Cut down the nets! Indiana 68, Iowa 60.

Here's the box score, in all its glory. Going 1-17 won't be any treat, if it happens, but at least the Hoosiers won't enter next season 0-for-2009 or with a losing streak in excess of 20 games. As it was, IU tied, but did not break, the school record losing streak, and can't break the record this season. That's what we'll take as success this season.

As with everything else in 2008-09, this was not easy. IU had a 20 point lead (49-29) with 11:58 remaining, but with a 31-10 run, Iowa pulled to within 3 points with 44 seconds remaining. Fortunately, the Hawkeyes turned the ball over twice in the last 24 seconds, and IU finally made some free throws and preserved the win.

If my math is correct, this was roughly a 59 possession game, so IU's 11 turnover performance isn't as good as it might appear (around 18 percent, still pretty good for this team). Still, after 5 turnovers in the first 4:08, IU turned the ball over only 6 times in the final 36 minutes of the game. IU's failure to make free throws in the second half gave Iowa a chance to win the game, but the Hawkeyes didn't, and I'll take whatever IU gets this season.

As for the individuals:

• Devan Dumes was perhaps even better than Matt Roth was against OSU. Dumes scored 27 points on 8-9 from the field (including 5-5 from behind the arc) and 6-8 from the line.
• Nick Williams scored 14 points on 9 attempts, thanks to 6-6 from the line. He also had 9 rebounds.
• Malik Story scored 9 points on 8 attempts. Unfortunately, Story committed 3 fouls in 15 minutes, which limited his play. Story is averaging a foul every 7.6 minutes, every 6.8 minutes in Big Ten play. Story has quite a bit of potential, but has to find a way to stay on the court.
• Tom Prtichard is struggling a bit. He scored only 2 points and fouled out.
• Fortunately, Kyle Taber picked up the slack with one of his best games as a Hoosier. Seven points on six shots, 8 rebounds, 2 blocks.

Well, that's a relief. We'll leave the 0-fers to Northwestern. IU goes to Michigan State on Saturday, where the Hoosiers haven't won since 1991. Let's worry about that one tomorrow.

Iowa, take II.

Iowa Hawkeyes
Current record: 12-10 (2-7)
Current RPI: 88
Current Sagarin: 75
Current Pomeroy: 84
2007-08 record: 13-19 (6-12)
2007-08 RPI: 188
2007-08 Sagarin: 149
2007-08 Pomeroy: 116
Series: IU leads 93-69
Last Iowa win: 1/3/2009 (65-60 in Iowa City)
Last IU win: 1/23/2008 (65-43 in Bloomington)
Last Iowa win in Bloomington: 2/11/2006 (70-67)
Pomeroy scouting report
TV: 6:30 pm, BTN

The Hawkeyes are in a much different place than when these two teams met a month ago in IU's Big Ten opener. At the time, Iowa was 10-4 with computer rankings squarely in bubble range. Today, Iowa is 2-7 (with home wins over IU and struggling Wisconsin) and probably is more realistically concerned with making the NIT. As for the Hoosiers, IU simply has to win this game. Has to has to has to. In the last game, IU and Iowa were fairly evenly matched, but Iowa's Cyrus Tate had a huge game, not unlike Ralph Sampson, and just about every big man who sees the chance.

Pomeroy says that this is IU's best remaining chance to win, a whopping 25 percent chance. I could spend lots of time breaking down the matchups, but this season is beyond that right now. It's just a must-win.

Iowa 65, Indiana 60.

Here are the stats. Not surprisingly, many are describing yesterday's loss as a moral victory. I'm not so sure. IU is going to have a seriously limited number of opportunities to win Big Ten games this season, and it's disappointing to pass up such an opportunity. Despite trailing by 13 on a couple of occasions in the second half, IU pulled to within two points on two Matt Roth free throws with 22 seconds remaining.

