In what may be the best gymnastics action of the year next to the NCAAs in April, the No. 2 men's team hosts the No. 8 Hawkeyes of Iowa at 8 tomorrow night in Rec Hall.

The Lions dropped to the second position in the rankings this week, five-tenths of a point behind new No. 1, Oklahoma. After last week's defeat at Ohio State, Coach Karl Schier felt the close score, 281-279.15, was a moral victory on an away floor and he looks for the team to rebound against a team with similar ability.

"Iowa, along with us, Minnesota and Ohio State are probably the four teams most likely to go to nationals from the East," Schier said. "In terms of our home meets, this will be a millenium of difference from the competition we have seen in the past."

Iowa is coming off a one-tenth of a point home loss to Minnesota last week and brings a balanced team led by all-arounder Chris Kabat. Kabat is ranked first nationally on the high bar with a 9.73 average. The team also features seven members who are ranked nationally on the six events and the all-around; the Lions boast six.

Mark Sohn, the nation's No. 1 pommel horse performer, faces a challenge from the Hawkeyes' Rich Frye, who was ranked sixth last week on the event.

"I'm sure they are gearing up for this meet," Sohn said. "But we want to make sure we go out and do a good job and I think we'll be set for the meet."

Schier said he will probably go with more than a nine-man lineup because his primary goal is to defeat Iowa. Although wins and losses don't really affect who goes to regionals and nationals, Schier said they can offer important indicators and psychological boosts.

Some new faces may pop into the lineup with Brad Rocklein performing on high bar and Blas Falconer possibly going on the vault. Rocklein will be replacing Jacob Wan who left the team this week. Wan cited personal reasons and a chance to concentrate on academics as his reasons for leaving.

"Jacob just had a change of goals and he wants to stress academics more," Schier said. "He certainly doesn't leave the team with any hard feelings from us."

Falconer could get his first competition of the year but he said he's happy that it would be on the home floor.

"I'm kind of nervous because, if I compete, this would be my first meet. But I just want to go out and help the team."

Schier has been shifiting the lineup to find the right nine-man mix. Specialists Rich Briggs (rings), Dave Riordan (vault) and now Falconer and Rocklein are being juggled in. The team can also expect the return of freshman Tabor Cowden. Cowden can perform on every event and has been out with a dislocated thumb since the Syracuse meet at the beginning of the season.

"I think we'll probably go more than nine men because we'll really go after Iowa because we don't want to lose at home," Schier said.

As the NCAAs get closer, it will be more important for Schier to settle on a nine-man lineup and what routines to use. He said he hopes that by the trips to BYU and UCLA over spring break the lineup will be close to set.