Jan. 18, 2010
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THE SETTING
Iowa (7-11, 1-4) hits the road Wednesday for a game at No. 6 Michigan State (15-3, 5-0). Tip-off is scheduled for 5:36 p.m. (CST) at the Breslin Center (14,759). Wednesday will be the second game in 12 days against the Spartans.
Big Ten-leading Michigan State enters Wednesday game on a six-game winning streak, while Iowa has won its last two contests. The Spartans boast a perfect 11-0 home record this season, while the Hawkeyes are 0-3 in true road games. Wednesday will be Iowa’s fourth game against a ranked opponent.
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. Fans can also listen to the game on XM Satellite Radio, Channel 196.
Television: The Big Ten Network will televise Wednesday night’s game to a national cable audience. Gus Johnson and Steve Smith will call the action.
IOWA HISTORY
Iowa has played 2,490 games since beginning basketball in 1902. Overall Iowa’s record is 1,473-1,017 (.592). That includes a 932-326 (.741) record in home games, a 541-690 (.439) record in games away from Iowa City, a 696-695 (.500) mark in Big Ten games and a 338-100 (.772) record in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
STARTING THE BIG TEN SCHEDULE AT HOME
Iowa started the Big Ten Conference schedule with four of its first five games at home. The last time that happened was during the 1962-63 campaign.
HAWKEYES TOP PENN STATE FOR FIRST BIG TEN VICTORY
Iowa closed the first half on a 18-4 run to lift the Hawkeyes to a 67-64 triumph over Penn State Saturday afternoon for their first conference win. With Iowa leading by one with 21 seconds remaining, Iowa sank its last six free throws to cement the three-point victory. Aaron Fuller posted his second consecutive double-double, scoring a team-high 20 points and grabbing a game-high 10 rebounds. The sophomore also collected a game-high two steals. Sophomore Matt Gatens netted 14 points, including four clutch foul shots in the last eight seconds of the game. Penn State’s Talor Battle scored a game-high 31 points, 12 of which came in the final 3:03.
IOWA, PENN STATE FAST BREAKS
? Saturday’s game against Penn State concluded a stretch of playing seven of eight games at home.
? Iowa made and attempted a season-high 18-of-25 (.720) from the foul line. The Hawkeyes started the game 10-of-11 from the charity stripe and concluded the contest making its last six attempts.
? Iowa assisted on 16 of its 21 field goals. Freshman Cully Payne dished out a game and personal-best seven helpers.
? Penn State recorded only nine assists, which tied an Iowa opponent season low. The Nittany Lions also were whistled for 21 fouls, which equals a Hawkeye opponent season high.
? Iowa played its seventh game without sophomore Anthony Tucker, who has been suspended indefinitely. Tucker averages 11.9 points and 3.5 rebounds. Tucker has only played in four Big Ten contests during his time at Iowa. One of the four games he only played one minute (at Ohio State).
LICKLITER BACK ON THE BENCH
After missing three games (Prairie View A&M, Northern Iowa and Iowa State), Head Coach Todd Lickliter returned to the bench Dec. 19 against Drake. Lickliter underwent a procedure on Dec. 5 to repair a torn carotid artery.
LICKLITER AFTER THE PENN STATE GAME
“I thought Eric May and the rest of the guys did a pretty good job on Talor Battle. He scored 31 points, but Eric did a good job. He is just so hard to handle. I thought we did a decent job of keeping them off the glass which is really hard. They’re good in transition. Battle is hard to contain and they’re very hard to keep off the glass. In those areas it wasn’t perfect but it was good enough. I really like this team, and I’ve said that all along. They have good grit, they care about playing the right way, they care about one another, they’re good guys and they just gave a great effort, but it wasn’t perfect. They had some miscues, but we didn’t let that define us. We did what we needed to do defensively, so it was a well-earned win against a good team. “I think (Aaron) finally has two good wheels. He’s sore; he’s had a bad ankle. If you look at him, you can see how hard he’s worked in the off-season. He was always a good offensive rebounder, but now he has the strength to add to it. He has a great knack for positioning himself in the right spots.”
