Nov. 25, 2009
- Purchase Iowa Men’s Basketball Tickets
- Download your Iowa Hawkeye iPhone app!
- Take the Hawkeyes With You: Iowa Podcasts
- Iowa and the Big Ten Network
- Big Ten Network: Free Hawkeye Video
- 24 Hawkeyes to Watch
Complete Release in PDF Format
THE SETTING
The Iowa Hawkeyes return home Saturday after a two-game road trip to Kansas City. Iowa (1-4) will entertain North Carolina Central (1-5) at 12:36 p.m. (CST) at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Tickets are $12 for adults and $5 for youths 18-and-under. Saturday starts a three-game home stand for the Hawkeyes. In fact seven of Iowa’s next nine games will be in Iowa City. Both Iowa and NC Central will be looking to snap losing streaks. The Hawkeyes have lost two straight (No. 3 Texas and Wichita State), while the Eagles have lost three consecutive (FIU, Murray State and James Madison).
ON THE AIR
Radio: Iowa games are broadcast on the Hawkeye Radio Network. Gary Dolphin handles the play-by-play, along with color commentator Bob Hansen. The network includes more than 40 stations that blanket the state of Iowa and include portions of Illinois, Nebraska, Minnesota, Missouri and Wisconsin. The Hawkeye Radio Network coverage includes a 60-minute pregame show.
Television: The Big Ten Network (HD) will televise Saturday afternoon’s game to a national cable audience. JB Long (play-by-play) and former Hawkeye Kenyon Murray (analyst) will call the action.
IOWA HISTORY
Iowa has played 2,477 games since beginning basketball in 1902. Overall Iowa’s record is 1,467-1,010 (.592). That includes a 926-322 (.742) record in home games, a 541-688 (.440) record in games away from Iowa City, a 695-690 (.502) mark in Big Ten games and a 332-96 (.776) record in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
IOWA IN CARVER-HAWKEYE ARENA
Iowa has compiled a 332-96 (.776) record in Carver-Hawkeye Arena since the facility opened in January, 1983. Iowa is 156-77 (.670) in Big Ten games and 176-19 (.903) in non-Big Ten games.
WICHITA STATE USES LONG BALL TO SINK HAWKEYES
Wichita State made 11 triples en route to a 74-57 win over Iowa in the consolation game of the CBE Classic Tuesday night at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, MO. For the game, the Shockers shot 52% (11-of-21) from behind the arc, including 8-of-12 (67%) the first 20 minutes. Iowa played only seven players and was led by point guard Cully Payne. The freshman netted a career-high 18 points, 13 of which came in the second stanza. Classmate Brennan Cougill matched a personal best with 11 points and also snagged four rebounds.
IOWA, WICHITA STATE FAST BREAKS
? Iowa had its best night of the season at the free throw line, sinking 16-of-20 (.800).
? Wichita State shot a blistering 57% (30-53) from the field.
? Iowa only collected five offensive rebounds against the Shockers, scoring six points on second chance opportunities.
? Iowa was only 5-of-18 (.278) from long distance. Cully Payne was a perfect 2-for-2.
? Aaron Fuller, who injured an ankle in Iowa’s game vs. Bowling Green (Nov. 20), did not play Tuesday night against Wichita State. It is hopeful he will return for Saturday’s contest.
PAYNE NAMED TO CBE CLASSIC ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Freshman Cully Payne was recognized on the CBE Classic All-Tournament team. The native of Schaumburg, IL, averaged 13 points, five assists and two rebounds in games against third-ranked Texas and Wichita State. Additionally, Payne brought the fans at the Sprint Center to their feet, sinking a 75-footer at the halftime buzzer to tie Texas, 38-38.
IOWA BREAKS SCHOOL RECORD
Iowa attempted a school-record 37 triples Monday night against No. 3 Texas, making 10. The 37 attempts breaks the previous mark of 36 (15 made) attempted against Long Island on Dec. 17, 1994. The school record for 3-point makes is 15, accomplished twice (15 vs. Long Island in 1994 and Northwestern in 1998).
BUSY START FOR HAWKEYES
The Iowa Hawkeyes will be a busy team the first couple weeks of the season. The Black and Gold play six games in 14 days to start the year.
ARCHIE SIDELINED AFTER SUSTAINING INJURY IN PRACTICE
Junior transfer Devon Archie is expected to be sidelined four-to-seven weeks after sustaining an injury to his left shoulder during Iowa’s second practice, Oct. 17. The 6-9, 215-pounder is expected to bolster the Hawkeye front court after playing the last two seasons at Vincennes Community College. A two-time team captain at Vincennes, he averaged 6.8 points, six rebounds and 1.3 blocked shots, starting 19 of 30 games last season as a sophomore.
