Hawkeyes Face First Road Test at The Citadel

Hawkeyes Face First Road Test at The Citadel

Nov. 18, 2008

Complete Release in PDF Format

THE SETTING
Iowa (2-0) plays its first road game of the season Thursday, Nov. 20, traveling to Charleston, SC to face The Citadel (1-1). Game time is 6:05 p.m. CT at McAlister Field House (6,000). Iowa opened the season with home wins over Charleston Southern (68-48) and Texas-San Antonio (73-67). The Citadel defeated Grace Bible College 81-72 at home and dropped an 82-59 decision at Virginia Commonwealth.

ON THE AIR
Radio: Iowa games are broadcast on the Hawkeye Radio Network. The network includes more than 40 stations that blanket the state of Iowa and include portions of Illinois, Nebraska, Minnesota, Missouri and Wisconsin. Gary Dolphin handles the play-by-play, along with color commentator Bob Hansen. The Hawkeye Radio Network coverage includes a 60-minute pre-game show.
Television: The game will not be televised.

IOWA HISTORY
Iowa has played 2,442 games since beginning basketball in 1902. Overall Iowa’s record is 1,453-989 (.595). That includes a 914-316 (.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 320-90 (.780) record in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

HEAD COACH Todd Lickliter
Todd Lickliter is in his second season as the head basketball coach at the University of Iowa and his eighth year overall as a college head coach. Lickliter spent six seasons (2001-07) as the head coach at Butler University. Lickliter holds a career mark of 146-80 (.646), including a 15-19 (.441) record 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 The Citadel or Bulldog Coach Ed Conroy.

THE CITADEL COACH ED CONROY
Ed Conroy is in his third season as head coach at The Citadel and his sixth year overall as a college head coach. Conroy holds a career mark of 55-88, including a 14-48 mark with the Bulldogs. Conroy is a native of Davenport, IA, where he attended Assumption High School. He took over The Citadel program after serving as an assistant coach at Coastal Carolina in 2005-06. He posted a 41-40 record as the head coach at Francis Marion University from 1997-2000. Conroy served as director of operations at Tennessee from 2001-03 and held that same position at Tulsa in 2000-01. He has served as an assistant coach at North Carolina State (1990-93), Virginia Military (1993-94), Furman (1994-97) and Tennessee (2003-05). Conroy played basketball at The Citadel before earning his degree in 1989. He started all 28 games as a senior captain and ranks among The Citadel’s career leaders in free throw percentage and three-point field goals. Conroy is 0-1 vs. Iowa and has not coached against Hawkeye Coach Todd Lickliter.

NOTES ON THE CITADEL

  • Bulldog Coach Ed Conroy was a member of the Tulsa coaching staff when Iowa defeated the Golden Hurricane 66-65 in the title game of the Hawkeye Challenge in December, 2000.
  • Iowa holds an all-time record of 9-0 against current members of the Southern Conference, having played The Citadel (1-0), Davidson (1-0), East Tennessee State (2-0), Furman (1-0), UNC-Greensboro (1-0), Tennessee-Chattanooga (1-0) and Western Carolina (2-0).
  • McAlister Field House (6,000), home to The Citadel basketball program, opened in 1939. There are currently just 11 venues used in college basketball that opened before McAlister Field House, including Butler University’s Hinkle Field House (1928) and Minnesota’s Williams Arena (1928). Iowa does not play at Minnesota this season.
  • The Citadel assistant Doug Novak previously served as the athletic director and head basketball coach at Iowa Western Community College in Council Bluffs.
  • The Citadel assistant Andy Fox is a native of Davenport, IA and a graduate of Cornell College (Mt. Vernon, IA). As a prep Fox helped Assumption HS win back-to-back state titles as a junior and senior. He was an assistant coach in 2005-06 at Tennessee, working under former Iowa assistant Bruce Pearl. While the teams met just two seasons ago, only two current Hawkeye players, seniors Cyrus Tate and J.R. Angle, played in the earlier meeting with The Citadel.
  • Three players on the current Bulldog roster played against the Hawkeyes two year ago. Those players include Demetrius Nelson, Jonathan Brick and Bryan Streeter.
  • As was the case in 2006-07, Iowa is one of two Big Ten teams on The Citadel schedule this season. The Bulldogs play at Michigan State in December.
  • The Citadel’s head basketball coach in 1947 was Whitey Piro. Piro later served as an assistant football coach at Iowa under Forest Evashevski. Piro, a 1941 Syracuse graduate, played in the NFL in 1942 and served in the Air Force in 1944 and 1945. He joined the football coaching staff at Iowa in 1952 and has remained an Iowa City resident since that time. His son, Andy, currently serves as Iowa’s executive director of development for intercollegiate athletics.

