Dec. 6, 2009
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THE SETTING
The Iowa Hawkeyes (3-5) will compete in their first true road game Tuesday night at Northern Iowa (5-1). Tip-off is slated for 7:05 p.m. in the McLeod Center (7,293) at Cedar Falls, IA. Iowa Head Coach Todd Lickliter was forced to miss last Saturday’s game due to a medical procedure and his status for Tuesday’s game is questionable. Both Iowa and Northern Iowa are coming off victories. The Hawkeyes dropped Prairie View A&M (80-51), while the Panthers won at Iowa State (63-60).
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 Panther Sports Network will televise Tuesday night’s contest on the following channels in the state of Iowa: KWWL Digital (Ch. 7.3); Cedar Falls Utilities (Ch. 15); Mediacom Connections (Ch. 22 — not available in NE Iowa/KWWL viewing area). Rob Brooks and Rick Coleman will call the action.
IOWA HISTORY
Iowa has played 2,480 games since beginning basketball in 1902. Overall Iowa’s record is 1,469-1,011 (.592). That includes a 928-323 (.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 334-97 (.775) record in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
HAWKEYES ROUT PRAIRIE VIEW A&M
With their leader out, the Black and Gold tied a school record, sinking 15 triples en route to an 80-51 triumph over Prairie View A&M Saturday in Iowa City. The Hawkeyes had four players score in double figures: Anthony Tucker (20), Eric May (14), Matt Gatens (12) and Devan Bawinkel (11). Tucker’s 20 points was bolstered by six triples, which is one shy of his career best. In his first career start, May posted a double-double (14 points, 11 rebounds). Iowa was able to convert eight offensive rebounds into 14 second-chance points. Additionally, Iowa’s defense limited Prairie View A&M to 32% shooting from the field, including 20% in the first 20 minutes.
IOWA, PRAIRIE VIEW A&M FAST BREAKS
? Iowa’s 80 points are the most it has scored in a single-game since a 91-78 victory at Minnesota on Feb. 7, 2007.
? The 29-point win is Iowa’s largest margin of victory since a 42-point win (101-59) over Georgia State on Dec. 20, 2007.
? Iowa led by 24 points (39-15) at halftime. The 24-point halftime advantage is Iowa’s largest under Head Coach Todd Lickliter. Furthermore, Iowa’s 39 points were one point shy of Iowa’s highest first half scoring output under Lickliter.
? Iowa assisted on 21 of its 25 field goals. The 21 assists are a season best. Nine of the 10 Hawkeyes who played registered at least one assist.
? Eric May also rejected a career-high three shots. The freshman has led or shared the team lead in blocked shots in four games.
? Matt Gatens matched a career high with four steals.
IOWA HEAD TEAM PHYSICIAN DR. BRIAN WOLF AFTER THE GAME
“Coach Lickliter was in the hospital yesterday (Friday) for some testing and he has been in the hospital since he had a procedure done this morning. Everything went well, he’s doing extremely well. He will be in the hospital for a little bit over the next day or two. He should be able to give you more details regarding the situation over the next couple of days. We’ve been talking with his family and he’s doing really well, but that was the reason for his absence. I think we’re going to avoid too many details regarding the procedure, and we’ll leave it to Coach Lickliter to provide those details in the next few days.”
COACH Chad Walthall AFTER THE GAME
“It’s really tough when your leader’s gone. I was really proud of the way they pulled together. All our guys just did a really good job of getting themselves ready to play. The plan was in place, and sometimes when you have a plan in place you can just rely on the players to go execute and that’s what they did. The players did a wonderful job, and we are going to appreciate the win for a little while, but certainly look forward to the UNI game on Tuesday.”
TUCKER REGAINS SHOOTING TOUCH
Anthony Tucker reached the 20-point plateau for the second consecutive contest. The sophomore netted 20 points against Prairie View A&M and 24 vs. Virginia Tech to lead all scorers. He has made six triples in each of his last two games. Tucker made a combined 10 triples in Iowa’s first six games; he sank 12 in the last two outings.
BALANCED SCORING
Iowa has three players who have each led the team in scoring at least twice this season. They are Jarryd Cole (Texas and NC Central), Anthony Tucker (Duquesne, Virginia Tech and Prairie View A&M) and Eric May (UTSA and Bowling Green). Additionally, Matt Gatens and Tucker have each reached double figures in four contests.
