Iowa Closes Non-Conference Action at Home Saturday

Dec. 23, 2008

• Iowa and the Big Ten Network

Complete Release in PDF Format

THE SETTING
Iowa (9-3) concludes non-conference action by hosting Western Illinois (4-7) Saturday, Dec. 27. Game time is 7:02 p.m. in Carver-Hawkeye Arena (15,500). Iowa has been idle since a 60-43 loss at Drake Dec. 20. Western Illinois dropped a 64-63 decision at Southeast Missouri State Dec. 21.

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: ESPNU will televise the game to a national cable audience. Lou Canellis and Mike Kelley will call the action.

IOWA HISTORY
Iowa has played 2,452 games since beginning basketball in 1902. Overall Iowa’s record is 1,460-992 (.595). That includes a 919-316 (.744) record in home games, a 541-676 (.445) record in games away from Iowa City, a 690-677 (.504) mark in Big Ten games and a 325-90 (.783) record in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

IOWA IN CARVER-HAWKEYE ARENA
Iowa has compiled a 325-90 (.783) record in Carver-Hawkeye Arena since the facility opened in January, 1983. Iowa is 151-73 (.674) in Big Ten games and 174-17 (.911) in non-Big Ten games.

HAWKEYES ARE TOUGH AT HOME
Iowa has won 49 of its last 59 games (.831) 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 153-83 (.648), including a 22-22 (.500) 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 Western Illinois or Leatherneck Coach Jim Molinari.

IOWA IN NCAA STATS
Iowa ranks ninth nationally in scoring defense (55.6). the Hawkeyes are 12th in fewest turnovers per game (11.6), 15th in three-point field goal percentage (.406) and three-point field goals per game (9.2) and 34th in free throw percentage (.741).

WIU COACH JIM MOLINARI
Jim Molinari is in his first season as the head coach at Western Illinois. Molinari is in his 15th season as a college head coach after serving as an assistant coach at Ball State a year ago. His record as a college head coach is 227-193, including 4-7 this season. He led Northern Illinois to a two-year record of 42-17 (1989-91), including an NCAA Tournament appearance in 1991. He posted a 174-152 record as the head coach at Bradley (1991-02), taking his team to the NIT five times and earning an NCAA Tournament bid in 1996 after a third straight season of over 20 wins. After two years as an assistant at Minnesota, Molinari posted a 7-17 record as the Gopher interim head coach in 2007. He was an assistant coach at DePaul for 10 seasons (1979-89) and spent two years as a scout in the NBA. Molinari began his college playing career at Kansas State, where he played two seasons. He completed his career and earned his bachelor’s degree from Illinois Wesleyan (1977) and later earned a Juris Doctor degree from DePaul. Molinari is 0-2 vs. Iowa as the interim head coach at Minnesota. He has not coached against Hawkeye Coach Todd Lickliter.

THE SERIES
Iowa holds a 7-0 advantage in the series that began with an 82-34 Iowa win on Dec. 15, 1943. Five of the seven meetings have taken place in Iowa City, while two neutral site games were played in Moline. Iowa scored an 85-62 win on Nov. 19, 2004 in the most recent meeting. The Hawkeyes own a 3-0 advantage in games played in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

THE LAST MEETING
Iowa defeated Western Illinois 85-62 on Nov. 19, 2004 in Iowa City in the opening game of the year for both teams. The Hawkeyes jumped to a 41-24 halftime lead and were never threatened in the second half. Iowa shot 47.5 % from the field and established a school record by making all 20 of its free throw attempts. Western Illinois shot 46.9% from the field and won the rebounding battle 32-31, but Iowa collected 14 steals while forcing 26 turnovers. Iowa placed six players in double figures, with Pierre Pierce scoring 16 to lead the way. Adam Haluska and Doug Thomas each added 14, Erik Hansen has 13 and Greg Brunner and Jeff Horner 10 each. Thomas added nine rebounds and Horner added six assists and seven steals. Western Illinois was led by Eulis Baez with 15 points and eight rebounds, while Eliz Cepeda added 11 points. Iowa posted a 21-12 overall record and advanced to the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Western Illinois posted an 11-14 record.

