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| INSIDE THE NUMBERS |
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2000-01 record: 19-16;
5-11 in Big Ten
(Tied 8th)
Postseason: Lost to LSU 63-61 in first round of NIT.
RETURNING LEADERS
Points: Worley 17.3
Rebs: Worley 4.1
Assists: Pierce 3.3
FG: Reiner 53.2%
3pt: Boyd 42.0%
FT: Worley 72.4%
01-02 Stats:
Iowa | Big Ten
KEY LOSSES
Reggie Evans | 15.4 ppg
Duez Henderson | 4.5 ppg
Ryan Hogan | 5.3 ppg
Luke Recker | 17.1 ppg
PROJECTED STARTERS
G | Brody Boyd | Junior
G | Ch. Leslie | Senior
G | Jeff Horner | Fresh
C | Jared Reiner | Junior
F | Glen Worley | Junior
Player to Watch
Glen Worley
Junior Forward
Needs to lead a young squad and stay out of foul trouble.
DATE TO REMEMBER
Iowa plays back-to-back games against in-state rivals. First hosting Northern Iowa and then Iowa State. Both schools would like nothing more than to stomp on the Hawkeyes when they are down. |
IOWA HAWKEYES
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It is has been unquestionably the most difficult year in Steve Alford's coaching career. His Iowa team started the 2001-02
season as a Big Ten title contender and the Hawkeyes were ranked in the top 10 in December. Then the bottom fell out. First, the Hawkeyes underachieved on the court, going just 5-11 in conference play. Then came an offseason that can be best described as
crazy.Two players were arrested on minor charges. Freshman center Erek Hanson transferred to a community college after being ruled academically
ineligible. Marcellus Sommerville left the program and incoming freshman Josh Rhodes left school not long after arriving in Iowa City. And then the big one: Guard Pierre Pierce was charged with sexual assault, a felony. He later pled guilty to a misdemeanor and will not play basketball this season. It's a string of events that leaves Iowa with seven recruited scholarship players for this season. Alford and the Iowa players have talked about how Wisconsin won with low scholarship numbers. The difference is that the Hawkeyes will try to do it with a young roster and without a proven scorer.
TOUGH ENOUGH..............................
One position where Iowa has reasonable depth is in
the backcourt. Chauncey Leslie returns after gaining a year of
experience and Brody Boyd returns. In addition, freshman Jeff Horner
should see immediate action.
TOUGH ENOUGH?..............................
Practicing 5-on-5 will be a challenge and a
sprained ankle or the flu can be a huge problem. With seven recruited
scholarship players, there is little margin of error for the Hawkeyes.
Will Iowa be able to survive in the rugged Big Ten with such little
depth?
BOTTOM LINE..............................
This will be Alford's toughest challenge as a
coach. There is some talent on this Iowa team, just not much of it. That
will make an NIT berth a significant achievement.
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