Iowa Home to Host Bryant University Friday

Iowa Home to Host Bryant University Friday

Dec. 4, 2008

Complete Release in PDF Format

THE SETTING
After three straight games away from Iowa City, Iowa (6-2) returns home to host Bryant University (1-4), Friday, Dec. 5 in the first of three straight home games. Game time is 7:35 p.m. in Carver-Hawkeye Arena (15,500). Iowa lost at Boston College 57-55 Tuesday in its most recent outing while taking part in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. After opening the season with one home game, Bryant is playing its fifth straight road game. The Bulldogs lost their most recent outing by a 57-47 margin at Albany.

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 Big Ten Network will carry the game to a national cable audience. In its second year of operation, the Big Ten Network reaches over 70 million homes. The game can also be viewed on DIRECTV (channel 220) and the DISH Network (channel 439). Mark Neely, Spencer Tollackson and Lauren Bohlander will call the action.

IOWA HISTORY
Iowa has played 2,447 games since beginning basketball in 1902. Overall Iowa’s record is 1,457-991 (.595). That includes a 916-316 (.744) record in home games, a 541-675 (.445) record in games away from Iowa City, a 690-677 (.504) mark in Big Ten games and a 322-90 (.782) record in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

IOWA IN CARVER-HAWKEYE ARENA
Iowa has compiled a 322-90 (.782) record in Carver-Hawkeye Arena since the facility opened in January, 1983. Iowa is 151-73 (.674) in Big Ten games and 171-17 (.910) in non-Big Ten games.

HAWKEYES ARE TOUGH AT HOME
Iowa has won 46 of its last 56 games (.821) 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.

IOWA 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 150-82 (.647), including a 19-21 (.475) 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 Bryant. He is 1-1 vs. Bulldog Coach Tim O’Shea.

BRYANT COACH TIM O’SHEA
Tim O’Shea is in his first season as the head coach at Bryant and his eighth season as a college head coach. His career mark stands at 121-99. O’Shea was head coach at Ohio University for the past seven seasons, posting a 120-95 record. Ohio won the Mid-American Conference post-season tournament in 2005, advancing to the NCAA Tournament. The Bobcats won 19 games in 2006. O’Shea is a graduate of Boston College, participating on four Eagle teams that advanced to post-season play. He has served as an assistant coach in the Ivy League (Yale), Atlantic 10 (Rhode Island) and Big East (Boston College). O’Shea has not coached against Iowa. He is 1-1 vs. Hawkeye Coach Todd Lickliter.

COACHES ARE NO STRANGERS
Iowa Coach Todd Lickliter and Bryant Coach Tim O’Shea coached against each other twice in previous positions. In 2003-04, Lickliter’s Butler team defeated O’Shea’s Ohio University team 64-63, in Indianapolis, as part of the Bracket Buster. The following season, Ohio University hosted Butler and defeated the Bulldogs 64-58.

BRYANT MOVING TO DIVISION I
Bryant University is in its first season of making the transition to Division I. At the conclusion of a four-year transition period, the Bulldogs will compete in the Northeast Conference. A year ago, in its final season in NCAA Division II, Bryant posted an 18-13 overall record and advanced to the Div. II NCAA Tournament. Bryant is playing this season as an independent. The Bulldogs will become a member of the Northeast Conference for the 2012-13 season. Iowa holds a 7-0 record against current members of the Northeast Conference, having played Central Connecticut State (1-0), Long Island (2-0), Monmouth, NJ (1-0), Robert Morris (1-0), Sacred Heart (1-0) and St. Francis, PA (1-0).

HAWKEYES HOST IN-STATE FOES NEXT WEEK
Iowa will host Northern Iowa Tuesday, Dec. 9 and Iowa State Friday, Dec. 12 to conclude its three-game home stand. An estimated 6,000 tickets remain for the Tuesday contest against the Panthers, while 4,000 tickets remain for the Hy-Vee Cy-Hawk series match up with the Cyclones. To order tickets for the upcoming games, or any remaining games on the 2008-09 schedule, fans can visit the UI athletic ticket office in Carver-Hawkeye Arena, contact the ticket office at 1-800-IA-HAWKS or order tickets online at www.hawkeyesports.com.

