Hawkeyes getting into season shape

You know college basketball is just around the corner when... teams start playing exhibition games! Iowa hopes to avoid "pulling a Syracuse" when it hosts Marian (Ind.) in Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Sunday at 12:35 p.m. Go here to read about head coach Todd Lickliter's press conference where he talked about the importance of playing these preseason games.

The Hawkeyes most likely will go with a starting lineup of freshman Cully Payne at point guard, sophomores Anthony Tucker and Matt Gatens on the wings, sophomore Aaron Fuller at the 4 and junior co-captain Jarryd Cole at the low post.

This might be the deepest squad Lickliter has had heading into his third year with the program. His bench will offer players with experience such as senior co-captain Devan Bawinkel, sophomore forward Andrew Brommer, junior college transfer Devon Archie and redshirt freshman John Lickliter. Also as Lickliter's disposal will be a slew of young and talented freshmen like Cully Payne, Eric May, Brennan Cougill and Nick Neari. If these freshman can show that they are game-ready, things will be looking good for the Hawkeyes.

Since the 1999-2000 season, Iowa is 15-1 in exhibition games with a 79-76 loss to the Harlem Globetrotters in 2002 its only blemish. Marian is certainly capable of an upset though, as it returns its top seven scorers from a team that finished 11-15 last season. And in today's age of parity in college basketball, we all know the consequences of looking past an opponent (see: Syracuse Orange).

Today, the Hawkeyes are actually holding a close scrimmage with University of Illinois at Springfield for just another chance to prepare themselves for the start of non-conference play and what looks to be a brutal Big Ten schedule.

Photo from Hawkeyesports.com.