Dec. 15, 2009
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THE SETTING
After playing two consecutive road games against in-state competition, the Iowa Hawkeyes (3-7) return home to host Drake (5-5). Tip-off is scheduled for 5:36 p.m. at Carver-Hawkeye Arena (15,500). Tickets are $20 for adults and $5 for youths 18-and-under. Purchase a ticket and get one free when you show your official Orange Bowl souvenir patch at the UI Ticket Office window. ter missing the last three games, Iowa Head Coach Todd Lickliter is expected back on the bench to coach the Black and Gold. Lickliter underwent a procedure on Dec. 5 to repair a torn carotid artery.
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. The game can also be heard on XM Satellite Radio, Channel 196.
Television: The Big Ten Network will televise Saturday’s game to a national cable audience. JB Long and former Hawkeye Kenyon Murray will call the action.
IOWA HISTORY
Iowa has played 2,482 games since beginning basketball in 1902. Overall Iowa’s record is 1,469-1,013 (.592). That includes a 928-323 (.742) record in home games, a 541-689 (.440) record in games away from Iowa City, a 695-691 (.501) mark in Big Ten games and a 334-97 (.775) record in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
IOWA STATE BEATS HAWKEYES IN AMES
Iowa State recorded an 81-71 triumph over Iowa at Hilton Coliseum in Ames on Dec. 11. The home team in the series has now won the last seven. The Cyclones shot a blistering 58% (28-of-48) from the field, paced by all-America candidate Craig Brackins. The junior tallied a game-high 28 points on 9-of-13 shooting from the field and 6-of-8 from the foul line. Also, senior Marquis Gilstrip contributed a double-double (13 points, 10 rebounds) for the Cyclones. The Black and Gold were led by sophomore Matt Gatens and freshman Brennan Cougill. For the first time this season, Gatens played all 40 minutes, pouring in 20 points and equaling a career best with four triples. Cougill came off the bench to post his first career double-double, recording career highs in points (12) and rebounds (10). The freshman did not miss a shot attempt, going 5-of-5 from the field, including 2-of-2 from 3-point range.
IOWA, IOWA STATE FAST BREAKS
• Iowa State now leads the Hy-Vee Cy-Hawk Series, 12-7 after nine events.
• Freshman Cully Payne registered 13 of his 15 points in the second half. Additionally, the point guard netted 11 points in the final 2:05 of the contest, bolstered by sinking three straight triples.
• Iowa State attempted 28 free throws, making 19 (68%) compared to Iowa only earning 11 trips to the charity stripe, making eight (73%).
• Iowa took advantage of its second chance opportunities. The Hawkeyes snagged nine offensive boards and converted those extra possessions into 16 points.
• Junior Jarryd Cole reached double figures for the third time this season, netting 16 points on 6-of-9 shooting from the field and 4-of-5 from the foul line.
• After making only three first-half 3-pointers, the Hawkeyes drained eight in the final 20 minutes. Iowa was 8-of-14 (57%) from behind the arc in the second half.
HAWKEYES ARE TOUGH AT HOME
Iowa has won 58 of its 74 games (.784) 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.
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IOWA IN CARVER-HAWKEYE ARENA
Iowa has compiled a 334-97 (.775) record in Carver-Hawkeye Arena since the facility opened in January, 1983. Iowa is 156-77 (.670) in Big Ten games and 178-20 (.899) in non-Big Ten contests.
BALANCED SCORING
Iowa has four players who have each led the team in scoring at least twice this season. They are Jarryd Cole (Texas and NC Central), Matt Gatens (Texas, Northern Iowa and Iowa State), Anthony Tucker (Duquesne, Virginia Tech and Prairie View A&M) and Eric May (UTSA and Bowling Green). Additionally, Gatens has reached double figures a team-best six times, while Cully Payne and Tucker have in four contests. The Hawkeyes have had one player score 20 points or more in four of the last five games. Jarryd Cole tallied 24 vs. NC Central (Nov. 28), Anthony Tucker netted 24 against Virginia Tech (Dec. 1) and 20 vs. Prairie View A&M (Dec. 5) and Matt Gatens posted 20 at Iowa State (Dec. 11).
