Tuesday night 'golden' opportunity for IU

Like the men that once originated the nickname, this year's Hoosiers are heading west for a "Gold Rush."\nBut unlike the Hoosiers of yesteryear, the 2006 variety is guaranteed to strike gold -- and plenty of it. The Hawkeyes and all their fans will be clad in their metallic-yellow getup for the program's first-ever "Gold Rush Game."\n"We're hoping to have a little fun and give our fans a chance to be a little student-like," Iowa coach Steve Alford said in a statement. "Because, as you know, the Hawk's Nest does a pretty good job of being gold on game night."\nCrowds and colored uniforms are the least of IU coach Mike Davis' worries as his No. 11 Hoosiers (12-3, 4-1) seek their first conference road win of the season. Davis said the Hawkeyes should be extra motivated after suffering a 30-point loss to Michigan State on Saturday. The last time Iowa (14-5, 3-2) lost before that, it responded with three straight victories, including an upset against No. 8 Illinois at home. \n"I thought (Iowa) was one of the top two teams in our league before the season started," Davis said. "It's going to be a difficult task."\nAlford described tonight's defensive game plan as a "pick your poison situation." The former IU All-American said the Hoosier guards are capable of dropping 40 points if too much defensive pressure is concentrated on senior forward Marco Killingsworth.\nThe Big Ten echoed Alford's praise of the 6-foot-9 forward this week by naming Killingsworth the Big Ten Player of the Week for the third time this season. The senior transfer is only the fifth Hoosier to receive the honor three times in a season since the award's inception in 1980.\n"We have our game plan and it's going to Marco," Davis said. "It is no secret, and what our other guys have to do is step up and make shots."\nKillingsworth will most likely see sophomore Robert Vaden return as his frontcourt running mate, as Davis cited Vaden's move to the backcourt as a possible reason for his recent offensive struggles. Davis said the 6-foot-5 Vaden creates a matchup problem when he plays against bigger defenders.\n"Our chemistry or rhythm has been off, and I think it is more of Vaden playing the three spot than anything," Davis said. "If we can get him back to the four spot, the question becomes do I start (Rod) Wilmont or (A.J.) Ratliff?"\nDavis touted Wilmont's energy off the bench in recent games, and said his expectations for Ratliff lie more in rebounding and defense than scoring.\n"So many people are putting pressure on (Ratliff) to score," Davis said. "His offense is going to come."\nThe Iowa trio of Adam Haluska, Jeff Horner and Greg Brunner all average double-digits in scoring, and enter tonight's matchup having won their previous two meetings with IU. Davis is 4-5 all-time against Alford and his Hawkeyes, and will look to even his record and capture an always-elusive road victory in conference play.\n"We get some cracks at (playing on the road this week)," Killingsworth said. "We've just got to go in there and make the best of it"