A genuine sellout for Iowa basketball is a possibility

IOWA CITY -- It's the perfect storm without an actual accompanying storm.

The early January weather has been delightful. The team is on a surprising two-game win streak. The opponent is the best the Big Ten has to offer, sixth-ranked Ohio State.

It all spells sellout, or the next-closest thing, Saturday afternoon when Iowa's men's basketball team hosts the Buckeyes at 2:06 p.m. And that's with school not being in session.

As of Friday morning, 1,400 tickets remained for the game, and just 4,000 for Saturday night's Oklahoma State-Iowa wrestling showdown in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

On may way out of Carver Friday afternoon, I spoke with a concessionaire who was stocking his stand.

"It's been a while since this place has been rocking," he said.

Iowa Coach Fran McCaffery held a press conference Friday. I asked him if he had any concerns about his team being two psyched up for this game, being at home in front of a loud, appreciative crowd.

"We'll be revved up, that's for sure," McCaffery said. "Sometimes, you know, you quick shoot the ball a little bit. You put your head down and go. But, you know, I look more on, we talked about the defensive side, I think our defensive intensity and focus and concentration with the energy in the building will certainly be at its peak.

"Offensively we may have to settle down here or there."

It's a nice "problem" to have, no?

I'll be at Carver all day Saturday, for the basketball and then the college wrestling dual meet of the year. Check back here during the day for new posts, photos, videos, the whole nine yards. Or 94 feet, as it were.