Nov. 11, 2009
- Hawkeye Game Day Blog (Texas-San Antonio)
- 24 Hawkeyes to Watch (2009-10 Season)
- Iowa and the Big Ten Network
- Big Ten Network: Free Hawkeye Video
Complete Release in PDF Format
THE SETTING
The University of Iowa men’s basketball team opens the 2009-10 season Sunday, hosting Texas-San Antonio (UTSA) in a preliminary round game of the O’Reilly Auto Parts CBE Classic. Tip-off is slated for 5:05 p.m. inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena (15,500). Tickets can be purchased at the UI Athletic Ticket Office. Prices are $12 for adults and $5 for youths (18-and-under). Iowa posted a 15-17 record a year ago in its second season under Coach Todd Lickliter. Texas-San Antonio posted a 19-13 record last year.
ON THE AIR
Radio: Iowa games are broadcast on the Hawkeye Radio Network. Gary Dolphin handles the play-by-play, along with color commentator Bob Hansen. The network includes more than 40 stations that blanket the state of Iowa and include portions of Illinois, Nebraska, Minnesota, Missouri and Wisconsin. The Hawkeye Radio Network coverage includes a 60-minute pregame show.
Television: ESPNU will televise the season opener to a national cable audience. Jim Barbar and Mike Kelley will call the action from Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
IOWA HISTORY
Iowa has played 2,472 games since beginning basketball in 1902. Overall Iowa’s record is 1,466-1,006 (.593). That includes a 925-320 (.743) record in home games, a 541-686 (.441) record in games away from Iowa City, a 695-690 (.502) mark in Big Ten games and a 331-94 (.779) record in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
IOWA IN CARVER-HAWKEYE ARENA
Iowa has compiled a 331-94 (.779) record in Carver-Hawkeye Arena since the facility opened in January, 1983. Iowa is 156-77 (.670) in Big Ten games and 175-17 (.911) in non-Big Ten games.
SEASON OPENERS
With an opening win against Charleston Southern a year ago, Iowa has won 31 consecutive season-opening contests, dating back to 1978, when it lost a road game to start their season. The Hawkeyes have won 46 straight home openers, dating back to a 62-54 loss to Ohio University in the 1962-63 campaign. Iowa Head Coach Todd Lickliter is 7-1 in season opening games as a college head coach.
HAWKEYES CRUISE TO VICTORY IN EXHIBITION
Iowa used a 17-2 run to open the second half to propel it to a 77-53 exhibition triumph over Marian University Nov. 15 in Iowa City. Four Hawkeyes netted double figures: Anthony Tucker (21), Matt Gatens (14), Devan Bawinkel (12) and Eric May (10). Half of Iowa’s 28 field goals were made from long distance, sinking 14-31 (.452) from beyond the 3-point arc. Iowa outrebounded the Knights by 14 in the second half to help gain extra possessions and outscore Marian by 18 in the final 20 minutes.
EXHIBITION FAST BREAKS
? Freshman point guard Cully Payne finished the contest with six assists, which he amassed on Iowa’s first 10 field goals of the game. The native of Schaumburg, IL, also made his only 3-point attempt.
? Aaron Fuller grabbed a game-high 15 rebounds, 12 of which were defensive. Furthermore, 12 of his 15 boards came in the second half.
? Anthony Tucker scored 13 of his 21 points in the second half, while May tallied eight of his 10 in the final stanza.
? Iowa outscored Marian, 24-6, in the paint and 16-3 in second-chance opportunities.
HAWKEYES ARE TOUGH AT HOME
Iowa has won 55 of its 68 games (.809) in Carver-Hawkeye Arena (15,500) over the last four seasons, including win streaks of 21 straight overall and 12 straight Big Ten Conference wins. Iowa has won 10 of its last 16 home games against ranked opponents and was 13-4 at home in 2008-09. Three of Iowa’s four home losses were to ranked opponents and by four points or less. Iowa was a perfect 17-0 at home in 2006, 14-2 in 2007, 10-8 in 2008 and 13-4 a year ago. Iowa has compiled a 24-10 Big Ten Conference record in that time.
