Nov. 30, 2009
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Complete Release in PDF Format
THE SETTING
The Iowa Hawkeyes (2-4) remain home this week to host Virginia Tech (4-1) Tuesday as part of the 2009 ACC/Big Ten Challenge. Tip-off is slated for 8:35 p.m. (CST) inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Tickets are $20 for adults, $5 for youths 18-and-under, while UI students are free.
HAWKEYES IN ACC/BIG TEN CHALLENGE
Iowa is 2-6 all-time in the Challenge after being edged at Boston College, 57-55, last season. Virginia Tech is 1-3 in the Challenge, also with a two-point loss a year ago, 74-72, to Wisconsin in Blacksburg, VA. Tuesday will be the second meeting between Iowa and Virginia Tech in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge, with the Hokies winning the first clash (69-65).
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. Hawkeye fans can also listen to game on XM Channel 191 and Sirius Channel 216.
Television: ESPN2 (HD) will televise Tuesday night’s game to a national cable audience. Bob Wischusen (play-by-play) and Stephen Bardo (analyst) will call the action.
IOWA HISTORY
Iowa has played 2,478 games since beginning basketball in 1902. Overall Iowa’s record is 1,468-1,010 (.592). That includes a 927-322 (.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 333-96 (.776) record in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
IOWA IN CARVER-HAWKEYE ARENA
Iowa has compiled a 333-96 (.776) record in Carver-Hawkeye Arena since the facility opened in January, 1983. Iowa is 156-77 (.670) in Big Ten games and 177-19 (.903) in non-Big Ten games.
BUSY START FOR HAWKEYES
The Iowa Hawkeyes will be a busy team the first three weeks of the season. The Black and Gold play seven games in 17 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.
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 last week in Kansas City, MO. 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.
HAWKEYES TOP NC CENTRAL BY 10 POINTS
Strong rebounding and free throw shooting enabled the Hawkeyes to record a 73-63 triumph over North Carolina Central Saturday at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Iowa outrebounded the Eagles by 21 (43-22) and shot 78% (14-18) from the free throw line en route to its second victory of the year. The +21 rebounding margin matches the largest under Coach Todd Lickliter since a win at Northern Iowa in 2007. Junior center Jarryd Cole and sophomore guard Matt Gatens led Iowa against NC Central. Cole collected his second career double-double, netting a career-high 24 points (10-13 FG, 4-4 FT) and snagging a game-high 10 rebounds. Gatens contributed 16 points, seven rebounds and four assists.
IOWA, NC CENTRAL FAST BREAKS
? Twenty-three of Iowa’s 28 field goals against NC Central came in the paint, a season best. The Hawkeyes shot a season-best 50% (28-of-56) from the field, including 58% (19-of-33) in the second half.
? Iowa converted a season-high 15 offensive rebounds into 20 points; outscoring the Eagles 20-4 in second-chance opportunities. The Hawkeye defense only yielded six offensive boards, which equaled a season low by a Hawkeye opponent (UTSA).
? Freshman Brennan Cougill grabbed a season-high nine rebounds to go along with nine points in his fourth career start.
? Sophomore guard Anthony Tucker secured a season-high eight rebounds to go along with four points and four assists.
? Iowa shot a season-low 3-of-20 (.150) from long distance.
? For the second straight game, Iowa played seven players. Aaron Fuller, who injured an ankle in Iowa’s game vs. Bowling Green (Nov. 20), did not play against Wichita State or NC Central. It is hopeful he will return for Tuesday’s contest vs. Virginia Tech. The sophomore played only one minute in the game against No. 3 Texas (Nov. 23).
LICKLITER AFTER THE GAME
“The good news is we had 18 assists, but the bad news is we had 16 turnovers. I really thought NC Central did a good job, they drove it at us, spaced well, extended the floor and caused us problems. They did a good job; they shot it better than we did. We were 14-for-18 from the line and that is really nice. And we had 15 offensive rebounds. I do think we need more prosperity so we know how to handle it. We’ve been up in a couple of games and I didn’t feel we were very effective with the lead. I would like to get the lead a few more games and practice doing a better job with it. It’s good to be back at Carver and to get a win. I thought we found Jarryd inside, Brennan Cougill is a great interior passer and that was big. I’ve been saying all along that we need to go inside more, and we were effective in there. When we got to the line, we made them. Maybe someday the threes will drop, it will all be clicking, and we will be playing very good offense.”
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.
ALL-TIME SERIES
Tuesday will be only the second meeting between Virginia Tech and Iowa. The two teams met in Blacksburg, VA, in the 2006 Big Ten/ACC Challenge. The Hokies edged the Hawkeyes, 69-65.
