Jan. 12, 2011
- Purchase Iowa Men’s Basketball Tickets
- Download your Iowa Hawkeye iPhone app!
- Take the Hawkeyes With You: Iowa Podcasts
- Iowa and the Big Ten Network
- Big Ten Network: Free Hawkeye Video
- 24 Hawkeyes to Watch
IOWA CITY, Iowa — University of Iowa fans are encouraged to come to Carver-Hawkeye Arena Wednesday night and cheer the men’s basketball team against the Northwestern Wildcats.
The Journey, which is a Big Ten Network series, will have a camera crew at Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Wednesday night filming a piece on the UI basketball program, coach Fran McCaffery, and the level of excitement and passion Hawkeye fans have for their team and coach. The show is captivated by the level of interest generated already for a first-year head coach in the Big Ten that has injected renewed enthusiasm for a basketball program rich in tradition.
After falling to three nationally ranked teams to start Big Ten play, the Hawkeyes will be gunning for their first league victory of the young conference season Wednesday against the Wildcats. Iowa’s next league victory will be the program’s 700th all-time.
In addition to showing up to see a great Big Ten basketball game, there are a number of other reasons to come to Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Wednesday to support the Hawkeyes. It’s “Jarryd Cole Bobblehead Night” and fans can take advantage of the “Family 4-Pack”, where fans can purchase, in advance, a package of four game tickets, four hot dogs and four Cokes for $60.
Nine of the last 11 meetings between Iowa and Northwestern have been decided by 10 points or less, with six of those coming by five points or less. And close games have been the norm for the Hawkeyes at home this year. Iowa is 5-4 in Carver-Hawkeye Arena, with its four defeats coming by 10 points or less.
The Hawkeyes have won five straight home games over the Wildcats dating back to 2004. Wednesday’s contest will be challenging — Northwestern (10-4) is one of the best teams in the country in sharing and protecting the basketball. The Wildcats rank third in the nation in assist/turnover ratio and fewest turnovers per contest, 11th in assists and 17th in turnover margin.
The key stat to look for in Wednesday’s game is 69 points. All four Northwestern losses this year have come when they have scored 69 points or less. Furthermore, Iowa has won all seven of its games in which it has held its opponent under 70 points.
Hawkeyes and Wildcats will tip it off at 7:36 p.m. at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Wednesday will be the last time fans can catch the Hawkeyes at home until Jan. 23 when they host Indiana.