Hawkeyes Travel to Meet Michigan State Saturday

Feb. 21, 2008

• Big Ten Network: Programming Schedule
• Purchase Tickets Online
• Photo Galleries
• Big Ten Network: Free Hawkeye Video

THE SETTING
Iowa (12-15, 5-9) travels to East Lansing to face No. 17/19 Michigan State (21-5, 9-4) Saturday, Feb. 23 for the second meeting of the season with the Spartans. Game time is 1:05 p.m. CT at the Breslin Center (14,759). The game is sold out. Iowa snapped a three-game losing streak with a 53-51 win over Northwestern Tuesday in Iowa City. Michigan State defeated Penn State 86-49 Wednesday in East Lansing to improve to 15-0 at home this season. Iowa defeated the Spartans 43-36 Jan. 12 in Iowa City.

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 O’Brien and Doris Burke will call the action.

IOWA HISTORY
Iowa has played 2,435 games since beginning basketball in 1902. Overall Iowa’s record is 1,450-985 (.595). That includes a 912-315 (.743) record in home games, a 538-670 (.445) record in games away from Iowa City, a 689-674 (.506) mark in Big Ten games and a 318-89 (.781) record in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

DATES AND TIMES SET
Iowa’s final home game against Illinois will be played Saturday, March 1. The Big Ten Network will televise that contest, which has a 5:05 p.m. start time. 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.

TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE CHANGES
The Big Ten Conference has announced starting times and television coverage for all games in the Big Ten Conference Tournament. The event will take place March 13-16 at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Three games will be played Thursday, March 13, at 11 a.m. and 1:30 and 4 p.m., CT. The Big Ten Network will televise the opening game, while games two and three will air on ESPN2. Friday’s action includes four games. Those times are 11 a.m. and 1:30, 5:30 and 8 p.m., CT. The first two games on Friday will air on ESPN, while the two evening games will be on the Big Ten Network. The semi-final games on Saturday will start at 12:40 and 3 p.m., CT. Sunday’s title game is set for 2:30 p.m., CT. CBS will televise both semi-final games and the championship contest. A complete tournament bracket is included with this release.

IN THE RANKINGS
Michigan State is ranked 17th in the ESPN/USA Today coaches poll and 19th by the Associated Press. Iowa has played a ranked opponent in five of its 14 Big Ten games, while Ohio State (first meeting) and Purdue (second meeting) were also listed among teams receiving votes in both major polls. No. 17/19 Michigan State is the only ranked team remaining on Iowa’s schedule. Michigan State was ranked sixth in both the Associated Press rankings and the ESPN/USA Today coaches poll at the time of the first meeting. 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. This season, Iowa 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 40th in field goal defense (40.4%). Senior guard Justin Johnson ranks 30th nationally in three-point field goals per game (3.0).

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 appeared on the website Feb. 8 and the Lester feature appears 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). Five current Big Ten Conference head coaches have earned national Coach of the Year honors. MSU Coach Tom Izzo is a four-time winner of 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 143-75 (.656), including a 12-14 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 1-0 vs. Michigan State and Spartan Coach Tom Izzo.

MSU COACH TOM IZZO
MSU Coach Tom Izzo is in his 13th year as a college head coach, all at Michigan State. Izzo holds a record of 299-126. Izzo led the Spartans to the Final Four in 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2005, winning the NCAA title in 2000. MSU has won four Big Ten regular season titles and two Big Ten Tournament championships under Izzo, who is in his 25th year as a member of the Spartan staff. He has been named national Coach of the Year on four occasions. Izzo is 15-8 vs. Iowa and 0-1 vs. Hawkeye Coach Todd Lickliter.

THE SERIES
Michigan State holds a 57-52 advantage over Iowa in the series that began with a 52-37 MSU win in 1938. Iowa won the first meeting this season, 43-36, giving the Hawkeyes four wins in the last five meetings. The teams split games a year ago, each winning on its home court. The Hawkeyes won two of three games in 2006. MSU won 85-55 in East Lansing and Iowa won 66-54 in Iowa City before the Hawkeyes took a 53-48 win in the semi-finals of the Big Ten Conference Tournament in Indianapolis. The teams split two games in 2005, with Michigan State winning in East Lansing and Iowa winning in the quarter-finals of the Big Ten Tournament in Chicago. Overall MSU has won 18 of the last 27 meetings. The teams have met three times at neutral sites. Along with Iowa’s wins in the 2005 and 2006 Big Ten tournaments, MSU defeated Iowa at the 2000 Big Ten Tournament in Chicago, winning 75-65 on its way to the national title. The Spartans hold a 37-17 advantage in games played in East Lansing, where Iowa has lost 12 straight since taking an overtime win at the Breslin Center in 1993. Iowa is 2-14 at the Breslin Center, which opened in 1989-90.

