Jan. 10, 2010
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- 24 Hawkeyes to Watch
Complete Release in PDF Format
THE SETTING
Iowa (5-11, 0-4) remains home Tuesday night playing its final non-conference game of the season. The Hawkeyes welcome Tennessee State (4-13, 1-5) to Carver-Hawkeye Arena for an 8:05 p.m. tip-off. Tickets are $12 for adults and $5 for youths and UI students. The Hawkeyes enter Tuesday’s game on a four-game losing skid, while Tennessee State has lost five of its last six. The Tigers won their last game, 73-59, against Tennessee Martin, while Iowa lost, 71-53, to 10th-ranked Michigan State.
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. Fans can also listen to the game on Satellite Radio, Sirius Channel 121.
Television: There will be no television coverage of Tuesday’s game, but fans can watch the game online at bigtennetwork.com for $2.99.
IOWA HISTORY
Iowa has played 2,488 games since beginning basketball in 1902. Overall Iowa’s record is 1,471-1,017 (.591). That includes a 930-326 (.740) record in home games, a 541-690 (.439) record in games away from Iowa City, a 695-695 (.500) mark in Big Ten games and a 336-100 (.771) record in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
STARTING THE BIG TEN SCHEDULE AT HOME
Iowa starts the Big Ten Conference schedule with four of its first five games at home. The last time that happened was during the 1962-63 campaign.
MICHIGAN STATE TOPS IOWA
No. 10 Michigan State used a 12-0 run to start the second half to propel itself to a 71-53 victory over Iowa Saturday afternoon inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The Spartans shot a blistering 64% (14-of-22) from the field in the second stanza to pull away from the Hawkeyes. Michigan State owned a +16 (38-22) advantage on the boards, scoring 11 points after grabbing 12 offensive rebounds. Iowa’s Matt Gatens led all scorers with 16 points and also dished out a game-best five assists. Point guard Cully Payne contributed nine points and a team-high five rebounds for the Hawkeyes. Four players scored in double figures for the Spartans: Draymond Green (14), Kalin Lucas (14), Raymar Morgan (12) and Chris Allen (10).
IOWA, MICHIGAN STATE FAST BREAKS
? Michigan State’s defense held Iowa to only 27% (6-of-22) shooting from 3-point range. ? Brennan Cougill was 2-of-4 from 3-point territory against Michigan State, scoring six points off the bench. ? Eric May totaled five points, five rebounds and a block in a game-high 36 minutes of action. The freshman has rejected at least one shot in eight games. ? The Spartans forced 16 Hawkeye turnovers and converted those miscues into 21 points. ? Sophomore Andrew Brommer posted season highs in minutes (14) and rebounds (3). ? Freshman Nick Neari saw his third game action of the season. The preferred walk-on, played one minute, but had no statistics. ? Iowa played its fifth game without sophomore Anthony Tucker, who has been suspended indefinitely. Tucker averages 11.9 points and 3.5 rebounds.
LICKLITER BACK ON THE BENCH
After missing three games (Prairie View A&M, Northern Iowa and Iowa State), Head Coach Todd Lickliter returned to the bench Dec. 19 against Drake. Lickliter underwent a procedure on Dec. 5 to repair a torn carotid artery.
LICKLITER AFTER THE MICHIGAN STATE GAME
“The good news is we started the game the way we should start it. The last two games have been really tough. We had a stretch in the first half where they got away from us, as well as in the second. It was difficult for us. We threw it away and they were able to score at the rim, but I’ve said this before that our team, in almost every category, has improved over last year except for wins and losses. You’re competing against a schedule that’s one of the toughest in the nation to start the Big Ten. We knew that this year was going to be demanding. I really feel that this is a good nucleus of a team that we have. If we had two veterans to go with this group I think this would be a team that we could really compete with. That doesn’t take anything away from this group because they are becoming veterans and they’re getting better. We will continue to keep working towards improvement.”
TUCKER SUSPENDED FOR AN INDEFINITE PERIOD OF TIME
“Anthony Tucker was arrested for public intoxication,” said Iowa Director of Athletics Gary Barta. “Anthony will be suspended for an indefinite period of time. First and foremost, I wanted to make sure Anthony is okay from a physical safety standpoint, and he is. Certainly, I am disappointed because this is not the first legal incident involving alcohol.”
“The status on him right now is that he’s taking a leave of absence indefinitely and we’re continuing an ongoing evaluation,” said Iowa Coach Todd Lickliter on Dec. 21.
DIFFICULT SCHEDULE
Iowa boasts the strongest strength of schedule amongst Big Ten teams in games played through Jan. 9. The Hawkeyes rank fourth nationally, according to realtimerpi.com. The 11 teams Iowa has lost to boast a combined record of 124-27 (.821). No. 2 Texas is 15-0, followed by No. 4 Purdue (14-1), No. 10 Michigan State (13-3), Wichita State (15-2), Virginia Tech (12-1), Northern Iowa (14-1), Minnesota (12-4), Texas-San Antonio (11-3), Duquesne (9-7), Illinois (11-5) and Iowa State (11-4).
