Iowa Travels to Meet Minnesota Saturday Afternoon

Feb. 8, 2008

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THE SETTING
Iowa (11-13, 4-7) travels to Minnesota (14-7, 4-5) Saturday, Feb. 9 for its only meeting of the regular season with the Golden Gophers. Game time is 1:05 p.m. CT in Williams Arena (14,625). Iowa has won three of its last six games, but dropped a 60-54 decision to No. 8 Wisconsin Wednesday in Iowa City. Minnesota defeated Northwestern 92-72 Wednesday night in Evanston for its second win in three games.

ON THE AIR
Radio: Iowa games are broadcast on the Hawkeye Radio Network. Gary Dolphin handles the play-by-play, along with color commentator Bob Hansen. The Hawkeye Radio Network coverage includes a 60-minute pre-game show.
Television: ESPN will televise the game to a national cable audience. Dave Barnett and Stephen Bardo will call the action.

IOWA HISTORY
Iowa has played 2,432 games since beginning basketball in 1902. Overall Iowa’s record is 1,449-983 (.596). That includes a 911-314 (.744) record in home games, a 538-669 (.446) record in games away from Iowa City, a 688-672 (.506) mark in Big Ten games and a 317-88 (.783) record in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

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 five of its 11 Big Ten games, while Ohio State (first meeting) and Purdue (second 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 and No. 8/8.

LICKLITER VS. RANKED TEAMS
Iowa Coach Todd Lickliter holds a 7-9 record when coaching against nationally ranked opponents, including a 1-4 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), seventh-ranked Indiana (65-43) and eighth-ranked Wisconsin (54-60). 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 sixth in scoring defense (57.4) and 41st in field goal defense (40.2%). Senior guard Justin Johnson ranks 24th nationally in three-point field goals per game (3.1).

IOWA TOUGH AT HOME
Iowa has won 41 of its last 49 games (.836) 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 13 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.

BIG TEN CELEBRATES BLACK HISTORY MONTH
The Big Ten Conference will commemorate the achievements of African-Americans on Big Ten campuses with its Black History Month website. During the month of February, the website will feature stories on male and female student-athletes from each institution. The website can be accessed at www.bigten.org. A total of 22 former student-athletes will be honored, including former Hawkeyes Ronnie Lester and Michelle Edwards. The feature on Edwards will appear on the website Feb. 8 and the Lester feature will appear Feb. 22. In addition, the Big Ten Network will take an in-depth look at the challenges and struggles facing many African-American women coaches in Division I college basketball. That programming will feature former Iowa Coach C. Vivian Stringer and current Illinois Coach Jolette Law, a former women’s player at the University of Iowa.

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). Wisconsin Coach Bo Ryan was also recognized at the conclusion of the 2007 season. Ryan received the Clair Bee Coach of the Year award and the Rupp Cup as Coach of the Year after leading the Badgers to a 30-6 overall record. Five current Big Ten Conference head coaches have earned national Coach of the Year honors. Minnesota’s Tubby Smith earned the honor in 1998, 2003 and 2005.

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 142-74 (.657), including an 11-13 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 has not coached against Minnesota or Gopher Coach Tubby Smith.

MINNESOTA COACH TUBBY SMITH
Tubby Smith is in his first year as the head coach at Minnesota and his 17th season overall as a college head coach. Smith has led Minnesota to a 14-7 record and his career mark stands at 401-152. Smith posted a 79-43 mark in four seasons at Tulsa (1991-95), a 45-19 mark in two seasons at Georgia (1995-97) and a 263-83 record in 10 years at Kentucky (1997-07). He has also served as an assistant coach at Virginia Commonwealth, South Carolina and Kentucky. Smith led his first Kentucky team to the 1998 national title. He has taken his team to the NCAA Tournament in each of the last 14 years. He is one of four active Division I coaches to take three different teams to the Sweet 16 and he was national Coach of the Year in 1998, 2003 and 2005. His Kentucky teams won five SEC regular season titles and five SEC Tournament championships. Smith holds a 29-13 record in the NCAA Tournament to rank eighth among active coaches in tournament winning percentage. Smith is 1-1 vs. Iowa and has not coached against Hawkeye Coach Todd Lickliter.