ROOKIES HAVE MET
Iowa freshmen Matt Gatens and John Lickliter led their Iowa City HS team to the Class 4A state title a year ago, defeating Davenport Central HS 64-54 in the title game. E.J. Hicks, a freshman at the Citadel, was a member of that Central team. Gatens led all scorers in the title game with 24 points and he added five rebounds. Lickliter contributed 11 points and three steals. Hicks led Central with 15 points and three rebounds. Lickliter and Hicks both played all 32 minutes, while Gatens played 31. Gatens was named the captain of the all-tournament team and was joined on the squad by Hicks.

THE SERIES
Iowa holds a 1-0 series advantage, defeating The Citadel 75-53 on Nov. 13, 2006 in Iowa City.

THE LAST MEETING
Citadel Coach Ed Conroy brought his first Bulldog team to Iowa City, dropping a 75-53 contest to the Hawkeyes on Nov. 13, 2006. In its opening game of the season, Iowa shot 50% from the field in building a 42-22 halftime advantage. For the game, the Hawkeyes shot 49.1% and held The Citadel to 33.9% shooting. Iowa also hit 7-15 (46.7%) three-pointers and all five of its free throw attempts in the first half. Adam Haluska led Iowa with 29 points, including six three-point baskets. He added six assists and five rebounds. Cyrus Tate collected 13 points and Kurt Looby led the Hawkeyes with 14 rebounds. The Citadel was led by Vytautas Valiulis with 15 points and Jonathan Brick with 11. J’Mel Everhart led the Bulldogs with 12 rebounds.

HAWKEYES SLIP PAST UTSA
Iowa let a 12 point halftime advantage slip away before making 14-15 free throws in the second half in earning a 73-67 win over Texas-San Antonio Monday. Iowa shot 65.2% from the field in the opening half, building a 40-28 advantage at the break. Iowa connected on 15-23 field goal attempts and 6-7 free throws in the first half and had 11 assists. UTSA used full court pressure to get back in the game, forcing 11 Iowa turnovers in the final 20 minutes. The Roadrunners took a 57-54 advantage with 7:49 to play, their first lead since the opening minutes of play. Iowa responded by scoring eight straight points, six of those on free throws by Jermain Davis. UTSA stayed in the game, closing the deficit to two points twice in the closing minutes, the last at 67-65 with 33 seconds remaining. Matt Gatens hit two free shots to increase the advantage and Cyrus Tate blocked a UTSA shot attempt as the Hawkeyes held on. Iowa shot 57.1% (24-42) from the field and 90.9% (20-22) from the free throw line, compared to 44.4% field goal shooting and 83.3% shooting from the line for the visitors. Tate led Iowa’s balanced attack with 18 points, hitting 8-9 field goals and both of his free throws. Anthony Tucker added 15 points, Gatens contributed 10 points and seven assists and Davis ended with game with 10 points on 10-10 shooting from the line. Tate and Gatens led Iowa with five rebounds apiece and Tate collected three blocked shots and two steals.

THE CITADEL FALLS AT VCU
The Citadel dropped to 1-1 on the season with an 82-59 loss at Virginia Commonwealth on Sunday. The Bulldogs fell behind in the early going, trailing 42-28 at halftime. VCU then shot 60% from the field in the second half in pulling away. For the game, VCU shot 53.4% from the field, compared to just 39.2% for The Citadel. The Bulldogs were guilty of 23 turnovers as VCU collected 12 steals. The Citadel was led by Austin Dahn with 13 points and Cameron Wells with 11. VCU won the rebounding battle by a 34-29 margin as four Bulldog players collected four rebounds.