IOWA, WESTERN NOTES

• Iowa holds a 19-1 all-time record against current members of the Summit League. In addition to seven wins over Western Illinois, Iowa has played Centenary (3-0), North Dakota State (0-1), Oakland (1-0), Oral Roberts (1-0) and South Dakota State (7-1).
• Western Illinois is 3-29 all-time against the Big Ten, having played all teams except Michigan, Ohio State and Penn State at least once.
• Iowa and Western Illinois have played one common opponent. Iowa defeated SE Missouri State 75-41 in Iowa City. Western Illinois defeated SE Missouri State 71-66 in Macomb and lost at SE Missouri State 64-63 in its most recent outing.
• WIU Coach Jim Molinari played against Iowa as a freshman at Kansas State, scoring four points (2-2 FG’s) in KSU’s 105-67 win in Manhattan.
• Iowa posted a 5-2 record vs. Minnesota during the three-year span that WIU Coach Jim Molinari was a Golden Gopher assistant, including winning both meetings in 2006-07 when Molinari served the majority of the season as the interim head coach.
• WIU assistant Wade Hokenson was a four-year member of the Minnesota basketball program before earning his degree there in 2004. Iowa posted a 4-2 record against the Gophers during Hokenson’s career.
• Western Illinois Football Coach Don Patterson served as an assistant football coach at Iowa for 20 seasons under Hayden Fry, helping Fry become Iowa’s all-time leader in football victories.

IOWA FALLS AT DRAKE
Iowa struggled in nearly all phases in dropping a 60-43 contest to Drake in Des Moines. The Hawkeyes had their poorest shooting performance of the season (31.3%), made just 8-29 (27.6%) three-point attempts, were outscored 23-5 from the free throw line and lost the rebounding battle by a 41-24 margin. The score was tied for the final time at 7-7 when Iowa hit a cold spell, scoring just three points over the next 10 minutes. Drake held a 19 point advantage (29-10) before the Hawkeyes narrowed the gap to 32-18 at intermission. Iowa trailed by 15 points midway through the second half before Anthony Tucker hit a pair of three-point baskets to cut the deficit to nine. Tucker had another three-point attempt to cut the margin to six points with 6:35 to play, but his shot was off target, Drake rebounded and added a pair of free throws to pull away for the final time. Drake’s penetrating offense kept Iowa off balance and led to 29 free throw attempts for the Bulldogs, while Iowa made 5-7 free throws. Drake’s rebounding totals included a 12-4 advantage in offensive rebounds as Drake held a 13-3 margin in second-chance points and an 18-12 points in the paint advantage. Tucker led Iowa with 12 points, but he was the only Hawkeye to score in double figures. Jeff Peterson added eight points, five assists and three steals, Jermain Davis added seven points and Jarryd Cole led the Hawkeyes with five rebounds.

SE MISSOURI STATE TOPS WESTERN
Western Illinois dropped a 64-63 decision at Southeast Missouri State Sunday. The Leathernecks tied the score (62-62) with 1:46 to play before SE Missouri State connected on a pair of free throws with 1:29 to play. Western Illinois closed to within a point on a free throw by Quenton Kirby in the final minute. Western Illinois had two additional chances to score, but had one shot blocked before missing a three-point shot in the final seconds. The Leathernecks led by a single point (29-28) at halftime before SE Missouri State shot 66.7% from the field in the second half. Western Illinois shot 36.8% from the field, 40.9% from three-point range and 80% from the foul line. Western also won the rebounding battle 34-29, was guilty of just 10 turnovers and had 18 assists on 21 made field goals. Josh Rivers led Western Illinois with 17 points, while David Nurse added 12 and David DuBois 11. Ceola Clark added nine points, eight rebounds and five assists and DuBuis had seven rebounds.

HAWKEYES AMONG TOP BIG TEN FRESHMEN
Iowa freshmen Matt Gatens and Anthony Tucker rank among the Big Ten leaders in several categories. Gatens is first in three-point percentage (.556) and assist/turnover ratio (1.8) and third in three-point field goals per game (1.7), scoring (10.1) and assists (3.3). His free throw percentage of .958 would rank first, but he is under the minimum for attempts. Tucker ranks first in three-point field goals per game (3.5) and second in scoring (13.0) and three-point percentage (.443).

IOWA GETS DEFENSIVE
Iowa held Bryant University to just 36 points in a 61-36 win and allowed Northern Iowa just 24 points in the second half of a 65-46 win. The 36 points by Bryant match the fewest allowed by Iowa under Coach Todd Lickliter. Iowa held Michigan State to just 36 points in a 43-36 win over the Spartans last season in Iowa City. Bryant shot just 29.7% from the field, including 33.3% from three-point range. The 14 points scored by Bryant in the first half mark the fewest Iowa has allowed under Lickliter as well. Iowa held Northern Iowa to 23.8% shooting from three-point range and to just 40 field goal attempts. Iowa State and Drake were each held to 25 second half points. The Hawkeyes have held five opponents to less than 50 points.

SOLID IN THE SECOND HALF
Iowa’s defense has been solid in the second half of its last five outings. At Boston College, Iowa allowed just seven field goals in the second half of a two point loss. Iowa held Bryant University to just six field goals and 22 points in the second half in expanding a 26-14 halftime advantage to a 61-36 win. Iowa led Northern Iowa 23-22 at halftime of a 65-46 win, limiting the Panthers to 10 field goals in the final 20 minutes. In a win over Iowa State, the Hawkeyes expanded a 34-32 halftime margin to a 73-57 win. Iowa led by as many as 26 points while holding the Cyclones to 10 field goals and 25 points in the second half. In the loss at Drake, Iowa held the Bulldogs to six field goals and 25 points in the second half.

