Hawkeyes Travel to Drake Saturday Night

Dec. 16, 2010

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THE SETTING
The Iowa Hawkeyes (5-5) will have eight days for final exams and prepare for their next opponent. Iowa will hit the road Saturday for its final non-conference road game when it travels to Des Moines to face the Drake Bulldogs (4-4). Tip-off is slated for 7:05 p.m. at the Knapp Center (7,192).

Iowa is coming off a 75-72 loss at home to Iowa State on Dec. 10, while Drake beat Boise State (72-69) in Des Moines on Dec. 12 in its last outing.

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. TV:Saturday’s game will be televised in Eastern Iowa on Mediacom Connections. Larry Morgan and Al Lorenzen will call the action from the Knapp Center.

IOWA HISTORY
Iowa has played 2,573 games since beginning basketball in 1902. Iowa’s overall record is 1,481-1,092 (.576). That includes a 938-341 (.733) record in home games, a 543-700 (.437) record in contests away from Iowa City, a 699-704 (.498) mark in Big Ten games and a 344-105 (.766) record in Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Iowa is one win from notching Big Ten victory No. 700.

IMPROVED STATISTICS
Comparing statistics through 10 games last year to this season, Iowa is putting up improved numbers. The Hawkeyes are averaging 9.1 more points, 7.9 rebounds, 3.5 rebounds and 1.4 blocks. The Hawkeyes are also shooting the ball with better accuracy, making 43.6% of their field goals in 2010, compared to 41.9% in 2009.

PAINT JOB
Iowa has taken advantage of strong post play through 10 games in 2010. The Hawkeyes are averaging 32.6 points per game in the paint. Iowa has scored 30 or more paint points seven times this season, including five of the last six contests. The Black and Gold was credited with 38 points in the paint in three consecutive contests (SIUE, Wake Forest and Idaho State). A year ago, the Hawkeyes averaged 22.4 points in the paint through its first 10 games.

SECOND HALF RALLY PROPELS IOWA STATE PAST HAWKEYES
Iowa State used a 30-12 run to start the second half and lift the Cyclones past Iowa, 75-72, Friday night in front of a season-high 13,276 fans at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The win was the first for Iowa State, in Iowa City, since 2002.

The Hawkeyes took a 40-31 lead into halftime after closing the half on an 8-1 run. Junior Matt Gatens made his first four field goal attempts, including three triples, while freshmen Melsahn Basabe flirted with a first-half triple double (8 points, 10 rebounds, 7 blocks). Iowa held Iowa State scoring leader Diante Garrett to just two first-half points on 1-14 shooting. He would finish the contest with 10 points.

The story of the second half was Cyclone shooting guard Scott Christopherson. The junior netted 24 of his game and career-high 30 points in the final 20 minutes. Christopherson drained five of his game-high seven 3-pointers in the second stanza, including two in the final five minutes.

Four Hawkeyes scored in double figures: Matt Gatens (15), Zach McCabe (13), Andrew Brommer (12) and Melsahn Basabe (12).

IOWA, ISU POSTGAME NOTES
? Andrew Brommer had one of the best games, statistically, of his career. The power forward scored a career-high 12 points on 6-7 shooting from the field in 16 minutes off the bench.
? Melsahn Basabe blocked all seven of his shots in the first half. The seven blocks are the most by a Hawkeye since Erek Hansen rejected seven against Fairfield on Dec. 2, 2005. The seven blocks equals the third-most by a Hawkeye in a single game. Acie Earl had nine blocks vs. Wisconsin in 1992 and eight rejections against five different opponents. Hansen blocked seven shots three times, while Earl also had a seven-block outing.
? Melsahn Basabe pulled down 14 rebounds, marking the second straight game a Hawkeye grabbed 14 or more. Jarryd Cole corralled 15 boards in Iowa’s victory over UNI on Dec. 7. Cole followed up his UNI performance with eight rebounds against the Cyclones.
? Iowa outrebounded Iowa State by eight (47-39). The 47 rebounds are the most by the Hawkeyes this season, besting a 45-rebounding effort in the season opener vs. South Dakota State. The Hawkeyes have owned the glass in all but one game this season (Long Beach State).
? Bryce Cartwright, who started his fifth game at point guard, dished out a game-high seven assists and scored six points. Cartwright has been credited with 15 assists the last two games (eight vs. Northern Iowa).
? Iowa shot 12-23 (.522) from the free throw line for the second consecutive game. The Hawkeyes were 12-23 in their win over Northern Iowa on Dec. 7.
? Iowa State’s Scott Christopherson is the second opponent to score 30 or more points against the Hawkeyes. Wake Forest’s J.T. Terrell netted 32 against Iowa on Nov. 30 in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge.

