Hawkeyes Host SE Missouri State Tuesday

Nov. 24, 2008

• Iowa and the Big Ten Network

Complete Release in PDF Format

THE SETTING
Iowa (4-0) hosts Southeast Missouri State (1-2) Tuesday, Nov. 25 in the second round of the 2008 Las Vegas Invitational. Game time is 7:05 p.m. in Carver-Hawkeye Arena (15,500). Iowa defeated Oakland University 66-57 in the first round of the tournament, while SE Missouri State dropped an 88-68 decision at Kansas State on Nov. 16. The Redhawks opened the season with a 102-59 loss at New Mexico and defeated Culver-Stockton 89-50 in their most recent outing.

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: Mediacom Connections will televise the game on the Mediacom Connections cable network throughout the state of Iowa. Streaming video of the game can also be viewed via the Big Ten Network website, bigtennetwork.com. Rob Brooks and Mac McCausland will call the action.

IOWA HISTORY
Iowa has played 2,444 games since beginning basketball in 1902. Overall Iowa’s record is 1,455-989 (.595). That includes a 915-316 (.743) record in home games, a 540-673 (.445) record in games away from Iowa City, a 690-677 (.504) mark in Big Ten games and a 321-90 (.781) record in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

IOWA IN CARVER-HAWKEYE ARENA
Iowa has compiled a 321-90 (.781) record in Carver-Hawkeye Arena since the facility opened in January, 1983. Iowa is 151-73 (.674) in Big Ten games and 170-17 (.909) in non-Big Ten games.

HAWKEYES ARE TOUGH AT HOME
Iowa has won 45 of its last 55 games (.818 winning percentage) in Carver-Hawkeye Arena (15,500) over the last three-plus seasons, including win streaks of 21 straight overall and 12 straight Big Ten Conference wins. Iowa has won 10 of its last 13 home games against ranked opponents. Iowa was a perfect 17-0 at home in 2006 and 14-2 in 2007 before posting a 10-8 home record a year ago. Iowa has compiled a 19-6 Big Ten Conference record in that time.

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 147-80 (.648), including a 16-19 (.457) 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 Southeast Missouri State or Redhawk Coach Zac Roman.

SE MO STATE COACH ZAC ROMAN
Zac Roman is in his first season as acting head coach at Southeast Missouri State and has a 1-2 record. Roman is in his second year on the Redhawk staff after serving as an assistant coach a year ago. He joined the SE Missouri State program after serving as assistant coach and interim head coach at Johnson County (KS) Community College. While at the helm at Johnson County CC, Roman led his team to an 11-9 record, the Region VI championship, District 10 championship and the school’s second appearance in the Junior College Division II National Tournament. He was named NJCAA District 10 Coach of the Year. Roman is a graduate of Wichita State. Roman has not coached against Iowa or Hawkeye Coach Todd Lickliter.

ABOUT THE LAS VEGAS INVITATIONAL
Iowa is one of four teams hosting two preliminary round games in the Las Vegas Invitational. Other host teams are West Virginia, Kansas State and Kentucky. Eight teams will advance to play two games each in Las Vegas, with all games there being played at the Orleans Arena on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 28-29. Once in Las Vegas, Iowa will meet West Virginia on Nov. 28 (8:05 p.m. CT) and either Kansas State or Kentucky Nov. 29. Southeast Missouri State will meet Longwood University Nov. 28 in Las Vegas. 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.

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.

IOWA, SE MO STATE NOTES

• Iowa and SE Missouri State played two common foes a year ago. Both teams lost to Bradley, Iowa at a neutral site and SE Missouri State in Peoria. Iowa defeated Eastern Illinois in Iowa City, while SE Missouri State and Eastern Illinois split two games, each winning on the road.
• Iowa holds an 11-0 all-time record against current members of the Ohio Valley Conference, having played Austin Peay (1-0), Eastern Illinois (5-0), Morehead State (3-0), Tennessee State (1-0) and Tennessee Tech (1-0).
• SE Missouri State senior guard Kenard Moore attended Marshalltown Community College before joining the Redhawk program.