HAWKEYES HOT FROM THE LINE
Iowa made 20-22 free throw attempts (90.9%) in the win over Texas-San Antonio, including 6-7 in the first half and 14-15 in the second half. Iowa made its last 14 attempts over the final 13 minutes of the game. The 90.9% shooting from the line is the best for an Iowa team since Nov. 19, 2004 when the Hawkeyes established a school record by hitting all 20 of their free throw attempts in a win over Western Illinois. Jermain Davis led Iowa vs. UTSA, making all 10 of his attempts. He becomes the 24th Iowa player ever to shoot 100% from the free throw line in a game, with a minimum of 10 attempts. Davis is the seventh player (sixth Hawkeye) to make as many as 10 free throws in a game without a miss, in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

IOWA SOLID ON DEFENSE
Iowa held Charleston Southern to 48 points in the opening win, as the visitors shot just 33% from the field. Iowa ranked fifth in the nation in scoring defense last season (58.0) and held opponents under 50 points in nine games. Iowa opponents shot 40.4% from the field a year ago and are shooting 39% through two games this season.

BALANCED SCORING LEADS IOWA
Iowa used a balanced scoring attack in the 73-67 win over Texas-San Antonio, as four Hawkeye players scored in double figures. Senior Cyrus Tate led Iowa with 18 points, hitting 8-9 field goal attempts and both of his free throws. Tate is shooting 84.6% from the field and had made all five of his free throw attempts in two games. Tate shot 66.7% from the field last season, including 70.2% in Big Ten games. Tate has made seven straight free throws dating back to last season. Anthony Tucker added 15 points against UTSA, while Matt Gatens and Jermain Davis each scored 10 and Aaron Fuller added eight. Nine of the 10 Hawkeyes who saw action in the contest scored points.

PILING ON THE MILES
During a 13 day period that begins with Iowa’s trip to The Citadel, Iowa will play games in South Carolina, Las Vegas and Boston. Iowa plays at The Citadel (1,097 miles) Nov. 20, travels to Las Vegas (1,535) for the Las Vegas Invitational (Nov. 28-29) and plays at Boston College (1,188) Dec. 1 as part of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. During that 13-day stretch the Hawkeyes will travel roughly 7,640 miles to play four games, along with hosting games in Iowa City on Nov. 23 (Oakland) and Nov. 25 (SE Missouri State).

HAWKEYE GAMES NOTES

  • Iowa is 2-0 when controlling the opening tip, although the Hawkeyes trailed 7-0 in the early going of the 68-48 win over Charleston Southern.
  • Iowa had four players score in double figures in a win over Texas San Antonio and three players reach double figures in the opening win. In 32 games last season, Iowa had more than three players score in double figures four times.
  • Iowa was guilty of seven turnovers vs. Charleston Southern, matching the season low of last season (vs. Utah State), but were guilty of 19 turnovers against Texas-San Antonio. The Hawkeyes had less than 10 turnovers in just two of 32 games a year ago and had 20 or more turnovers in seven games.
  • Iowa is 1-0 when scoring between 70-80 points and 1-0 when scoring between 60-70 points.
  • Iowa is 1-0 when holding its opponent to less than 50 points and 1-0 when holding its opponent between 60-70 points.
  • Iowa is 2-0 when collecting more assists than the opponent.
  • Iowa is 1-0 when having fewer turnovers than its opponent and 1-0 when the opponent has fewer turnovers.
  • Iowa is 1-0 when collecting more steals than its opponent and 1-0 when the opponent has more steals.
  • Iowa is 1-0 when four reach double figures and 1-0 when three score in double figures.
  • Iowa is 2-0 when leading at halftime.
  • Iowa is 1-0 in games decided by 10 points or less.

IOWA PROGRAM REACHES 1,400 WINS
The Iowa basketball program reached 1,400 wins (now at 1,453) 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.