THIRD OF THREE IN-STATE GAMES FOR IOWA
This is Iowa’s third contest in the series of games among the state’s four Division I men’s basketball programs. After falling at Northern Iowa (67-50) and at Iowa State (81-71) , the Hawkeyes host Drake Saturday, Dec. 19 (5:36 p.m., BTN). Iowa State began the in-state series with a 90-70 triumph at Drake (Nov. 17). Northern Iowa captured a 63-60 victory at Iowa State (Dec. 2). The Panthers entertain Drake (Jan. 27) and travel to face the Bulldogs (Feb. 10). Drake earned the mythical state title a year ago with a split of Northern Iowa, a road win over Iowa State and a home victory over the Hawkeyes.
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.
IMPROVED SECOND HALF NUMBERS
Iowa can build off a strong second-half offensive performance heading into Saturday’s game against Drake. The Hawkeyes matched their highest scoring output in a half under Coach Lickliter when they tallied 44 second-half points at Iowa State. Iowa last posted 44 points in a half against Maryland-Eastern Shore in 2008. The Black and Gold shot 50% (15-of-30) from the field, including a 57% (8-of-14) from long distance against the Cyclones in the second half.
ALL-TIME SERIES
Iowa holds a 53-10 advantage in the Drake series that began with a 36-13 Iowa victory in 1909. Iowa won 27 straight games before the Bulldogs claimed the last three meetings. Five of the last 11 meetings have gone down to the wire, with Iowa winning by four points in 1998-99, by seven points in two overtimes in 1999-00, by two points in 2000-01, by one in 2002-03 in Des Moines and by five in 2005-06 in Iowa City. Drake won by five in Iowa City in 2007-08 and by comfortable margins in 2006-07 (75-59) and 2008-09 (60-43) in Des Moines. Iowa boasts a 27-3 advantage in games played in Iowa City, including a 10-1 record in Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Iowa had won 20 straight over the Bulldogs in Iowa City before Drake’s 56-51 win in December, 2007. Iowa holds a 17-3 total advantage over Drake in the current home arenas of each school. The Hawkeyes are 10-1 vs. Drake in Carver-Hawkeye Arena and 7-2 in games played at Drake’s Knapp Center.
SCOUTING DRAKE
Drake enters Saturday’s game riding a three-game winning streak and the championship of the Drake Invitational. The Bulldogs topped South Dakota (96-81) and Binghamton (77-76) to capture its tournament crown last weekend. Senior guard Josh Young sank two free throws with 4.4 seconds remaining to lift Drake to a one-point win over Binghamton. The Bulldogs outscored Binghamton 16-8 at the foul line en route to victory. Senior forward Adam Templeton was named MVP of the Drake Invitational. He averaged 16.5 points, 12 rebounds and four 3-pointers in the two victories. Templeton shot 57% (12-of-21) from the field, including a blistering 62% (8-of-13) from long distance. The Bulldogs average 9.1 triples and 70.7 points per contest through 10 games. Drake has a -5.6 rebounding margin and average 12.9 assists per outing. The Bulldogs also are an excellent free-throw shooting team, sinking 79% (134-of-170) to rank sixth in the country. Junior guard Ryan Wedel averages a team-best 12.9 points, 2.2 three-pointers and 1.6 steals. Young averages 11.9 points and 3.8 rebounds, while Templeton averages 8.3 points and a team-best seven rebounds.
DRAKE COACH MARK PHELPS
Mark Phelps is in his second season as a college head coach (22-21) after serving as associate head coach at Arizona State the previous two seasons. Phelps also served as an assistant coach at NC State from 1996-2006. The Wolfpack tied for the second most wins in the ACC from 2001-02 through the 2005-06 season. Phelps began his career in the prep coaching ranks, compiling a 148-53 record while serving as a high school head coach between 1990 and 1996. He is a native of Virginia Beach, VA and a 1996 graduate of Old Dominion. Phelps is 1-0 vs. Iowa and Hawkeye Coach Todd Lickliter.