TUCKER SUSPENDED FOR AN INDEFINITE PERIOD OF TIME
“Anthony Tucker was arrested for public intoxication,” said Iowa Director of Athletics Gary Barta. “Anthony will be suspended for an indefinite period of time. First and foremost, I wanted to make sure Anthony is okay from a physical safety standpoint, and he is. Certainly, I am disappointed because this is not the first legal incident involving alcohol.”
“The status on him right now is that he’s taking a leave of absence indefinitely and we’re continuing an ongoing evaluation,” said Iowa Coach Todd Lickliter on Dec. 21.
DIFFICULT SCHEDULE
Iowa boasts the third-strongest strength of schedule amongst Big Ten teams in games played through Jan. 17. The Hawkeyes rank 33rd nationally, according to realtimerpi.com.
The 11 teams Iowa has lost to boast a combined record of 148-42 (.779). No. 2 Texas is 17-0, followed by No. 4 Purdue (14-3), No. 10 Michigan State (15-3), Wichita State (16-3), Virginia Tech (13-3), Northern Iowa (16-1), Minnesota (12-6), Texas-San Antonio (12-4), Duquesne (9-8), Illinois (12-6) and Iowa State (12-5).
ALL-TIME SERIES
Michigan State holds a 61-52 advantage over Iowa in the series that began with a 52-37 MSU win in 1938. Michigan State beat Iowa, 71-53, two weeks ago in Iowa City on Jan. 9, for its fourth consecutive win over Iowa. Michigan State defeated Iowa, 71-56, Jan. 29 at Iowa City and, 62-54, Feb. 25 at East Lansing a year ago. Iowa’s last win over Michigan State came on Jan. 12, 2008; a 43-36 win in Iowa City. Michigan State holds a slim 5-4 edge in the last nine meetings, but the Spartans have won eight of the last 13 and 22 of the last 31. The teams have met three times at neutral sites. Along with Iowa’s wins in the 2005 and 2006 Big Ten tournaments, the Spartans defeated Iowa at the 2000 Big Ten Tournament in Chicago, winning 75-65 on their way to the national title. The Spartans hold a 39-17 advantage in games played in East Lansing, MI, where Iowa has lost 14 straight since taking an overtime win at the Breslin Center in 1993. Iowa is 2-16 at the Breslin Center, which opened in 1989-90. The eight-point difference in 2009 marked the smallest margin of defeat for Iowa at East Lansing since a two-point loss in 1997.
SCOUTING MICHIGAN STATE
The 10th-ranked Spartans enter Wednesday’s game winners of 10 of their last 11, including six straight. Wednesday will be Michigan State’s third consecutive home contests and fourth in five games. The Spartans’ three losses have come to Florida, No. 2 Texas and No. 11 North Carolina, all away from East Lansing. The Spartans beat Illinois (73-63) in their last game Saturday afternoon at the Breslin Center. Michigan State outscored the Illini 21-13 at the foul line, shooting 81% (21-of-26) from the charity stripe. Junior Kalin Lucas led all scorers with 20 points, while senior Raymar Morgan notched a double-double (14 points and 10 rebounds). The Spartans are the best team in the Big Ten in scoring (78.4), assists (18.39), rebounding (40.9) and rebounding margin (+10.1) and rank second in field goal percentage (.492), field goal percentage defense (.391) and scoring margin (+14.6). Michigan State has scored 85 points or more six times this season. Michigan State has five players average double digits in scoring: Lucas (15.7), Draymond Green (10.9), Morgan (10.6), Durrell Summers (10.2) and Chris Allen (10.1). Sophomore Korie Lucious ranks 31st in the country in assist/turnover ratio (2.67). Green also ranks second in the league in rebounding (7.8) and defensive rebounds (5.5), and first in field goal percentage (.602). Lucas ranks seventh in the conference in assists (3.94). Summers ranks fourth in the Big Ten in free throw percentage (.844).