IOWA FALLS SHORT AT BOSTON COLLEGE
Iowa scored 10 of the final 11 points, but came up just short in a 57-55 loss at Boston College. The Hawkeyes had their second straight game decided on the last possession. After hitting a late basket for a win over Kansas State, Iowa was unable to force an overtime period against the Eagles, failing to convert a one-and-one free throw opportunity with less than one second left to play. Iowa trailed 56-45 with 4:45 remaining after two Boston College free throws. Jake Kelly hit two free throws, Matt Gatens and Devan Bawinkel hit three-point baskets and Gatens added two free throws to move Iowa within a point, 56-55, with 2:09 remaining. Iowa had two three-point attempts to take the lead, the last with 33 seconds remaining. BC’s Tyrese Rice hit one of two free throws with 12 seconds to play. Kelly controlled the ball for Iowa in the final seconds, but was forced to pass. Andrew Brommer chased down the pass and was fouled just before getting off a three-point attempt, and just before the buzzer. Brommer misfired on his first free throw attempt and the Eagles escaped with the win. Gatens and Bawinkel led Iowa with 12 points each, while Kelly added 11 and Jermain Davis scored 10. Cyrus Tate led Iowa with seven rebounds and Kelly added five assists and two steals. Iowa started slow, missing its first seven shots while falling behind by six points in the first seven minutes. The Hawkeyes then hit six straight field goal attempts and led by as many as four before trailing 27-24 at the break. Iowa shot 42.2% from the field, including 42.9% from three-point range and added 8-9 (88.9%) free throws. The Hawkeyes were outrebounded 36-22 and the Eagles converted 17-22 (77.3%) free throw attempts.

BRYANT DROPS SECOND TO ALBANY
Bryant University saw its record drop to 1-4 Monday night with a 57-47 loss at Albany. The Bulldogs fell to Albany for the second time this season. Bryant struggled in the early going, shooting 29.6% in the first half while falling behind 28-22 at intermission. The Bulldogs improved to 36.4% shooting in the second half, but was not able to cut into the deficit. The game was close in nearly all phases, but Albany took advantage of a 46-32 rebounding advantage to earn the win. Guard Barry Latham led Bryant with 16 points and four assists, while Chris Burrell added nine points, seven rebounds and three steals.

NO TREYS FOR OPPONENT
Iowa held Southeast Missouri State without a three-point basket in a 75-41 win, as the Redhawks missed all 11 attempts from behind the arc. SE Missouri State became the first Iowa opponent in 125 games not to make at least one trey. The last time that happened was Dec. 10, 2004 when Iowa State missed all six three-point attempts in Iowa’s 70-63 win in Iowa City. Iowa allowed Kansas State just three treys in seven attempts in a 65-63 Hawkeye win and Boston College made just 2-10 three-point attempts in Iowa’s most recent outing.

IOWA SHOOTING IS ON TARGET
Iowa is shooting 48.9% from the field, best among Big Ten Conference teams. Iowa also leads the Big Ten in three-point field goals per game (9.3) and is third in three-point percentage (.418). The Hawkeyes have made over 50% of their field goal attempts in four games, with a best of 57.1% in the win over Texas-San Antonio. Iowa is also shooting 41.8% from three-point range, with a best of 52% (13-25) in the win at The Citadel. Iowa has made 13 three-point field goals in two games (13-30 vs. SE MO State and 13-25 at The Citadel). The 13 three-point field goals ties as the eighth most by an Iowa team in a single game. The Iowa record is 15, on two occasions. 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 FROM THE LINE
Iowa made 20-22 free throw attempts (90.9%) in a 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 72.4% from the line through eight games, including 70.3% (26-37) in a win over Kansas State and 88.9% (8-9) in a loss at Boston College. 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. Jake Kelly added 9-10 free throws in the loss to West Virginia and Jeff Peterson made 11-12 free throws in the win over Kansas State.

IOWA SOLID ON DEFENSE
Iowa has been solid on defense through its first eight games. The Hawkeyes are allowing just 58.5 points per game, holding three opponents to less than 50 points. Iowa opponents are shooting 41.8% from the field and 33.9% 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, with at least three players scoring in double figures in four games and four reaching 10 points or more in a 73-67 win over Texas-San Antonio and a 57-55 loss at Boston College. Five different Hawkeyes have led the team in scoring and four are averaging more than nine points per game. Senior Cyrus Tate is shooting 68.6% from the field. He 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. Tucker hit 8-12 field goals, including 6-9 three-pointers, in scoring 24 points in the loss to West Virginia. Tucker added 19 points vs. Oakland and 14 vs. SE Missouri State. Tucker is shooting 42.2% from the field and 42.2% 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.