BAWINKEL, COLE NAMED CAPTAINS
Senior guard Devan Bawinkel and junior forward Jarryd Cole have been named Iowa’s captains for the 2009-10 season. Bawinkel averaged 4.8 points and 1.6 rebounds a year ago while starting nine of the 32 contests he played in. He became one of only three players in school history to make eight three-pointers in a single-game when he drained 8-of-13 vs. Ohio State last season. Cole, a two-time co-captain, shot a team-best 67.6% from the field for the season, including 69.6% in Big Ten games.
BUSY START FOR HAWKEYES
The Iowa Hawkeyes will be a busy team the first couple weeks of the season. The Black and Gold will play five games in 10 days, including three in the first six days.
ARCHIE SIDELINED AFTER SUSTAINING INJURY IN PRACTICE
Junior transfer Devon Archie is expected to be sidelined four-to-seven weeks after sustaining an injury to his left shoulder during Iowa’s second practice, Oct. 17. The 6-9, 215-pounder is expected to bolster the Hawkeye front court after playing the last two seasons at Vincennes Community College. A two-time team captain at Vincennes, he averaged 6.8 points, six rebounds and 1.3 blocked shots, starting 19 of 30 games last season as a sophomore.
THE RETURNING CAST
Iowa returns four starters and six lettermen from a year ago. The returning starters include senior guard Devan Bawinkel (6-5, 210), junior center Jarryd Cole (6-7, 250), sophomore forward Aaron Fuller (6-6, 210) and sophomore guard Matt Gatens (6-5, 215). Bawinkel started nine games as a junior, averaging 4.8 points and 1.6 rebounds. Cole also started nine games, averaging 3.7 points and 3.0 rebounds. Gatens started all 32 outings, averaging 10.8 points and 3.8 rebounds, shooting at a 40% clip from 3-point range. Additionally, Gatens was a Big Ten all-Freshman and collegehoops.net fourth team Freshman all-America honoree a year ago. Fuller started 19 games, averaging 4.0 points and 2.7 rebounds. The additional lettermen returning are sophomore guard Anthony Tucker (6-4, 200) and sophomore forward Andrew Brommer (6-9, 235). Tucker averaged 10.4 points and 3.0 rebounds in 14 games, while Brommer played in 20 games, averaging 1.2 points and 1.2 rebounds. Iowa’s returning players, last season, played 43.2% of all minutes in 32 games, scoring 41.3% of Iowa’s points and grabbing 35.6% of Iowa’s rebounds. The group also had 33.6% of the steals and 39.8% of the assists last season. They combined to shoot 40.3% from the field, 37.8% from 3-point range and 70.4% from the free throw line.
A YOUNG SQUAD
Iowa’s roster of 12 players includes four freshmen, one redshirt freshman, four sophomores, two juniors and one senior. The freshmen are forward Brennan Cougill (6-9, 260), guard/forward Eric May (6-5, 225), guard Nick Neari (6-2, 185) and guard Cully Payne (6-1, 190). The redshirt freshman is John Lickliter. The sophomores are Andrew Brommer, Aaron Fuller, Matt Gatens and Anthony Tucker. In addition, junior forward Devan Archie (6-9, 215) is in his first year at Iowa after attending a junior college in Indianapolis.
ALL-TIME SERIES
Sunday will only be the third meeting between the two schools, with Iowa winning the previous two. Iowa beat the Roadrunners, 79-46, on Nov. 26, 2005 and 73-67, on Nov. 17, 2008. The win over UTSA in 2005 was the 1,400th for the Iowa basketball program. The Hawkeyes are 5-1 (.833) all-time against teams from the Southland Conference. Iowa is 2-0 against UTSA, 1-0 vs. McNeese State, 1-0 vs. Texas State and 1-0 vs. Southeastern Louisiana. The Black and Gold’s lone setback came against Northwestern State (LA).
