Iowa hosts Purdue in Big Ten opener

Iowa opens the Big Ten season at home tonight against Purdue. The Hawkeyes have won their last seven conference openers but will be hard pressed to extend that streak against the 10-3 Boilermakers. Iowa coach Steve Alford says Boilermaker senior guard Kenneth Lowe is one of the top players in the Big Ten. After racing out to a 6-0 start the Hawkeyes have dropped three of their last four games. Despite their struggles as of late Alford feels good about their chances in the league race. He says it’s not time to panic, as he says they’ve lost to a 12-3 Texas Tech Team and a Missouri team that could win the Big 12. The last time Iowa lost a Big Ten opener was to Purdue back in 1996.Purdue coach Gene Keady says he expects to face a motivated Hawkeye team after a lopsided loss at Missouri. Keady says his team’s main focus is to try and win some road games and take care of business at home.