SMITH VS. IOWA
Minnesota Coach Tubby Smith holds a 1-1 record against Iowa as a head coach. In 2001, Smith led Kentucky to a 92-79 win over Iowa in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Iowa, early in the 2005-06 season, defeated Smith’s Kentucky team 67-63 in the semi-finals of the Guardians Classic in Kansas City. Smith was also an assistant coach at Virginia Commonwealth in 1979-80 when Iowa defeated VCU in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The Hawkeyes advanced to the Final Four that season.

THE SERIES
Minnesota holds a 94-88 advantage over Iowa in the series that began with a 47-10 Gopher win in 1902. Iowa won both meetings in 2007, 60-49 in Iowa City and 91-78 in Minneapolis. Iowa has won three straight and four of the last five. Iowa won in Iowa City in 2006 (76-72, 3 OT) before the Golden Gophers won (74-61) in Minneapolis. The Hawkeyes took the third meeting, winning 67-57 in the quarter-finals of the Big Ten Tournament in Indianapolis on their way to the tournament title. The team split two games during the 2004-05 season after Iowa won both meetings in 2004. The Hawkeyes have won 11 of the last 15 meetings. The teams met just once in 2002 and 2003, with Minnesota winning both games. The Gophers hold a 57-33 advantage in games played at Minnesota. Iowa has won three of the last six and four of the last nine meetings in Williams Arena. The teams have met twice in the Big Ten Tournament. Along with the 2006 win in Indianapolis, Iowa defeated the Gophers 81-78 in the 2000 event at the United Center in Chicago.

IOWA, GOPHER NOTES

• Minnesota and Iowa will meet just once during the 2007-08 and 2008-09 regular seasons. Prior to the 2001-02 season, Iowa and Minnesota had played two basketball games each season since 1971. The teams met only in Iowa City in 2002 and only in Minneapolis in 2003.
• The two teams played one common opponent in non-conference action, as both played at Iowa State. Minnesota defeated Iowa State 68-58, while Iowa State defeated Iowa, 56-47.
• Minnesota assistant Coach Ron Jirsa was the head coach at Georgia in 1998 when the Bulldogs scored a 100-93 win over Iowa in the first round of the NIT in Iowa City.
• Minnesota assistant Coach Vince Taylor previously served as an assistant Coach at Louisville (1999-05). During that time Iowa defeated the Cardinals on two occasions. Iowa won 70-69 in overtime in the John Wooden Tradition in Indianapolis in 2003-04. The following season the Hawkeyes defeated Louisville 76-71 in the first round of the Maui Classic. Iowa placed second in that event, falling in the final to eventual national champion North Carolina.
• Minnesota assistant Coach Saul Smith played for his father, Tubby, at Kentucky during his college career. Smith was a member of the 2001 Wildcat team that defeated Iowa 92-79 in the second round of the NCAA Tournament in Long Island, NY. Smith contributed eight points, five assists and three rebounds in 35 minutes of action.

