Lickliter expects teams to challenge surging sophomore Aaron Fuller

Iowa Coach Todd Lickliter expects opponents to challenge forward Aaron Fuller more often after the sophomore's recent success.

Fuller, who stands 6-foot-6, posted two consecutive games of 20 or more points and 10 rebounds last week and followed it up with a 13-point, nine-rebound performance at Michigan State on Wednesday.

"The one thing about it is three games in a row, he's played well," Lickliter said. "He's gotten to the glass. It's going to be a point of emphasis to get him off the glass.

"As we play these other teams, they're going to show edits of him. He's going to have to find a new determination or a heightened determination and find new ways to get to the glass. I think he can do it. He's going to have to do."

Fuller, who hails from Mesa, Ariz., bulked up by 20 pounds this offseason and increased his bench press from 220 to 280 pounds. He leads the Big Ten in offensive rebounds at 3.67 per conference game and is third in overall rebounds at 7.8. In conference play, he averages 11.7 points a game and 7.6 points overall.

Fuller suffered an ankle injury in the team's third game against Bowling Green. He missed two games and most of four others. He has started nine of Iowa's 19 games this year.