MICHIGAN STATE COACH TOM IZZO
Michigan State Coach Tom Izzo is in his 15th year as a college head coach, all at Michigan State. Izzo holds a record of 351-140 (.730). Izzo led the Spartans to the Final Four in 1999, 2000, 2001, 2005 and 2009, winning the NCAA title in 2000. The Spartans were the runners-up a year ago, falling to North Carolina in the championship game. Michigan State has won five Big Ten regular season titles, including last season, and two Big Ten Tournament championships under Izzo, who is in his 27th year as a member of the Spartan staff. He has been named national Coach of the Year on four occasions. Izzo is 19-8 vs. Iowa and 4-1 vs. Hawkeye Coach Todd Lickliter.
IOWA, MICHIGAN STATE TIP-INS
? Iowa’s trip to East Lansing, MI, is Iowa’s first flight of the season. The Hawkeyes bused to their first four road trips (Kansas City, Ames, Cedar Falls and Champaign).
? Iowa is 8-11 all-time in games played on Jan. 20.
? Iowa is 6-1 when leading at the half, 1-9 when trailing and 0-1 when tied at halftime. Additionally, the Hawkeyes are 7-3 when recording more assists and getting to the free-throw line more than their opponents. Iowa is also 6-0 when having a higher field goal percentage than its opponents.
? The Hawkeyes shoot 81% (17-of-21) from the foul line in the last 60 seconds and 78.6% (22-of-28) in the final two minutes of a contest.
? Eighty-one percent of Iowa’s offense is generated by underclassmen (921 of 1,135 points). The Hawkeyes have only one senior (Devan Bawinkel) and one junior (Jarryd Cole) currently seeing time on the court. Junior transfer Devon Archie has been sidelined with an injury and is expected to redshirt.
? Michigan State’s 14-player roster features student-athletes from five different states. Eight of the 14 players hail from its home state of Michigan, three from Ohio and one each from Minnesota, Wisconsin and Georgia.
? Michigan State’s roster breakdown includes three seniors, five juniors, four sophomores and two freshmen.
? Iowa ranks 12th in the nation in fewest fouls per contest (15.1) and 21st in 3-pointers made (8.3).
? Michigan State ranks third in the country in rebounding margin (+10.1), fifth in assists (18.4), 13th in field goal percentage (.492), 20th in scoring margin (+14.6), 31st in assist/turnover ratio (1.3) and 35th in scoring (78.4).
? Cully Payne is leading all Big Ten freshmen in assists per game (3.78). He ranks eighth overall in the league.
? Michigan State Coach Tom Izzo (15th season) is the dean of Big Ten Conference coaches, while Iowa’s Todd Lickliter is one of three head coaches who are in the Big Ten Conference for their third season.
? Michigan State’s 32-point win (81-49) in the second meeting in 2007 marked Michigan State’s widest victory margin in the series.
? Michigan State (1999 and 2000) and Iowa (2001 & 2006) have won four of the 12 Big Ten Conference tournaments and they are two of six league teams (along with Illinois, Purdue, Ohio State and Wisconsin) to appear in the championship game on more than one occasion (Iowa lost in the 2002 title game as well). Michigan won the inaugural event in 1998, Ohio State won in 2002 and 2007, Illinois won in 2003 and 2005, Wisconsin earned the title in 2004 and 2008 and Purdue in 2009.
? Iowa and Michigan State played one common non-conference opponent: Texas. The Longhorns downed the Hawkeyes 85-60 in Kansas City, while the Spartans fell to Texas, 79-68, in Austin.
? Iowa assistant LaVall Jordan is a native of Albion, MI.
MICHIGAN STATE WON THE LAST MEETING
No. 10 Michigan State used a 12-0 run to start the second half to propel itself to a 71-53 victory over Iowa Jan. 9 inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City. The Spartans shot a blistering 64% (14-of-22) from the field in the second stanza to pull away from the Hawkeyes. Michigan State’s defense held Iowa to only 27% (6-of-22) shooting from 3-point range. The Spartans owned a +16 (38-22) advantage on the boards, scoring 11 points after grabbing 12 offensive rebounds. Iowa’s Matt Gatens led all scorers with 16 points and also dished out a game-best five assists. Point guard Cully Payne contributed nine points and a team-high five rebounds for the Hawkeyes. Four players scored in double figures for the Spartans: Draymond Green (14), Kalin Lucas (14), Raymar Morgan (12) and Chris Allen (10).
