Most of Iowa’s non-conference basketball schedule set

IOWA CITY - Iowa's men's basketball program has 10 of its 13 non-conference opponents scheduled or committed for the upcoming season.

According to contractual agreements received by The Gazette via open-records requests, Iowa will pay $481,000 to five non-conference opponents as part of guarantees. Iowa also will pay $150,000 to The Gazelle Group as part of hosting two opponents for the 2K Sports Classic, which concludes Nov. 20-21 in New York City.

Iowa's exhibition opponent is Division II Northwood (Mich.), which will compete Nov. 2 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Among the scheduled non-conference opponents appearing at Carver-Hawkeye Arena include: Northern Illinois (Nov. 26), Longwood (Nov. 29), Maryland-Baltimore County (Dec. 6), Alcorn State (Dec. 9) and North Florida (Dec. 22). Iowa has yet to finalized a contract for one other opponent.

Iowa's two home opponents in the 2K Sports Classic are undetermined. Those home dates range from Nov. 14 to Nov. 17. Syracuse, Texas and California - of which Iowa will play two - also compete in the final two rounds of the 2K Sports Classic, which is held Nov. 20-21 at Madison Square Garden.

The Hawkeyes are scheduled to play at North Carolina on Dec. 3 as part of the Big Ten-ACC Challenge. Iowa faces Northern Iowa in the Big 4 Classic on Dec. 20 in Des Moines. The annual Iowa-Iowa State rivalry game likely will be held Dec. 12 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

The schedule features a balance of opponents. Iowa State (28-8, RPI 9) and North Carolina (24-10, RPI 19) qualified for the NCAA's Sweet Sixteen and round of 32, respectively. Potential opponents Syracuse (28-6, RPI 14) and Texas (24-11, RPI 31) each won at least one NCAA tournament game, while California (21-14, RPI 68) advanced to the NIT quarterfinals. Northern Iowa finished 16-15 with an RPI of 134.

But the known home opponents - outside of Iowa State - aren't quite as strong. North Florida (16-16, RPI 200) is the only squad to post a non-losing season. The others include Northern Illinois (15-17, RPI 201), Alcorn State (12-19, RPI 308), Maryland-Baltimore County (9-21, RPI 319) and Longwood (8-24, 341). Historically, Iowa is 6-0 against Northern Illinois, 1-0 against Maryland-Baltimore County and has not played Alcorn State, Longwood or North Florida.

Dates are not set for Big Ten play but Iowa knows its opponents and locations. The Hawkeyes will face Nebraska, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Northwestern and Ohio State home-and-away. In single-play action, Iowa will host Maryland, Rutgers, Michigan State and Illinois and travel to Indiana, Purdue, Michigan and Penn State.

l Comments: (319) 339-3169; scott.dochterman@sourcemedia.net