Hawks hoping for Cinderella season

By LUKE MEREDITH AP Sports Writer

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IOWA CITY, Iowa – Iowa coach Todd Lickliter knows the Hawkeyes have been picked to occupy the Big Ten basement this season.

The eternally optimistic coach, however, is choosing instead to think of a story about a down-and-out thoroughbred that defied the odds.

“The movie ‘Seabiscuit’ comes to mind,” Lickliter said. “What a talented, talented horse. But he wasn’t chosen to win like he did, and that made it special.”

Four Iowa players transferred last spring, including starting point guard Jeff Peterson and emerging star Jake Kelly.

Iowa’s fortunes will depend in large part on promising sophomores Matt Gatens and Anthony Tucker.

Gatens made the league’s all-freshman team, averaging 10.4 points and 40.3 percent from 3-point range.

Tucker, a guard, opened last season on fire before an alcohol suspension and an academic one cut his freshman season short. Tucker averaged 10.4 points last season and shot 42.7 percent from 3-point range.

The point guard job will likely go to true freshman Cully Payne, a first-team all-state pick last season from Schaumburg.

Iowa’s frontcourt is where the questions marks really begin.

Junior forward Jarryd Cole, now completely healthy after an ACL tear in a knee derailed his freshman season and hampered him last year, will be looked upon to give the Hawkeyes a bruising presence in the paint.

Iowa’s average home attendance has dipped below 11,000 during Lickliter’s tenure. Of course, Seabiscuit wasn’t much of a draw either – until he started winning races.

“I think that we’ve got the talent and we’ve got the philosophy,” Lickliter said. “There is enjoyment, I think, in possibly proving the predictors wrong.”