HAWKEYES IMPROVE FREE THROW SHOOTING
Iowa was 37-of-58 (.638) from the free throw line its first four games, averaging 14 trips to the line. In its last contest, the Black and Gold was 16-of-20, shooting at an 80% clip. The Hawkeyes’ free-throw shooting performance, after Wichita State, improved to .679 for the season.
FRESHMEN MAKING IMMEDIATE IMPACT
Freshmen Brennan Cougill, Eric May and Cully Payne have made an immediate impact on the Hawkeyes. Cougill averages 7.6 points and four rebounds, starting the last three games. The native of Sioux City, IA, netted eight points, including a clutch 3-point play late in the contest vs. Duquesne to give Iowa a one-point lead. He followed up that performance with his first career start, amassing eight points and a game and personal-high eight rebounds vs. Bowling Green. He netted 11 points in each game at Kansas City against No. 3 Texas and Wichita State. May averages nine points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.6 assists. May tallied a team-high 13 points against UTSA, a game-high 16 points vs. Bowling Green and blocked a team-high two shots vs. Duquesne. The native of Dubuque, IA, made all four 3-point attempts in Iowa’s 22-point triumph over Bowling Green. May had nine points vs. Wichita State. Payne, who is Iowa’s first lefty point guard since Dean Oliver, averages eight points, four assists and 2.6 rebounds. The native of Schaumburg, IL, was honored on the CBE Classic All-Tournament team. He netted a personal-best 18 points vs. Wichita State in the tournament’s consolation game. He scored 12 points vs. UTSA and dished out a game-high six assists against Duquesne. He also collected four assists against Bowling Green and six helpers against No. 3 Texas.
THE RETURNING CAST
Iowa returns four starters and six lettermen from a year ago. The returning starters include senior guard Devan Bawinkel (6-5, 210), junior center Jarryd Cole (6-7, 250), sophomore forward Aaron Fuller (6-6, 210) and sophomore guard Matt Gatens (6-5, 215). Bawinkel started nine games as a junior, averaging 4.8 points and 1.6 rebounds. Cole also started nine games, averaging 3.7 points and 3.0 rebounds. Gatens started all 32 outings, averaging 10.8 points and 3.8 rebounds, shooting at a 40% clip from 3-point range. Additionally, Gatens was a Big Ten all-Freshman and collegehoops.net fourth team Freshman all-America honoree a year ago. Fuller started 19 games, averaging 4.0 points and 2.7 rebounds. The additional lettermen returning are sophomore guard Anthony Tucker (6-4, 200) and sophomore forward Andrew Brommer (6-9, 235). Tucker averaged 10.4 points and 3.0 rebounds in 14 games, while Brommer played in 20 games, averaging 1.2 points and 1.2 rebounds. Iowa’s returning players, last season, played 43.2% of all minutes in 32 games, scoring 41.3% of Iowa’s points and grabbing 35.6% of Iowa’s rebounds. The group also had 33.6% of the steals and 39.8% of the assists last season. They combined to shoot 40.3% from the field, 37.8% from 3-point range and 70.4% from the free throw line.
A YOUNG SQUAD
Iowa’s roster of 12 players includes four freshmen, one redshirt freshman, four sophomores, two juniors and one senior. The freshmen are forward Brennan Cougill (6-9, 260), guard/forward Eric May (6-5, 225), guard Nick Neari (6-2, 185) and guard Cully Payne (6-1, 190). The redshirt freshman is John Lickliter. The sophomores are Andrew Brommer, Aaron Fuller, Matt Gatens and Anthony Tucker. In addition, junior forward Devan Archie (6-9, 215) is in his first year at Iowa after attending a junior college in Indianapolis.
SCOUTING NC CENTRAL STATE
NC Central (NCCU) is an Independent school and enters Saturday’s game with a 1-5 overall record. The Eagles beat NC Wesleyan, but have lost to No. 4 North Carolina, Miami, FIU, Murray State and James Madison. NCCU averages 63.3 points per game, but has allowed 81.3 points. The Eagles’ opposition is shooting 53% (179-335) from the field. NCCU averaged 8.8 steals per game. The Eagles are led by junior guards C.J. Wilkerson, Vincent Davis and Michael Glasker. Wilkerson averages a team-best 16.3 points, bolstered by 33-of-39 (.846) shooting at the free throw line, 5.2 rebounds and 3.5 assists. Glasker averages 7.2 points and a team-best 3.67 assists. Glasker and Wilkerson combine for 43 of the team’s 74 assists. Davis ranks second in scoring (12.8) and rebounding (4.8). The Eagles lost their last game, Monday night (79-66) at James Madison. Wilkerson led all scorers with 21 points and also grabbed seven rebounds. James Madison shot 55% (29-53) from the field en route to victory. LeVelle Moton, who is a 1986 alum of NCCU, is in his first season as a collegiate head coach.