SCOUTING TEXAS-SAN ANTONIO
UTSA is coming off a campaign that saw them post 19 wins, the most since 2003-04, and advance to the Southland Conference Tournament Championship Game. The Roadrunners posted an 8-8 conference mark, placing fourth in the west division of the Southland Conference. The Roadrunners return 10 lettermen, including three starters from a year ago, including junior guard Devin Gibson (17.5 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 3.0 spg) and senior guard Omar Johnson (12.6 ppg, 4.2 apg, 3.2 rpg). Gibson ranked third in the country last season in steals (3.0 spg). As a team, the Roadrunners ranked eighth nationally in thefts (9.3), ninth in turnover margin (4.0) and 18th in 3-pointers made (8.4) last season. Brooks Thompson enters his fourth season as the head coach at UTSA and his sixth as a college head coach. Thompson has posted a 39-52 (.429) mark with the Roadrunners and his career record stands at 94-66 (.588). He served as the head coach at Yavapai, AZ Community College, posting a 55-14 record in two seasons (2002-04).
ROADRUNNERS WIN EXHIBITION
Five Roadrunners scored in double figures en route to a 74-65 exhibition victory over Midwestern State on Nov. 7 in San Antonio. Senior Chris Allen and junior Devin Gibson netted 14 points apiece to pace UTSA. The Roadrunners were able to force 16 turnovers and convert those miscues into 21 points. Midwestern State got to within three points (62-59) with 3:30 remaining, but would get no closer. UTSA was able to hold off the Mustangs, despite missing three players who missed the game due to injury or illness. The contest featured four ties and 11 lead changes. UTSA was victorious despite poor shooting from the field and free throw line. The Roadrunners were 22-60 (.367) from the field, including only 3-17 (.176) from distance. UTSA had a huge advantage at the foul line, attempting 31 more free throws than Midwestern State, but only shot at a 65.9% clip (27-41).
IOWA, UTSA TIP-INS
? Iowa is 3-0 all-time in games played on Nov. 15. The Hawkeyes beat Temple (1990), Western Illinois (1998) and Colgate (2005).
? The Sporting News lists Iowa sophomore guard Matt Gatens as the Big Ten’s best shooter in its college basketball preview issue.
? If Iowa has the same starters as it did in Sunday’s exhibition, it will open the season with three underclassmen in the lineup (two sophomores and a freshman). The other two starters are a junior and senior.
? UTSA Head Coach Brooks Thompson was an assistant coach at Arizona State when Iowa defeated the Sun Devils, 62-43, in Iowa City on Dec. 17, 2005.
? Five of Iowa’s first seven games will be played on the ESPN family of networks.
THE LAST MEETING
UTSA rallied from 12 points down at halftime to claim a three-point advantage midway through the second half, but the Hawkeyes outscored the Roadrunners 19-10 in the final 7:48 to post a 73-67 triumph. The Hawkeyes secured the victory with excellent free throw shooting, making 20-22 (.909), including sinking all 10 free throw attempts the final five minutes. Iowa was led by senior Cyrus Tate with 18 points, three blocks and two steals. Anthony Tucker added 15 points, while Matt Gatens netted 10 points and dished out a game-high seven assists. The Roadrunners were led by Omar Johnson and Travis Gabbidon who combined to score 29 of Texas-San Antonio’s 67 points. UTSA started the second half defensively in a 2-2-1 press and stayed with it for the remainder of the game. The defensive intensity helped guide the Roadrunners on a 16-4 run to take a 57-54 lead with 7:48 remaining in the game.
FIVE STATE CHAMPS
Iowa’s roster of 12 players includes five players who won state titles. Matt Gatens and John Lickliter won a state title for Iowa City HS in 2008. Eric May won a state title for Dubuque Wahlert HS in 2008. Brennan Cougill’s Bishop Heelan HS captured the state title in 2009, while Anthony Tucker won a state title his senior year at Minnetonka HS.
YOUTHFUL HAWKEYES
Amongst Big Ten teams, the Iowa Hawkeyes have the fewest number of overall and conference game experience with its returning lettermen. Furthermore, Iowa, Indiana, Michigan and Michigan State have the second-most underclassmen (9) on their rosters, behind Purdue (11).
