office in Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Home game remain against Ohio State (Feb. 2), Wisconsin (Feb. 6), Michigan (Feb. 14), Northwestern (Feb. 19) and Illinois (Mar. 1 or 2).

TICKETS ON SALE FOR 2007-08

• UI students may purchase a ticket for Iowa’s final five home games for just $50. Games remain against Ohio State, Wisconsin, Michigan, Northwestern and Illinois. With the purchase of the five-game package, students will also receive a free “Hawkamanics” t-shirt, while supplies last.
• Single game tickets for Big Ten Conference games are now on sale.
• Weekend package tickets for four Big Ten Conference home games are on sale for $100. The package includes remaining games vs. Ohio State (Feb. 2) and Illinois (Mar. 1-2).
• “Family Four Pack” tickets are available for Iowa’s home game Feb. 19 vs. Northwestern. The “Family Four Pack” includes four tickets, four hot dogs and four drinks for a cost of $65.
• Single game tickets are available for $20 for all games except Big Ten Conference weekend games and the Wisconsin game. Tickets for those games are $25. UI students can purchase single game tickets for $15 on the day of the game, when available.
• 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.

BIG TEN TOURNAMENT TICKETS ON SALE
All-session and single session tickets for the 2008 Big Ten Conference men’s basketball tournament are currently on sale. Tickets are available at all 11 Big Ten university ticket offices, the Conseco Fieldhouse box office, Ticketmaster outlets at www.ticketmaster.com, or by calling Ticketmaster at (317) 239-5151. The 11th annual Big Ten Tournament will be held March 13-16, 2008 at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. All session tickets are on sale for $150 or $275, depending on seat location. Single-session tickets range from $30 to $85, based on seat location and session. Orders are limited to 12 all-session tickets or 12 single-session tickets.

IOWA IN LAS VEGAS NEXT SEASON
Iowa will take part in the Las Vegas Invitational during the early portion of the 2008-09 season. The 2008 event will take place Nov. 28-29, 2008 at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas. Iowa’s bracket of opponents in Las Vegas will include Kentucky, Kansas State and West Virginia. Similar to the South Padre Island Invitational this season, Iowa will have two home games in the event before traveling to Las Vegas for two games. Possible first and second round opponents include Southeast Missouri State, Oakland University, Delaware State and Longwood University. Kansas defeated eventual national champion Florida in the championship game of the tournament in 2006-07, while North Carolina won the event in 2007-08. Participating schools will each have their share of tickets available to sell after this season in completed. The general public will have a chance to purchase a limited number of tickets for the final rounds in Las Vegas beginning Saturday, Nov. 3 at 1 p.m. EST at the Orleans Arena. For ticket information, please contact the Orleans Arena at (702) 284-7777 or on the web at www.orleansarena.com.

POST-SEASON OPPONENTS
Iowa’s 2007-08 schedule includes 15 games against teams that advanced to post-season play a year ago. Iowa will play 11 games against six Big Ten opponents that appeared in the 2007 NCAA Tournament, including two games with national runner-up Ohio State. The Hawkeyes have four games against teams that were in the NIT a year ago (Michigan twice, Bradley, Utah State).

IOWA IN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT
Iowa made its 22nd appearance in the NCAA Tournament in 2006. 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.

HALK TALK WITH Todd Lickliter
Fans of the University of Iowa basketball program may join Iowa Coach Todd Lickliter and radio announcer Gary Dolphin each week during the season for the “Hawk Talk with Todd Lickliter” radio call-in show. The show takes place each week at Carlos O’Kelly’s Mexican Café in Iowa City from 7 to 8:30 p.m. The dates are Feb. 4, 11, 18 and 25; and Mar. 3 and 10.

AFTER THIS
Iowa will host Wisconsin on Wednesday, Feb 6 (8:05 p.m., BTN). After a Feb. 9 contest at Minnesota (1:05, ESPN) the Hawkeyes are back home to host Michigan (Feb. 14, 8:05 p.m., ESPN) and Northwestern (Feb. 19, 8:05 p.m., BTN).

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