ALL-TIME SERIES
Iowa and Tennessee State have played only once before. The Hawkeyes beat the Tigers, 84-51, on Nov. 20, 2002 in Iowa City.
SCOUTING TENNESSEE STATE
Tennessee State enters Tuesday’s game with a 4-13 overall record and 1-5 mark in the Ohio Valley Conference. Tuesday will be Tennessee State’s 10th true road game. The Tigers are 1-8 in true road contests this season. The Tigers recorded their first conference victory Saturday with a 73-59 home win over Tennessee Martin. Tennessee State collected 12 steals in the game. Sophomore Wil Peters netted a game-high 16 points and grabbed a career and game-high nine rebounds. Junior Josh Sain had 15 points, while senior Jeremiah Crutcher dished out a game-high seven assists. Tennessee State averages 66.8 points, but allows 75.1 points per game. Opponents are shooting at a 50% clip from the field and have made more free throws (276) than the Tigers have attempted (267). The Tigers have already made a trip to the Midwest, losing at Northwestern (69-62) on Nov. 22 and at Iowa State (84-53) on Nov. 24. Tennessee State has also played road games at Vanderbilt (L, 84-71) and Alabama (L, 77-65). Tennessee State is coached by John Cooper, who is a 1991 graduate of Wichita State. Cooper is in his first year with the Tigers.
IOWA, TENNESSEE STATE TIP-INS
? Iowa is 10-14 all-time in games played on Jan. 12. ? Eighty percent of Iowa’s offense is generated by its underclassmen (805 of 1,001 points). The Hawkeyes have only one senior (Devan Bawinkel) and one junior (Jarryd Cole) currently seeing time on the court. Junior transfer Devon Archie has been sidelined with an injury and is expected to redshirt. ? Tennessee State’s 13-player roster features student-athletes from eight different states. Four of the 13 players hail from its home state of Tennessee, two from North Carolina and Georgia and one each from Illinois, Florida, South Carolina, Maryland and Michigan. ? Tennessee State’s roster breakdown includes five freshmen, one sophomore, five juniors and two seniors. ? Iowa ranks 16th in the nation in 3-pointers made (8.5) and 19th in fewest fouls per contest (15.2). ? Tennessee State ranks 331st out of 334 Division I basketball programs in field goal percentage defense (.503). They rank 53rd in 3-pointers made (7.9). ? Cully Payne is leading all Big Ten freshmen in assists per game (3.56). ? The Sporting News lists Iowa sophomore guard Matt Gatens as the Big Ten’s best shooter in its college basketball preview issue.
LIKING THE THREE-BALL
Iowa has not been shy about shooting the long ball, having more than 48.9% of its field goal attempts coming from downtown.
Highest Percent of FG Attempts from Three, Division IASamford 51.9% (341/657)Iowa 48.9% (405/828)
IOWA IN CARVER-HAWKEYE ARENA
Iowa has compiled a 336-100 (.771) record in Carver-Hawkeye Arena since the facility opened in January, 1983. Iowa is 156-80 (.661) in Big Ten games and 180-20 (.900) in non-Big Ten contests.
HAWKEYES ARE TOUGH AT HOME
Iowa has won 60 of its 79 games (.759) 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.
John Lickliter SEEING EXTENDED MINUTES
Redshirt freshman John Lickliter has seen game action since Anthony Tucker has been suspended. Lickliter, who is backing up starting point guard Cully Payne, has averaged 12 minutes the last five games (South Carolina State, Purdue, Minnesota, Illinois and Michigan State). He is averaging four points and shooting 43% (6-of-14) from the field, including 39% (5-of-13) from 3-point range.
MAY DAY
Freshman Eric May has performed well in his seven starts. In his seven starts, he has averaged 8.6 points, 6.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists and one block. In his last four starts against Big Ten competition, he has averaged 9.5 points, 7.3 rebounds, 2.3 dimes and 1.0 blocks. He posted team bests in scoring (9) and assists (3) at Illinois last Wednesday.
FULLER RETURNING TO FORM
Sophomore Aaron Fuller is returning to form after recovering from an ankle sprain sustained in Iowa’s third game of the year (vs. Bowling Green, Nov. 20). Fuller returned to the starting lineup in Iowa’s first conference game (vs. Purdue, Dec. 29). In league play, the native of Mesa, AZ, ranks second in the Big Ten in offensive rebounds (3.25) and seventh in overall rebounds (7.0). He’s also contributed offensively, ranking third on the team in scoring (9.3) through four Big Ten games.
