Final Iowa Basketball Notes for 2008 Season

April 18, 2008

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FINAL WRAP-UP
Iowa concluded the 2007-08 season with a 13-19 overall record. The Hawkeyes posted a 6-12 record in Big Ten Conference play, placing eighth, and lost to Michigan in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament in concluding the first year of the Todd Lickliter era. Two major injuries kept the Hawkeyes from being at full strength for the majority of the season. The overall lack of experience and the implementation of a new system, under a new coaching staff, also contributed to the final record. Junior guard Tony Freeman suffered a stress fracture in Iowa’s exhibition game and missed 10 games during the non-conference season. As Freeman returned to full strength, freshman forward Jarryd Cole suffered a major knee injury in the final non-conference game and missed the final 19 games of the year. Even with Cole playing just 13 games, Iowa’s three freshmen combined for 42 starts throughout the season. In addition, 10 of the 11 players on the Iowa roster started at least two games. From the start of the season, the Hawkeyes were a solid defensive team. The 57.3 points allowed per game ranks as the best for an Iowa team since the 1984 squad allowed opponents just 57.3 points. Iowa held opponents to 40.4% field goal shooting, including 33.2% from three-point range. Iowa ranked fifth nationally in scoring defense and 33rd in field goal percentage defense. The Hawkeyes began the season with four straight wins before posting a 7-6 record during non-conference play. Iowa stopped a two-game losing streak to Northern Iowa with a 62-55 win in Cedar Falls. The Hawkeyes lost a number of close games, including one point decisions at Purdue and Penn State, and narrow home losses to Indiana (three), Purdue (five), Drake (five) and Wisconsin (six). Iowa started Big Ten play with three straight losses before a 43-36 home win over sixth-ranked Michigan State gave Lickliter his first conference win. Iowa also scored an impressive home win over Ohio State, which concluded the season by winning the National Invitation Tournament. The Hawkeyes secured two road wins in conference action, winning for the third straight time at Michigan and stopping a three-game losing streak at Northwestern. Iowa had two players average double figures in scoring, junior Tony Freeman (13.8) and senior Justin Johnson (11.8). Johnson made 93-269 three-point attempts, totals that each rank as second best in school history for a single season. He was named to all-tournament teams in both the South Padre Island Invitational and Iowa’s Hawkeye Challenge. Junior forward Cyrus Tate led the team in rebounding (5.4). Tate, senior center Kurt Looby and freshman forward Jarryd Cole each shot 66.7% from the field. Looby completed his two-year career with 96 blocked shots to rank seventh on Iowa’s career list. Freeman earned third team all-Big Ten recognition from league coaches. Looby was named as the Iowa recipient of the Sportsmanship Award.

IOWA HISTORY
Iowa has played 2,439 games since beginning basketball in 1902. Overall Iowa’s record is 1,451-989 (.595). That includes a 912-316 (.743) record in home games, a 539-673 (.445) record in games away from Iowa City, a 690-677 (.504) mark in Big Ten games and a 318-90 (.779) record in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

IOWA IN CARVER-HAWKEYE ARENA
Iowa has compiled a 318-90 (.779) record in Carver-Hawkeye Arena since the facility opened in January, 1983. Iowa is 151-73 (.674) in Big Ten games and 167-17 (.908) in non-Big Ten games.

TATE EARNS STREET AWARD
Junior forward Cyrus Tate was named recipient of the Chris Street Award for the 2007-08 season. The Chris Street Award is presented annually to a Hawkeye player, or players, who best exemplify the spirit, enthusiasm and intensity of Chris Street. Tate (6-8, 240) started 19 of the 31 games he played, averaging 8.3 points and 5.4 rebounds per game. He missed one game due to injury. He shot 66.7% from the field and had 18 steals and 12 blocked shots. Tate averaged 10.6 points and eight rebounds per outing in 18 Big Ten games. He led the Big Ten in field goal percentage (.702) in league games only and ranked third in rebounds. Tate was named Big Ten Player of the Week (Feb. 25) for his play against Northwestern and Michigan State. Tate had a career-best 26 points at Michigan State (10-13 FG, 6-7 FT) and nine rebounds. In a home win over Northwestern he had 18 points and 11 rebounds. Tate collected the fourth double-double of his career with 16 points and 11 rebounds in a season-ending loss to Michigan.