IOWA WON BOTH A YEAR AGO
Iowa took both meetings with the Golden Gophers last season, winning 60-49 at Iowa City and 91-78 in Williams Arena. Iowa used a solid defensive effort to win the first meeting. The Hawkeyes held Minnesota to 33.9% field goal shooting and the Gophers also made just 4-17 (23.5%) three-point attempts. Iowa held Minnesota to just 16 points in the first half, taking a 22-16 advantage. The Golden Gophers scored just five points in the last 14 minutes of the half. Iowa took the lead for good on a three-point basket by Adam Haluska with 13 minutes left in the half. Minnesota closed to within two points just once in the second half, and the Hawkeyes responded by scoring five straight points. Iowa built the lead to 10 with just under 10 minutes to play, but couldn’t pull away. Two free throws by Seth Gorney with 1:02 remaining lifted Iowa to a 57-49 advantage and Haluska added three of four free throws down the stretch. Iowa shot 81.5% (22-27) from the foul line, including 19-22 in the second half. Iowa also matched a season-low with just seven turnovers. Haluska led the Iowa scoring with 22 points and Tyler Smith added 15. Tony Freeman led Iowa with a career-high nine rebounds and Justin Johnson added eight, also a career-best. Minnesota was led by Dan Coleman with 19 points and 12 rebounds, while Lawrence McKenzie added 17 points.

Iowa started fast and maintained the advantage throughout most of the game in the 91-78 win at Minnesota. A three-point play by Haluska gave Iowa a 7-6 advantage three minutes into the game and the Hawkeyes led the rest of the way. Iowa led 34-31 when it used a 13-5 scoring run over the final five minutes of the first half to take a 47-36 advantage at the break. Iowa built the advantage to 55-38 three minutes into the second half, but Minnesota would not go away. The Gophers closed the gap to 74-66 with eight minutes remaining before Iowa answered with eight straight points. Both teams shot the ball extremely well from the field, as Minnesota shot 63.3% and Iowa 58.2%. There was a difference in three-point shooting, as Iowa shot 62.5% (10-16), compared to 36.8% for Minnesota. Iowa continued its free throw accuracy by hitting 81%, including 86.7% (13-15) in the second half. Haluska led Iowa with 34 points, hitting 10-14 field goals, 6-10 three-point attempts and all eight of his free throws. Smith added 19 points, eight rebounds and five assists and Freeman and Mike Henderson each added 11 points. Minnesota was led by Spencer Tollackson with 23 points and five rebounds, while Dan Coleman and Lawrence McKenzie each added 16 points.

WISCONSIN HOLDS OFF IOWA
Wisconsin outscored Iowa 16-10 over the last six minutes in taking a 60-54 win over the Hawkeyes in Iowa City. The score was tied seven times and there were 13 lead changes, the last coming with 6:15 to play when Wisconsin’s Marcus Landry converted two free throws to give the Badgers a 45-44 advantage. Iowa’s Justin Johnson hit a three-point basket with 3:44 remaining to cut Iowa’s deficit to 48-47 before the Badgers connected on all 10 of their free throw attempts in the final four minutes. Cyrus Tate added a rebound basket for the Hawkeyes with 1:32 left to cut the margin to 54-51 and Jeff Peterson hit a three-pointer to move Iowa within two, 56-54, with 26 seconds remaining. Joe Krabbenhoft made it a four-point advantage for Wisconsin with 21 seconds left, and, after a missed three-point attempt by Iowa, Landry added two final free shots with 11 seconds to play. The game was close throughout. Iowa led by as many as five points in the first half and led 29-26 at the break. The Hawkeyes shot 44% from the field in the first half, but just 26.1% in the second half. Iowa shot 35.4% for the game, compared to 43.5% for the Badgers. Wisconsin hit 5-11 (45.5%) three-point shots, compared to 7-20 (35%) for Iowa. The Hawkeyes held a 35-31 rebounding advantage. Iowa had just nine turnovers, its second lowest total of the season and lowest number in Big Ten games. Tony Freeman led Iowa’s scoring with 18 points, while Cyrus Tate added 15 and Seth Gorney scored 10. Tate led Iowa with eight rebounds and Johnson added six.