IOWA, DRAKE TIP-INS
• Both Iowa and Drake lost to in-state rival Iowa State. The Hawkeyes lost 81-71 in Ames, while the Bulldogs fell 90-70 in Des Moines.
• The seven team’s Iowa has lost to boast a combined record of 53-11 (.828). No. 3 Texas is 8-0, followed by Texas-San Antonio (7-2), Duquesne (7-3), Virginia Tech (8-1), Northern Iowa (7-1), Wichita State (9-1) and Iowa State (7-3).
• Iowa ranks 18th in the nation in fewest fouls per contest (15.5) and 19th in 3-pointers made (8.8).
• In addition to ranking sixth in the country in free throw percentage, Drake also ranks ninth in free fewest turnovers (10.6) and 17th in 3-pointers made (9.1).
• Iowa is 15-6 all-time in games played on Dec. 19.
• Cully Payne is leading all Big Ten freshmen in assists per game (3.9).
• Iowa has regained its shooting touch from 3-point territory as of late. Iowa averaged 10 triples made in its last five games. For the season, Iowa ranks third in the Big Ten in 3-pointers made (8.8).
• The Sporting News lists Iowa sophomore guard Matt Gatens as the Big Ten’s best shooter in its college basketball preview issue.
• Drake Coach Mark Phelps was the assistant head coach at Arizona State when the Sun Devils defeated Iowa 67-64 in Tempe, early in the 2006-07 season. He was also an assistant at NC State when Iowa defeated the Wolf Pack 45-42 in Iowa City early in the 2005-06 season.
• Drake Assistant Mike Gibson was an assistant at Arizona State when Iowa lost to the Sun Devils in 2006-07. He previously served as a graduate assistant at Michigan State, in 2005-06, when Iowa won two of three games against the Spartans.
• Dr. Tom Davis served as Iowa’s head basketball coach from 1987-99 and ranks as Iowa’s winningest coach with a record of 269-140. Davis later served as the head coach at Drake, posting a 54-65 mark from 2003-07. Davis was a head coach on the collegiate level for 32 seasons. He enjoyed 16 seasons in which his teams won 20 or more games and he led 16 teams to post-season action. Davis guided nine of his Iowa teams to post-season play and was the 1987 AP National Coach of the Year after leading Iowa to a 30-5 overall record.
• Iowa holds an all-time record of 118-40 (.747) against current members of the Missouri Valley Conference, having played nine of the current 10 members (Iowa has not played Missouri State).
• Iowa Coach Todd Lickliter is 13-11 against current members of the Missouri Valley Conference, having faced Evansville (4-0), Northern Iowa (4-1), Indiana State (3-3), Bradley (2-3), Drake (0-2), Southern Illinois (0-1) and Wichita State (0-1).
DRAKE WON A YEAR AGO
Drake outscored Iowa 23-5 at the foul line en route to a 60-43 victory over the Iowa Hawkeyes on Dec. 20, 2008 in front of a sellout crowd of 7,152 at the Knapp Center in Des Moines. The Bulldogs sank 23 of their 29 free-throw attempts (.793), compared to 5-of-7 (.714) for the Black and Gold. Drake also had the advantage on the glass, pulling down 17 more rebounds than Iowa (41-24). Anthony Tucker was Iowa’s only player in double figures, scoring all 12 of his points from 3-point range. Drake’s Josh Young led all scorers with 24 points, bolstered by 14-of-15 shooting from the charity stripe.
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GATENS CATCHING FIRE
Despite losses to UNI and Iowa State, sophomore guard Matt Gatens had a good week leading the team. In the two in-state road games, the Iowa City native averaged 19 points, four 3-pointers, 3.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists. Gatens, who is a perimeter shooter, shot 52% (13-of-25) from the field.