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, Iowa State, Drake, South Carolina State, Minnesota and Michigan State), Anthony Tucker (Duquesne, Virginia Tech and Prairie View A&M) and Eric May (UTSA, Bowling Green and Illinois). Additionally, Gatens has reached double figures a team-best 10 times, while Tucker has five times and Cully Payne four times.
REACHING 20-POINT PLATEAU
The Hawkeyes have had one player score 20 points or more in five of the last 10 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) and vs. South Carolina State (Dec. 21).
HITTING THE GLASS
Iowa has owned the rebounding advantage in nine of its 16 contests, including seven of the last nine. The Hawkeyes had a positive rebounding margin against UTSA (11), Bowling Green (2), NC Central (21), Prairie View A&M (4), UNI (2), Iowa State (2), SC State (3), Purdue (4) and Minnesota (2). The Hawkeyes are 4-5 in games they have a positive rebounding margin. Iowa ranks fourth in Big Ten rebounds allowed (31.6).
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.
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 and is expected to redshirt this season.
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).
ARCHIE EXPECTED TO REDSHIRT
Junior transfer Devon Archie was sidelined seven weeks after sustaining an injury to his left shoulder during Iowa’s second practice, Oct. 17. Archie is practicing with the team, but is expected to redshirt after missing a majority of the season. 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.
FRESHMEN TRIO MAKING IMMEDIATE IMPACT
Freshmen Brennan Cougill, Eric May and Cully Payne have made an immediate impact on the team. Thirty-six percentage of Iowa’s offense has been generated by the freshmen trio.
May averages 9.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.7 assists. May has started seven of the last nine games, including the last four. May averaged 12 points, eight rebounds, and three assists in Iowa’s first two league games (Purdue and Minnesota). May posted team highs in points (9) and assists (3) and secured eight rebounds at Illinois. He tallied 10 of his 13 points in the second half off the bench in Iowa’s win over Drake. He posted a personal-best 18 points and also secured eight rebounds in Iowa’s win over South Carolina State. 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 8.3 points, 3.6 assists and 2.8 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. He contributed eight points, three assists and equaled a personal high with six rebounds.
Cougill averages 5.1 points and 3.4 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.
YOUTHFUL HAWKEYES
Iowa, Indiana, Michigan and Michigan State have the second-most underclassmen (9) on their rosters, behind Purdue (11).
FIVE STATE CHAMPS
Iowa’s roster of 12 players includes five players who won state titles. Matt Gatens and John Lickliter won a state title for Iowa City HS in 2008. Eric May won a state title for Dubuque Wahlert HS in 2008. Brennan Cougill’s Bishop Heelan HS captured the state title in 2009, while Anthony Tucker won a state title his senior year at Minnetonka HS.
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.”
BALANCED 3-POINT ATTACK
Every Hawkeye on this year’s team is comfortable shooting the three. Nine Hawkeyes have attempted and made at least one 3-pointer this season. Matt Gatens leads the team with 32, followed by Anthony Tucker (30), Cully Payne (22), Devan Bawinkel (18), Eric May (16), Brennan Cougill (9), John Lickliter (5), Aaron Fuller (3) 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 197 straight games.
SCORING BY HALVES
Hawkeye opponents have outscored Iowa 519-479 in the first half through 16 games. Hawkeye opponents own a 551-522 advantage in the second half. Iowa has led at halftime in four of its five victories.
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.
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.
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 16”. 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: Jan. 11, Jan. 18, Jan. 25, Feb. 1, Feb. 8, Feb. 15, Feb. 22, March 1 and March 8.
IOWA INFORMATION ON THE WEB
Iowa basketball information is available on the University of Iowa’s web site, hawkeyesports.com. Once you have entered the web site, you may obtain biographical information on Iowa players and coaches, game notes, game stories and box scores from all games throughout the season, plus team and individual cumulative stats and a PDF version of “Iowa’s History and Record” book. Members of the media who wish to have this information forwarded via e-mail throughout the season may do so by contacting the Iowa Sports Information office with your e-mail address.
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.
THIS WEEK IN BIG TEN BASKETBALL
Each Sunday at 8:30 p.m. (CST), “This Week in Big Ten Basketball” airs on the Big Ten Network. Dave Revsine will host the show alongside Jim Jackson and Dan Dakich, former Indiana player and head coach. Every Sunday night, This Week in Big Ten Basketball will provide a comprehensive breakdown of all of the Big Ten hoops action of the week, jam-packed with action footage, highlights, and awards for game and player of the week. The 30-minute shows will also preview the week ahead.
ON THE HORIZON
Iowa closes out its three-game home stand Sunday when it hosts Penn State Saturday at 12:05 p.m. in Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Saturday will be the only regular season meeting between the Hawkeyes and Nittany Lions. Four of Iowa’s first five conference contests will be played in Iowa City.