Iowa hoops likely to get national TV spotlight

CHICAGO -- It appears Big Ten officials and their television counterparts believe Iowa basketball has a product worthy of the spotlight.

Mark Rudner, the league's senior associate commissioner for television administration, said Iowa likely will land games on both CBS and ESPN this winter. Rudner expects to complete the schedule by Aug. 11 and then turn over rough drafts to the schools. The league schedule then will be released in late August or September.

The Hawkeyes have a bullish schedule with several potential made-for-TV Big Ten opportunities. Iowa faces 2013 NCAA contestants Michigan, Michigan State, Wisconsin, Ohio State, Minnesota and Illinois home and away. There's also a single game at defending league champion Indiana. In non-conference play, Iowa faces NCAA squads Iowa State (road) and Notre Dame (home).

The Hawkeyes finished 25-13 last year -- 9-9 in the Big Ten -- and second in the NIT.

When the league expands to 14 teams beginning with the 2014-15 season, the Big Ten tournament also will expand to 14 schools. The first two games featuring seeds 11 vs. 14 and 12 vs. 13 will be held on Wednesday. The tournament will then transition into its traditional format of four games on Thursday, four games on Friday, two semifinals on Saturday and the championship on Sunday.