HAWKEYES DEFEAT OAKLAND
Iowa built a 10 point advantage in the second half before holding off a late rally in securing a 66-57 win over Oakland University Sunday in Iowa City. With the win the Hawkeyes improved to 4-0 for the second straight season under Coach Todd Lickliter. The Hawkeyes held a 30-24 advantage at the break and increased their advantage to 53-43 with 4:35 remaining. But Oakland hit two three-point baskets within the next minute and two free throws with 2:54 left to play to cut the Iowa margin to two points. Iowa increased its lead on a three-point basket by Anthony Tucker and two free throws each by Jeff Peterson and Jake Kelly, taking a 60-51 advantage with 1:05 to play. Iowa hit 10-13 free throw attempts in the final two minutes. The Hawkeyes shot 55% from the field, including 57.1% in the first half. Iowa made 12-15 two point attempts and 10-25 three-point shots in the game while adding 12-18 free throws. Oakland’s full court pressure and trapping zone defense forced 16 Iowa turnovers. The Iowa defense held Oakland to 43.1% shooting from the field and the Hawkeyes held a 31-24 rebounding advantage. Freshman Anthony Tucker hit 5-10 three-point shots and led Iowa in scoring with 19 points. Cyrus Tate added his fifth career double-double with 11 points and 13 rebounds, and Kelly added 16 points. Tucker contributed six rebounds, Peterson had eight points and nine rebounds and Kelly added four assists and four rebounds.

SE MISSOURI STOPS CULVER-STOCKTON
Southeast Missouri State earned its first win in three games with an 89-50 decision over Culver-Stockton. The Redhawks shot 50% from the field in building a 44-21 halftime advantage, holding the visitors to 37.5% shooting. For the game Culver-Stockton shot just 30.6% from the field, including 25% (7-28) from three-point range. SE Missouri State also dominated from the free throw line, hitting 22-25 (88%) attempts, compared to 5-10 for the visitors. SE Missouri State also held a 44-28 rebounding advantage. The Redhawks placed five players in double figures, led by Kenard Moore with 24 points, as Moore connected on 9-13 field goal attempts. Jaycen Herring added 17 points, Johnny Hill scored 16, Calvin Williams 14 and LaMont Russell 11. Williams also led his team with seven rebounds and Bijon Jones contributed eight assists.

IOWA SHOOTING IS ON TARGET
Iowa is shooting 52.8% from the field through four games, best among Big Ten Conference teams. The Hawkeyes have made over 50% of their field goal attempts in three of four games, with a best of 57.1% in the win over Texas-San Antonio. Iowa is also shooting 40.7% from three-point range, with a best of 52% (13-25) in the win at The Citadel. A year ago Iowa shot as well as 50% from the field in just four of 32 games, with a best of 57.5% at Penn State.

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 streak ended when the Hawkeyes missed their first free throw attempt at The Citadel. Iowa is shooting 73.5% from the line through three games. 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 has been solid on defense through its first four games. The Hawkeyes are allowing just 55 points per game, holding two opponents to less than 50 points. Iowa opponents are shooting 41.8% from the field and 34.7% from three-point range. 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.

BALANCED SCORING LEADS IOWA
Iowa has used a balanced scoring attack in its four wins, with at least three players scoring in double figures in three games and four reaching 10 points or more in the 73-67 win over Texas-San Antonio. Three different Hawkeyes have led the team in scoring. Senior Cyrus Tate is shooting 81.8% from the field and 75% from the free throw line. Tate shot 66.7% from the field last season, including 70.2% in Big Ten games. Freshman Anthony Tucker led Iowa with 21 points in the win at The Citadel, as he hit 7-11 three-point shots. He added 19 points vs. Oakland. Tucker is shooting 50% from the field and 43.2% from three-point range. The seven three-pointers by Tucker at The Citadel match the fifth best total in school history. Chris Kingsbury twice made nine treys, while Justin Johnson had eight three-pointers in two games as well. The 13 treys by the team match the eighth best performance in school history, with the record being 15 made three-pointers on two occasions. Iowa connected on 10-25 (40%) of its three-point attempts in the win over Oakland and is shooting 40.7% for the season.

