Jan. 23, 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
PARDON OUR PROGRESS! As friends of the University of Iowa and fans of the Hawkeyes know, the UI Athletics Department is well into a multi-million dollar revitalization of Carver-Hawkeye Arena. This important and exciting project has reduced for this season the number of ticket windows that are operational on game nights. Fans attending the home events of the 2010-11 UI men’s basketball, women’s basketball and wrestling teams are invited to avoid game night delays by purchasing their event tickets online or in advance of game day. If your schedule doesn’t allow for an advance purchase, we recommend you consider arriving at the Arena a little earlier than originally planned. Go Hawks!
IOWA CITY, Iowa — Matt Gatens is 57 points away from joining the University of Iowa men’s basketball 1,000-point club. His career-high for points in a game is 25 set last Feb. 28 during a 73-57 win over Indiana. It’s not that Gatens prepares any differently for the Hoosiers, he grew up with a lack of fondness for all of Iowa’s Big Ten opponents.
“I grew up watching all these teams play and not liking any of them and waiting for the day to play against them,” Gatens said. “Indiana is a team with a lot of history. I remember watching a lot of great Indiana-Iowa games growing up. I don’t have anything extra out for them, but it would be fun to have another good game against them.”
Iowa (7-11 overall 0-6 Big Ten) hosts Indiana (10-9, 1-5) this afternoon at 2:06 p.m. (CT) inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The Hawkeyes won both meeting a year ago. Today’s game will be televised by the Big Ten Network (Tom Hart, Kenyon Murray).
“It’s going to be a good challenge for us,” UI junior forward Andrew Brommer said. “I think we’re going to be ready for them. We definitely want that first Big Ten win, but they’re a tough team and it will be tough.”
Brommer is coming off a game where he posted career highs in points (12), rebounds (six), assists (two), blocked shots (three) and minutes played (30) at Ohio State on Jan. 19. The game before at Minnesota, Brommer was held scoreless in five minutes.
“I need to be more consistent and more confident,” Brommer said. “I feel like I’m doing that in practice and I think it will carry over into games.”
Iowa is attempting to improve its record at home to 6-5 and in the process notch its first league victory.
“The next game is a must-win,” UI freshman forward Melsahn Basabe said. “We need to win that game and be confident we can win. The season’s not over, so packing it in is not an option. What we need to do as a team is stick to the basics and that’s what’s going to get us the win.”
Basabe is coming off two road games where he averaged 15.5 points and 8.5 rebounds a game.
“A win is something we definitely need right now,” Gatens said. “We have a great opponent we know we’re going up against, but it’s a great opportunity. Indiana is no slouch; they’re going to come in here ready and we have to be ready as well.”
Indiana holds a 94-71 advantage in the all-time series, but the Hawkeyes have won eight of the last 12 meetings. Iowa is 42-39 in games played at Iowa City. Indiana is 0-7 away from home this season (0-5 in true road games). The Hoosiers are coming off a nine-point loss at No. 17 Wisconsin on Thursday. Indiana’s Big Ten win came Jan. 15 at home against Michigan by 19 points.
The Iowa program will recognize former head coach and player Sharm Scheuerman today by wearing an “SS” patch in his honor. Scheuerman, whose No. 46 has been retired by the Hawkeyes, passed away last summer.