FIRST OF THREE IN-STATE GAMES FOR IOWA
This is Iowa’s first contest in the series of games among the state’s four Division I men’s basketball programs. After playing at Northern Iowa, the Hawkeyes travel to Iowa State Friday (7:05 p.m., CTN) and host Drake Saturday, Dec. 19 (5:35 p.m., BTN). Iowa State began the in-state series with a 90-70 triumph at Drake (Nov. 17) in Des Moines. Northern Iowa captured a 63-60 victory at Iowa State (Dec. 2) in Ames. 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.
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
Iowa holds a 32-7 advantage in the series with UNi that began with a 51-9 Iowa win in 1906. Iowa won 65-46 last season in Iowa City for its second straight win in the series. The teams have split the last eight meetings. Northern Iowa won 67-63, in overtime, in Cedar Falls in 2005-06 and claimed a 57-55 decision in Iowa City in 2006-07. The extra period in 2005-06 marked the first overtime game ever between the two teams. Northern Iowa’s win in 2006-07 was its first ever in Iowa City. The teams did not meet between 1917-1980. Iowa holds an 18-6 advantage since the series resumed. Iowa holds an 11-6 advantage in games played at Cedar Falls.
SCOUTING NORTHERN IOWA
Tuesday will only be Northern Iowa’s second home game of the year. The Panthers opened the season with a win at Denver (71-65), followed by a loss to DePaul (60-52) in the first round of the Paradise Jam in the Virgin Islands. After the DePaul setback, Northern Iowa strung together four consecutive victories (East Carolina, Boston College, Northern Illinois and Iowa State). In its last game at Iowa State, senior forward Adam Koch and Jordan Eglseder combined to score 40 of UNI’s 63 points, each netting 20. Eglseder, who stands seven-foot, also secured a game-high 14 rebounds in the three-point win (63-60). The Panthers were a perfect 10-of-10 at the foul line and converted 14 Cyclone turnovers into 14 points. Koch averages a team-best 16 points per contest. Kwadzo Ahelegbe averages 15.2 points and a team-best 2.5 assists. Eglseder averages 12.3 points and a team-best 9.3 rebounds. Northern Iowa averages 65.5 points per game, shooting 43% from the field and 66% from the free throw line. The Panthers average only 10 turnovers, 8.7 assists, 4.5 steals and 1.7 blocks per contest.
NORTHERN IOWA COACH BEN JACOBSON
Ben Jacobson is in his fourth season as the Northern Iowa head coach. It is Jacobson’s first head coaching position at the college level. Jacobson led the Panthers to a 23-11 mark and an NCAA Tournament appearance last season. His career record stands at 64-39 (.621). With Jacobson serving as Northern Iowa’s top assistant since 2001, the Panthers won 20 or more games and advanced to the NCAA Tournament in three straight seasons. Jacobson has 12 years of experience as a college assistant, serving one season at North Dakota State before moving to Northern Iowa. He was an assistant at North Dakota (1996-2000) after serving as both a student assistant and graduate assistant on the North Dakota staff. Jacobson was a two-year starter and four-year letterman at North Dakota, concluding his career as UND’s career assist leader. He was a two-year team captain and led his team to two conference titles. Jacobson is 1-2 vs. Iowa and 0-2 vs. Hawkeye Coach Todd Lickliter.
HAWKEYE OFFENSIVE NUMBERS IMPROVING
In its first five games of the season, Iowa averaged 57 points, and shot 68% from the free throw line and 28% from 3-point range. Individually, Matt Gatens was Iowa’s only player who averaged double figures during that stretch. The Hawkeyes have improved those numbers in the last three outings, averaging 72.3 points, and shot 73% from the free throw line and 39% from long distance. Individually, Anthony Tucker (16.0), Jarryd Cole (12.7) and Matt Gatens (11.3) raised their scoring output in Iowa’s last three contests.
IOWA, NORTHERN IOWA TIP-INS
? Iowa is 16-4 all-time in games played on Dec. 8.
? The five team’s Iowa has lost to boasts a combined record of 30-6. No. 3 Texas is 6-0, followed by Texas-San Antonio (6-2), Duquesne (6-2), Virginia Tech (5-1), Wichita State (7-1).
? Iowa ranks sixth in the nation in fewest fouls per contest, averaging 14.6.