IOWA, NC CENTRAL TIP-INS
? Iowa is 9-1 all-time in games played on Nov. 28. West Virginia handed the Hawkeyes their lone setback on this date last season at the Las Vegas Invitational.
? NCCU’s 14-player roster consists of student-athletes who hail from eight different states. Four Eagle players are natives of North Carolina and three from Virginia. Other states represented include Connecticut, New York, Tennessee, Ohio, Texas and Georgia.
? Sophomores Matt Gatens and Anthony Tucker have struggled to find their 3-point shooting touch from a year ago. Last season, Gatens was 52-of-139 (.403), while Tucker was 51-of-139 (.367) from distance. This year, Gatens is 6-of-24 (.250) and Tucker is 10-of-40 (.250).
? After playing No. 3 Texas Monday night, Iowa has 12 more games against ranked opponents this season, according to the latest Associated Press poll (Nov. 23).
? Sophomore Matt Gatens missed his first free-throw attempt of the season vs. Wichita State. The sophomore is 15-of-16 (.938) from the charity stripe this season.
? Iowa started four underclassmen in its first five games: sophomores Anthony Tucker, Matt Gatens and freshman Cully Payne started all five contests. Sophomore Aaron Fuller started two (UTSA and Duquesne) and freshman Brennan Cougill started three (Bowling Green, Texas and Wichita State).
? Five of Iowa’s first seven games will be played on the ESPN family of networks.
ALL-TIME SERIES
Saturday will be the first meeting between NC Central and Iowa.
HAWKEYES ARE TOUGH AT HOME
Iowa has won 56 of its 71 games (.789) in Carver-Hawkeye Arena (15,500) over the last five seasons, including win streaks of 21 straight overall and 12 straight Big Ten Conference wins. Iowa has won 10 of its last 16 home games against ranked opponents and was 13-4 at home in 2008-09. Three of Iowa’s four home losses last year were to ranked opponents and by four points or less. Iowa was a perfect 17-0 at home in 2006, 14-2 in 2007, 10-8 in 2008 and 13-4 a year ago. Iowa has compiled a 24-10 Big Ten Conference record in that time.
YOUTHFUL HAWKEYES
Amongst Big Ten teams, the Iowa Hawkeyes have the fewest number of overall and conference game experience with its returning lettermen. Furthermore, Iowa, Indiana, Michigan and Michigan State have the second-most underclassmen (9) on their rosters, behind Purdue (11).
FIVE STATE CHAMPS
Iowa’s roster of 12 players includes five players who won state titles. Matt Gatens and John Lickliter won a state title for Iowa City HS in 2008. Eric May won a state title for Dubuque Wahlert HS in 2008. Brennan Cougill’s Bishop Heelan HS captured the state title in 2009, while Anthony Tucker won a state title his senior year at Minnetonka HS.
HAWKEYE SCHEDULE NOTES
? Iowa’s schedule includes 18 regular season home games.
? Thirteen of Iowa’s first 18 games will be played in the friendly confines of Carver-Hawkeye Arena, with two other contests being played on a neutral floor.
? The Black and Gold will play two of its three in-state rivalry games on the road, visiting Iowa State and Northern Iowa, while playing Drake at home. The Hawkeyes will also host a Big Ten/ACC Challenge game this season, facing Virginia Tech in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
? Within the Big Ten, the Hawkeyes play two games against four of the top six teams in the league a year ago. Iowa meets Penn State (home) and Wisconsin (away) just once. Iowa opens Big Ten play with four of five games at home, while it concludes the conference slate with three of four on the road. The Big Ten Tournament is held in Indianapolis.
? Iowa’s Big Ten opener vs. Purdue (Dec. 29) is its earliest conference opener since the 1952 season. That year the Hawkeyes opened with Michigan Dec. 13 in an 18-game league schedule.
? Iowa’s Big Ten slate includes four weekend home dates and five games during the week.
A LOOK AT THE SCHEDULE
Iowa’s schedule in 2009-10 includes a minimum of 31 games, with 18 of those games slated for Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The Hawkeyes opened the regular season by hosting UTSA (Nov. 15). The home schedule also includes dates with Virginia Tech (Dec. 1) and Drake (Dec. 19).