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 its 57-55 win over Iowa.

IOWA SHOOTING ON TARGET
Iowa is shooting 47.4% from the field through 12 games. Iowa leads the Big Ten in three-point field goals per game (9.2) and is second in three-point percentage (.406). The Hawkeyes have made at least 50% of their field goal attempts in five games. Iowa has single-game bests of 57.1% from the field in a win over Texas-San Antonio and 52% (13-25) from three-point range in a win at The Citadel. Iowa has made 13 three-point field goals in two games (also 13-30 vs. SE MO State and made 12 in a win over Bryant. 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 is shooting 74.1% from the free throw line, including a perfect 8-8 in the win over Northern Iowa. Iowa made 20-22 free throw attempts (90.9%) in a win over Texas-San Antonio, including 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 also shot 70.3% (26-37) in a win over Kansas State, 88.9% (8-9) in a loss at Boston College, 76.2% (16-21) in a win over Iowa State and 71.4% (5-7) at Drake. The perfect performance against Northern Iowa 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 is 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 a loss to West Virginia and Jeff Peterson made 11-12 free throws in a win over Kansas State.

IOWA SOLID ON DEFENSE
Iowa has been solid on defense through 12 games. The Hawkeyes are allowing just 55.6 points per game, holding five opponents to less than 50 points and allowing Bryant just 36 points. Iowa opponents are shooting 40.9% from the field and 33% 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 five games and four reaching 10 points or more in three games. Seven different players have led the team in scoring and four are averaging more than nine points per game. Senior Cyrus Tate is shooting 62.3% from the field, followed by guards Jeff Peterson (52.1%) and Matt Gatens (49.4%). 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. 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 45.5% from the field and 43.8% 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 7-2 when controlling the opening tip and 2-1 when not controlling the tip.
• Iowa is 2-1 when four players reach double figures, 4-1 when three score in double figures, 3-0 when two score 10 or more points and 0-1 with just one player in double figures. In 32 games last season, Iowa had more than three players score in double figures just four times.
• Iowa was guilty of five turnovers in a win over Northern Iowa, the fewest for the Hawkeyes under Coach Todd Lickliter. Iowa had six turnovers in a win at The Citadel and seven in wins over Charleston Southern and SE Missouri State. Iowa was 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 4-0 when scoring between 70-80 points, 5-1 when scoring between 60-70 points and 0-2 when scoring less than 60 points.
• Iowa is 5-0 when holding its opponent to less than 50 points, 2-1 when the opponent scores between 50-60 points, 2-1 when the opponent scores between 60-70 points and 0-1 when the opponent scores over 80 points.
• Iowa is 8-1 when collecting more assists than the opponent, 0-1 when the opponent has more assists and 1-1 when assists are even.
• Iowa is 5-0 when having fewer turnovers than its opponent, 2-1 when the opponent has fewer turnovers and 2-2 when turnovers are even.
• Iowa is 7-1 when collecting more steals than its opponent, 2-1 when the opponent has more steals and 0-1 when steals are even. Iowa allowed The Citadel no steals in taking the 70-48 road win.
• Iowa is 9-0 when leading at halftime and 0-3 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 turned in solid defensive performances in wins over Northern Iowa and Iowa State, adding 10 points and eight rebounds against the Cyclones. He leads Iowa in rebounding (7.3) and is scoring 7.1 points per game.
• Jeff Peterson led Iowa with six assists against Kansas State, moving into the team lead in that department (3.8). Peterson also made 11-12 free throw attempts against the Wildcats. Peterson led Iowa in assists last season as a true freshman. He is shooting 52.1% from the field and leads the team in free throws (39) and attempts (45), shooting 86.7%. He is averaging 10.2 points per game.
• Anthony Tucker, a true freshman, scored in double figures in Iowa’s first six games. Tucker leads Iowa in scoring at 13 points a game, reaching double figures in eight of 10 games he has played.
• True freshman Aaron Fuller had a season-best seven rebounds and seven points against Kansas State, and he added seven points in a win over Bryant.
• True Freshman Matt Gatens has scored in double figures in seven games, ranks second on the team in assists (37) and has missed just one free throw (23-24, 95.8%). He is shooting 49.4% from the field and 55.6% from three-point range.
• Junior Devan Bawinkle had a season-best 12 points in a loss at Boston College and a win over Iowa State. He connected on 4-7 three-pointers at Boston College and 4-5 vs. Iowa State. All of his 44 field goal attempts this season are three-point attempts.
• Junior Jermain Davis had his best game against Iowa State, recording season-bests in points (16), rebounds (six), assists (five) and steals (one). Davis had 10 points in the loss at Boston College.
• Sophomore Jake Kelly, still shaking off the effects of a broken middle finger on his shooting (right) hand, contributed 19 points, five rebounds, four assists and two steals in a win over Northern Iowa. He leads the team with 17 steals and is averaging 9.3 points. Kelly missed over a week of practice and Iowa’s exhibition game due to the injury.