FULLER RETURNING TO FORM
Sophomore Aaron Fuller is returning to form after recovering from an ankle sprain sustained in Iowa’s third game of the year (vs. Bowling Green, Nov. 20). Fuller has doubled his productivity in conference games compared to non-league games. Fuller played in 11 non-Big Ten contests and averaged 5.5 points and 3.3 rebounds. In the five conference games, Fuller is averaging 11.4 points and 7.6 boards. Fuller returned to the starting lineup in Iowa’s first conference game (vs. Purdue, Dec. 29). In league play, the native of Mesa, AZ, ranks first in the Big Ten in offensive rebounds (4.0), fifth in overall rebounds (7.6), ninth in field goal percentage (.513) and 11th in free throw percentage (.750). He’s also contributed offensively, ranking second on the team in scoring (11.4) through five Big Ten games. Fuller posted the first career double-doubles of his career in Iowa’s last two contests. Against Tennessee State (Jan. 12), he notched career highs in scoring (24) and rebounds (10). He netted the 24 points on 10-of-15 shooting from the field and 3-of-4 from the foul line. In the Hawkeyes’ last outing vs. Penn State, Fuller registered 20 points and 10 rebounds. Prior to the last two games, Fuller was averaging 5.2 points and 3.9 rebounds. His averages now stand at 7.3 points and 4.6 boards. Fuller has also improved his free throw shooting from a year ago. Last season, Fuller was 11-of-25 (.440) from the charity stripe, compared to 27-of-40 (.675) this season. He has made 15 of his last 20 (.750).
BALANCED SCORING
Iowa has five players who have each led the team in scoring at least twice this season. They are Jarryd Cole (Texas and NC Central), Matt Gatens (Texas, Northern Iowa, Iowa State, Drake, South Carolina State, Minnesota and Michigan State), Anthony Tucker (Duquesne, Virginia Tech and Prairie View A&M), Eric May (UTSA, Bowling Green and Illinois) and Aaron Fuller (Purdue, Tennessee State and Penn State). Additionally, Gatens has reached double figures a team-best 12 times, while Tucker and Payne have five times.
MAY DAY
Freshman Eric May is tied with Jarryd Cole for the team lead in rebounds (92). The native of Dubuque is trying to become just the fourth Iowa freshman to lead the team in rebounding since the 1955-56 season. Michael Payne accomplished the feat in 1981-82 (6.9), followed by Jess Settles in 1995-96 (7.5) and Tyler Smith in 2006-07 (4.9). May has performed well the last seven games. He has averaged 9.9 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 0.7 blocks the last seven contests. In his last five starts against Big Ten competition, he has averaged 8.8 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.2 dimes and 1.0 blocks. He posted team bests in scoring (9) and assists (3) at Illinois on Jan. 5. May posted personal bests in assists (4) and steals (3) in a win over Tennessee State (Jan. 12).
John Lickliter SEEING EXTENDED MINUTES
Redshirt freshman John Lickliter has seen game action since Anthony Tucker has been suspended. Lickliter, who is backing up starting point guard Cully Payne, has averaged 11.1 minutes the last seven games. He is averaging 3.7 points and shooting 40% (8-of-20) from the field, including 39% (7-of-18) from 3-point range. Lickliter has made at last one triple in five of the last six contests.
BROMMER SEEING MORE TIME
Sophomore Andrew Brommer has seen more time on the court the last three games. Brommer, who has played in 10 contests, has averaged 15.3 minutes, 4.7 points and 2.3 rebounds off the bench in Iowa’s last three games. The native of Rosemount, MN, made a career-high four free throws against Tennessee State (Jan. 12). Last season, Brommer was 5-of-22 (.227) from the charity stripe, compared to 9-of-13 (.692) this season.
