Indiana University Athletics
HOOSIERS HOST UAB
11/17/1998 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
HOOSIERS HOST UAB
GAME #4 FACTS: Alabama-Birmingham (1-0) vs. Indiana (3-0). Wednesday (Nov. 14). Assembly Hall (17,357), Bloomington, Ind. Game time is 7 p.m.
GAME DATA: The Indiana Hoosiers play UAB this evening to finish off a two-game homestand. Indiana improved its record to 3-0 with a come from behind 76-70 victory over Indiana State last Saturday.
TELEVISION: The UAB game will be broadcast by ESPN Regional which includes WTTV Ch. 4 in Indianapolis. John Laskowski and Ted Kitchel call the action.
RADIO: Every IU game can be heard on the IU Radio Network. Don Fischer, Bob Hammel, Joe Smith and Norm Ellenberger call the action. Fans can join the fun early as the pregame show begins 40 minutes prior to tipoff.
INDIANA HEAD COACH BOB KNIGHT... is college basketball's winningest active head coach with 723victories (all games at the Division I level). He is just one of 12 NCAA coaches all time to have recorded 700 or more victories. He is in his 28th season as the Indiana head coach and has a record of 621-220 (.738). Knight is in his 34th season as a collegiate head coach and has an overall record of 723-270 (.728). Knight's record in Big Ten play is 334-138 (.708). He has led the Hoosiers to three NCAA titles (1976, 1981 and 1987) and a conference record 11 Big Ten Championships (1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1980, 1981, 1983, 1987, 1989, 1991 and 1993). He was inducted into the National Basketball Hall of Fame in May of 1991. Knight is 2-1 vs. UAB both overall and at Indiana.
THE SERIES: Indiana and UAB are meeting for the fourth time. The Hoosiers lead the all-time series 2-1 after winning last year's game 80 64 in Birmingham. Prior to that meeting, the two previous games were in the NCAA Tournament with IU winning 87-72 in 1981 and UAB winning 80 70 in 1982. This is the first game between the schools in Bloomington.
HOOSIERS IN THE POLLS: Indiana began the season ranked 17th in the ESPN/USA Today poll. The Hoosiers are now ranked 21st in the AP poll after starting the season ranked 22nd.
FAMILIAR FACE ON OTHER BENCH: This evening Coach Knight will take on a former assistant coach for the second consecutive game. UAB's Murry Bartow was a graduate assistant at Indiana from 1985-87. Last Saturday IU defeated former assistant coach Royce Waltman's (1983-87) Indiana State team. Last season Knight faced four former assistant or players and won all four games. As this season begins there are 11 former Knight assistants or coaches who are now head coaches at either the college or professional level.
HOOSIERS VS. CONFERENCE USA: Indiana is 51-20 all-time vs. teams in Conference USA with a majority of the games coming against DePaul and Cincinnati. The last time the Hoosiers played a team from Conference USA was last season's matchup with UAB.
LAST GAME: (Indiana 76, Indiana State 70): The Hoosiers came back from a 19-point halftime deficit as they defeated Indiana State. ISU led 26-24 midway through the first half when they went on a 19-2 run to take a 45 26 halftime lead. Indiana battled back and took the lead for good on a Luke Recker layup with 3:46 to play. ISU made 18-32 field goals in the first half but was held to just 5-26 from the field in the second half. IU improved its shooting from 34.5% in the first 20 minutes to 18-31 (58.1%) in the second half. Recker led the Hoosiers with 23 points while Kirk Haston added career-highs of 18 points and 16 rebounds off the bench. Indiana held the Sycamores to just 39.7% from the field which also helped overcome an 11-20 shooting night from the line for IU.
QUICK START: The Hoosiers are 3-0 for the second time in three years. This is the 11th time in Coach Knight 28 years Indiana has started the season at least 3-0.
PRESEASON ACCOLADES: A.J. Guyton was selected as a Playboy Preseason All-America. That was only the third time a Hoosier had received this honor as Isiah Thomas did in 1981 and Calbert Cheaney did in 1993. ESPN's Jay Bilas selected Guyton as one of the top five point guards in the nation. Bilas also ranked the Indiana backcourt as the No. 3 unit in the nation behind Temple and Xavier. Bilas says "The key to Indiana's success this season will be the play of the Hoosier guards, and Bob Knight has a deep crop of talent." Street and Smith's picked Luke Recker as it's No. 1 "Emerging Star" in the nation and Bilas picked William Gladness as one of the "Best of the Rest" power forwards in the country. Street and Smith's also thinks highly of the IU backcourt as it ranked the unit No. 5 in the nation.