SCOUTING VIRGINIA TECH
Virginia Tech flew to Iowa City Sunday after competing in the Philly Hoop Group Classic in Philadelphia, PA, Friday and Saturday. The Hokies lost the opener of the tournament to Temple (61-50), before rebounding to beat Delaware (74-66) in overtime. In its last win, guard Malcolm Delaney poured in a game-high 24 points, including the first five points of overtime. The preseason All-ACC guard was 9-of-12 from the free throw line and 6-of-15 from the field, including 3-of-8 from behind the arc. The Hokies only turned the ball over nine times and amassed 22 offensive rebounds en route to victory. Delaney averages a team-best 21.8 points and 3.6 assists. The junior is the Hokies main 3-point threat, sinking 13-of-29 (.333) from distance. Delaney has also done a good job at the free throw line, making 36-of-43 attempts (84%). No other Hokie has more than three triples and 15 free-throw attempts. Junior forward Jeff Allen ranks second in team scoring (12.0) and first in rebounding (8.6). Virginia Tech averages 64.6 points, 37.2 rebounds, 11.6 assists and 6.8 assists per contest. The Hokies posted a 19-15 record in 2008, including a 7-9 mark in league play. Virginia Tech advanced to the second round of the NIT, ending the season with a loss to Baylor. The Hokies are coached by Seth Greenberg, who has posted a 111-86 (.563) record in seven years at the school. Greenberg’s overall record stands at 324-256 (.559).
STAT OF THE WEEK
Iowa is a staggering 30-0 all-time in games played on Dec. 1.
IOWA, VIRGINIA TECH TIP-INS
? Six of Iowa’s next eight games will be in Iowa City.
? Virginia Tech’s probable starting lineup consists of four juniors and a sophomore. Iowa’s probable lineup consists of two sophomores, two freshmen and a junior.
? Both Iowa and Virginia Tech are struggling from 3-point range this season. The Hokies are shooting 29% (24-82), while the Hawkeyes are 27% (41-154) from distance.
? Virginia Tech’s 13-player roster consists of student-athletes who hail from five different states, plus Puerto Rico. Five Hokies are natives of Virginia, two are from North Carolina, Georgia and Maryland and one from Florida.
? Virginia Tech is slated to play another Big Ten team, Penn State, Dec. 12 in University Park, PA.
? 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 8-of-30 (.267) and Tucker is 10-of-44 (.227).
? After playing No. 3 Texas (Nov. 24), Iowa has 12 more contests 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 (Nov. 23). The sophomore is 15-of-16 (.938) from the charity stripe this season.
? Five of Iowa’s first seven games will be played on the ESPN family of networks.
IOWA BREAKS SCHOOL RECORD
Iowa attempted a school-record 37 triples against No. 3 Texas (Nov. 23), 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).
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 two contests, the Black and Gold was a combined 30-of-38, shooting at a 79% clip.
HAWKEYES ARE TOUGH AT HOME
Iowa has won 57 of its 72 games (.792) 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.
HAWKEYES IN BIG TEN RANKINGS
Jarryd Cole ranks 11th in Big Ten rebounding (6.7), Cully Payne ranks seventh in assists (4.0), Matt Gatens ranks first in free throw percentage (.938, 15-of-16), third in minutes played (35.33) and 27th in scoring (11.2), and Brennan Cougill ranks fifth in offensive rebounds (2.67). As a team, Iowa ranks first in rebounds allowed (31.2) and fifth in rebounding margin (+2.5).
FRESHMEN MAKING IMMEDIATE IMPACT
Freshmen Brennan Cougill, Eric May and Cully Payne have made an immediate impact on the team. Forty-two percentage of Iowa’s offense has been generated by the freshmen trio. Cougill averages 9.8 points and 6.3 rebounds, in the last four games starting at the power forward position. 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. Cougill had nine points and nine rebounds vs. NC Central. May averages nine points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.7 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 8.5 points, four assists and 2.5 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. Payne contributed 11 points and four assists vs. NC Central.
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.
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). Below is a list charting the Big Ten teams entering the 2009-10 season.
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
? The four team’s Iowa has lost to boasts a combined record of 19-3. No. 3 Texas is 5-0, followed by Texas-San Antonio (5-1), Duquesne (5-1) and Wichita State (4-1).
? 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).
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 188 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.”
ON THE HORIZON
Iowa concludes its three-game home stand Saturday when it hosts Prairie View A&M. Tip-off is slated for 3:05 p.m. inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The Hawkeyes will play two in-state road contests next week: at Northern Iowa (Dec. 8) and Iowa State (Dec. 11).