IU's offensive efficiency number of 1.045 points per shot was IU's best of the year against a major opponent, and while the slow pace of 57 possessions exaggerates it, IU's 11 turnovers amounted to IU's second best turnover percentage of the season, 19.2. IU didn't shoot particularly well, so the increased offensive production seems most closely related to the lack of turnovers. IU rebounded reasonably well and got to the line often. Unfortunately, everything that IU did, Iowa did just a bit better. IU got to the line. Iowa got to the line more. IU had only 11 turnovers. Iowa had only 10. And so on. IU did do a decent job on the perimeter defensively. Ordinarily, Iowa takes 48 percent of its shots from behind the arc and makes 40 percent of them. Yesterday, Iowa took only 32 percent of its shots from three point range and made only 35 percent. Still, it's not clear whether that was because of IU's defense or because Cyrus Tate was incredible, scoring 22 points on 6-6 from the field andf 10-11 from the line. Finally, Iowa's leading scorer, Anthony Tucker, did not play.

I'm not sure exactly what to take from this game. As I said in the preview, Iowa isn't a particularly imposing team, and they were missing a key player. IU's progress this year has not been linear, so I am hesitant to think that we have turned the corner. Still, this game provides some optimism about IU's ability to hold on for a few home wins. As for the individuals:

• Pritchard was okay, scoring 11 points on 7 shots, but was in foul trouble, as were several other Hoosiers.
• Nick Williams had his best day as a Hoosier, scoring 14 points on 7-11 from the field.
  
• Devan Dumes scored 12 points on 8 shots, despite 2-8 from the field, thanks to 6-6 from the line.

IU plays at home against Michigan on Wednesday. The Wolverines are now 1-1 in the Big Ten after losing at home to Wisconsin and beating Illinois, also at home. Michigan has non-conference wins over Duke and UCLA, but hasn't won a true road game yet. More on that game later.

The Iowa game.

Iowa Hawkeyes
Current record: 10-4
Current RPI: 42
Current Sagarin: 61
Current Pomeroy: 46
2007-08 record: 13-19 (6-12)
2007-08 RPI: 188
2007-08 Sagarin: 149
2007-08 Pomeroy: 116
Series: IU leads 93-68

Last Iowa win: 2/3/2007 (81-75 in Iowa City)

Last IU win: 1/23/2008 (65-43 in Bloomington)

Last IU win in Iowa City: 1/3/2008 (79-76)
Pomeroy scouting report
TV: 4:30 pm, BTN

IU last played in Iowa City exactly one year ago. The tables have turned. Last year, Iowa entered the game with sub-200 computer ratings and IU harbored Final Four aspirations. While the Hawkeyes remain NCAA Tournament longshots, they are vastly improved, as are most Big Ten teams. Further, at this point, IU would kill for Iowa's 6-12 Big Ten record of 2008. As most of you know, the Hawkeyes are led by former Butler coach Todd Lickliter, and the style of play is as expected. Iowa is the slowest-paced team in Division I, averaging only 57.2 possessions per game. Like Lickliter's Butler teams, Iowa is very efficient offensively. The Hawkeyes average 1.13 points per possession, rank #4 nationally in effective field goal percentage, and are in the top thirty in two point, three point, and free throw shooting percentage. The Hawkeyes take good care of the ball, turning the ball over less than 20 percent of the time, and they assist 60 percent of their made field goals. Like those Butler teams, Iowa doesn't place a priority on offensive rebounding, but barely into Lickliter's second season, he has dramatically reshaped the program. Iowa's defensive numbers are not as outstanding but are above-average nearly across the board. The Hawkeyes are highly three-point reliant, so IU's only (slim) hope is a poor shooting night.

Iowa's best win came against Kansas State, currently #18 in Pomeroy, in Las Vegas. Really, that is Iowa's only signature win, and the losses have all been respectable: West Virginia, Boston College, Drake, and Ohio State (Iowa lost by three on the road on New Year's Eve).

