Dec. 3, 2009
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- 24 Hawkeyes to Watch
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THE SETTING
The Iowa Hawkeyes (2-5) remain home to host Prairie View A&M (3-3) Saturday. Tip-off is slated for 3:05 p.m. at Carver-Hawkeye Arena (15,500). Tickets are $12 for adults and $5 for youths 18-and-under. Both Iowa and Prairie View A&M will look to rebound for losses earlier this week. The Hawkeyes lost to Virginia Tech (70-64), while the Panthers fell to Texas A&M (84-59).
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: Mediacom Connections will televise Saturday afternoon’s contest on the Mediacom cable network throughout the state of Iowa. Streaming video of the game can be viewed via the Big Ten Network website, bigttennetwork.com. The cost to watch the game online is $2.99. Rob Brooks and McCausland will call the action.
IOWA HISTORY
Iowa has played 2,479 games since beginning basketball in 1902. Overall Iowa’s record is 1,468-1,011 (.592). That includes a 927-323 (.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 333-97 (.774) record in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
IOWA IN CARVER-HAWKEYE ARENA
Iowa has compiled a 333-97 (.774) record in Carver-Hawkeye Arena since the facility opened in January, 1983. Iowa is 156-77 (.670) in Big Ten games and 177-20 (.898) in non-Big Ten games.
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. Archie is out of a sling and has begun limited non-contact drills in practice. 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.
VIRGINIA TECH TOPS IOWA IN BIG TEN/ACC CHALLENGE
Virginia Tech outscored Iowa 17-10 the last 6:16 to escape with a 70-64 win over the Iowa Hawkeyes Tuesday in Iowa City. Iowa took a one-point lead (54-53) with 6:27 left in the game, but when the Hokies needed buckets down the stretch they pounded the ball inside and converted high-percentage shots. Virginia Tech outscored the Hawkeyes 38-18 in the paint. Although the Black and Gold only turned the ball over a season-low 11 times, Virginia Tech converted eight of those Hawkeye miscues into 16 points. The Hokies had only five turnovers. Pacing the Hawkeyes was sophomore guard Anthony Tucker and junior center Jarryd Cole. Tucker matched a career-high 24 points, bolstered by a season-best six triples, one shy of a personal best. Cole collected 10 points and five rebounds. Sophomore Matt Gatens contributed six points, seven assists and a game-high six rebounds. Iowa was able to regain its shooting touch from the perimeter, sinking a season-best 12 treys, to only four for Virginia Tech.
IOWA, VIRGINIA TECH FAST BREAKS
? Iowa amassed a season-high 19 assists. Seven of the eight Hawkeyes who played recorded at least one assist, including five who dished out multiple assists.
? Sophomore forward Aaron Fuller, who injured his left ankle in Iowa’s win over Bowling Green (Nov. 20), is gradually getting more minutes. Fuller played three minutes against the Hokies, grabbing one defensive rebound.
? For the second game this season, Iowa shot 80% from the foul line. The Hawkeyes were 8-of-10 from the charity stripe.
? Devan Bawinkel made two 3-pointers (2-of-3). The senior guard has drained multiple triples in three contests this season (Bowling Green, Texas and Virginia Tech).
LICKLITER AFTER THE GAME
“We played a well-coached team. I’ve always been impressed with Seth’s teams and have the utmost respect. His team that went to postseason play last year was a bubble team. They went to postseason play in the NIT and advanced; I think they were mostly juniors. That was a good team. I’m not into moral victories, I want to win. We had them down one late, and just couldn’t get a couple of back-to-back plays. My thing with this team has been improvement and to continue to grow and accept tough situations. We are going to have plenty of tough situations this season. This is a great group of guys. They play the game the right way and if they keep doing it, not by luck, they are going to make things happen. This is really a fun team to coach and I’m really disappointed for them. They’ve worked hard.”
BALANCED SCORING
Iowa has three players who have each led the team in scoring twice this season. Jarryd Cole (Texas and NC Central), Anthony Tucker (Duquesne and Virginia Tech) and Eric May (UTSA and Bowling Green). Additionally, Matt Gatens, Cully Payne and Tucker have each reached double figures in three contests.
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
Saturday will be the first meeting between Iowa and Prairie View A&M.