HAWKEYE SCHEDULE NOTES
? Iowa’s schedule includes 18 regular season home games.
? Thirteen of Iowa’s first 18 games will be played in the friendly confines of Carver-Hawkeye Arena, with two other contests being played on a neutral floor.
? The Black and Gold will play two of its three in-state rivalry games on the road, visiting Iowa State and Northern Iowa, while playing Drake at home. The Hawkeyes will also host a Big Ten/ACC Challenge game this season, facing Virginia Tech in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
? Within the Big Ten, the Hawkeyes play two games against four of the top six teams in the league a year ago. Iowa meets Penn State (home) and Wisconsin (away) just once. Iowa opens Big Ten play with four of five games at home, while it concludes the conference slate with three of four on the road. The Big Ten Tournament is held in Indianapolis.
? Iowa’s Big Ten opener vs. Purdue (Dec. 29) is its earliest conference opener since the 1952 season. That year the Hawkeyes opened with Michigan Dec. 13 in an 18-game league schedule.
? Iowa’s Big Ten slate includes four weekend home dates and five games during the week.
A LOOK AT THE SCHEDULE
Iowa’s schedule in 2009-10 includes a minimum of 31 games, with 18 of those games slated for Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Following the exhibition game against Marian, the Hawkeyes open the regular season by hosting Texas-San Antonio on Sunday, Nov. 15. The home schedule also includes dates with Virginia Tech (Dec. 1) and Drake (Dec. 19).
IOWA IN CBE CLASSIC
Iowa will play four games while competing in the O’Reilly Auto Parts CBE Classic. Home games against Texas-San Antonio (Nov. 15) and Duquesne (Nov. 17) are preliminary round games. This will mark the second-straight year Iowa will play Texas-San Antonio (Iowa downed UTSA, 73-67 a year ago). Once in Kansas City, Iowa will meet Texas on Monday, Nov. 23 and face either Pittsburgh or Wichita State the following evening. Texas and Pittsburgh participated in the 2008 NCAA Tournament, while Wichita State competed in the College Basketball Invitational. The 2009 event will take place Nov. 23-24, 2009 at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, MO. Iowa competed in the inaugural CBE Classic, which was called the Guardians Classic, in 2001. Syracuse defeated Kansas in overtime in the championship game of the tournament a year ago, while UCLA won the event in 2007. Iowa reached the championship game in the 2005 and 2001 tournaments. The Hawkeyes beat Kentucky before falling to Texas in the championship game.
IOWA PART OF COLLEGE HOOPS MARATHON
Iowa’s contest against Duquesne on Nov. 17 will be part of ESPNs second annual College Hoops Tip-Off Marathon, celebrating 24 consecutive hours of college basketball coverage. The marathon will be highlighted by 12 live games in 24 consecutive hours on the ESPN family of networks. Combined, the networks will televise at least 38 total hours of coverage with 19 games – 17 men’s and two women’s – in a minimum of 25-and-a-half hours.
HAWKEYES IN ACC/BIG TEN CHALLENGE
Iowa will host Virginia Tech Dec. 1 (8:35 p.m. CT, ESPN2) as part of the 2009 ACC/Big Ten Challenge. All 11 games in the Challenge will be televised on ESPN, ESPN2 or ESPNU. Iowa is 2-6 in the Challenge after a narrow 57-55 defeat at Boston College last season. 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 2003-04 and 2004-05. The Hawkeyes beat NC State in 2005-06. Virginia Tech won the only previous meeting between the two programs, claiming a 69-65 victory in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge played in Blacksburg, VA on Nov. 29, 2006. Virginia Tech posted a 19-15 record in 2008, including a 7-9 mark in league play. The Hokies advanced to the second round of the NIT, ending the season with a loss to Baylor. Virginia Tech is coached by Seth Greenberg, who has posted a 107-85 record in six years at the school.