Freshman Anthony Tucker is Iowa's leading scorer at only 11.8 points per game, with freshman Matt Gatens and sophomores Jeff Peterson and Jake Kelly (Daniel Moore's high school teammate at Carmel) close behind. Tucker shoots 43 percent on over 7 three point attempts per game. Gatens is shooting 53 percent from behind the arc and Peterson 41. Cyrus Tate seems to be the only true big man who plays much role in the scoring offense.

The Hawkeyes are not as physicially imposing as some of the very tall teams IU has played thus far, but they are very effective at what they do, and IU will need to play much better, and hope for some cold Iowa shooting, to be competitive.

Season-ender: Iowa 45, Indiana 9.

I don't have any delusions about IU's place in the college football universe as compared to Iowa or anyone else. We're near the bottom, both historically and recently. Still, we went 7-5 last year and entered this season with a schedule that was among the two or three easiest to be played by any BCS conference program. Sure, we lost some key players--James Hardy, Tracy Porter, Leslie Majors most notably--but returned a bunch of good ones as well, or at least what seemed to be good ones. Although it is Bill Lynch's first "normal" season as head coach, it's also the fourth season that this particular staff, with remarkably little turnover absent the conspicuous exception, has been together. I don't think I was crazy or wildly optimistic to think that this team would contend for another bowl berth. Today's game ended any lingering delusions mathematically and psychologically. Despite returning an all Big Ten quarterback, an all-American defensive end, loads of starters on all sides of the ball, and even an all-American kicker, this team is horrid. Iowa, which was quite deserving of its win today--duh--isn't very good. Sure, they have played and lost some close games, but a quick look at the schedule reveals a very difficult path to 7 wins. They may as well have been USC today. IU's program seems to have instantly regressed to Dinardo levels. We are likely to go 2-10 against a horseshit schedule.

Box score. Enjoy. It sucks.

There is a game this week: first look at Iowa.

Iowa Hawkeyes

2008 record: 3-3 (0-2)

2008 Sagarin: 47 (IU is #83)

2007 record: 6-6
2007 Sagarin: 79

Series: Iowa leads 38-27-4

Last IU win: 9/29/07, 38-20 in Iowa City

Last Iowa win: 10/15/05, 38-21 in Iowa City

Last Iowa win in Bloomington: 10/19/02 (24-8)

IU's surprising win at Iowa was one of the highlights of last season, and was one of the main reasons that Iowa failed to qualify for a bowl for the first time since 2000. From 2002 through 2004, Iowa appeared to be building a program that would prennially contend for the Big Ten title, but the last three seasons have disappointed, and the Hawkeyes join IU and Wisconsin as the only 0-2 Big Ten teams. Iowa, after opening the season with wins over Maine, Florida International, and Iowa State, has lost three in a row to Pitt, Northwestern, and Michigan State. Iowa's next three games after this one are against Wisconsin, @ Illinois, and Penn State, so it's fair to say that this game means as much to Iowa's postseason fortunes as it means to IU's. This is, sadly, the most winnable Big Ten game remaining on IU's schedule, but Iowa is a 5.5 point favorite in Bloomington. Unlike IU, Iowa hasn't looked terrible: its three losses are by a total of 8 points.

Iowa hasn't scored a lot of points, but running back Shonn Greene is having a great season, averaging 6.4 yards per carry. He has run for 822 yards and 5 touchdowns. I really don't have much time for detail right now, but again, this is a big game for both teams. Iowa has lost 3 overall and two against IU, and so I expect the Hawkeyes will be motivated. I have no remaining optimism after last week's disaster in Minnesota, but I hope the team and staff prove me wrong.

The season that was, game 5: Indiana 38, Iowa 20.

IU managed to erase the disappointment of the Illinois loss by beating Iowa 38-20 on the road. Here's the short recap (I was out of town) and here's the box score. IU jumped out to a 21 point lead. IU's third touchdown of the game, memorably, was a 71 yard fumble return by Kellen Lewis that technically was credited as 71 yards of passing to himself (yeah, he got a penalty, and deservedly so, but it's a great picture--see above). Lewis finished 19-26 with 322 yards and 3 touchdowns.

