POSTGAME:
It's another win for the Hoosiers. After getting up by 21 points with 8:28 to go in the half, Iowa mounted a bit of a run (or IU's defense lapsed a bit, your pick, really). The Hoosiers hung on to win 71-64.
D.J. White come alive in the second half, making numerous layups while getting fouled in the process. He finished with 23 points on 10-of-13 shooting and tallied 12 boards.
After holding Adam Haluska to a mere five points in the first half, the Hoosiers didn't do quite as good of a job containing him the second. He finished with 21 points, one over his season average. He was 6-of-9 shooting in the second half as well.
So, this leaves IU with a 4-1 mark on the Big Ten season, its fourth straight season of starting out that well.
So, where do you see them going from here? Thoughts, anyone?
HALFTIME:
IU leads Iowa 29-17.
Well, the Hoosiers aren't quite firing on all cylinders on the offense end, but as per usual, the defense has more than made up for it. The combination of Joey Shaw, A.J. Ratliff and Earl Calloway have shut down Iowa star Adam Haluska. He has five points at half on 1-of-7 shooting. Vaunted Hawkeye freshman Tyler Smith didn't get his first bucket of the game until 3:36 left in the half.
Since the first timeout of the game at the 15:14 mark when the Hawkeyes led 8-5, they've only scored nine points. (Get it? 9+8 equals 17.)
One last note: The students started up the "stand up, old people" chant early on in the first half. And, as they did last game, the supposed 'old people' stood up.
See you after the game.
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PREGAME:
The Hoosiers have a chance to complete a really impressive early stretch of Big Ten play today when they host Iowa at Assembly Hall. Tip-off is 7 p.m. EST.
Since losing a tight Big Ten opener to Ohio State on January 2, IU won its next three conference games, including impressive home wins over Michigan State and Purdue, as well as a come-from-behind road win at Penn State. That stretch has left IU with a chance to go to 4-1 tonight with a win over Iowa, who has looked like a middling Big Ten team in wins over Minnesota and Michigan State and a loss to Illinois.
Of course, it's the return of Steve Alford to Assembly Hall, which is a pretty old, stale storyline except for the fact that Alford could very well have been here as the home coach were he considered more seriously for the Hoosier head job last spring. Nonetheless - even with how well Sampson has IU playing right now - there will still be some crusty old fans lamenting the fact that babyfaced Stevie isn't IU's man. Oh well.
Projected starters, which may or may not be correct, are:
IU: F D.J. White F Lance Stemler G Rod Wilmont G Armon Bassett G Earl Calloway
Iowa: C Seth Gorney F Tyler Smith F Cyrus Tate G Adam Haluska G Mike Henderson
Anyway, if you're here, you probably know the deal, but we'll be back at halftime with some first half impressions and comments. Until then, leave your thoughts on all things Hoosier basketball in the comments section. See you at the half.