IN THE RANKINGS
Iowa played six games against ranked opponents, all in Big Ten play. Michigan State was ranked sixth in both the Associated Press rankings and the ESPN/USA Today coaches poll at the time of Iowa’s 43-36 win in Iowa City. The Spartans were No. 17/19 at the time of the second meeting. Indiana was No. 11/12 and No. 7/8 and Wisconsin was No. 24/25 and No. 8/8.

IOWA VS. THE FIELD
Iowa, in 2007-08, played 14 of 32 games against teams that advanced to post-season play. That included five teams that advanced to the NCAA Tournament (1-8), three opponents who competed in the NIT (1-3, with a win over NIT champion Ohio State) and one opponent who participated in the initial College Basketball Invitational (0-1).

HAWKEYES IN NATIONAL STATS
In NCAA statistical rankings, Iowa ranked fifth nationally in scoring defense (58.0), 33rd in field goal defense (40.4%) and 47th in fouls per game (16.7). Senior guard Justin Johnson ranked 43rd nationally in three-point field goals per game (2.9).

AMONG SINGLE SEASON BESTS
Iowa made 222 three-point field goals while attempting 640 three-point shots. Both of those figures rank second best at Iowa for a single season. The Hawkeyes set single season records in 1995 when they made 274 of 743 three-point attempts. Iowa’s single game high for three-point attempts in 2008 was 33 at Ohio State. That figure ranks second at Iowa for a single game. The record is 36 attempts, set Dec. 17, 1994 against Long Island.

IOWA TOUGH AT HOME
Iowa has won 42 of its last 52 games (.808) 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.

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). Six current Big Ten Conference head coaches have earned national Coach of the Year honors.

HEAD COACH Todd Lickliter
Todd Lickliter has completed his first season as the head basketball coach at the University of Iowa. Lickliter spent the previous six seasons as the head coach at Butler University. Lickliter, in seven seasons as a college head coach, holds a career mark of 144-80 (.643), including a 13-19 (.406) record in one 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.

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.

TWO AMONG FRESHMAN LEADERS
Iowa rookies Jake Kelly and Jeff Peterson rank among Iowa’s top freshmen in different statistical categories. Kelly’s three-point field goal percentage (.435) ranks first among all Iowa freshmen, as hit made 30-69 attempts. Peterson collected 92 assists, which ranks seventh best among Iowa freshmen. Both Kelly (77.4%) and Peterson (73.3%) would rank among Iowa’s top freshmen in freethrow percentage, but both fell short of the required two attempts per game played.