Iowa scored a touchdown on the last play of the first half and then pulled to within 21-13 in the middle of the third quarter, but Josiah Sears scored with a minute left in the third quarter to make it 28-13, and Iowa never really threatened again. As I noted in my wrapup last year, IU gave up a ton of yards to a fairly weak Iowa offense, and couldn't do a thing on the ground, but still, this was only IU's second Big Ten road win since 2001. Even though Iowa was a mediocre team that squandered its bowl eligibility with a home game to Western Michigan in November, this win, in front of the usual 70,000 Hawkeye fans, was a big deal. IU hasn't had a three game winning streak against a Big Ten opponent since beating Iowa in 1998-2000, but IU will have that chance in October.

Indiana 65, Iowa 43.

Here's the box score. The pace was 64 possessions. The Big Ten is slowing the Hoosiers down. Last night's game was the third time in four games that the Hoosiers have been involved in a game with fewer than 65 possessions per side, as compared to two such games in the first 14. Given IU's turnover problems, I suppose this isn't bad. This wasn't a great offensive performance, as IU was barely over a point a possession, but the defensive effort was the best of the year. Iowa's .66 points per possession is IU's second-best total of the season (Longwood is the only other team that IU held to under .73 points per possession. Iowa shot poorly (34 percent for the game, 21 percent in the second half), but the turnovers were devastating. The Hawkeyes turned the ball over on 31 percent of their possessions. The Hawkeyes have struggled with turnover problems (25.6 percent on the season) but still, this was one of the Hawkeyes' wost performances. It's also IU's second-best total of the season (32.4 by UNC-Wilmington). In IU's first five Big Ten teams, IU's best defensive turnover percentage performance was 17.4 against Illinois. If this becomes a trend for IU, the Hoosiers will be tough to beat. Neither team rebounded well offensively.

As for the individuals:

• 17 points on 11 shots for Eric Gordon. Gordon was 0-3 from behind the arc but 7-8 on two point shots (his drives resulted in layups rather than free throws (4-4)). Three assists, 2 turnovers, 3 blocks, 4 steals. His defensive effort and performance was outstanding.
• DJ White had 19 points on 13 shots, but an unusually low 4 rebounds.
• Jamarcus Ellis had another all-everything game. Ellis scored 12 points on 7 shots (thanks to 6-7 from the line), 8 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 turnovers, 4 steals.
• Deandre Thomas played 19 minutes, but managed only two points on two shots and turned the ball over 4 times.
• Armon Bassett continued his feast-or-famine trend: 8 points on 3-3 from the field, 3 assists, no turnovers, 2 steals.
• Jordan Crawford continues to be a bit out of control. Five points on 5 shots, 2 assists, 4 turnovers.
• Lance Stemler cooled off again. He was scoreless on 0-3 from the field/three point range.

This probably was IU's most complete victory of the season. Of IU's next eight games, seven are very challenging: Connecticut, @ Wisconsin, Northwestern, at Illinois, @ Ohio State, Wisconsin, Michigan State, Purdue. Within three weeks, we will have an idea of whether 17-1 is a function of IU's less-than-challenging schedule or whether it is an accurate statement of the team's quality.

The Iowa game, take 2.

Iowa Hawkeyes

Current Record: 9-10

Big Ten record: 2-4

Current RPI: 173

Current Sagarin: 165

2006-07 record: 17-14 (9-7 in Big Ten, no postseason)

2006-07 RPI: 97

2006-07 Sagarin: 78

Series: IU leads 92-68

Last meeting: IU 79, Iowa 76 (at Iowa City, 1/2/08)

Last Iowa win: 81-75 (2/3/07 in Iowa City)

Last IU win in Bloomington: 1/16/07 (71-64)

Last Iowa win in Bloomington: 2/11/06 (70-67)