HAWKEYE GAMES NOTES

  • Iowa is 5-1 when controlling the opening tip and 1-1 when not controlling the tip.
  • Iowa is 1-1 when four players reach double figures, 3-1 when three score in double figures and 2-0 when two score 10 or more points. In 32 games last season, Iowa had more than three players score in double figures just 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 under Coach Todd Lickliter. Iowa had seven in wins over Charleston Southern and SE Missouri State, matching the season low of last season (vs. Utah State), but were guilty of 19 turnovers against Texas-San Antonio, 16 vs. Oakland and 21 vs. West Virginia, (including 17 in the first half). 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 3-0 when scoring between 70-80 points, 3-1 when scoring between 60-70 points and 0-1 when scoring less than 60 points.
  • Iowa is 3-0 when holding its opponent to less than 50 points, 1-1 when the opponent scores between 50-60 points, 2-0 when the opponent scores between 60-70 points and 0-1 when the opponent scores over 80 points.
  • Iowa is 6-0 when collecting more assists than the opponent, 0-1 when the opponent has more assists and 0-1 when assists are even.
  • Iowa is 4-0 when having fewer turnovers than its opponent, 2-1 when the opponent has fewer turnovers and 0-1 when turnovers are even.
  • Iowa is 4-1 when collecting more steals than its opponent and 2-1 when the opponent has more steals. Iowa allowed The Citadel no steals in taking the 70-48 road win.
  • Iowa is 6-0 when leading at halftime and 0-2 when trailing at halftime.
  • Iowa is 3-1 in games decided by 10 points or less, including 1-1 in games decided by less than five points.

HAWKEYE PLAYER NOTES

  • Along with scoring the game winning basket vs. Kansas State, Cyrus Tate ended the game with 10 points and seven rebounds, just one night after failing to score in a loss to West Virginia. Tate led Iowa with seven rebounds against Boston College.
  • Jeff Peterson led Iowa with six assists against Kansas State, moving into the team lead in that department (3.8). Peterson led Iowa in assists last season as a true freshman. Peterson also made 11-12 free throw attempts against the Wildcats.
  • Anthony Tucker, a true freshman, scored in double figures in Iowa’s first six games. Tucker leads Iowa in scoring at 15.1 per game.
  • True freshman Aaron Fuller had a season-best seven rebounds and seven points against Kansas State.
  • True Freshman Matt Gatens has scored in double figures in five games, ranks second on the team in assists (29) and has missed just one free throw (15-16, 93.8%).
  • Junior Devan Bawinkle had a season-best 12 points in the loss at Boston College, as he connected on four of seven three-pointers, all in the second half.
  • Junior Jermain Davis, who did not make a three-point attempt in Iowa’s first six games, has made two in each of the last two games. Davis matched his season scoring best with 10 points in the loss at Boston College and he added three rebounds and two assists.
  • Sophomore Jake Kelly, still shaking off the effects of a broken middle finger on his shooting (right) hand, contributed 11 points, five assists, three rebounds and two steals in the loss at Boston College. Kelly missed over a week of practice and Iowa’s exhibition game due to the injury.

VALUABLE POSSESSIONS
Iowa is averaging 13.6 assists and 12.5 turnovers per game through eight games. Through eight games last season those averages were 13.3 assists and 18.5 turnovers per game.

IOWA PROGRAM REACHES 1,400 WINS
The Iowa basketball program reached 1,400 wins (now at 1,457) 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 all eight games has included three true freshmen, including forward Aaron Fuller and guards Matt Gatens and Anthony 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.

NEWCOMERS CONTRIBUTE
With seven new players on a 13-man roster, Iowa is relying on newcomers this season. In the opening win over Charleston Southern, newcomers contributed 37 of Iowa’s 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, have started all eight games. The Hawkeyes newcomers have scored 40 or more points in four games, with a high of 48 vs. Texas-San Antonio. The first-year Hawkeyes had a season-best 23 rebounds in a win over SE Missouri State. Freshman Matt Gatens led the newcomers with 15 points in the opening game and freshman Anthony Tucker has led Iowa’s scoring in three games. Gatens’ 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. Tucker scored 24 points vs. West Virginia, 21 points at The Citadel and 19 vs. Oakland while leading Iowa in scoring at 13.3 points per game. Gatens is averaging 9.8 points, 3.6 assists and 3.3 rebounds.