VALUABLE POSSESSIONS
Iowa is averaging 13.3 assists and 11.6 turnovers per game. Through 12 games last season those averages were 12.4 assists and 17.5 turnovers per game.

NEWCOMERS CONTRIBUTE
With seven new players on a 13-man roster, Iowa is relying on newcomers this season. Three newcomers, all freshmen, started Iowa’s first eight games. Four of the newcomers have led the team in scoring in at least one game. The Hawkeye newcomers have scored 40 or more points in five 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 five 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 points per game. Gatens is averaging 10.1 points, 3.1 assists and 3.4 rebounds.

HOME, AWAY COMPARISONS
In its seven home games, Iowa has outscored its opponents by an 18.4 margin, shooting 50.9% from the field while holding its opponent to 37.5% shooting. Iowa holds a 32.6-24.7 rebounding advantage. In five games away from Carver-Hawkeye Arena, Iowa has been outscored 63.0-60.2. The Hawkeyes are shooting 42.2% from the field while the opponents are shooting 45.7%. The opponents hold a 33.6-25.8 rebounding margin.

OFF THE BENCH
The Iowa reserves are averaging 19.7 points and 7.8 rebounds per game, compared to 13.3 points and 7.4 rebounds by the opponent reserves. Iowa is 5-2 when the reserves outscore the opponent reserves, 4-0 when the opponent reserves score more points and 0-1 when bench scoring is even. Iowa is 6-1 when the Hawkeye reserves have more rebounds than the opponent reserves and 3-2 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. Iowa also trailed 22-15 in the first half of a 65-46 win over Northern Iowa. In Iowa’s losses, Boston College trailed by four points and West Virginia trailed by two, both in the first half. 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 356-316 in the first half and 426-351 in the second half. Iowa has led at halftime in nine games (all wins), and has outscored its opponent in the second half eight times.

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.

BTN CLASSIC GAMES INCLUDES IOWA
The Big Ten Network, for the second straight season, will televise a series of “Greatest Games” of the Big Ten Conference throughout the season. Iowa games featured include an overtime win over Oklahoma in the Sweet 16 of the 1987 NCAA Tournament and a double overtime win at Indiana during the 2003-04 season. The victory over Indiana will air at 7 p.m. CT on Feb. 3 and the win over Oklahoma can be seen at 7 p.m. on Feb. 24. An Iowa loss at Northwestern during the 2004-05 season can be seen again at 11 a.m. CT on Feb. 28.

TATE & COLE ARE IOWA CAPTAINS
Senior forward Cyrus Tate and sophomore forward Jarryd Cole are serving as Iowa’s captains. 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. He has started every game this season and is averaging 7.6 points and 7.5 rebounds. 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. He has played in all 11 games this season.

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.

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 one remaining home game this season that starts as late as 7:30 p.m., that being a Big Ten contest against Wisconsin (Jan. 21).
• 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.

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, averaging 6.9 made treys and 20 three-point attempts. 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 12 games this season, Iowa is averaging 9.2 made three-point field goals and 22.6 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 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. Youth tickets (high school age and younger) priced at $10 each are available for Saturday’s game against Western Illinois.

Additional ticket packages on sale include the following:

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).

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. Western Illinois (Dec. 27), Minnesota (Jan. 8), Michigan (Feb. 22) and Ohio State (Mar. 3-5).

University of Iowa students will be allowed into the Michigan State game on Jan. 29 at no charge. Students who purchased season tickets were not charged for the home games vs. Northern Iowa or Michigan State.

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.

BIG TEN TOURNAMENT TICKETS ON SALE
All-session and single session tickets for the 2009 Big Ten Conference men’s basketball tournament are currently on sale. Tickets are available at all 11 Big Ten university ticket offices, the Conseco Fieldhouse box office, Ticketmaster outlets at www.ticketmaster.com, or by calling Ticketmaster at (317) 239-5151. The 12th annual Big Ten Tournament will be held March 12-15, 2009 at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. All session tickets are on sale for $175 or $275, depending on seat location. Orders are limited to 12 all-session tickets. The bracket for the 2009 Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament, along with information on tickets, travel, lodging, tournament history and more can be found at both www.bigten.org and www.indianasportscorp.com.

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’s game against 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 opens Big Ten Conference action Wednesday, Jan. 31 at Ohio State (3 p.m. CT, BTN). The Hawkeyes return home to host Indiana Saturday, Jan. 3 (3:35 p.m., BTN).