NEWCOMERS CONTRIBUTE
With seven new players on a 13-man roster, Iowa will rely on newcomers throughout the year. In the opening win over Charleston Southern, Iowa newcomers contributed 37 of 68 points, 12 of 32 rebounds, eight of 14 assists and two of three steals, while playing 118 of the 200 minutes. Three newcomers, all freshmen, were part of the starting line-up. In two games the newcomers are averaging 42.5 points, 13.5 rebounds, 13.5 assists, two steals and 118.5 minutes per game Matt Gatens led the newcomers with 15 points. His total matches the most points scored by a freshman in their first game since Jeff Horner had 15 points in the first game of the 2002-03 season.

SCORING BY HALVES
Iowa has outscored its two opponents 75-66 in the first half and 79-74 in the second half. Iowa has led at halftime in both of its two games, but was outscored in the second half by Texas-San Antonio.

IOWA FROM THE FREE THROW LINE
Iowa has made over 70% of its free throws in each of its first two games, including 90.9% (20-22) vs. Texas-San Antonio. Iowa made at least 70% of its free throws in 12 games last season, with a season-best 88.9% (8-9) at Northern Iowa. Iowa posted a 6-6 record when shooting at least 70% from the free throw line a year ago.

CRUNCH TIME FREE THROWS
Iowa is 8-8 (1.000) from the free throw line in the final four minutes of its lone game that has been decided by 10 points or less. Iowa’s opponent in that game made 2-3 (.667) free throw attempts in the final four minutes. Iowa is 1-0 in games decided by 10 points or less.

OVERCOMING DEFICITS
The biggest deficit Iowa overcame to earn a victory last season 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 points. Louisiana-Monroe rallied for a 72-67 overtime win and Michigan won 60-52, both in Iowa City. Iowa trailed by seven points in its opening win over Charleston Southern this season.

IOWA ON THE BIG TEN NETWORK
The majority of Iowa games throughout the 2008-09 season can be seen on the Big Ten Network, a national cable television network that now reaches over 70 million homes in its second year. The Big Ten Network is available on Mediacom, which provides cable service to over 400,000 customers throughout Iowa and the Midwest. Iowa games telecast on the Big Ten Network are also available through the nation’s two satellite television companies, DirectTV and Dish Network. Mediacom Connections will televise Iowa’s home game against Southeast Missouri State on Nov. 25 and the West Virginia game (Jan. 28, 8:05 p.m. CT) in Las Vegas. Those games can be viewed throughout the state of Iowa on Mediacom cable.

TATE & COLE ARE IOWA CAPTAINS
Senior forward Cyrus Tate and sophomore forward Jarryd Cole will serve as Iowa’s captains in 2008-09. Tate averaged 8.3 points and 5.4 rebounds a year ago while starting 19 of the 31 games he appeared in. Tate shot 66.7% from the field for the season and 70.2% in Big Ten games. He led the conference in field goal percentage and was third in rebounding in conference games. Cole started six of the 13 games he played before a knee injury in Iowa’s final non-conference game forced him to miss the final 19 games. Cole averaged 6.6 points and 4.8 rebounds, shooting 66.7% from the field.

LICKLITER TO REDSHIRT
Freshman guard John Lickliter, who joined the Iowa program as a walk-on to play for his father, Coach Todd Lickliter, plans to use the 2008-09 season to redshirt. Lickliter started every game at year ago at Iowa City High, helping the Little Hawks claim the Class 4-A state title.

THE RETURNING CAST
Iowa returns two starters and six lettermen from a year ago. The returning starters include senior forward Cyrus Tate (6-8, 255) and sophomore guard Jake Kelly (6-6, 185). Tate started 19 games as a junior, averaging 8.3 points and 5.4 rebounds. Kelly started 25 of 32 games in his first season, averaging 7.3 points while shooting 43.5% from three-point range. The four additional returning lettermen include junior center David Palmer (6-9, 240), senior guard J.R. Angle (6-7, 215), sophomore guard Jeff Peterson (6-0, 192) and sophomore forward Jarryd Cole (6-7, 250). Iowa’s returning players, last season, played 44.9% of all minutes in 32 games, scoring 44.9% of Iowa’s points and grabbing 37.3% of Iowa’s rebounds. The group also had 45.5% of the assists and 50% of the steals last season. They combined to shoot 45.8% from the field, 35.7% from three-point range and 63.1% from the free throw line.