IOWA GAME NOTES

• In closing the season with a loss to Michigan in the Big Ten Tournament, Iowa matched its season low for made three-point field goals (two) and three-point FG% (2-17, 11.8%). The Hawkeyes also had a season low four assists on its 15 made field goals.
• Iowa shot 55% from the field in closing the regular season with a win at Northwestern. That is Iowa’s second best shooting percentage of the season, trailing only the 57.5% shooting in a 65-64 loss at Penn State.
• Iowa shot at least 50% from the field in four games, all on the road. Iowa shot 50% in a win at Northern Iowa and 55% in a win at Northwestern. The Hawkeyes shot 52.8% in a one point loss at Purdue and 57.5% in a one point loss at Penn State.
• Just three Iowa opponents shot as well as 50% from the field, and Iowa lost all three games. Those opponents included Utah State (50%), at Ohio State (52.4%) and at Indiana (53.2%).
• Iowa matched a season-best with 12 three-point field goals in the win at Northwestern. Iowa also made a dozen treys in a loss at Penn State. Iowa shot 52.2% (12-23) from three-point range at Northwestern and 54.5% (12-22) at Penn State.
• Iowa had four players score in double figures in two of its final three games, a win at Northwestern and a loss at Penn State. Iowa had four players score in double figures in five game, posting a 3-2 record.
• Iowa’s 57.5% (23-40) field goal shooting at Penn State is the best percentage for Iowa in a road game since a win at Minnesota last season. Iowa shot 58.2% (32-55) in the 91-78 win in Minneapolis.
• Despite a loss at Michigan State, Iowa played well in certain aspects. MSU entered the game as the top team in the league in field goal percentage at over 49% for the season and over 50% in home games. The Hawkeyes held the Spartans to 39.1% shooting, including 4-16 (25%) three-point attempts.
• Iowa’s win over Northwestern (at home) marked just the second time in 14 games Iowa rallied to win after trailing at halftime.
• The 14-point deficit vs. Northwestern (in Iowa City) matches the largest Iowa overcame to win. Iowa also trailed Southeastern Louisiana by 14 points before earning a 57-50 win.
• Iowa had 10 turnovers in the home win over Northwestern, including just two in the second half. Iowa has had less than 10 turnovers in just two games.
• Iowa had a season low 36 field goal attempts in a loss at Purdue as Iowa was guilty of 22 turnovers. Iowa had 20 or more turnovers in seven games.
• 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 10 meetings against Penn State, including the last six in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
• In a home win over Penn State, Iowa made 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.
• 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.
• The 36 points scored by Michigan State match 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 allowed just 58 points per game, its lowest points allowed average since 1984 (57.3). Nine opponents were held to 50 points or less and only 12 scored over 60.
• Iowa opponents shot 40.4% from the field as 16 opponents shot less than 40%.
• Iowa opponents shot 33.2% from three-point range as 11 opponents shot less than 30% from beyond the arc.
• Iowa held a +2.0 rebounding advantage while collecting more rebounds than the opponent in 15 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 was over 80% from the foul line in four games.

COLE MISSED FINAL 19 GAMES
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 missed the final 19 games 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 was the second major injury suffered by a member of the Hawkeye program in 2007-08. 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.

JOHNSON AMONG SINGLE GAME LEADERS
Senior guard Justin Johnson made 93 three-point field goals. The 93 treys and his 269 attempts rank second best in a single season at Iowa. Johnson 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). Johnson scored 12 points in the loss at Penn State, connecting on 4-5 three-point attempts. He made five three-pointers while collecting 17 points and seven rebounds in a win at Northwestern. He connected on six straight three-point shots in the final two minutes at home against Indiana. 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. Johnson averaged 11.8 points and 4.9 rebounds per game for the season, shooting 36% from three-point range. Johnson ranked second in the Big Ten in three-point field goals per game (2.9) and minutes played (35.7).

FREEMAN HITS SCORING BEST
Junior guard Tony Freeman led Iowa in scoring with a 13.8 average, despite missing 10 non-conference games due to a stress fracture. 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 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. He led the Hawkeyes with 21 points (13-15 FT’s) in the loss to Illinois and added 14 points and seven assists in a win at Northwestern. Freeman scored 21 points in Iowa’s loss at Ohio State and added 22 and four steals in the win over Michigan State. He averaged 13.8 points and 3.2 assists in 22 games. He ranked second in the Big Ten in three-point field goals per game (3.0) in league games only and seventh in scoring (14.2).

TATE STEPPED UP
Junior Cyrus Tate improved his numbers while stepping in and playing more minutes due to Jarryd Cole’s injury prior to the start of Big Ten play. Tate scored a career-high 26 points in a loss at Michigan State, hitting 10-13 field goal attempts and 6-7 free throws, while also grabbing nine rebounds. Tate also had 18 points and 11 rebounds in a narrow win over Northwestern. He was named Big Ten Conference Player of the Week for his play in those two games. Tate shot 77.2% (17-22) from the field in the two games. He had 21 points (8-10 FGs) and 11 rebounds in a win at Michigan. Tate improved on his rebounding best with 13 in a win over Penn State. He added 11 points in the loss at Penn State, despite playing just 19 minutes due to foul problems. He led the Hawkeyes with eight rebounds against Illinois and added 14 points and six rebounds in a win at Northwestern. He closed the season with 16 points and 11 rebounds vs. Michigan in the Big Ten Tournament, recording the fourth double-double of his career. He tied a Big Ten Tournament record with 17 free throw attempts against the Wolverines. Tate started all of Iowa’s Big Ten games, averaging 10.6 points and seven rebounds, while shooting 70.2% from the field. He led the Big Ten in field goal percentage in league games only and ranked third in rebounding. For the season he averaged 8.3 points and 5.4 rebounds while shooting 66.7% from the field.