IOWA, MSU GAME NOTES

• Michigan State has won all 15 home games this season and 19 straight overall, including the final four games a year ago. Iowa has lost 12 straight in East Lansing since an overtime win in 1993.
• Tom Izzo is in his 13th season as the head coach at Michigan State and is the dean of Big Ten Conference coaches. Izzo earned career win No. 299 Wednesday against Penn State. Iowa’s Todd Lickliter is one of three head coaches in the Big Ten Conference for their first season.
• Michigan State’s 32-point win (81-49) in the second meeting a year ago marked MSU’s widest victory margin in the series.
• Michigan State (1999 and 2000) and Iowa (2001 & 2006) have won four of the 10 Big Ten Conference tournaments and they are two of five league teams (along with Illinois, Ohio State and Wisconsin) to appear in the championship game on more than one occasion (Iowa lost in the 2002 title game as well). Michigan won the inaugural event in 1998, Ohio State won in 2002 and 2007, Illinois won in 2003 and 2005 and Wisconsin earned the 2004 title.
• Iowa and Michigan State played two common opponents in non-conference action. Iowa lost at home to Louisiana-Monroe (67-72, OT) and lost to Bradley (56-67) at a neutral site. Michigan State defeated Louisiana-Monroe 83-65 in East Lansing and won 66-61 at Bradley.
• Iowa assistant LaVall Jordan is a native of Albion, MI.

IOWA WON FIRST MEETING
Iowa ended a three-game losing streak with a 43-36 win over sixth-ranked Michigan State Jan. 12 in Iowa City, earning Coach Todd Lickliter his first win in the Big Ten Conference. The win was Iowa’s first over a top 10 opponent since the Hawkeyes defeated seventh-ranked Ohio State in the championship game of the 2006 Big Ten Tournament. Michigan State scored the first seven points of the game and held an 18-9 advantage with 8:08 to play in the first half. The Spartans failed to score the rest of the half, as Iowa scored the final 11 points of the period to lead 20-18 at the break. Two free throws by Cyrus Tate gave Iowa a 19-18 advantage with 2:45 left in the half. Iowa led the rest of the way. The Spartans ended their scoring draught two minutes into the second half, but Iowa answered each Spartan run to maintain a small advantage throughout the second half. Iowa led by five with 14 minutes remaining before the Spartans closed to within one on three occasions, the last at 35-34 with 3:48 remaining. Kurt Looby hit one of two free throws before Tony Freeman hit a three-point basket to give Iowa a 39-34 advantage with 1:12 remaining. Freeman added two free throws with 53 seconds to play and the Spartans were never closer than seven the rest of the way. Iowa shot just 27.5% from the field and 55.2% from the free throw line, but the Hawkeyes had just 10 turnovers (four in the second half) and allowed Michigan State just four free throw attempts. Iowa made just 11 field goals, five of those coming from three-point range. Michigan State shot just 30.8%, including 25% from three-point range (3-12) and the free throw line (1-4). MSU held a 40-35 rebounding advantage, but was guilty of 18 turnovers. Freeman led Iowa with a career-best 22 points, hitting 5-9 treys and 7-9 free throws. He added four steals and three assists. Looby added nine points and eight rebounds and Tate collected nine points and seven rebounds. The trio combined to score 40 of Iowa’s 43 points. Drew Neitzel and Raymar Morgan each scored 10 points to lead the Spartans, while Goran Suton added nine points and 11 rebounds.