? Lickliter is 4-0 all-time vs. Northern Iowa; 2-0 as the Hawkeye head coach and 2-0 vs. Northern Iowa Coach Ben Jacobson. Lickliter’s Butler teams defeated the Panthers, 77-65, on Dec. 15, 2001 in Indianapolis and recorded a, 56-54, win in Cedar Falls on Nov. 25, 2003.
? Iowa assistant Joel Cornette was a player at Butler when the Bulldogs defeated Northern Iowa, 77-65, in Indianapolis early in the 2001-02 season. Cornette contributed nine points, nine rebounds, four assists, two steals and two blocked shots. He served as a student assistant at Butler when the Bulldogs earned a, 56-54, win at Northern Iowa early in the 2003-04 season.
? Iowa holds an all-time record of 118-38 vs. current members of the Missouri Valley Conference. Northern Iowa is 8-37 against the Big Ten, but has only played Iowa, Minnesota, Purdue and Wisconsin.
? Northern Iowa assistant Ben Johnson, in his second year on the Panther staff, played college basketball at Northwestern and Minnesota, spending two seasons at each of the Big Ten schools. Johnson scored over 1,200 career points. Iowa was 2-1 vs. Northwestern in Johnson’s two years with the Wildcats and 2-1 vs. Minnesota during Johnson’s playing career.
? Northern Iowa senior Ali Farokhmanesh attended West HS in Iowa City as a prep. His mother, Cindy Fredrick, previously served as Iowa’s women’s volleyball coach and his father, Marshallah Fraokhmanesh, served as a volleyball assistant.
? Iowa Director of Athletics Gary Barta served as Director of Athletics Development and External Relations at Northern Iowa from 1990-96.
HAWKEYES WON A YEAR AGO
A big second half lifted Iowa to a 65-46 win over Northern Iowa, Dec. 9, 2008 inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The victory was the Hawkeyes’ second consecutive over the Panthers. For the game, the Hawkeyes shot 50% (24-of-48) from the field, including 9-of-21 from 3-point range. Iowa scored 17 points off 10 Northern Iowa turnovers and committed a season-low five turnovers. Jake Kelly scored a game-high 19 points with five rebounds, four assists and two steals to lead Iowa. The trio of Kelly, Jeff Peterson and Matt Gatens combined to shoot 56% from the field. Kelly was 8-of-15, Peterson, who finished with 18 points, was 6-of-11 and Gatens, who netted 14 points, was 5-of-8. Peterson also handed out five assists with four rebounds. Gatens was credited with two assists.
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 third in Big Ten field goal percentage (.630, 29-of-46) and 11th in Big Ten rebounding (6.0), Cully Payne ranks ninth in assists (3.88), Matt Gatens ranks first in free throw percentage (.958, 23-of-24) and fourth in minutes played (35.12), Anthony Tucker ranks second in 3-pointers made (2.75) and 20th in scoring (12.1), and Devan Bawinkel ranks eighth in 3-point percentage (.423, 11-of-26). As a team, Iowa ranks third in rebounds allowed (32.0) and 3-pointers made (8.5), and seventh in free throw percentage (.698) and scoring defense (62.9).
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 runs an eight-player rotation and all eight have attempted and made at least one 3-pointer. Anthony Tucker leads the team with 22, followed by Cully Payne (12), Devan Bawinkel (11), Matt Gatens (10), Eric May (7), Brennan Cougill (4), Aaron Fuller (1) and Jarryd 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 190 straight games.
FRESHMEN 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 6.8 points and 4.3 rebounds. 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 8.9 points, 5.1 rebounds and two 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. Payne, who is Iowa’s first lefty point guard since Dean Oliver, averages 8.4 points, 3.9 assists and 3.1 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.
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.
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.
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 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 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. Assistant Coach Chad Walthall will be filling in for Lickliter Monday night, Dec. 7.
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 remains on the road when it travels to Ames to face Iowa State Friday (7:05 p.m., CTN). Friday will be the eighth event in the Hy-Vee Cy-Hawk Series. Iowa leads the Cy-Hawk series, 7-6. The Hawkeyes and Cyclones will meet in women’s basketball Thursday night in Ames. Iowa will then take a week off to concentrate on academics and finals before returning to the hardwood Dec. 19 at home against Drake.