Blog: Black Heart Gold Pants

Pomeroy profile

In the first meeting, as in most of IU's Big Ten games so far, the Hoosiers allowed Iowa to stick around for most of the first half. IU seemed to have the game in hand, leading 70-57 with just over two minutes remaining, when Justin Johnson went crazy, scoring 19 points in the last two minutes on 6-6 three pointers plus a free throw. If Justin Johnson were an autistic kid from New York State, he would win an ESPY. Has Johnson continued his hot streak? Not even close. Johnson is shooting about 41 percent from three for the season, but seems to have used up all of his luck in the IU game: after shooting 3-5 against Wisconsin, he has gone 3-13 against OSU, 0-7 against MSU, 1-4 against Purdue, and 1-5 against Michigan. That makes 23.5 percent since the IU game and 2-16 in his last three games.

The Hawkeyes' tempo-free numbers don't look much different than they looked on January 2. The Hawkeyes like to play slow (61.2 possession, #323 nationally), play very good straight-up defense (they don't force turnovers, but their efficiency, field goal percentage, and rebounding numbers are in or near the top 50), and don't do anything well offensively except dish out assists on their (all too rare) made field goals. IU should win comfortably, but should not take the Hawkeyes lightly. Iowa's 43-36 win over Michigan State is way more impressive than any win on IU's resume. The Hawkeyes dictated the pace of that 56 possession game, in contrast to the 72 possession game that IU won in Iowa City. The Hoosiers need to play their game and stick a hand in Johnson's face, and they should be fine.

A final note: IU has not lost at Assembly Hall since losing to Iowa on February 11, 2006. That game is best remembered by IU fans for what it did not include: Mike Davis. Davis was too sick to coach that day, but not too sick to whine on the phone to Andy Katz about the pervasive rumors of his supposedly impending resignation. In any event, IU won a school record 50 consecutive home games from 1991-1995. The Hoosiers' last home loss before beginning that streak was a loss to Iowa on February 21, 1991. IU now has won 28 in a row at Assembly Hall.

More Iowa post mortem.

I didn't get the chance to mention any of the individual performances when I posted on this game a couple of days ago.

• DJ White shot more poorly than he has in a white, only 6-13 from the field, but still managed 16 points and 15 rebounds.
• Jamarcus Ellis was fantastic. 15 points on 10 shots, 7 assists, one turnover.
• Gordon posted his usual, ho-hum, 25 points on 12 shots. The Christmas break version of Carver Hawkeye isn't exactly imposing, but it's nice to see that Gordon was able to get to the line on the road in the Big Ten.
• Those two three pointers must have been well-timed, because I was stunned to read that Freeman was only 3-14 from the field. But until Justin Johnson's outburst, he was Iowa's leading scorer. That says something about IU's defense for the most part.

Indiana 79, Iowa 76.

The Hoosiers struggled early but seemed to put the game away late in the second half before Iowa's Justin Johnson single-handedly brought the Hawkeyes back into the game, which ended only when IU managed to steal the ball as Iowa passed up the court. Had Johnson ended up with the ball, overtime seemed likely. Here's the box score.

After an Eric Gordon freethrow with 2:10 remaining, IU led 70-57. The Hoosiers didn't exactly shut things down, (IU scored nine points in the last two minutes of the game), yet Iowa still nearly came all the way back. Johnson scored 19 points in the last 1:55, including 6-6 from three point range and a free throw that turned one of the shots into a four point play. Probably the worst that can be said of the Hoosiers in this sequence is that they allowed three offensive rebounds in the last two minutes and shot only 9-14 from the line. Still, Johnson's heroic effort nearly saved the day.

Even with the finish, IU managed a fairly effective second half defense. Iowa shot only 37 percent (13-35) in the second half. Before the 6-10 finish, Iowa was only 7-25 in the first 18 minutes of the half.

This was a fast paced game for Iowa (about 72 possessions per team), and each team obviously was just above one point per possession.