A YOUNG SQUAD
Iowa’s roster of 13 players includes five freshmen, three sophomores, three juniors and two seniors. The sophomores are Jarryd Cole, Jake Kelly and Jeff Peterson. The freshmen include forward Andrew Brommer (6-9, 235), forward Aaron Fuller (6-6, 210), guard Matt Gatens (6-5, 215), guard John Lickliter (5-11, 175) and guard Anthony Tucker (6-4, 200). In addition, junior guards Devan Bawinkel (6-5, 210) and Jermain Davis (6-4, 200) are both in their first year at Iowa after attending junior colleges a year ago. Along with two players from the state of Iowa, the roster includes two players from Illinois and Indiana, three from Minnesota, two from Missouri and one from Arizona and Tennessee.

HAWKEYE SCHEDULE NOTES

  • Along with an opening win over Charleston Southern, Iowa travels to play at The Citadel on Thursday, Nov. 20. Both Charleston Southern and The Citadel are located in Charleston, South Carolina.
  • Iowa’s schedule includes 17 home games, including nine Big Ten Conference games and home dates with in-state opponents Northern Iowa and Iowa State. In conference play, Iowa does not play at Illinois, while Minnesota does not visit Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
  • Iowa’s Big Ten schedule includes five weekend home dates and four games during the week. After playing a number of games a year ago with a start time of 8 p.m., Iowa has just two home games this season that start as late as 7:30 p.m., a non-conference game vs. Bryant University and a Big Ten contest against Wisconsin.
  • Iowa’s schedule includes at least three neutral site games, including two games in the Las Vegas Invitational. Iowa could play between one and four neutral site games while taking part in the Big Ten Conference Tournament in Indianapolis, IN at the end of the season.

POST-SEASON OPPONENTS
Fifteen of Iowa’s 31 games during the regular season are against teams that advanced to post-season play last season. That includes 11 games against teams that participated in the NCAA Tournament. Iowa will play eight games against four Big Ten opponents that appeared in the 2008 NCAA Tournament, along with a single game at Drake and games against West Virginia and either Kentucky or Kansas State. During the non-conference portion of the schedule Iowa will face teams from the Big East (West Virginia), Atlantic Coast (Boston College), Big 12 (Iowa State and possibly Kansas State) and Missouri Valley (Drake and Northern Iowa) conferences, along with a possible opponent (Kentucky) from the Southeastern Conference. 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) and one opponent who participated in the initial College Basketball Invitational (0-1).

IOWA IN LAS VEGAS INVITATIONAL
Iowa will play four games while competing in the Las Vegas Invitational. Home games against Oakland University (Nov. 23) and Southeast Missouri State (Nov. 25) are preliminary round games. Once in Las Vegas, Iowa will meet West Virginia on Friday, Nov. 28 and face either Kentucky or Kansas State the following evening. The games in Las Vegas will take place at the Orleans Arena. 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. For ticket information on the games in Las Vegas, contact the Orleans Arena at (702) 284-7777 or on the web at www.orleansarena.com.

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 seven 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, Florida State, Kansas, Maryland, SMU and Tennessee. Four current Big Ten Conference head coaches have earned national Coach of the Year honors.

AMONG SINGLE SEASON BESTS
Iowa made 222 three-point field goals while attempting 640 three-point shots a year ago. 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.

HAWKEYES FEATURED YOUNG LINE-UP
Iowa’s starting line-up in four games last season 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. Three true freshmen, Aaron Fuller, Matt Gatens and Anthony Tucker, were in the starting line-up for Iowa’s exhibition win over Wayne State

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 152 straight games. Following is a list of games in which Iowa did not make a three-point basket (11-3 record). During the 1982-83 season, when the three-point shot was first added, the number of three-point attempts in some games is unavailable.