IOWA RALLIES PAST NORTHWESTERN
Iowa rallied from a 14-point deficit in the final 13 minutes to take a 53-51 win over Northwestern in Iowa City. Both teams struggled throughout the first half, which ended with Northwestern holding a 17-15 advantage. Iowa was held to its lowest first half scoring total of the season, shooting just 21.1% while committing eight turnovers. The Wildcats started fast in the second half, racing to a 36-22 advantage with 12:25 remaining. The deficit was still 10 when Tony Freeman connected on three straight three-point baskets, cutting the margin to 39-38 with 7:25 to play. A steal and a lay-up by Dan Bohall gave Iowa its first lead of the second half and a basket by Cyrus Tate gave Iowa the lead for good at 42-41 with six minutes remaining. Iowa’s biggest advantage (six points) came with 2:39 to play before another three-point basket by the Wildcats. Tate added two free throws with two minutes left for a 53-48 advantage before Northwestern’s Craig Moore hit his fourth three-pointer of the half with 1:43 remaining. The Hawkeye defense allowed just 12 points over the final nine minutes, but the Wildcats had a final chance with nine seconds to play following two missed free throws. Following a timeout, Moore’s final three-point attempt was off the mark in the final seconds and Iowa had the victory. The Hawkeyes shot 54.2% from the field and had just two turnovers in the second half, earning the win despite a 33-30 rebounding deficit. Northwestern shot 38% from the field. Tate scored 15 of his 18 points in the second half. He also had 11 rebounds for the third double-double of his career and added three steals. Freeman scored 14 points, Jake Kelly had 12 points and five assists and Justin Johnson added nine rebounds and six assists.

MICHIGAN STATE STOPS PENN STATE
Michigan State shot 60% from the field in the opening half and went on to record an 86-49 win over Penn State Wednesday evening in East Lansing. The Spartans improved to 15-0 at home for the season while earning career win No. 299 for Coach Tom Izzo. Michigan State never trailed in the contest and built a 39-27 halftime advantage. Penn State shot just 29.6% in the second half and was never able to make a run at the Spartans. For the game Michigan State shot 58.3% from the field, including 58.8% (10-17) from three-point range. Penn State shot just 34.6% from the field and attempted just 11 free throws after shooting 51 charity shots in an earlier win over the Spartans. MSU also held a 38-25 rebounding advantage and had 30 assists on 35 field goals. Raymar Morgan led MSU’s scoring with 16 points, while Drew Neitzel and Goran Suton each added 10. Marquise Gray added nine points and seven rebounds and Suton added six 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. He averaged 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’s win over Northwestern marked just the second time in 13 games Iowa has rallied to win after trailing at halftime.
• The 14-point deficit vs. Northwestern matches the largest Iowa has overcome this season to win. Iowa also trailed Southeastern Louisiana by 14 points before earning a 57-50 win.
• Iowa had 10 turnovers in the win over Northwestern, including just two in the second half. Iowa has had less than 10 turnovers in just two of 27 games.
• Iowa had a season-low 23 rebounds in the loss at Minnesota. The 31-23 rebounding deficit is Iowa’s biggest in Big Ten play and second largest of the season.
• 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 had just 27 rebounds at Purdue, 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 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.
• Iowa is allowing just 57.4 points per game, as nine opponents have been held to 50 points or less and only 10 have scored over 60.
• Iowa opponents are shooting 40.4% from the field as 13 opponents have shot less than 40%.
• Iowa opponents are shooting 32.9% from three-point range as 10 opponents have shot less than 30% from beyond the arc.
• Iowa holds a +2.4 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.

JOHNSON AMONG SINGLE GAME LEADERS
Senior guard Justin Johnson has made 81 three-point field goals in 27 games. The 81 treys rank fifth for a single season and his 232 attempts ranks third. 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 12.9 points and 4.8 rebounds per game. He had 24 points, seven rebounds and three assists in the win over Ohio State and 15 points in a loss at Minnesota. He contributed nine rebounds and six assists in the win over Northwestern. Johnson ranks second in the Big Ten in three-point field goals per game (3.0) and third in minutes played (35.5).

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 scored 18 points in a home loss to Wisconsin and added 14 points in a win over Northwestern. 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. 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 14.2 points and 3.1 assists in 17 games. He leads the Big Ten in three-point field goals per game (3.1) in league games only and is fifth in scoring (14.5).

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. He added his third career double-double with 18 points and 11 rebounds in a home win over Northwestern. 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 9.6 points and 7.2 rebounds per game, while shooting 71.4% from the field. He leads the Big Ten in field goal percentage in league games only and ranks third in rebounding. 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 and seven against Indiana. He collected nine points and seven rebounds in a win over Michigan State, added 15 points and eight rebounds in a home loss to Wisconsin and had 10 points and six rebounds in the second game with Michigan. For the season he is averaging 7.2 points and five 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 4.5 points and 5.1 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 10 points and four rebounds in a home loss to Wisconsin and had nine points and 10 rebounds at Minnesota. He had nine points and eight rebounds, along with matching a career-best with three steals, in the home loss to Michigan. Gorney’s numbers have improved in conference action, where he is averaging 5.9 points and 6.6 rebounds.