POST-SEASON OPPONENTS
Twenty-two of Iowa’s 31 games during the regular season are against teams that advanced to post-season play last season. That includes 15 games, and possibly 16, against teams that participated in the NCAA Tournament. During the non-conference portion of the schedule Iowa will meet teams from the Big 12, ACC and Missouri Valley, along with a possible Big East opponent. Iowa will participate in the O’Reilly Auto Parts CBE Classic, challenging Texas and either Pittsburgh or Wichita State, in Kansas City. Iowa, in 2008-09, played 22 of 32 games against teams that advanced to post-season play. That included 10 teams that advanced to the NCAA Tournament (3-12), three opponents who competed in the NIT (2-2) and three opponents who participated in the CBI Tournament (2-1).
IOWA ON THE BIG TEN NETWORK
The majority of Iowa games can be seen on the Big Ten Network, a national cable television network that now reaches over 70 million homes in its third year. The Big Ten Network is available on Mediacom, which provides cable service to over 400,000 customers throughout Iowa and the Midwest. The Big Ten Network has agreements with more than 250 affiliates, including DirectTV, Dish Network, AT&T U-Verse, Comcast, Cox, Insight, Time Warner Cable and Verizon FiOS.
IOWA ON THE TUBE
All 31 Iowa regular-season games this season are slated to be televised. The Hawkeyes will appear on the ESPN family of networks six times, 20 times on the Big Ten Network, three times on Mediacom Connections, and the Cyclone Television Network and Panther Sports Network once.
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. Four current Big Ten Conference head coaches have earned national Coach of the Year honors.
NO THREE-POINTERS
Since the 3-point shot became part of the college game, Iowa has played 14 games in which it has failed to make a 3-point attempt. Iowa had made at least one 3-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 3-point basket in 182 straight games.
STRENGTH OF THE BIG TEN
The Big Ten Conference has a league-best six teams ranked in the Associated Press top 25 and ranks second with five squads ranked in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches poll. In the AP, Michigan State is ranked second, followed by Purdue (7), Michigan (15), Ohio State (16), Illinois (23) and Minnesota (25). In the Coaches poll, Michigan State ranks second, followed by Purdue (7), Michigan (15), Ohio State (17) and Minnesota (18).
IOWA IN TOURNAMENT PLAY
Iowa has fared well while taking part in regular-season tournaments over the past 27 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.
CBE CLASSIC KANSAS CITY TICKETS AVAILABLE
The University of Iowa has a limited number of tickets available for the Hawkeyes’ appearance in the O’Reilly Auto Parts CBE Classic in Kansas City, MO, Nov. 23-24. The four-team field includes Iowa, Texas, Pittsburgh and Wichita State. The tickets are $130, which covers both nights of competition and two games per night. Seats are in section 115, rows 1-12. To purchase these tickets, call the UI Athletic Ticket Office at 1-800-IA-HAWKS.
TICKETS ON SALE FOR 2009-10
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 2009-10, including general public ($278), UI faculty and staff ($238) and UI students ($80, includes two games free). General public single-game tickets are also on sale ranging from $12, $20, or $25 depending on the game desired. UI student single-game tickets are $15 the day of the game only (if available). The “Weekday” package includes Iowa’s games against Virginia Tech (Dec. 1) in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge, Purdue (Dec. 29), Ohio State (Jan. 27), Illinois (Feb. 3), Northwestern (Feb. 10) and Michigan (Feb. 16). The cost of this package per ticket is $90 and includes the choice of a free ticket to Iowa’s game against Duquesne (Nov. 17) or South Carolina State (Dec. 21). The “Weekend” package includes the Hawkeyes’ games with Drake (Dec. 19), Minnesota (Jan. 2), Michigan State (Jan. 9), Penn State (Jan. 16) and Indiana (Feb. 18). That package costs $120 per ticket and includes a free ticket to the Hawkeyes’ game with Texas-San Antonio (Nov. 15), North Carolina Central (Nov. 28) or Prairie View A&M (Dec. 5). Discounted tickets to select home games, earmarked for purchase by groups of 20 or more, are also available for purchase. For more information about group ticket packages, fans should call the UI Sports Marketing Office at (319) 335-9431.