A YOUNG SQUAD
Iowa’s roster of 15 players includes 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).

ALL-TIME SERIES
Iowa holds a 54-10 advantage in the Drake series that began with a 36-13 Iowa victory in 1909. Iowa has won 28 of the last 31 meetings.

Seven of the last 12 meetings have gone down to the wire, with Iowa winning by four points in 1998, seven points in two overtimes in 1999, two points in 2000, one in 2002 in Des Moines, five in 2005 in Iowa City and four in 2009 in Iowa City. Drake won by five in Iowa City in 2007.

Iowa boasts a 26-7 advantage in games played in Des Moines. The Hawkeyes have won 13 of the last 15 meetings in Des Moines and hold a 7-2 record at the Knapp Center.

Iowa holds an 18-3 advantage over Drake in the current home arenas of each school. The Hawkeyes are 11-1 vs. Drake in Carver-Hawkeye Arena and 7-2 in games played at Drake’s Knapp Center.

SCOUTING DRAKE
After starting the season 2-4, Drake has won two in a row climbing to .500, winning at Eastern Michigan (58-54) and beating Boise State (72-69) at home.

After only playing one home game the first six games of the season, Saturday will be the second of five consecutive home contests for the Bulldogs. Drake played three neutral site games at the Great Alaska Shootout, and road games at Iowa State, Colorado State and Eastern Michigan.

In its last contest, five Bulldogs scored in double figures: Seth VanDeest (13), Ryan Wedel (13), Aaron Hawley (12), Rayvonte Rice (11) and Kurt Alexander (10). VanDeest also grabbed a game-high 10 boards to post his first career double-double. Drake held Boise State to 9.5% (2-21) shooting from beyond the 3-point arc, while the Bulldogs shot 53% (26-49) from the field, including a blistering 73% (16-22) in the second half.

Rice leads Drake in scoring and assists, averaging 12.3 points and 2.5 assists. VanDeest averages 12.1 points and 5.4 rebounds, while Wedel averages 11.5 points. Wedel is the Bulldogs’ leading 3-point shooter, knocking down 20 triples at a 44.4% clip (20-45). As a team, Drake averages 62.2 points and 29.1 rebounds.

DRAKE COACH MARK PHELPS
Mark Phelps is in his third season as a college head coach (35-39) 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 Wolf Pack tied for the second most wins in the ACC from 2001-02 through the 2005-06 season.

Last season, Phelps guided the Bulldogs to a 14-19 record, including a 7-11 mark in the Missouri Valley Conference.

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 1-1 vs. the Iowa Hawkeyes.

IOWA WON A YEAR AGO
Iowa overcame a one-point halftime deficit to beat the Drake Bulldogs, 71-67 on Dec. 19, 2009 in Iowa City. Matt Gatens had another outstanding performance against an in-state school, posting game highs in scoring (18), rebounding (9) and assists (5). Eric May netted seven of his 13 points at the free throw line. Drake’s Seth VanDeest and Ryan Wedel combined to score 26 of its 67 points and grab 11 of its 28 rebounds.