LOOBY IN THE PAINT
Kurt Looby has played well in the paint during his senior season. Looby is averaging 5.1 rebounds and scoring 4.1 points a game while shooting 67.6% (48-71) from the field. Looby, who had a career-best 12 rebounds against Louisiana-Monroe, also leads Iowa with 37 blocked shots. Looby has 90 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 90 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 16th in rebounds.

KELLY SHARING THE BALL
Freshman guard Jake Kelly moved into the starting line-up in Iowa’s last 20 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. Kelly played a key role in a home win over Northwestern, contributing 12 points (7-8 FTs) and five assists. 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 (3-4 treys) 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 led Iowa with 12 points in a loss to Michigan, along with five rebounds, three assists and two blocked shots. 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 6.3 points and two assists 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. Peterson made 14 straight free throws before a miss at Purdue and is shooting 85.7% (24-28) from the line in Big Ten games. Peterson did not play in the win over Northwestern due to a virus. He 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 5.8 points and 3.4 assists per game and has 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 20 games and Peterson 11. The three have combined for 37 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 17 home games, Iowa has outscored its opponents by a 3.8 margin, shooting 41.7% from the field while holding its opponent to 38.3% shooting. Iowa holds a 34.1-31.3 rebounding advantage. In 10 games away from Carver-Hawkeye Arena (including two neutral site games), Iowa has been outscored 63.5-53.7. The Hawkeyes are shooting 42.3% from the field while opponents are shooting 44%. Iowa holds a 31.5-29.7 rebounding margin.

OFF THE BENCH
The Iowa reserves are averaging 13.8 points and 7.8 rebounds per game, compared to 13.4 points and 8.2 rebounds by the opponent reserves. Iowa is 8-6 when the reserves outscore the opponent’s reserves, 4-8 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, 6-7 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 earn a victory is 14 points. Iowa trailed by 14 in the first half of a 57-50 win over Southeastern Louisiana and by 14 in the second half of a win over Northwestern, with both of those games in Iowa City. The biggest deficit overcome by an Iowa opponent is 16. Louisiana-Monroe rallied for a 72-67 overtime win and Michigan won 60-52, both in Iowa City.

SCORING BY HALVES
Iowa has been outscored 688-719 in the first half, but holds an 817-815 advantage in the second half. The Hawkeyes have been outscored 17-12 in their only overtime period. Iowa has led at halftime in 13 games and has outscored its opponent in the second half in 12 games. The first half scoring was even in a home 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 10 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 5-5 record when shooting at least 70% from the free throw line.

CRUNCH TIME FREE THROWS
Iowa is 54-86 (.628) from the free throw line in the final four minutes of its 15 games that have been decided by 10 points or less. Iowa’s opponents in those games have made 59-86 (.686) free throw attempts in the final four minutes. Those figures include all free throw attempts in Iowa’s single overtime game. Iowa is 6-9 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 7-11 when scoring less than 60 points.
• Iowa is 11-4 when holding its opponent to less than 60 points, 1-8 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, 5-9 when the opponent has more assists and 0-0 when assists were even.
• Iowa is 4-0 when having fewer turnovers than its opponent, 8-14 when the opponent has fewer turnovers and 0-1 when turnovers are equal.
• Iowa is 4-1 when collecting more steals than its opponent, 8-12 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; 2-3 when three score in double figures, 6-6 when two players score in double figures and 2-5 when one scores in double figures.
• Iowa is 10-3 when leading at halftime, 2-11 when trailing at intermission and 0-1 when tied at halftime.
• Iowa is 9-7 when controlling the opening tip and 3-8 when not controlling the tip.
• Iowa is 6-9 in games decided by 10 points or less, including a 2-7 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.

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. Iowa’s game at Michigan State will be televised on ESPN and the final three games will appear on the Big Ten Network.

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 1,450) 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.

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.

NO THREE-POINTERS
Since the three-point shot became part of the college game, Iowa has played 14 games in which it has failed to make a three-point attempt. Iowa had made at least one three-point basket in 53 straight games before missing all five attempts in a 71-61 home win over Purdue in 2004. Iowa’s current streak includes at least one three-point basket in 145 straight games.

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. 25 and Mar. 3 and 10.

AFTER THIS
Iowa travels to Penn State Wednesday, Feb. 27 (6:05 p.m., CT, BTN). The Hawkeyes close the home season March 1 vs. Illinois (5:05 p.m., BTN) and conclude the regular season March 4 at Northwestern (8:05 p.m., BTN).

Complete Release in PDF Format

Click HERE for the Big Ten Network home page.