I'm short on time, so I'll look at this one more later (IU doesn't play again until Tuesday at Michigan). Yesterday, I said that I thought IU was in trouble in the case of a close game. While Iowa was quite competitive for much of the game, I was fairly content with the performance when the score was 70-57, and I'm not sure that the flukish finish should be given all that much weight. More later.

The Iowa game.

Iowa Hawkeyes

Current Record: 7-6

Big Ten record: 0-0

Current RPI: 234

Current Sagarin: 197

2006-07 record: 17-14 (9-7 in Big Ten, no postseason)

2006-07 RPI: 97

2006-07 Sagarin: 78

Series: IU leads 91-68

Last meeting: Iowa 81, IU 75 (2/3/07 at Iowa)

Last IU win: 71-64 (in Bloomington, 1/16/07)

Last IU win at Iowa City: 2/19/03 (79-63)

Blog: Black Heart Gold Pants

Iowa is not a good team. The Hawks are 7-6 against what Pomeroy rates as the #276 schedule in the country. As noted above, Iowa enters Big Ten play with Sagarin and RPI numbers more appropriate for a team from the SWAC or the Ivy League. Pomeroy predicts a 4-14 conference record for Iowa, and give the Hawks better-than-even odds only in their home games against Northwestern and Michigan.

Iowa cannot resist hiring coaches with ties to Indiana (the state, not the the university). After forcing out consistently above average Tom Davis, Iowa handed the reins to former IU great Steve Alford. Alford's record at Iowa was decent, but not as good as his predecessor's. He also seemed to wear out his welcome in Iowa City based on various personality and off-the-court issues (most notably his coddling of sex offender Pierre Pierce). Now, the Hawkeyes have replaced Alford with former Butler coach Todd Lickliter. Lickliter, a Butler alum and assistant under Barry Collier and Thad Matta, didn't build the Bulldogs from scratch but did preside over the school's greatest moments since the Tony Hinkle era. So far, Iowa is playing to the mid-major stereotype. Iowa is very slow (60.8 possessions per game, nearly dead last in Division I). Last season, Lickliter's excellent Butler team averaged only 58.4 possessions per game. Iowa is excellent defensively (allowing only .91 points per possession and a 44.2 effective field goal percentage, both in the top 50 in Division I), like Lickliter's last Butler team. Unlike the 2007 Bulldogs, Iowa has been awful on the offensive end, averaging a sub-200 .951 points per shot and only 50 percent effective field goal percentage, #162 nationally. The Hawkeyes turn the ball over on 27.5 percent of their possessions, again, almost dead last nationally (#332). This is in complete contrast to last year's Butler team, which led the nation with a 15.5 offensive turnover percentage. In short, the Hawkeyes are defending well, but offensively bear no resemblance to Lickliter's best Butler teams.

In addition to adjusting to a new coach and system, the Hawkeyes just don't have much experience. Of Iowa's five leaders in minutes played, three are freshman. The top two returnees in minutes played, Justin Johnson and Kurt Looby, ranked #4 and #8 in that category last year. Tyler Smith, who was Iowa's second leading scorer, transferred to Tennessee, in part because of his ailing father. Tony Freeman, son of the former Hoosier of the same name, has played only three games because of a foot injury. Still, other than a road win against Northern Iowa (#107 in the RPI), the Hawkeyes don't have anything approximating a quality win and have lost to such powers as Louisiana Monroe and Utah State.

While Iowa should improve as the season and years go by, this one goes in the Penn State/Northwestern category this season. It's an outstanding opportunity to pick up a Big Ten road win. If IU loses or wins a close one, be concerned about the Hoosiers' status as a Big Ten front-runner.

I do hope to give basketball matchups more attention than this as the season transpires, but the Insight Bowl and the holiday made it impossible this time.

More about Iowa.