HAWKEYES IN ACC/BIG TEN CHALLENGE
Iowa will host Virginia Tech Dec. 1 (8:35 p.m. CT, ESPN2) as part of the 2009 ACC/Big Ten Challenge. All 11 games in the Challenge will be televised on ESPN, ESPN2 or ESPNU. Iowa is 2-6 in the Challenge after a narrow 57-55 defeat at Boston College last season. Iowa lost to Maryland, in Baltimore, in 2000, defeated Georgia Tech in 2001 in Iowa City, lost at Florida State in 2003 and lost to Duke, in Chicago, in 2002. Iowa did not take part in 2003-04 and 2004-05. The Hawkeyes beat NC State in 2005-06. Virginia Tech won the only previous meeting between the two programs, claiming a 69-65 victory in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge played in Blacksburg, VA on Nov. 29, 2006. Virginia Tech posted a 19-15 record in 2008, including a 7-9 mark in league play. The Hokies advanced to the second round of the NIT, ending the season with a loss to Baylor. Virginia Tech is coached by Seth Greenberg, who has posted a 107-85 record in six years at the school.
NO THREE-POINTERS
Since the 3-point shot became part of the college game, Iowa has played 14 games in which it has failed to make a 3-point attempt. Iowa had made at least one 3-point basket in 53-straight games before missing all five attempts in a 71-61 home win over Purdue in 2004. Iowa’s current streak includes at least one 3-point basket in 187 straight games.
POST-SEASON OPPONENTS
Twenty-two of Iowa’s 31 games during the regular season are against teams that advanced to post-season play last season. That includes 15 games against teams that participated in the NCAA Tournament. During the non-conference portion of the schedule Iowa will meet teams from the Big 12, ACC and Missouri Valley. Iowa will participate in the O’Reilly Auto Parts CBE Classic, challenging Texas and Wichita State, in Kansas City. Iowa, in 2008-09, played 22 of 32 games against teams that advanced to post-season play. That included 10 teams that advanced to the NCAA Tournament (3-12), three opponents who competed in the NIT (2-2) and three opponents who participated in the CBI Tournament (2-1).
IOWA ON THE BIG TEN NETWORK
The majority of Iowa games can be seen on the Big Ten Network, a national cable television network that now reaches over 70 million homes in its third year. The Big Ten Network is available on Mediacom, which provides cable service to over 400,000 customers throughout Iowa and the Midwest. The Big Ten Network has agreements with more than 250 affiliates, including DirectTV, Dish Network, AT&T U-Verse, Comcast, Cox, Insight, Time Warner Cable and Verizon FiOS.
IOWA ON THE TUBE
All 31 Iowa regular-season games this season are slated to be televised. The Hawkeyes will appear on the ESPN family of networks six times, 20 times on the Big Ten Network, three times on Mediacom Connections, and the Cyclone Television Network and Panther Sports Network once.
NATIONAL COACH OF THE YEAR
Iowa Coach Todd Lickliter was named the 2007 Division I national Coach of the Year by the National Basketball Coaches (NABC) after leading Butler to 29 wins and a spot in the NCAA Sweet Sixteen. Four current Big Ten Conference head coaches have earned national Coach of the Year honors.
STRENGTH OF THE BIG TEN
The Big Ten Conference has a league-best six teams ranked in the Associated Press top 25 and ranks second with five squads ranked in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches poll. In the AP, Michigan State is ranked second, followed by Purdue (6), Michigan (15), Ohio State (17), Illinois (20) and Minnesota (22). In the Coaches poll, Michigan State ranks second, followed by Purdue (6), Michigan (15), Minnesota (16), Ohio State (18) and Illinois (21).
IOWA IN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT
Iowa made its 22nd appearance in the NCAA Tournament in 2006. Iowa earned the Big Ten Conference’s automatic bid by virtue of claiming the league’s tournament title. The Hawkeyes hold an overall record of 27-24 in the tournament, advancing to the Final Four in 1955 (fourth), 1956 (second) and 1980 (fourth). Iowa reached the regional championship in 1987 and lost in the regional semi-final in 1988 and 1999.
“HAWK TALK WITH Todd Lickliter”
University of Iowa basketball fans may join Iowa Coach Todd Lickliter and radio announcer Gary Dolphin during the season for the “Hawk Talk with Todd Lickliter” radio call-in show. The show takes place each week at Carlos O’Kelly’s Mexican Cafe in Iowa City from 7-8:30 p.m. The tentative dates are: Nov. 30, Dec. 9, Dec. 14, Dec. 28, Jan. 6, Jan. 11, Jan. 18, Jan. 25, Feb. 1, Feb. 8, Feb. 15, Feb. 22, March 1 and March 8.