IOWA, DRAKE TIP-INS
? Four of Iowa’s five wins have come by margins of 10 points or more, while three of its defeats have come by six points or less, including two by three points.
? Iowa boasts a +6.9 rebounding margin, which ranks second best in the Big Ten, while Drake has struggled on the glass with a -8.1 rebounding margin.
? Drake is 2-0 in home games, while Iowa is 0-1 in true road games this year.
? Iowa holds an all-time record of 120-40 (.750) against current members of the Missouri Valley Conference, having played nine of the current 10 members (Iowa has not played Missouri State). The Hawkeyes defeated UNI of the Missouri Valley Conference on Dec. 7, 51-39.
? Iowa is 14-9 in games played on Dec. 18.
? 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.

COACHING EXPERIENCE
Fran 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.

Director of Basketball Operations Jerry Strom is in his 30th season as a member of the Iowa basketball staff. 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).

DOUBLE YOUR PLEASURE
Iowa has had three players post a double-double: Devon Archie, Jarryd Cole and Melsahn Basabe. The Hawkeyes are the only Big Ten team to accomplish that feat. Illinois, Ohio State, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan all have had two players collect double-doubles.

Archie and Basabe each recorded their first double-double this season. Archie was credited with 10 points and 11 rebounds vs. Xavier (Nov. 19), while Basabe collected 12 points and 14 rebounds against Iowa State (Dec. 10). Cole notched his fourth career double-double Dec. 7 vs. UNI, with 10 points and 15 boards.

BENCH SUCCESS
Iowa’s bench has provided a spark the first 10 games. The Hawkeye reserves have outscored opponent bench players, 274-103. Iowa’s bench averages 27.4 points per contest, compared to only 10.3 for the opposition.

Iowa has a balanced offensive attack with seven players averaging six points or more per contest. So far this year, Iowa has the most balanced attack since the 2003-04 season when six players averaged eight points or more.

BASABE COMING ON STRONG
Melsahn Basabe has had a strong showing in Iowa’s last five games. The freshman from Glen Cove, NY, is averaging 12 points, 8.2 rebounds and 2.2 blocks in the last five contests. Basabe is Iowa’s leading scorer and rebounder and is shooting 24-40 (.600) from the field during the five-game span.

Basabe had two solid performances against Northern Iowa and Iowa State last week. The rookie averaged a double-double (13 points and 10.5 rebounds). He shot 54.5% (12-22) from the field and blocked a game and career-high seven shots against Iowa State, which is the third-most total by a Hawkeye in a single game.

Basabe is Iowa’s overall leading rebounder (6.8) and has pulled down the most boards in five of the 10 contests this season.

PAYNE SIDELINED DUE TO INJURY
Cully Payne, who started his first 37 games as a Hawkeye at point guard, will be out indefinitely due to a sports hernia. Payne had successful surgery Nov. 30. Payne averaged 3.8 points, 3.4 assists and 1.4 rebounds his first five games of 2010-11.

Last year, Payne was named to Big Ten all-Freshman team by Sporting News and earned a spot on the CBE Classic All-Tournament squad. Payne was the only Big Ten freshman starter at point guard last season. He 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.

Bryce Cartwright will take over the starting spot at point guard. Expect Roy Devyn Marble and Jordan Stoermer to also see minutes at point guard during Payne’s absence.

GETTING TO THE FREE THROW LINE
Iowa has been more aggressive at attacking the basket and getting to the free throw line so far this year. Iowa has attempted over seven free throws a game more than last year’s average, a differential that ranks second best in the Big Ten.

HAWKEYES IN BIG TEN RANKINGS
Iowa ranks first among Big Ten teams in rebounding (40.6) and offensive rebounding (14.4), second in rebounding margin (+6.9), third in steals (8.1), and fifth in 3-point field goal percentage defense (.300).

Individually, Eric May ranks first in steals (2.4) and third in 3-point accuracy (.522, 12-23). Matt Gatens ranks second in free throw accuracy (.905, 19-21). Melsahn Basabe ranks sixth in field goal percentage (.557, 34-61), ninth in blocks (1.6) and 10th in rebounding (6.8). Bryce Cartwright ranks eighth in assists (4.4).