FOOTBALL TEAM, CLAYBORN TO BE HONORED VS. OHIO STATE
The 2010 FedEx Orange Bowl champion Iowa football team will be recognized during halftime of the Ohio State vs. Iowa men’s basketball game on Jan. 27. Additionally, DE Adrian Clayborn will be formally recognized and presented the College Football Performance Awards National Defensive Performer of the Year trophy during halftime. Students receive free admission to this basketball game.
IOWA SEEING IMPROVED STATS THIS SEASON
So far, the Hawkeyes have played the 35th-toughest schedule in the country. Although the team has not been rewarded with more wins, statistically the numbers are up, through 18 games, from a year ago. The Hawkeyes are averaging three more two-pointers this year from last, 2.9 more rebounds, including 1.7 more offensive rebounds and 1.1 more assists. Additionally, Iowa has scored 14 more points (1,135-1,121) this year compared to last, though 18 contests.
REACHING 20-POINT PLATEAU
The Hawkeyes have had one player score 20 points or more in seven of the last 12 games. Jarryd Cole tallied 24 vs. NC Central (Nov. 28), Anthony Tucker netted 24 against Virginia Tech (Dec. 1) and 20 vs. Prairie View A&M (Dec. 5), Matt Gatens posted 20 at Iowa State (Dec. 11) and vs. South Carolina State (Dec. 21) and Aaron Fuller accomplished the feat in the last two games vs. Tennessee State (Jan. 12) and Penn State (Jan. 16).
HITTING THE GLASS
Iowa has owned the rebounding advantage in 10 of its 18 contests, including eight of the last 11. The Hawkeyes had a positive rebounding margin against UTSA (11), Bowling Green (2), NC Central (21), Prairie View A&M (4), UNI (2), Iowa State (2), SC State (3), Purdue (4), Minnesota (2) and Tennessee State (4). The Hawkeyes are 5-5 in games they have a positive rebounding margin. Iowa ranks fourth in Big Ten rebounds allowed (31.4).
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. He has not played this season due to injury and is expected to redshirt this season.
IOWA CRACKS THE RECORD BOOK FROM 3-POINT RANGE
Iowa attempted a school-record 37 triples against No. 3 Texas (Nov. 23), making 10. The 37 attempts breaks the previous mark of 36 (15 made) attempted against Long Island on Dec. 17, 1994. The Hawkeyes tied the school record for 3-pointers made against Prairie View A&M (Dec. 5). Iowa sank 15-of-31 attempts to match the record accomplished twice before (15 vs. Long Island in 1994 and Northwestern in 1998).
ARCHIE EXPECTED TO REDSHIRT
Junior transfer Devon Archie was sidelined seven weeks after sustaining an injury to his left shoulder during Iowa’s second practice, Oct. 17. Archie is practicing with the team, but is expected to redshirt after missing a majority of the season. 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.
FRESHMEN TRIO MAKING IMMEDIATE IMPACT
Freshmen Brennan Cougill, Eric May and Cully Payne have made an immediate impact on the team. Thirty-four percentage of Iowa’s offense has been generated by the freshmen trio.
May averages 8.9 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.8 assists. May has started nine of the last 11 games, including the last six. May averaged 12 points, eight rebounds, and three assists in Iowa’s first two league games (Purdue and Minnesota). May posted team highs in points (9) and assists (3) and secured eight rebounds at Illinois. May registered personal bests in assists (4) and steals (3) Tuesday night vs. Tennessee State. He tallied 10 of his 13 points in the second half off the bench in Iowa’s win over Drake. He posted a personal-best 18 points and also secured eight rebounds in Iowa’s win over South Carolina State. May tallied a team-high 13 points against UTSA, a game-high 16 points vs. Bowling Green and blocked a team-high two shots vs. Duquesne. The native of Dubuque, IA, made all four 3-point attempts in Iowa’s 22-point triumph over Bowling Green. May had nine points vs. Wichita State and a double-double (14 points, 11 rebounds) in his first career start vs. Prairie View A&M.