GORNEY GETS REBOUND BEST
Senior Seth Gorney led Iowa’s rebounding efforts in a 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 averaged 4.3 points and 5.2 rebounds for the season. Gorney’s numbers improved in conference action, where he averaged 5.3 points and 6.3 rebounds. He contributed a career-high four free throws in the final 16 seconds to help secure the win at Northwestern. 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.

LOOBY IN THE PAINT
Kurt Looby played well in the paint during his senior season. Looby averaged 4.6 rebounds and 3.6 points a game while shooting 66.7% (50-75) from the field. Looby, who had a career-best 12 rebounds against Louisiana-Monroe, also led Iowa with 43 blocked shots. Looby collected 96 career blocks in two seasons, moving into seventh on Iowa’s career list. He matched his career-high for the sixth time with five blocked shots against Purdue (at home). His 96 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 ranked fifth in the Big Ten in blocked shots for the season and seventh in Big Ten games.

STRONG START FOR KELLY
Freshman guard Jake Kelly started Iowa’s last 25 games and played well as a true freshman. Kelly played a key role in a home win over Northwestern, contributing 12 points (7-8 FTs) and five assists. He added nine points at Michigan State and had 17 points and four assists in a loss at Penn State. He scored 10 points in the loss to Illinois. Kelly led Iowa with 18 points in a win at Northwestern and he added four assists. Kelly made 7-10 field goal attempts (4-5 treys), including a three-pointer with 1:27 left in the game. 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 11 points in Iowa’s loss in the Big Ten Tournament. He scored a season-high 19 points in a win at Northern Iowa, hitting 6-13 field goal attempts and 3-5 treys while collecting two steals. At Iowa State he contributed 13 points, five rebounds and five assists. Kelly completed his first college season averaging 7.3 points, two assists and 1.9 rebounds per game, while ranking second on the team with 20 steals. He shot 40.8% from the field, 43.5% from three-point range and 77.4% from the free throw line.

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 and made both of his field goal attempts (both treys) in a loss at Penn State. Peterson made 14 straight free throws before a miss at Purdue and shot 85.7% (24-28) from the line in Big Ten games. Peterson did not play in the home win over Northwestern due to a virus. 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. Peterson started 11 games in his first season, averaging 5.2 points and 3.1 assists, while collecting 19 steals. He ranked 12th in the Big Ten in assists and 13th in assist/turnover ratio.

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 missed the final 19 games 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 later missed the final 19 games due to injury. Kelly started 25 games and Peterson 11. The three combined for 42 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 18 home games, Iowa outscored its opponents by a 2.9 margin, shooting 41.4% from the field while holding its opponent to 38.3% shooting. Iowa held a 33.7-31.6 rebounding advantage. In 14 games away from Carver-Hawkeye Arena (including three neutral site games), Iowa was outscored 63.1-54.8. The Hawkeyes shot 43.6% from the field while opponents shot 43.1%. Iowa held a 30.9-29.0 rebounding margin.

OFF THE BENCH
The Iowa reserves averaged 12.2 points and seven rebounds per game, compared to 14 points and 8.2 rebounds by the opponent reserves. Iowa was 8-6 when the reserves outscored the opponent reserves, 5-12 when the opponent reserves scored more points and 0-1 when reserve scoring was even. Iowa was 6-7 when the Hawkeye reserves had more rebounds than the opponent reserves, 7-11 when the opponent reserves had more rebounds and 0-1 when rebounding by the reserves was even.

OVERCOMING DEFICITS
The biggest deficit Iowa overcame to earn a victory was 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 53-51 win over Northwestern, with both of those games in Iowa City. The biggest deficit overcome by an Iowa opponent was 16. Louisiana-Monroe rallied for a 72-67 overtime win and Michigan won 60-52, both in Iowa City.