TUCKER REGAINS SHOOTING TOUCH
Anthony Tucker reached the 20-point plateau in consecutive contests two week’s ago. The sophomore netted 20 points against Prairie View A&M (Dec. 5) and 24 vs. Virginia Tech (Dec. 1) to lead all scorers. He has made a combined 13 triples in Iowa’s last three outings. Tucker made a combined 10 triples in Iowa’s first six games.
SCORING BY HALVES
Iowa opponents have outscored the Hawkeyes 309-300 in the first half through 10 games. Hawkeye opponents own a 342-323 advantage in the second half. Iowa has led at halftime in all three of its wins.
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. He has not played this season due to injury.
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 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.
ARCHIE SIDELINED AFTER SUSTAINING INJURY
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.
IOWA CRACKS THE RECORD BOOK FROM 3-POINT RANGE
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 Hawkeyes tied the school record for 3-pointers made against Prairie View A&M (Dec. 5). Iowa sank 15-of-31 attempts to match the record accomplished twice before (15 vs. Long Island in 1994 and Northwestern in 1998).
HAWKEYES IN BIG TEN RANKINGS
Jarryd Cole ranks second in Big Ten field goal percentage (.621, 36-of-58) and 16th in Big Ten rebounding (5.9), Cully Payne ranks ninth in assists (3.9), Matt Gatens ranks third in minutes played (36.0), sixth in free throw percentage (.844, 27-of-32), 15th in assists (3.1) and 20th in scoring (12.3), Anthony Tucker ranks third in 3-pointers made (2.5) and 23rd in scoring (11.4), and Devan Bawinkel ranks 12th in 3-point percentage (.393, 11-of-28). As a team, Iowa ranks third in Big Ten 3-pointers (8.8) and rebounds allowed (31.1), seventh in free throw percentage (.682) and 3-point percentage (.333).
FRESHMEN TRIO MAKING IMMEDIATE IMPACT
Freshmen Brennan Cougill, Eric May and Cully Payne have made an immediate impact on the team. Thirty-eight percentage of Iowa’s offense has been generated by the freshmen trio. Cougill averages 6.6 points and 4.5 rebounds. The native of Sioux City, IA, posted his first career double-double the other night at Iowa State. He registered personal bests in scoring (12) and rebounds (10) against the Cyclones. He netted eight points, including a clutch 3-point play late in the contest vs. Duquesne to give Iowa a one-point lead. Cougill followed up that performance with his first career start, amassing eight points and a game and personal-high eight rebounds vs. Bowling Green. He had 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 7.9 points, 4.5 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 and a double-double (14 points, 11 rebounds) in his first career start vs. Prairie View A&M. He started the last three games. Payne, who is Iowa’s first lefty point guard since Dean Oliver, averages 9.1 points, 3.9 assists and 2.9 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 and eight points, a personal-best six rebounds and four assists against Prairie View A&M. Payne scored 11 of his 15 points at Iowa State in the final 2:05 of the game.
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.
BALANCED 3-POINT ATTACK
Every Hawkeye on this year’s team is comfortable shooting the three. Iowa mainly runs an eight-player rotation and all eight have attempted and made at least one 3-pointer. Anthony Tucker leads the team with 25, followed by Matt Gatens (18), Cully Payne (17), Devan Bawinkel (11), Eric May (9), Brennan Cougill (6), Aaron Fuller (1) and Jarryd Cole (1).
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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 191 straight games.
OFF THE BENCH
The Hawkeye reserves are averaging 12.7 points and 7.2 rebounds per game, compared to 16.2 points and 8.6 rebounds by the opponent reserves. Iowa is 3-2 when the reserves outscore the opponent reserves and 0-5 when the opponent reserves score more points. Iowa is 1-3 when the Hawkeye reserves have more rebounds than the opponent reserves and 2-4 when the opponent reserves have more rebounds.
YOUTHFUL HAWKEYES
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 also hosted 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.
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.
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 have only one day to prepare for South Carolina State. The Hawkeyes and Bulldogs will meet Dec. 21 (7:36 p.m., BTN) in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
