Nov. 3, 2010
- Purchase Iowa Men’s Basketball Tickets
- Download your Iowa Hawkeye iPhone app!
- Take the Hawkeyes With You: Iowa Podcasts
- Iowa and the Big Ten Network
- Big Ten Network: Free Hawkeye Video
- 24 Hawkeyes to Watch
THE SETTING
The Iowa Hawkeyes will host Illinois-Springfield Sunday in an exhibition contest. Tip-off is slated for 3:35 p.m. at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Sunday’s exhibition will be played as part of a doubleheader; the Iowa women are scheduled to entertain Concordia at 1 p.m.
Tickets to Sunday’s doubleheader are $5 for adults and free for youths and UI students.
The Hawkeyes open the regular season Sunday, Nov. 14, when they host South Dakota State (2:05 p.m.).
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 Channel) will televise Sunday’s exhibition game in Eastern Iowa. Rob Brooks and Mac McCausland will call the action. Hawkeye fans can also view the game live online at video.bigtennetwork.com.
SEASON TICKETS ON SALE
Hawkeye fans can purchase a season ticket for $266 that includes 17 home games. UI Faculty and staff can purchase tickets for $228, while the price is only $75 for UI students. In addition, a $6 postage and handling fee will be added to each order.
COACHING EXPERIENCE
Fran McCaffery will make his debut on the Hawkeye sideline in Sunday’s exhibition. McCaffery has assembled one of the most experienced coaching staffs in the country. Assistant coaches Kirk Speraw, Sherman Dillard and Andrew Francis have over six decades of combined coaching experience. Furthermore, the entire coaching staff combines for 46 years of head coaching experience. Also, former Hawkeye standout and professional basketball player Ryan Bowen has joined the staff as video coordinator and administrative assistant. Bowen was on four NBA rosters (Denver, Houston, New Orleans and Oklahoma City).
A YOUNG SQUAD
Iowa’s roster of 15 players include six freshmen, two sophomores, five juniors and two seniors. The freshmen are Melsahn Basabe (6-7, 225), Cody Cox (6-4, 190), Roy Devyn Marble (6-5,190), Zach McCabe (6-7, 225), Darius Stokes (6-7,190) and Branden Stubbs (6-2, 170). The sophomores are Eric May and Cully Payne.
In addition, juniors Bryce Cartwright (6-1, 180) and Jordan Stoermer (6-2,185) are in their first year at Iowa. Cartwright played as a rookie at Fresno State and Paris JC (Texas) his sophomore campaign. Stoermer played his first two seasons at Kirkwood CC (Iowa).
GATENS SIDELINED AFTER SUFFERING HAND INJURY
Junior Matt Gatens tore a tendon in his left, non-shooting hand, Oct. 26 during practice. The shooting guard had surgery Oct. 28 and is expected to miss 3-4 weeks.
Gatens, who has started every game in his Hawkeye career, was Iowa’s leading scorer a year ago, averaging 12.3 points. The Iowa City native was also Iowa’s top scoring threat from the free throw line (84-101, .832) and beyond the arc (58-177, .328) last season. Gatens earned all-Big Ten recognition as a freshman and sophomore. He was a member of the all-Big Ten Freshman team in 2009 and an honorable mention all-conference selection a year ago.
GATENS, COLE AND PAYNE NAMED CAPTAINS
Senior center Jarryd Cole, junior guard Matt Gatens and sophomore Cully Payne are Iowa’s captains for the 2010-11 season.
Cole, a three-time captain, was Iowa’s leading field goal shooter a year ago, shooting at a 57 percent clip. He ranked second in team rebounding (5.2) and blocks (14) and averaged 8.1 points. The native of Kansas City, Mo., was also Iowa’s men’s basketball Big Ten Sportsmanship Award Nominee. Gatens, who was an honorable mention all-conference honoree last season, led the Hawkeyes in three statistical categories: scoring (12.3), free throws (84-101, .832) and 3-pointers (58-177, .328). Payne directed the Hawkeye offense as a freshman, ranking among league leaders in assists. He was the only starting rookie floor general in the league in 2010. Payne averaged 8.7 points, 3.8 assists, three rebounds and ranked second on the team in triples with 42.
IOWA IN EXHIBITIONS
Iowa is 16-1 in exhibition games since the 1999-00 season. The only setback was a 79-76 loss to the Harlem Globetrotters prior to the 2002 season. The Hawkeyes played one exhibition contest in each of the last three seasons.
SCOUTING ILLINOIS-SPRINGFIELD
Ben Wierzba takes over as head coach this season after former Hawkeye Kevin Gamble left to take a position on the Providence staff. Prior to being named head coach at Illinois-Springfield (UIS), Wierzba spent three seasons as an assistant coach at Evansville. UIS is scheduled to play at Illinois-Chicago tonight in an exhibition.
Last season UIS posted an 11-14 record. It will be a season of new faces for the UIS men’s basketball team in 2010-11, with nine newcomers on the roster.
The key loss for UIS is the departure of leading scorer and rebounder Richard Oruche, who finished his senior season scoring 19.8 points and grabbing 5.8 rebounds per game, both team highs. Oruche was a second-team All-GLVC pick.
The returning letterwinners are headlined by senior guard Brandon Farmer, who started all 24 games a year ago and averaged 10.2 points per outing, the second best on the team and the highest average among the returnees. Senior 3-point specialist Ryan Thornton, who led the team with 53 triples, is also back after averaging 7.5 points a year ago.
Sophomore forward Chigozie Umedai started nine times a year ago and averaged 5.1 points. Senior guard Kendall Burrage, who played his freshman season at Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids, started twice last season and averaged 4.3 points an outing.