“HAWK TALK WITH Todd Lickliter”
University of Iowa basketball fans may join Iowa Coach Todd Lickliter and radio announcer Gary Dolphin 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 Cafe in Iowa City from 7-8:30 p.m. The tentative dates are: Nov. 30, Dec. 9, Dec. 14, Dec. 28, Jan. 6, Jan. 11, Jan. 18, Jan. 25, Feb. 1, Feb. 8, Feb. 15, Feb. 22, March 1 and March 8.
FORMER UI STANDOUT GIVES $100,000 FOR CHA RENOVATION
Ronnie Lester, former All-American basketball player at the University of Iowa, has made a $100,000 gift to the UI Foundation to support the Carver-Hawkeye Arena Enhancements Campaign. The assistant general manager of the Los Angeles Lakers, Lester is a member of the committee that is leading the fundraising effort to upgrade the 26-year-old facility. At the request of Lester, the UI Department of Intercollegiate Athletics will name the training room at the remodeled Carver-Hawkeye Arena in honor of longtime UI athletic trainer John Streif. Streif, of Iowa City, and Lester, of Manhattan Beach, Calif., have been close friends since Lester’s playing days as an Iowa Hawkeye, beginning in the mid-1970s. “John Streif has been a terrific friend to me for more than 30 years. He has worked tirelessly to support me and numerous other athletes for over four decades now,” said Lester, a 1981 UI graduate who was a member of the Hawkeye men’s basketball team from 1977 to 1980. “His dedication to the Hawkeyes is legendary, and I’m honored to name the training room for him. “As a member of the Carver-Hawkeye Arena campaign committee, I am pleased to step forward to make this gift,” Lester continued. “Coach Lickliter has the program moving in the right direction, and I want to do my part to help this important project.” The goal of the Carver-Hawkeye Arena Enhancements Campaign is to raise at least $20 million to modernize the current facility, according to UI Director of Athletics Gary Barta. No state funding will be used for the project. “We are thrilled to receive this gift from Ronnie Lester. He is one of the all-time great basketball players at Iowa,” said Barta. “It’s always special to see former student-athletes reach back and support the Hawks. On top of his generosity, it is terrific that Ronnie has chosen to honor John Streif. I can’t think of anyone more deserving.”
GAME DAY BLOG
The Iowa Sports Information staff will conduct live blogs for the following November Iowa basketball games: Texas-San Antonio (Nov. 15), Texas (Nov. 23) and Pittsburgh/Wichita State (Nov. 24). The service gives Hawkeye fans the chance to be interactive by logging onto hawkeyesports.com. Fans will have the opportunity to submit questions and/or comments, answer quick polls and get up-to-the-minute information about the game and Hawkeyes.
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.
ALL-SESSION BIG TEN TOURNAMENT TICKETS ON SALE NOW
All-session tickets for the 2010 Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament is on sale to the general public. Tickets can be purchased at the UI Athletic Ticket Office, Conseco Fieldhouse box office, Ticketmaster outlets, ticketmaster.com or by calling Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000. Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis is the site of the men’s tournament from March 11-14. For the men’s basketball tournament, all-session tickets for the lower and club level are available for $275 through the 11 Big Ten universities only. All-session tickets for the upper level are available for $220 or $165 (depending on seat location) through Ticketmaster or the Conseco Fieldhouse box office only. Orders will be limited to 12 all-session tickets. In addition, the men’s basketball tournament for the first time will also feature a special discounted rate of $50 for all-session tickets available only to students of the 11 Big Ten universities. Student section seating will be available in eight balcony sections and orders will be limited to four all-session tickets. The Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament will call Indianapolis and Conseco Fieldhouse home through 2012. The 2010 tournament marks the sixth time Indianapolis has hosted the Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament at Conseco Fieldhouse.
ON THE HORIZON
The Hawkeyes return to action in two days (Tuesday) when they entertain Duquesne (8:05 p.m.) in another preliminary game of the O’Reilly Auto Parts CBE Classic in Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Iowa will conclude its three-game home stand to start the season, Nov. 20, hosting Bowling Green (8:05 p.m.).