With his team struggling in Big Ten play, Iowa coach Steve Alford said Friday it might be time for some changes.
Alford didn’t say exactly what he would do but hinted strongly he would change his starting lineup for Saturday’s home game with Indiana.
The Iowa coach was upset with his team’s poor decision-making in a 75-74 overtime loss at Northwestern on Wednesday night. The Hawkeyes blew a 12-point lead in the final 2 minutes 47 seconds of regulation.
“I don’t think there will be any major changes, but when you have a meltdown like that, there’s got to be some consequences,” Alford said.
The most likely change would be at center, where 6-foot-11-inch Erek Hansen has been ineffective.
Hansen’s likely replacement would be 6-8 Doug Thomas, who had 10 rebounds Wednesday night but scored only two points and missed two dunks.
Nose for the ball
Forward Chuck Hayes will start for seventh-ranked Kentucky at Arkansas four days after breaking his nose in a victory over Tennessee.
Hayes, who has started 93 straight games for Kentucky, has worn a protective mask during practices.
Kentucky coach Tubby Smith said Hayes, averaging 11 points and 9.1 rebounds, was “a little sore and a little uncomfortable” during practice on Thursday. Smith said he didn’t know how long Hayes would wear the mask but that it shouldn’t adversely affect his performance.
Name game
The Southeast Missouri State Indians were a snakebitten 6-10 team this season. Now, the new, politically correct Southeast Missouri State Redhawks are unbeaten.
Sure, it’s only been two games. But since the school shed its old nickname last week, fortunes have been looking up.
“We’re undefeated so far,” athletic director Don Kaverman said. “We just hope it continues.”