The Hawkeyes are a tough team to read. Defensively, the Hawkeyes appear to be pretty good, maybe really good. Before the Wisconsin game, Iowa had not allowed an offensive touchdown all season. Iowa State beat the Hawkeyes 15-13 with five field goals; Iowa shut out what then appeared to be a terrible Syracuse team 35-0; and beat Northern Illinois 16-3 at a quasi-road game at Soldier Field during the opening weekend. Against Wisconsin at Camp Randall, Iowa allowed two TD drives and a field goal, but the game really was a close defensive struggle. The Badgers outgained Iowa 304-228. The Hawks punted 10 times, Wisconsin 8. Iowa averaged 2.3 yards per rush, Wisconsin 3.4. Clearly, Wisconsin had the statistical edge, except for turnovers: Iowa was perfect in that regard, while Wisconsin coughed up two fumbles and an interception.

Clearly, Iowa's offense has struggled a bit, although for the last decade IU's defense has been just what the doctor ordered for such offenses. Iowa's QB, Jake Christensen, has completed more than 50 percent of his passes only once, in the thrashing of Syracuse, and is at 52 percent for the season. Despite his inaccuracy, Christensen has not been sloppy (or perhaps has been really lucky): he has only one interception and six TD passes. He has been sacked 11 times, 4 times against Wisconsin.

While comparing team statistics at this time of year is tricky because of varying quality of competition, Iowa is dead last in the Big Ten at 19.3 points per game. IU, buoyed by an easier schedule, is third at 36.8. Iowa has 542 rushing yards (10th) to IU's 910 (3rd); 17.8 first downs per game (11th) to IU's 24.5 (3rd) (to show you how much this means, Minny-freaking-sota is ahead of IU in the last two categories); 710 passing yards (1oth) to IU's 920 (4th); and 3130 yards of total offense per game (11th) to IU's 457 (3rd).

Defensively, Iowa has allowed 8.8 points per game (2nd) to IU's 21.3 (9th); 235 yards per game to IU's 329 (7th); 588 passing yards (2nd) to IU's 832 (6th); 354 rushing yards (4th) to IU's 484 (7th). IU leads the way with 7 interceptions, but Iowa is tied for second with 5.

According to Sagarin, Iowa has played the #60 schedule, while IU's schedule ranks a I-AA-ish 158, so adjust accordingly. Nevertheless, it seems obvious that IU's strength will be going up against Iowa's weakness and vice versa. [EDIT: that's exactly wrong, of course. IU's strength (offense) will be going up against Iowa's strength (defense), and IU's weak defense will attempt to stop Iowa's weak offense. But you know what I meant.]

Very initial thoughts on Iowa.

Iowa Hawkeyes

2007 record: 2-2 (0-1)

2007 Sagarin: 43 (IU is 71)

2006 record: 6-7 (2-6) (lost to Texas in Alamo Bowl)

2006 Sagarin: 51

Series: Iowa leads, 26-38-4

Last IU win: 2006 (31-28 in Bloomington)

Last Iowa win: 2005 (38-21 in Iowa City)

Last IU win in Iowa City: 1999 (38-31)

Official site

For the first time this season, IU plays a team with a blog, Black Heart Gold Pants. I haven't had much of a chance to look at Iowa's results in detail. I know that they looked OK against NIU, spanked Syracuse, inexplicably lost to an awful Iowa State team, and played pretty well in a loss at Wisconsin. I'll take a look as the week transpires. Certainly, the Hawks seem likely to be revenge-minded, given IU's come-from-behind win last season, but beyond that, with a trip to Penn State next week, Iowa just needs a win. So do we.

This is, believe it or not, one of IU's most competitive series against a Big Ten opponent. IU is within 11 games of .500 against Minnesota, but Iowa leads the series by only 12 games. This has been a series of streaks recently. IU had lost three in a row before last year's upset. IU previously enjoyed a modest three-game winning streak against the late Fry/early Ferentz teams of 1998-2000. Iowa had won three in a row before that (1995-97) following a two year IU winning streak (1993-94). In the current "dark age" of IU football, the 13 plus seasons since IU's last bowl bid, IU has won more games against Iowa (5) than any other Big Ten school. So, the IU-Iowa series has been surprisingly competitive, but IU is a clear underdog (+12 this morning). More as the week continues.