FROM THE FIELD: Indiana was the top shooting team in the Big Ten last season at 49.1%. They were also 20-4 when they shot better than their opponent last season but did not win a game (0-8) when they were outshot. This season IU has shot better than its opponents in each game. However, the Hoosiers have been under 50% the last two games which has dropped its season average to 49.4%. The last two games, IU has shot just 46.7%.
LONG RANGERS: The Hoosiers ranked third in the conference last year in 3-point shooting at 38% as they attempted a school record 489 treys. They made 186 which was the second best mark in school history. IU has made 7-18 in each of the last two games. Indiana has shot below 40% in each game this season and is at 38.6% heading into tonight's game.
CHARITY TOSSES: The Hoosiers were also third in the league in free throw shooting at 73.1% last season. Indiana began the season making 29-38 but had a season-low 11-20 game vs. Indiana State. That was IU's worst game at the line since the third game of last season when they made just 12-23 (44.9%) at Hawai'i. Over the years one of Indiana's keys to success has been attempting more free throws than its opponents make. This year IU has attempted 58 and the opponents have made just 27.
BOARD REPORT: People wondered how the Hoosiers would fare on the boards this season and if the first three games is any indication hopefully it won't be a problem. The Hoosiers have won the battle of the boards in each of the first three games and are outrebounding their opponents by 4 per game. The Hoosiers had a season-high 40 vs. Indiana State which included a season-high 27 defensive boards.
TURNOVER TALE: The Hoosiers were 13-4 last season when they committed the same or less number of turnovers. This season they are 3 0. IU made a season-low 14 miscues vs. Indiana State.
ASSIST ANGLE: The Hoosiers are averaging 18.7 assists per game in the early going. Last season the Hoosiers averaged 17.8 per game. IU has had 19 in each of the last two games.
A STEAL OF A TIME: Indiana recorded 17 steals vs. South Carolina which ties for the fourth-highest mark in school history but had a season-low 5 against Indiana State. IU is averaging 11.3 steals per game.
ON THE DEFENSE: The Hoosiers held 8 opponents under 40% from the field last year but has already done this twice this season. IU also had one of its better defensive halves in recent memory as they held Indiana State to just 5 field goals and 19.2% from the field in the second half of Saturday's game. IU's opponents are shooting just 39.5% this season.
DID YOU KNOW... over the last eight years the Hoosiers have led the Big Ten in scoring? During this span IU has averaged 79.1 points per game in conference play and have finished in the top half of the league in scoring every season.
ONE OF THE TOPS IN THE NATION: During the 1990's Indiana has been one of the top teams in college basketball. The Hoosiers have won 206 games this decade which makes them one of only 13 teams to have won 200 or more games during this span.
BIG WINNERS: When the Hoosiers win they have a tendency to win big. Last season they won 13 games by 11 or more points and 19 contests by 6 or more points.
NEXT GAME: The Hoosiers next play at the Maui Invitational. The Hoosiers face Kansas State Monday (Nov. 23) in their first game of the tournament. Tipoff is set for 9 p.m. ET (4 p.m. HT). The game will be televised by ESPN and can also be heard on the IU Radio Network.
#11 DANE FIFE: Has started all three games and is averaging 2.7 points and 1.7 rebounds per game...8 points, 2 assists vs. Seton Hall...did not score in 15 minutes vs. South Carolina or in 5 minutes vs. Indiana State...did have 2 steals, 2 assists and a block in each of the first two games...tough, hard-nosed player...McDonald's All-American last season and Michigan's Mr. Basketball...father, Dan, and brother, Dugan, both played at Michigan.
#53 TOM GEYER: A walk-on to the program who is now eligible to play after redshirting last season...played one minute vs. South Carolina and missed his only shot attempt...did not play vs. Seton Hall or Indiana State.