MAY DAY
After a fantastic rookie season, Eric May has carried his strong play into his sophomore campaign. May ranks first in team scoring (11.9) and steals (2.4) and fourth in rebounding (4.4).

May has been shooting the ball extremely well, making 47% (47-100) of his field goal attempts, including 52% (12-23) from 3-point range. May missed only two 3-point attempts in three games at the Paradise Jam (6-8, .750). He ranks first in the Big Ten in steals and fourth in 3-point percentage. Furthermore, he ranks 24th in the country in steals.

The native of Dubuque, Iowa, scored 13 points and amassed a game and personal-high seven steals in Iowa’s 111-50 win over SIUE. The seven thefts are the most by a Big Ten player this season and equal the fourth-most by a Hawkeye in a single-game in school history. He followed up that performance with six steals at Wake Forest. For the season, he has accumulated 24 steals, 10 shy of his season total in 32 games a year ago.

COLE CLEANING THE BOARDS
Jarryd Cole has improved his play the last three games. Cole collected seven points and seven rebounds in Iowa’s 17-point win over Idaho State. The senior followed up that performance with his fourth career double-double (10 points and 15 rebounds) against Northern Iowa. Against Iowa State, he grabbed eight boards to go along with five points.

Cole has led the Hawkeyes in rebounding in two of Iowa’s last three contests. In fact, his 15 rebounds are the second most by a Big Ten student-athlete this season (16 by Minnesota’s Trevore Mbakwe vs. Cornell and St. Joseph’s). Furthermore, the 15 boards are the most by a Hawkeye since Greg Brunner snagged 23 vs. Minnesota on Jan. 18, 2006.

HAWKEYE FRESHMEN MAKING THEIR MARK
Zach McCabe and Melsahn Basabe are one of only four Big Ten rookies to amass at least 85 points and 50 rebounds. McCabe has accumulated 91 points and 52 rebounds, while Basabe has 86 points and 68 boards. Joining McCabe on the list is Ohio State’s Jared Sullinger with 144 points and 74 rebounds and Michigan’s Jordan Morgan’s 106 points and 65 boards.

Basabe ranks first among conference rookies in blocks (1.6), second in rebounding (6.8) and sixth in scoring (8.6). McCabe ranks fourth in rebounding (5.2) and fifth in scoring (9.1) among Big Ten freshmen.

MCCABE SOLID OUT OF THE GATES
Zach McCabe has looked good in his first 10 games in a Hawkeye uniform. The freshman, who is averaging 23 minutes per contest, ranks fourth in team scoring (9.1) and third in rebounding (5.2) off the bench. He led the team in scoring three times (UL Monroe, Alabama and SIUE) and rebounding three times (Alabama, Long Beach State and Wake Forest).

HAWKEYE FAST BREAKS
? Iowa has seen an increase in its attendance numbers compared to last year. Compared to the first six home games a year ago, the Hawkeyes are averaging 2,521 more fans than a year ago. Iowa averaged 8,500 fans the first five games last season, compared to 11,021 this year.
? Iowa is 5-0 when holding opponents to 60 points or less, 5-1 when having a better field goal percentage than the opposition and 4-1 when dishing out more assists.
? Eric May and Zach McCabe have been Iowa’s most accurate shooters through 10 games. The duo have combined to shoot 45.6% (26-57) from beyond the arc. The rest of the Hawkeyes are shooting a combined 25.4% (28-110).
? Iowa’s six freshmen average a combined 25.3 points per game, an average that ranks third best in the Big Ten behind Ohio State (38.8) and Michigan (32.4). Two of Michigan’s freshmen are redshirts.
? Andrew Brommer has made eight of his last 11 field goal attempts (72.7%) the last three games.
? Iowa’s 111 points and 19 steals against SIU-Edwardsville (SIUE) are the most by a Big Ten team this season. Additionally, Iowa’s free throws made (27) against SIUE rank second most in a single-game by a Big Ten team this season.
? Iowa’s 61-point margin of victory (111-50) over SIUE equals the sixth-largest win in school history. It was Iowa’s largest margin of victory since the Hawkeyes beat Pepperdine in 1966 by the very same score. Additionally, the 61-point win marks the ninth time in school history Iowa won by 60 points or more.
? Iowa’s 111 points vs. SIUE are the most it has scored since posting 112 vs. North Texas (112-64) on Nov. 16, 1998.
? Iowa collected 19 steals against SIUE, a total that ties for fifth most in a single-game in school history.
? Eric May had seven steals, which ties four other Hawkeyes for the fourth most in a single-game.
? Melsahn Basabe rejected seven shots vs. Iowa State, a total that equals the third most in a game by a Hawkeye.
? Five of Iowa’s first six Big Ten games will come against ranked opponents: Illinois (16), Purdue (18), Minnesota (20) and twice against Ohio State (2).