MINNESOTA WINS AT NORTHWESTERN
Minnesota used a hot shooting night to win its second straight road game, taking a 92-72 win at Northwestern Wednesday. Minnesota shot 54.2% from the field in the first half in building a 47-33 advantage at the break, that after trailing by two eight minutes into the game. Minnesota shot 46.2% (6-13) from three-point range and 88.2% (15-17) from the line in the opening period. Minnesota didn’t let up in the second half, shooting 59.3% (16-27) from the field, including 60% (6-10) from three-point range. For the night the Gophers shot 56.9% from the field, 52.2% from three-point range and 75.9% from the foul line. Minnesota also dominated the glass, holding a 38-17 rebounding advantage. The Gophers had 13 offensive rebounds while scoring 22 second chance points. Northwestern also shot well, 52.8% overall, but had just four second chance points and was outscored from the free throw line, 22-7. The Gophers were led by Spencer Tollackson, who hit 7-7 field goals and 5-5 free throws in scoring 19 points. Lawrence McKenzie and Jamal Abu-Shamala each added 16, Blake Hoffarber scored 15, Lawrence Westbrook 12 and Dan Coleman 10. Coleman led Minnesota with eight rebounds and Westbrook added 10 assists.

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 GETS BIG TURNAROUND
Iowa’s 53-48 win over Ohio State marked a 36-point turnaround from the first meeting, a 79-48 Buckeye win on Jan. 9. The point differential is the most for Iowa against an opponent since the 2002 season. Indiana defeated the Hawkeyes 79-51 in Bloomington on Feb. 5, 2002 before the Hawkeyes defeated the Hoosiers 62-60 March 9 in the semi-finals of the Big Ten Tournament in Indianapolis. The Hoosiers would later advance to the NCAA title game, in 2002, before falling to Maryland.

IOWA GAME NOTES

• Iowa shot 52.8% (19-36) from the field in a 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. 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.
• 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 57.4 points per game, as nine 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 12 opponents have shot less than 40%.
• Iowa opponents are shooting 32.2% from three-point range as 10 opponents have shot less than 30% from beyond the arc.
• Iowa holds a +3.2 rebounding advantage while collecting more rebounds than the opponent in 13 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 14.9 points in 14 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 seven games and has scored 21 or more points in five games, with a career-best 29 against Indiana.
• Senior forward Kurt Looby leads Iowa in rebounding (5.7), field goal percentage (.681) and blocked shots (1.5). 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 75 three-point field goals, shooting 37.1% from behind the arc. The 75 treys rank fifth for a single season and his 202 attempts ranks sixth. Johnson has made eight treys in two home games (Indiana and Ohio State). The eight three-pointers 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 against Big Ten opponents 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. 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 scored a career-best 29 points against Indiana, 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. 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 five rebounds per game after collecting 24 points, seven rebounds and three assists in the win over Ohio State. He ranks second in the Big Ten in three-point field goals per game (3.1) and third in minutes played (35.4).

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 and added nine points and four assists in the win over Ohio State. He scored 18 points and had four rebounds in a home loss to Wisconsin. 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 14.9 points and 3.1 assists in 14 games. He leads the Big Ten in three-point field goals per game (3.1) in league games only and is fifth in scoring (15.4).

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 all of Iowa’s Big Ten games, averaging 9.1 points and 7.4 rebounds per game, while shooting 70.2% 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 added 15 points and eight rebounds in a home loss to Wisconsin. For the season he is averaging 6.6 points and 4.8 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 before playing one of the best all-around games of his career in a win over Ohio State. Gorney, an Ohio native, had 10 points, seven rebounds and a career-best four assists against the Buckeyes. He is averaging 4.1 points and 4.9 rebounds. Gorney contributed a season-best 11 points and eight rebounds in a 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 and 10 points and four rebounds in a home loss to Wisconsin. Gorney’s numbers have improved in conference action, where he is averaging 5.5 points and 6.6 rebounds.

LOOBY IN THE PAINT
Kurt Looby has played well in the paint during his senior season. Looby is averaging a team-best 5.7 rebounds and is scoring 4.5 points a game while shooting 68.1% (47-69) 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 sixth in the Big Ten in blocked shots and 14th in rebounds.