PILING ON THE MILES
During a 13 day period that began with Iowa’s trip to The Citadel (W, 70-48), Iowa will play games in South Carolina, Las Vegas and Boston. Iowa won 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 4-0 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 vs. Charleston Southern, The Citadel and Oakland. Iowa is 1-0 when four reach double figures and 3-0 when three score in double figures. In 32 games last season, Iowa had more than three players score in double figures four times.
• Iowa was guilty of six turnovers in the win at The Citadel, none by any of the Hawkeye guards. The six turnovers are a low for the Hawkeyes in 36 games under Coach Todd Lickliter. Iowa had seven in the opening win over Charleston Southern, matching the season low of last season (vs. Utah State), but were guilty of 19 turnovers against Texas-San Antonio and 16 vs. Oakland. 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 2-0 when scoring between 70-80 points and 2-0 when scoring between 60-70 points.
• Iowa is 2-0 when holding its opponent to less than 50 points, 1-0 when the opponent scores between 50-60 points and 1-0 when the opponent scores between 60-70 points.
• Iowa is 4-0 when collecting more assists than the opponent.
• Iowa is 2-0 when having fewer turnovers than its opponent and 2-0 when the opponent has fewer turnovers.
• Iowa is 2-0 when collecting more steals than its opponent and 2-0 when the opponent has more steals. Iowa allowed The Citadel no steals in taking the 70-48 road win.
• Iowa is 4-0 when leading at halftime.
• Iowa is 2-0 in games decided by 10 points or less.

IOWA PROGRAM REACHES 1,400 WINS
The Iowa basketball program reached 1,400 wins (now at 1,455) 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.

HAWKEYES FEATURE YOUNG LINE-UP
Iowa’s starting line-up in the first four games has included three true freshmen, including forward Aaron Fuller and guards Matt Gatens and Andrew Tucker. 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.

HOME, AWAY COMPARISONS
In its three home games, Iowa has outscored its opponents by an 11.7 margin, shooting 54.3% from the field while holding its opponent to 40.4% shooting. Iowa holds a 30.3-26.0 rebounding advantage. In one game away from Carver-Hawkeye Arena, Iowa outscored its opponent 70-48. The Hawkeyes shot 49% from the field while the opponent shot 47.5%. Iowa held a 28-23 rebounding margin.

OFF THE BENCH
The Iowa reserves are averaging 16.5 points and 7.5 rebounds per game, compared to nine points and 6.3 rebounds by the opponent reserves. Iowa is 3-0 when the reserves outscore the opponent reserves and 1-0 when the opponent reserves score more points. Iowa is 3-0 when the Hawkeye reserves have more rebounds than the opponent reserves and 1-0 when the opponent reserves have more rebounds.

OVERCOMING DEFICITS
The biggest deficit Iowa overcame to earn a victory was 14 points last season. 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 has outscored its four opponents 131-97 in the first half and 146-123 in the second half. Iowa has led at halftime in all four games, but was outscored in the second half by Texas-San Antonio.

IOWA FROM THE FREE THROW LINE
Iowa 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 18-21 (.857) from the free throw line in the final four minutes of its two games that have been decided by 10 points or less. Iowa’s opponent in those games have made 4-6 (.667) free throw attempts in the final four minutes. Iowa is 2-0 in games decided by 10 points or less.

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.

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 traveled to The Citadel on 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).

LICKLITER VS. RANKED TEAMS
Iowa Coach Todd Lickliter holds a 7-10 record when coaching against nationally ranked opponents, including a 1-5 mark at Iowa and a 6-5 record in six seasons at Butler. In 2007-08, 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 (43-65), eighth-ranked Wisconsin (54-60) and 17th-ranked Michigan State (52-66). 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.

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.

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 154 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 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. 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).

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. 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 remaining game throughout the 2008-09 season are scheduled to be televised. The only exception is possibly 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 will meet West Virginia Friday, Nov. 28 (8:05 p.m. CT, Mediacom Connections) in the semi-finals of the Las Vegas Invitational. Iowa concludes play in the tournament on Friday, Nov. 29, facing either Kansas State or Kentucky. The Hawkeyes play at Boston College on Dec. 2 and host Bryant University Friday, Dec. 5.