TICKETS ON SALE FOR 2009-10
Fans interested in obtaining men’s basketball tickets can do so at the UI Athletic Ticket Office, located in Carver-Hawkeye Arena, by calling the ticket office at 1-800-IA-HAWKS or by visiting the UI website at hawkeyesports.com. Season tickets are available for 2009-10, including general public ($278), UI faculty and staff ($238) and UI students ($80, includes two games free). General public single-game tickets are also on sale ranging from $12, $20, or $25 depending on the game desired. UI student single-game tickets are $15 the day of the game only (if available). The “Weekday” package includes Iowa’s games against Virginia Tech (Dec. 1) in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge, Purdue (Dec. 29), Ohio State (Jan. 27), Illinois (Feb. 3), Northwestern (Feb. 10) and Michigan (Feb. 16). The cost of this package per ticket is $90 and includes the choice of a free ticket to Iowa’s game against Duquesne (Nov. 17) or South Carolina State (Dec. 21). The “Weekend” package includes the Hawkeyes’ games with Drake (Dec. 19), Minnesota (Jan. 2), Michigan State (Jan. 9), Penn State (Jan. 16) and Indiana (Feb. 18). That package costs $120 per ticket and includes a free ticket to the Hawkeyes’ game with Texas-San Antonio (Nov. 15), North Carolina Central (Nov. 28) or Prairie View A&M (Dec. 5). Discounted tickets to select home games, earmarked for purchase by groups of 20 or more, are also available for purchase. For more information about group ticket packages, fans should call the UI Sports Marketing Office at (319) 335-9431.
FORMER UI STANDOUT GIVES $100,000 FOR CHA RENOVATION
Ronnie Lester, former All-American basketball player at the University of Iowa, has made a $100,000 gift to the UI Foundation to support the Carver-Hawkeye Arena Enhancements Campaign. The assistant general manager of the Los Angeles Lakers, Lester is a member of the committee that is leading the fundraising effort to upgrade the 26-year-old facility. At the request of Lester, the UI Department of Intercollegiate Athletics will name the training room at the remodeled Carver-Hawkeye Arena in honor of longtime UI athletic trainer John Streif. Streif, of Iowa City, and Lester, of Manhattan Beach, Calif., have been close friends since Lester’s playing days as an Iowa Hawkeye, beginning in the mid-1970s. “John Streif has been a terrific friend to me for more than 30 years. He has worked tirelessly to support me and numerous other athletes for over four decades now,” said Lester, a 1981 UI graduate who was a member of the Hawkeye men’s basketball team from 1977 to 1980. “His dedication to the Hawkeyes is legendary, and I’m honored to name the training room for him. “As a member of the Carver-Hawkeye Arena campaign committee, I am pleased to step forward to make this gift,” Lester continued. “Coach Lickliter has the program moving in the right direction, and I want to do my part to help this important project.” The goal of the Carver-Hawkeye Arena Enhancements Campaign is to raise at least $20 million to modernize the current facility, according to UI Director of Athletics Gary Barta. No state funding will be used for the project. “We are thrilled to receive this gift from Ronnie Lester. He is one of the all-time great basketball players at Iowa,” said Barta. “It’s always special to see former student-athletes reach back and support the Hawks. On top of his generosity, it is terrific that Ronnie has chosen to honor John Streif. I can’t think of anyone more deserving.”
ALL-SESSION BIG TEN TOURNAMENT TICKETS ON SALE NOW
All-session tickets for the 2010 Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament is on sale to the general public. Tickets can be purchased at the UI Athletic Ticket Office, Conseco Fieldhouse box office, Ticketmaster outlets, ticketmaster.com or by calling Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000. Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis is the site of the men’s tournament from March 11-14. For the men’s basketball tournament, all-session tickets for the lower and club level are available for $275 through the 11 Big Ten universities only. All-session tickets for the upper level are available for $220 or $165 (depending on seat location) through Ticketmaster or the Conseco Fieldhouse box office only. Orders will be limited to 12 all-session tickets. In addition, the men’s basketball tournament for the first time will also feature a special discounted rate of $50 for all-session tickets available only to students of the 11 Big Ten universities. Student section seating will be available in eight balcony sections and orders will be limited to four all-session tickets. The Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament will call Indianapolis and Conseco Fieldhouse home through 2012. The 2010 tournament marks the sixth time Indianapolis has hosted the Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament at Conseco Fieldhouse.
ON THE HORIZON
Iowa returns to action next Tuesday when it hosts Virginia Tech in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge. Tip-off is scheduled for 8:35 p.m. in Carver-Hawkeye Arena. UI students are admitted free for Tuesday’s clash.