The season that was, game 7: Indiana 31, Iowa 28

Date: 10/14/06
Location: Memorial Stadium, Bloomington, Ind.
Box score/stats
Attendance: 31,392

From the time that Ball State pulled ahead of the Hoosiers early in the second game, the 2006 season always seemed just about ready to spiral out of control. After IU righted the ship against Ball State, setbacks continued: Hep's absence, the tough home losses to SIU and Connecticut, the Wisconsin blowout, the early deficit against Illinois. Yet, after IU beat Iowa, the Hoosiers were somehow 4-3 overall, 2-1 in the Big Ten, and seemingly in bowl contention. As in the Hoosiers' two previous wins, IU spotted the opponent an early lead (21-7 for Iowa). Iowa outgained the Hoosiers by about 50 yards and the turnover battle was even (two per team). The stories for the Hoosiers were the proficiency of the running game (13-84 for Demetrius McCray, 5-26 for Josiah Sears); and Kellen Lewis's finest game (19-25, 255 yards, 3TD, 0 INT); certainly, the IU defense played well enough to win. Two of the Hawkeyes' four second half possessions ended in turnovers, including Will Meyers's memorable interception of Drew Tate in the waning minutes, when the Hawkeyes were in field goal range. Also, this game marked the beginning of what we can hope is a long history of quality play by Lewis and James Hardy against quality opponents: Hardy caught 8 passes for 104 yards and all three of Lewis's TDs.

Let's hope we see lots of this:

Hawkeye State Big Ten previews.

The Hawkeye State, a nicely done Iowa blog, asked various Big Ten bloggers to submit previews of the teams they cover. He had hoped to post them alphabetically, but my foot-dragging interfered with that. The Michigan State and Illinois previews are up, and I would expect that my IU preview will be posted sometime in the upcoming week.

I say this with all sincerity: if you see any mistakes in my preview, please let me know and I will ask Hawkeye State to correct them. My biggest concern surrounds some inconsistencies on the IU website concerning whether certain players are back this season.

Steve Alford takes New Mexico job.

Three Big Ten programs are now without coaches. Steve Alford will be the new coach at New Mexico, "unless there is an unexpected impasse." New Mexico unsuccessfully courted Bob Knight after the 1987-88 season. Alford did a nice job in recent years, but really managed to get sideways with the most amiable group of fans in the Big Ten. Iowa's decision to force Tom Davis out after the 1999 season has culminated in failure.

I have been pretty critical of Steve Alford. His handling of the Pierre Pierce scandal was disgraceful. Part of my attitude toward Steve was pushback against the IU fans who wanted Stevie to be given the IU job despite a complete lack of evidence that he is anything more than an average coach. Still, he is an IU legend and now that he is out of the Big Ten, it will be easier to root for him.

The design of the arena, UNM's famous Pit, should have tipped us off. Frankly, it's a wonder that IU ever managed to convince him to play at Assembly Hall.

New Castle Fieldhouse



Carver Hawkeye Arena



"The Pit," New Mexico

Michigan coaching search.

Tommy Amaker, beloved by all Big Ten basketball fans (except Michigan fans, of course), finally received a well-earned pink slip over the weekend. Mgoblog and Maize n Brew are covering the story and breaking down the candidates in impressive detail. I'm not sure if Michigan really qualifies as a sleeping giant--the facilities problems and general indifference of many Michigan fans to basketball create challenges--but U-M probably has the best basketball tradition of any Big Ten school other than IU. Both Wolverine bloggers seem to be high on Chris Lowery of Southern Illinois, whose immediate predecessors, Matt Painter and Bruce Weber, coach in the Big Ten.

Minnesota, of course, has an job opening as well, and rumors continue to swirl about Steve Alford's future in Iowa and his possible interest in the New Mexico job, as discussed and dismissed in this column.