KELLY SHARING THE BALL
Freshman guard Jake Kelly moved into the starting line-up in Iowa’s last 17 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 6.1 points 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 (.846, 22-26) in league games only. Peterson 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 six 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 17 games and Peterson 11. The three have combined for 34 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 15 home games, Iowa has outscored its opponents by a 4.7 margin, shooting 42.2% from the field while holding its opponent to 37.9% shooting. Iowa holds a 34.7-31.3 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 14.9 points and 8.5 rebounds per game, compared to 12.5 points and 7.9 rebounds by the opponent reserves. Iowa is 8-6 when the reserves outscore the opponent’s reserves, 3-6 when the opponent reserves score more points and 0-1 when reserve scoring is even. Iowa is 6-7 when the Hawkeye reserves have more rebounds than the opponent reserves, 5-5 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 652-621 in the first half and holds a 729-708 advantage in the second half. The Hawkeyes have been outscored 17-12 in their only overtime period. Iowa has led at halftime in 12 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 three games.

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 eight 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 5-3 record when shooting at least 70% from the free throw line.

CRUNCH TIME FREE THROWS
Iowa is 50-80 (.625) from the free throw line in the final four minutes of its 13 games that have been decided by 10 points or less. Iowa’s opponents in those games have made 51-75 (.680) free throw attempts in the final four minutes. Those figures include all free throw attempts in Iowa’s single overtime game. Iowa is 5-8 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 6-9 when scoring less than 60 points.
• Iowa is 10-4 when holding its opponent to less than 60 points, 1-6 when holding its opponent between 60-70 points and 0-3 when the opponent scores over 70 points.
• Iowa is 7-6 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, 8-12 when the opponent has fewer turnovers and 0-1 when turnovers are equal.
• Iowa is 4-0 when collecting more steals than its opponent, 7-11 when the opponent had more steals and 0-2 when steals are equal.
• Iowa is 0-0 when five reach double figures, 2-1 when four reach double figures; 1-3 when three score in double figures, 6-4 when two players score in double figures and 2-5 when one scores in double figures.
• Iowa is 10-2 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 3-6 when not controlling the tip.
• Iowa is 5-8 in games decided by 10 points or less, including a 1-6 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.

IOWA SEEKING EIGHTH STRAIGHT
Iowa is seeking its eighth straight winning campaign, which would establish a school record. Iowa’s current streak began with a 23-12 record in 2000-01 and includes three seasons of more than 20 wins and six post-seasons appearances (three NCAA, three NIT). Iowa also had seven straight winning seasons from 1950 through 1956. Pops Harrison, Bucky O’Connor and Rollie Williams all coached the Hawkeyes during those years. Only a 10-10 record in 1949 kept Iowa from 13 consecutive winning seasons (1944-56). Iowa is one of four Big Ten teams to post a winning record in each of the last seven seasons, joining Illinois, Michigan State and Wisconsin.

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 1,449) 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.

TICKETS ON SALE FOR 2007-08

• Single game tickets for remaining Big Ten Conference games are on sale.
• “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 Big Ten home games against Michigan and Northwestern. Tickets for the final home game of the season, vs. Illinois, are available for $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 TOURNAMENT PLAY
Iowa has fared well while taking part in regular-season tournaments over the past 25 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 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 VS. THE FIELD
Iowa posted a 6-10 record while playing 11 teams that advanced to post-season play last season. That included a 4-9 record against eight teams that competed in the NCAA Tournament and a 2-1 record against three teams that were in the NIT.

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. 11, 18 and 25; and Mar. 3 and 10.

AFTER THIS
Iowa returns home to host Michigan (Feb. 14, 8:05 p.m., ESPN) and Northwestern (Feb. 19, 8:05 p.m., BTN). Iowa’s next road contest is Feb. 23 at Michigan State (1:05 p.m. CT, ESPN).

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