CARTWRIGHT ON POINT
Bryce Cartwright has started the last five games at point guard since starter Cully Payne had surgery to repair a sports hernia.

Cartwright’s talents began to emerge in Iowa’s last game of the Paradise Jam (Nov. 22) against Long Beach State. The junior transfer tallied 12 of his team-high 17 points in the second half against the 49ers. Cartwright shot 8-16 (.500) from the field and collected three rebounds, two assists and a game-high four steals.

Cartwright started his first career game as a Hawkeye vs. SIUE (Nov. 26). The native of Compton, Calif., had 11 points, four assists and two steals. At Wake Forest, he scored 10 of his 13 points in the second half and dished out a game-high five assists. Against Idaho State, Cartwright posted game highs in points (15) and assists (8). The eight helpers matched a personal best. He followed up that performance with six dimes in Iowa’s victory over in-state rival Northern Iowa. Cartwright dished out a game-high seven assists against Iowa State.

The 6-1 guard ranks second in team scoring (9.8), first in assists (44) and second in steals (10). The last five games, he is averaging 10.6 points and six assists.

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 221 straight games.

BIG TEN WINS ACC/BIG TEN CHALLENGE
For the second straight season, the Big Ten won the ACC/Big Ten Challenge, 6-5. Michigan, Wisconsin, Northwestern, Illinois, Ohio State and Purdue notched victories for the Big Ten. Wake Forest, Duke, Boston College, Virginia and Maryland recorded wins for the ACC.

GATENS RETURNS TO ACTION AFTER SUFFERING INJURY
Junior Matt Gatens tore a tendon in his left, non-shooting hand, Oct. 26 during practice. The shooting guard had surgery Oct. 28. Gatens had a hard cast removed on Nov. 10. He did not play in Iowa’s first two games (South Dakota State and UL Monroe), but returned to action in the Hawkeyes’ last eight contests.

The 6-5 shooting guard averaged 27 minutes, 7.7 points and 3.3 rebounds, starting all three games at the Paradise Jam in St. Thomas in his first three games back. Gatens looks to have regained his shooting touch, scoring a team-high 15 points against Iowa State. Gatens sank his first four field goals, including three triples against the Cyclones.

Gatens, who had started every game in his Hawkeye career prior to the injury, 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.

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.

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).

Exclusive video, ticket specials and more will be available on facebook throughout the season.

“HAWK TALK WITH Fran McCaffery”
University of Iowa basketball fans may join Iowa Coach Fran McCaffery and radio announcer Gary Dolphin during the season for the “Hawk Talk with Fran McCaffery” radio call-in show. The show takes place each Monday at Carlos O’Kelly’s Mexican Cafe in Iowa City from 7-8:30 p.m.

Each Monday, one lucky fan will have an opportunity to have his or her question and name read on their air. Submit your question on the team’s facebook page at: facebook.com/hawkeyehoops.

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 have two days to prepare for its final non-conference game when Louisiana Tech visits Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Tuesday at 7 p.m. The Hawkeyes will open Big Ten Conference play against Illinois on Dec. 29 at 8 p.m. in Iowa City.