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 IN TOURNAMENT PLAY
Iowa has fared well while taking part in regular-season tournaments over the past 26 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.

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 6 to 7:30 p.m. The dates are Nov. 24; Dec. 8, 15, 22; Jan. 5, 12, 19, 26; Feb. 2, 9, 16, 23; and March 2 and 9.

TICKETS ON SALE FOR 2008-09
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. Season tickets are available for 2008-09, including general public ($364), UI faculty and staff ($294) and UI students ($80). Single game tickets for non-conference home games are also on sale. Single game tickets cost $22 for weekday games and $27 for weekend games and the Iowa State game. Youth tickets (high school age and younger) priced at $10 each are available for all non-conference games, except the Iowa State game.

Additional ticket packages on sale include the following:

Night Hawk Package ($69) – – includes a ticket to games vs. Oakland (Nov. 23), Bryant (Dec. 5), Wisconsin (Jan. 21) and Northwestern (Feb. 7).

Big Ten Weekend-er ($135) – – includes a ticket to games vs. Indiana (Jan. 3), Northwestern (Feb. 7), Purdue (Feb. 14), Michigan (Feb. 22) and Penn State (Mar. 7), and two complimentary tickets to the Nov. 23 contest vs. Oakland University.

Big Ten Weeknights ($76) – – includes a ticket to games vs. Minnesota (Jan. 8), Wisconsin (Jan. 21), Michigan State (Jan. 29) and Ohio State (Mar. 3-5), and two complimentary tickets to the Dec. 5 contest vs. Bryant University.

Home for the Holidays ($66) – – includes a ticket to games vs. Western Illinois (Dec. 27), Indiana (Jan. 3) and Minnesota (Jan. 8).

Youngsters are Hawk Fans, Too ($10) – – includes a youth ticket to games vs. Oakland (Nov. 23), Southeast Missouri State (Nov. 23), Bryant (Dec. 5), Western Illinois (Dec. 27), Minnesota (Jan. 8), Michigan (Feb. 22) and Ohio State (Mar. 3-5).

Beat State ($45) – – includes a ticket to men’s basketball game (Dec. 12), women’s basketball game (Dec. 7) and wrestling meet (Dec. 6) against in-state rival Iowa State in three key events in the annual Hy-Vee Cy-Hawk series (available for purchase until Nov. 30).

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.

IOWA INFORMATION ON THE WEB
Iowa basketball information is available on the University of Iowa’s web site, hawkeyesports.com. Once you have entered the web site, you may obtain biographical information on Iowa players and coaches, game notes, game stories and box scores from all games throughout the season, plus team and individual cumulative stats and a pdf version of Iowa’s History and Record book. Members of the media who wish to have this information forwarded via e-mail throughout the season may do so by contacting the Iowa Sports Information office with your e-mail address.

IOWA ON THE TUBE
All but one or two Iowa games throughout the 2008-09 season are scheduled to be televised. The only exceptions are Thursday’s game at The Citadel and Iowa’s final contest in the Las Vegas Invitational. The title game of that event will be televised, but the consolation game will not. The majority of Iowa games will appear on the Big Ten Network, while Mediacom Connections will telecast five early season contests. Mediacom Connections will televise remaining non-conference games vs. Southeast Missouri State and West Virginia. Iowa games against Boston College, Northern Iowa, Drake and Western Illinois will appear on ESPNU. Big Ten games against Minnesota (home) and Michigan State (away) will appear on ESPN/ESPN2 and all games in the Big Ten post-season tournament will be televised.

HAWKEYES IN ACC/BIG TEN CHALLENGE
Iowa will travel to Boston College Dec. 2 as part of the 2008 ACC/Big Ten Challenge (6:05 p.m. CT, ESPNU). 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.

AFTER THIS
Iowa returns home to host Oakland University Sunday, Nov. 23 (5:05 p.m., BTN) in the first round of the Las Vegas Invitational. Iowa will host Southeast Missouri State on Nov. 25 (7:05 p.m., Mediacom) before traveling to Las Vegas for back-to-back games on Nov. 28-29.