HOME, AWAY COMPARISONS
In its four home games, Iowa has outscored its opponents by a 17.3 margin, shooting 52.4% from the field while holding its opponent to 36.1% shooting. Iowa holds a 33.0-27.8 rebounding advantage. In four games away from Carver-Hawkeye Arena, Iowa has outscored its opponents 64.5-63.8. The Hawkeyes are shooting 45.2% from the field while the opponents are shooting 47.9%. The opponents hold a 31.8-26.3 rebounding margin.

OFF THE BENCH
The Iowa reserves are averaging 21.5 points and 8.1 rebounds per game, compared to 13.5 points and 8.4 rebounds by the opponent reserves. Iowa is 4-2 when the reserves outscore the opponent reserves and 2-0 when the opponent reserves score more points. Iowa is 4-1 when the Hawkeye reserves have more rebounds than the opponent reserves and 2-1 when the opponent reserves have more rebounds.

OVERCOMING DEFICITS
The biggest deficit Iowa has overcome to earn a victory this season is seven points. In the season opening contest, Iowa trailed 7-0 before taking a 68-48 win over Charleston Southern. In Iowa’s two losses, Boston College trailed by four points in the first half before earning the win. Last season Iowa rallied from a 14-point deficit in two games, while two opponents defeated Iowa after trailing by 16 points.

SCORING BY HALVES
Iowa has outscored its opponents 255-216 in the first half and 285-252 in the second half. Iowa has led at halftime in six games (all wins), and has been outscored by three opponents in the second half.

IOWA FROM THE FREE THROW LINE
Iowa made over 70% of its free throws in four games, including 90.9% (20-22) vs. Texas-San Antonio and 88.9% (8-9) at Boston College. 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 is 3-1 this season when shooting over 70% from the foul line. Four of Iowa’s opponents have shot less than 60% from the foul line.

CRUNCH TIME FREE THROWS
Iowa is 25-30 (.833) from the free throw line in the final four minutes of its four games that have been decided by 10 points or less. Iowa’s opponents in those games have made 7-10 (.700) free throw attempts in the final four minutes. Iowa is 3-1 in games decided by 10 points or less and 1-1 in games decided by less than five points.

IOWA IN TOURNAMENT PLAY
Iowa has fared well while taking part in regular-season tournaments over the past 22 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 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.

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., Friday’s 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 defeated Kansas State to split its two games in Las Vegas as the Hawkeyes earned their first neutral site win since a 78-65 win over Toledo on Nov. 17, 2006 at the Paradise Jam.
  • 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 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 Kansas State) and Missouri Valley (Drake and Northern Iowa) conferences. 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. Through five games this season, Iowa is averaging 10 made three-point field goals and 24.2 attempts, compared to 6.9 made treys last season on an average of 20 attempts.

IOWA IN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT
Iowa made its 22nd appearance in the NCAA Tournament in 2006. Iowa earned the Big Ten Conference’s automatic bid by virtue of claiming the league’s tournament title. The Hawkeyes hold an overall record of 27-24 in the tournament, advancing to the Final Four in 1955 (fourth), 1956 (second) and 1980 (fourth). Iowa reached the regional championship in 1987 and lost in the regional semi-final in 1988 and 1999.

HALK TALK WITH Todd Lickliter
Fans of the University of Iowa basketball program may join Iowa Coach Todd Lickliter and radio announcer Gary Dolphin each week during the season for the “Hawk Talk with Todd Lickliter” radio call-in show. The show takes place each week at Carlos O’Kelly’s Mexican Café in Iowa City from 6 to 7:30 p.m. The dates are 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 all 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. Bryant (Dec. 5), Western Illinois (Dec. 27), Minnesota (Jan. 8), Michigan (Feb. 22) and Ohio State (Mar. 3-5).

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 remaining games throughout the 2008-09 season are scheduled to be televised. The majority of Iowa games will appear on the Big Ten Network. 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.

AFTER THIS
Iowa remains at home next week for a pair of games against in-state rivals. The Hawkeyes host Northern Iowa Dec. 9 (6:05 p.m., ESPNU) and Iowa State Dec. 12 (7:05 p.m., BTN).