SCOUTING PRAIRIE VIEW A&M
Prairie View A&M is in the middle of a three-game road trip. The Panthers lost at Texas A&M (84-59) Wednesday night, travel to Iowa Saturday and play at Air Force on Dec. 8. Panther victories this season have come over Schreiner (91-47), Florida Gulf Coast (69-54) and Champion Baptist (101-38). The Panthers are led by senior forward Darnell Hugee and sophomore guard Michael Griffin. Hugee averages a team-best 13.0 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.8 blocks. Griffin averages 11.7 points and three assists. Senior guard Christopher Jones started the first three games before going down with a foot injury. He is questionable for Saturday’s contest against the Hawkeyes. Before the injury, Jones was averaging 7.7 points and a team-best 8.3 assists. Prairie View A&M averages 73.3 points per game and shoots 42% from the field. The Panthers have struggled from the foul line, shooting only 58% (44-76). Prairie View A&M returns seven lettermen, including four starters from a team that went 17-16 a year ago. Twelve of its 17 victories were in SWAC play, where the Panthers finished third. Hugee and Jones averaged 12 points and 9.1 points per contest, respectively in 2008-09. The Panthers are coached by Byron Rimm II, who has posted a 36-63 (.364) record in four years at the school. Rimm’s overall record stands at 80-99 (.447). Saturday will be Rimm’s 100th game as Prairie View A&M’s head coach.
IOWA, PRAIRIE VIEW A&M TIP-INS
? Iowa is 16-4 all-time on games played on Dec. 5.
? Five of Iowa’s next seven games will be in Iowa City.
? Prairie View A&M’s 14-player roster consists of student-athletes who hail from five different states. Eight Panthers are Texas natives, three are from California, and one from Florida, Illinois and New York.
? The five team’s Iowa has lost to boasts a combined record of 26-5. No. 3 Texas is 5-0, followed by Texas-San Antonio (6-1), Duquesne (5-2), Virginia Tech (5-1), Wichita State (5-1).
? Iowa ranks sixth in the nation in fewest fouls per contest, averaging 13.7.
? Iowa entered its last contest vs. Virginia Tech shooting 27% from long distance. The Hawkeyes came out firing against the Hokies, making 44% of its 3-point attempts.
? 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-33 (.242) and Tucker is 16-of-58 (.276).
? Anthony Tucker raised his scoring average 2.2 points after matching his career high with 24 points against Virginia Tech. Prior to playing the Hokies, Tucker averaged 8.8 points. The junior is now averaging 11.0 points per contest.
? Prairie View A&M’s women’s basketball team competed in Carver-Hawkeye Arena last March, falling to Oklahoma in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
? Saturday concludes a stretch of playing six-of-eight home games to start the season for the Hawkeyes.
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 three contests, the Black and Gold was a combined 38-of-48, shooting 79%. Sophomore Matt Gatens is 19-of-20 (.950) from the charity stripe this season. His only miss came against Wichita State (Nov. 24). The Iowa City native ranks first in the Big Ten and tied for 13th nationally in free throw percentage.
BIG TEN/ACC CHALLENGE RECAP
The Big Ten Conference captured its first Big Ten/ACC Challenge this year, winning six of the 11 competitions. Boston College, Miami, North Carolina, Maryland and Virginia Tech earned victories for the ACC Conference. Illinois, Wisconsin, Ohio State, Penn State, Northwestern and Purdue captured wins for the Big Ten.
HAWKEYES ARE TOUGH AT HOME
Iowa has won 57 of its 73 games (.781) 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 fourth in Big Ten field goal percentage (.643, 27-of-42) and 13th in Big Ten rebounding (6.4), Cully Payne ranks eighth in assists (3.86), Matt Gatens ranks first in free throw percentage (.950, 19-of-20) and third in minutes played (35.57), and Anthony Tucker ranks fourth in 3-pointers made (2.29) and 27th in scoring (11.0). As a team, Iowa ranks second in rebounds allowed (31.6), fourth in 3-pointers made (7.57) and sixth in free throw percentage (.708).
BALANCED 3-POINT ATTACK
Every Hawkeye on this year’s team is comfortable shooting the three. Iowa runs an eight-player rotation and all eight have attempted 3-pointers, with seven of the eight making at least one. Anthony Tucker leads the team with 16, followed by Cully Payne (10), Matt Gatens (8), Devan Bawinkel (8), Eric May (6), Brennan Cougill (4) and Jarrd Cole (1).
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 189 straight games.
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.
FRESHMEN MAKING IMMEDIATE IMPACT
Freshmen Brennan Cougill, Eric May and Cully Payne have made an immediate impact on the team. Forty percentage of Iowa’s offense has been generated by the freshmen trio. Cougill averages 9.2 points and 5.4 rebounds, in the last five 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 8.1 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.9 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 8.4 points, 3.9 assists and 2.7 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. He had eight points, four rebounds and three assists vs. Virginia Tech.
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).
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).
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.
“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: Dec. 7, 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.
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.
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 will play two in-state contests next week, both on the road: Northern Iowa (Dec. 8) and Iowa State (Dec. 11). The Hawkeyes will then take a week off and concentrate on academics and finals and return to the hardwood Dec. 19 at home against Drake.