SCORING BY HALVES
Iowa was outscored 817-871 in the first half and 965-969 in the second half. The Hawkeyes were outscored 17-12 in their only overtime period. Iowa led at halftime in 14 games and outscored its opponent in the second half in 13 games. The first half scoring was even in a home loss to Indiana and the second half scoring was even in four games.

IOWA FROM THE FREE THROW LINE
Iowa made at least 80% of its free throws in five games and at least 70% of its free throws in 12 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 posted a 6-6 record when shooting at least 70% from the free throw line.

CRUNCH TIME FREE THROWS
Iowa was 67-100 (.670) from the free throw line in the final four minutes of its 18 games that were decided by 10 points or less. Iowa’s opponents in those games made 70-102 (.686) free throw attempts in the final four minutes. Those figures include all free throw attempts in Iowa’s single overtime game. Iowa was 7-11 in games decided by 10 points or less, including one overtime loss.

HAWKEYE GAME NOTES & TRENDS

• Iowa was 0-0 when scoring 80 points or more, 0-1 when scoring between 70-80 points, 6-4 when scoring between 60-70 points and 7-14 when scoring less than 60 points.
• Iowa was 11-6 when holding its opponent to less than 60 points, 2-10 when holding its opponent between 60-70 points and 0-3 when the opponent scored over 70 points.
• Iowa was 7-7 when collecting more assists than the opponent, 6-12 when the opponent had more assists and 0-0 when assists were even.
• Iowa was 4-0 when having fewer turnovers than its opponent, 9-18 when the opponent had fewer turnovers and 0-1 when turnovers were equal.
• Iowa was 4-1 when collecting more steals than its opponent, 9-16 when the opponent had more steals and 0-2 when steals were equal.
• Iowa was 0-0 when five reached double figures, 3-2 when four reached double figures; 2-3 when three scored in double figures, 6-8 when two players scored in double figures and 2-6 when one scored in double figures.
• Iowa was 11-3 when leading at halftime, 2-15 when trailing at intermission and 0-1 when tied at halftime.
• Iowa was 10-8 when controlling the opening tip and 3-11 when not controlling the tip.
• Iowa was 7-11 in games decided by 10 points or less, including a 3-8 record in games decided by five points or less and a 0-1 mark in overtime.
• Iowa was 0-3 in neutral site games, dropping contests to Bradley and Utah State at the South Padre Island Invitational in late November and falling to Michigan in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament.

IOWA PROGRAM REACHES 1,400 WINS
The Iowa basketball program reached 1,400 wins (now at 1,451) 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.

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 150 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.

IOWA ON THE TUBE
All but one Iowa game throughout the 2007-08 season was 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, along with Iowa’s game in the 2008 Big Ten Tournament. 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 games at Michigan State and Minnesota, along with the home contest vs. Michigan, aired on ESPN.

HAWKEYES IN ACC/BIG TEN CHALLENGE
Iowa’s men’s basketball team will travel to Boston College Dec. 2 as part of the 2008 ACC/Big Ten Challenge. Game times and television information will be released at a later date. All 11 games in the Challenge will be televised on ESPN, ESPN2 or ESPNU. Iowa is 2-5 in the Challenge after a 56-47 loss to Wake Forest last season in Iowa City. Iowa lost to Maryland, in Baltimore, in 2000, defeated Georgia Tech in 2001 in Iowa City, lost at Florida State in 2003 and lost to Duke, in Chicago, in 2002. Iowa did not take part in the event in 2003-04 and 2004-05. Boston College won the only previous meeting between the two programs, claiming an 86-81 victory in the consolation round of the Far West Classic on Dec. 30, 1974. Boston College posted a 14-17 record in 2008, including a 4-12 mark in league play. The Eagles are coached by Al Skinner, who has posted a 210-137 record in 11 seasons at Boston College. The Eagles play their home games at the Silvio O. Conte Forum (8,606). Boston College has posted a 2-0 record in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge.

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, all teams that participated in the 2008 NCAA Tournament. Similar to the South Padre Island Invitational in 2007-08, 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. The general public will have a chance to purchase a limited number of tickets for the final rounds in Las Vegas. For ticket information, please contact the Orleans Arena at (702) 284-7777 or on the web at www.orleansarena.com.

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