#30 WILLIAM GLADNESS: Indiana's top front court returnee...leads the team in minutes with 102...quick and active in the low post...recorded his first double-double of the year (and third of his career) with 16 points and a career-high 14 rebounds vs. Seton Hall...had a career-high 5 assists in that game as well...added a season-high 17 points and team-high 7 rebounds vs. South Carolina...season-low 9 points but did have 7 rebounds vs. ISU...second on the team with 6 steals and is shooting 50%.
#25 A.J. GUYTON: Season-low 7 points vs. ISU but did add 4 assists and 3 rebounds...he scored in single figures only 4 times last year...when that happened last season he came back to average 20.3 points per game in the four game following those single figure games...season-high 23 points (9 12 FGs, 3-4 3FGs) vs. Seton Hall to go along with 5 assists, a block and a steal...11 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists vs. USC...Preseason All American...good perimeter player who is as good driving to the basket as well as outside shooting.
#35 KIRK HASTON: Redshirted last season and has been a solid player off the bench along the frontline...career-highs of 18 points, 16 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 blocksvs. ISU...17 points, 8 rebounds in 27 minutes vs. Seton Hall...came back the next night to have 10 points and 5 rebounds vs. USC...a good passer, he has 7 assists this season...made 19 of 31 FGs and 7-9 FTs...leads team in rebounding (9.7) and FG% (.613) and is the the sqaud's second-leading scorer...Knight called him one of the most improved players last season as he spent the year practicing.
#32 KYLE HORNSBY: Underwent surgery on his right knee eight weeks ago and has yet to practice or play...good outside shooter who reminds many of former Hoosier Pat Graham...according to Indiana trainer deluxe Tim Garl, Hornsby is not expected to play tonight.
#12 LUKE JIMENEZ: Good outside shooter...excellent ball handler who has a knack for not turning the ball over...season-high 6 points, 2 rebounds vs. ISU...played a key role in IU's comeback in that game with his ballhandling and defense...played 16 minutes in the first two games but did not score...had 2 steals and an assist vs. SHU.
#24 MICHAEL LEWIS: Came off the bench in all three games...5 points, team-high 5 assists vs. ISU...on the floor as the Hoosiers made their comeback...had 4 points vs. SHU...registered 6 points (2-2 3FGs) vs. USC to go along with a team-high 5 assists and 3 rebounds...led the Hoosiers in assists last season with 150 which included a school record-tying 15 at Iowa.
#43 JARRAD ODLE: Played one minute vs. USC and missed only shot attempt...did have a rebound and a steal in the game...DNP vs. ISU.
#10 ANTWAAN RANDLE EL: Indiana's starting quarterback who will join the basketball team when football is over...should be a valuable addition to the team as the season progresses...as he has shown in football, he is quick, aggressive and a good leader...plays with a great deal of confidence in both sports.
#4 LUKE RECKER: Indiana's leading scorer (18.3)...season highs of 23 points, 7 rebounds vs. ISU...scored 15 points in the second half of that game as the Hoosiers came back to win...had 10 points and 3 rebounds and 3 assists vs. SHU...team-high 22 points, team-high tying 5 assists and another team-high 4 steals vs. USC...made 8-16 FGs and 3-6 3FGs vs. the Gamecocks...went to the free throw line 20 times in the two exhibition games and continued that trend by going 11-14 during the regular season (14 attempts ties for team lead)...hard-nosed player who is a crowd favorite among the Indiana faithful.
#33 LARRY RICHARDSON: Played 10 minutes in the first two games but did not play vs. ISU...did have an assist in 8 minutes vs. USC.
#23 ROB TURNER: Did not score in 3 minutes vs. ISU...1 point vs. SHU and 3 vs. USC...has made just 1-9 FGs and was 0-3 on 3's...did have 2 rebounds an assist and a steal vs. USC.
#44 LYNN WASHINGTON: Has come into the program and won a starting job
on the frontline...strong, physical player who is aggressive going to the
basket...played well in all three game...season-high 8 points vs. ISU in
14 minutes...4 points, 4 rebounds in just 15 minutes vs. SHU...had 7 points
and 6 rebounds (4 on the offensive end) vs. USC in 18 minutes...missed most
of the second half vs. SHU with an ankle injury but returned to start again
the next day vs. USC.
© Indiana University Athletics, 1998