There will be plenty of new faces for the Prairie Stars. Forward Michael Fakuade and guard Keith Smith transferred in from Northern Illinois and will be counted on immediately, while junior college guards Lester Hart and Jermaine Love-Roberts will also see large minutes from the outset.
THE RETURNING CAST
Iowa returns four starters and six lettermen from a year ago. The returning starters include senior center Jarryd Cole (6-7, 250), junior guard Matt Gatens (6-5, 215), sophomore guard Cully Payne (6-1, 190) and sophomore forward Eric May (6-5, 220). Gatens was Iowa’s leading scorer, averaging 12.3 points, while also pulling down 4.3 rebounds starting all 32 games. Cole also started every game and averaged 8.1 points ranked second in rebounding (5.2). Payne, who was the only starting freshman point guard in the Big Ten last season, dished out a team-best 122 assists to go along with an 8.7 scoring average. May started the last 23 contests last year, and averaged nine points, 4.6 rebounds and collected team bests in blocks (26) and steals (34).
The other returning lettermen are junior forward Andrew Brommer (6-9, 235) and redshirt junior Devon Archie (6-9, 225). Archie received a medical redshirt last season due to injury.
Iowa’s returning players, last season, played 65.6% of all minutes, accounting for 64.6% of Iowa’s points and grabbing 40% of Iowa’s rebounds. The group also had 75.3% of the steals and 75.1% of the assists last season. They combined to shoot 41,1% from the field, 30.8% from 3-point range and 70.9% from the free-throw line.
DIFFICULT SCHEDULE
The Hawkeyes will potentially play 20 games against teams that competed in the postseason a year ago, including 14 possible contests vs. teams that played in the NCAA Tournament.
In the ACC/Big Ten Challenge, Iowa will travel to Wake Forest. Both teams will have a new head coach on the sidelines. New Hawkeye Head Coach Fran McCaffery played for Wake Forest one season (1977-78), helping the Demon Deacons post a 19-10 record while starting 11 games.
Iowa will play two of its three in-state games at home. The Hawkeyes will host Northern Iowa (Dec. 7) and Iowa State (Dec. 10), while visiting Drake (Dec. 18).
SUPER SOPHS RETURN
Two of the Big Ten’s most exciting and talented freshmen from a year ago return to the Hawkeyes. Eric May and Cully Payne were named to the Big Ten all-Freshman team by Sporting News. May was also recognized on the conference’s all-freshman squad.
Last year, May became Iowa’s first freshman to lead the team in blocks since Ryan Bowen in 1995. Furthermore, standing 6-foot-5, May became the shortest player to lead the team in rejections since 6-foot-5 James Winters did it in 1994. The native of Dubuque, Iowa, also averaged nine points and 4.6 rebounds.
Payne was the only Big Ten freshman starter at point guard last season. Payne became only the fourth Hawkeye freshman to lead the team in assists since 1974-75. His 122 assists rank third-best for an Iowa rookie in a single-season. The Schaumburg, Ill., native also averaged 8.7 points and three rebounds.
BROMMER IMPROVES FREE THROW SHOOTING
Junior Andrew Brommer has made remarkable improvement in his free throw shooting. After converting only 23 percent of his foul shots as a freshman, Brommer made 75 percent last season, missing only six attempts.
THREE STATE CHAMPS
Iowa’s roster of 15 players includes three who won four state titles. Matt Gatens won a state title for Iowa City HS in 2008. Eric May won a state title for Dubuque Wahlert in 2008, while Zach McCabe’s Bishop Heelan captured the state title in 2009 and 2010.
NO 3-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 212 straight games.
ARCHIE SET TO MAKE DEBUT
After missing last season due to a medical redshirt, Devon Archie is healthy and looks to bolster the Hawkeye front court this season.
Archie sustained an injury to his left shoulder during Iowa’s second practice a year ago.
The 6-9, 215-pounder played two seasons at Vincennes Community College (2007-09). A two-time team captain at Vincennes, he averaged 6.8 points, six rebounds and 1.3 blocked shots, starting 19 of 30 games as a sophomore.
IOWA IN CARVER-HAWKEYE ARENA
Iowa has compiled a 340-103 (.767) record in Carver-Hawkeye Arena since the facility opened in January, 1983. Iowa is 159-83 (.657) in Big Ten games and 181-20 (.900) in non-Big Ten contests.
HAWKEYES ARE TOUGH AT HOME
Iowa has won 64 of its 86 games (.744) 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 19 home games against ranked opponents. Iowa was a perfect 17-0 at home in 2006, 14-2 in 2007, 10-8 in 2008, 13-4 in 2009 and 9-9 a year ago.
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.
HAWKEYE HOOPS ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Iowa Hawkeye fans can get even more information, photos and video about the men’s basketball team on social media sites facebook (facebook.com/hawkeyehoops) and twitter (twitter.com/iowahoops).
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.
BIG TEN TOURNAMENT ALL-SESSION TICKETS ON SALE
All-session tickets for the 2011 Big Ten Basketball Tournament (March 10-13) are now on sale to the general public. Tickets can be purchased through Ticketmaster at www.ticketmaster.com or by calling (800) 745-3000, and through the Conseco Fieldhouse box office and www.consecofieldhouse.com.
All-session tickets for the lower and club level are available for $300 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 will continue to feature a special discounted rate of $50 for all-session tickets available only to students of the 11 Big Ten universities. All students must have a valid student ID for entry. Student section seating will be available in eight balcony sections and orders will be limited to one all-session ticket. Details on the student ticket program will be sent to the university ticket offices for distribution directly to students.
ON THE HORIZON
Iowa will open the 2010-11 regular season with two homes games, Nov. 14 and Nov. 16. The Hawkeyes will entertain South Dakota State (Nov. 14) and UL Monroe (Nov. 16).