Payne, who is Iowa’s first lefty point guard since Dean Oliver, averages 8.2 points, 3.8 assists and 2.8 rebounds. The native of Schaumburg, IL, was honored on the CBE Classic All-Tournament team. He netted a personal-best 18 points vs. Wichita State in the tournament’s consolation game. Payne netted five of his 11 points in the last two minutes in Iowa’s five-point win over Tennessee State, including draining a crucial 3-pointer with the game tied with 1:45 left in the game. He scored 12 points vs. UTSA and dished out a game-high six assists against Duquesne. He also collected six assists vs. No. 3 Texas. Payne had eight points, four rebounds and three assists vs. Virginia Tech and eight points, a personal-best six rebounds and four assists against Prairie View A&M. Payne scored 11 of his 15 points at Iowa State in the final 2:05 of the game. He contributed eight points, three assists and equaled a personal high with six rebounds vs. Drake.
Cougill averages 4.6 points and three rebounds. The native of Sioux City, IA, posted his first career double-double the other night at Iowa State. He registered personal bests in scoring (12) and rebounds (10) against the Cyclones. He netted eight points, including a clutch 3-point play late in the contest vs. Duquesne to give Iowa a one-point lead. Cougill followed up that performance with his first career start, amassing eight points and a game and personal-high eight rebounds vs. Bowling Green. He had 11 points in each game at Kansas City against No. 3 Texas and Wichita State.
YOUTHFUL HAWKEYES
Iowa, Indiana, Michigan and Michigan State have the second-most underclassmen (9) on their rosters, behind Purdue (11).
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.
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.”
BALANCED 3-POINT ATTACK
Every Hawkeye on this year’s team is comfortable shooting the three. Nine Hawkeyes have attempted and made at least one 3-pointer this season. Matt Gatens leads the team with 35, followed by Anthony Tucker (30), Cully Payne (25), Devan Bawinkel (21), Eric May (18), Brennan Cougill (9), John Lickliter (7), Aaron Fuller (4) and Jarryd Cole (1).
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 199 straight games.
PAYNE NAMED TO CBE CLASSIC ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Freshman Cully Payne was recognized on the CBE Classic All-Tournament team. The native of Schaumburg, IL, averaged 13 points, five assists and two rebounds in games against third-ranked Texas and Wichita State in Kansas City, MO. Additionally, Payne brought the fans at the Sprint Center to their feet, sinking a 75-footer at the halftime buzzer to tie Texas, 38-38.
SCORING BY HALVES
Hawkeye opponents have outscored Iowa 580-545 in the first half through 18 games. Hawkeye opponents own a 616-590 advantage in the second half. Iowa has led at halftime in six of its seven victories.
BIG TEN/ACC CHALLENGE RECAP
The Big Ten Conference captured its first Big Ten/ACC Challenge this year, winning six of the 11 competitions. Boston College, Miami, North Carolina, Maryland and Virginia Tech earned victories for the ACC Conference. Illinois, Wisconsin, Ohio State, Penn State, Northwestern and Purdue captured wins for the Big Ten.
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 16”. Four current Big Ten Conference head coaches have earned national Coach of the Year honors.
“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 dates are: Jan. 18, Jan. 25, Feb. 1, Feb. 8, Feb. 15, Feb. 22, March 1 and March 8.
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.
THIS WEEK IN BIG TEN BASKETBALL
Each Sunday at 8:30 p.m. (CST), “This Week in Big Ten Basketball” airs on the Big Ten Network. Dave Revsine will host the show alongside Jim Jackson and Dan Dakich, former Indiana player and head coach. Every Sunday night, This Week in Big Ten Basketball will provide a comprehensive breakdown of all of the Big Ten hoops action of the week, jam-packed with action footage, highlights, and awards for game and player of the week. The 30-minute shows will also preview the week ahead.
ON THE HORIZON
Iowa remains on the road this weekend when it visits Bloomington, IN, to face the Indiana Hoosiers Sunday (4:05 p.m. CST). The Hawkeyes return home Jan. 27 when they entertain the Ohio State Buckeyes (7:35 p.m. CST).