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A Chip Off the Old Block?A Chip Off the Old Block?
Men's Basketball

A Chip Off the Old Block?

Dec. 3, 2010

PARDON OUR PROGRESS! As friends of the University of Iowa and fans of the Hawkeyes know, the UI Athletics Department is well into a multi-million dollar revitalization of Carver-Hawkeye Arena. This important and exciting project has reduced for this season the number of ticket windows that are operational on game nights. Fans attending the home events of the 2010-11 UI men’s basketball, women’s basketball and wrestling teams are invited to avoid game night delays by purchasing their event tickets online or in advance of game day. If your schedule doesn’t allow for an advance purchase, we recommend you consider arriving at the Arena a little earlier than originally planned. Go Hawks!

Editor’s Note:The following first appeared in the University of Iowa’s Hawk Talk Daily, an e-newsletter that offers a daily look at the Iowa Hawkeyes, delivered free each morning to thousands of fans of the Hawkeyes worldwide.

IOWA CITY, Iowa — Roy Devyn Marble came to the University of Iowa’s basketball program shouldering the burden of a pretty high bar to clear: His father, Roy, was a three-time all-Big Ten selection for the Hawkeyes in the 1980s and graduated as Iowa’s all-time leading scorer with 2,116 points.

Seven games into his own basketball career at the UI it’s becoming pretty clear that Marble No. 2 has what it takes to make his own mark as a Hawkeye.

“I think what he’s proven so far is that he’s a gamer. He’s got some talent. He can score. He’s not afraid.”
Fran McCaffery on freshman Roy Devyn Marble

Statistically, he surging: The two-time most valuable player at Lathrup High School in Southfield, Mich., averaged 5 points, a little more than 2 rebounds, and 12 minutes of court time in the UI’s first four games of 2009-10. In the last three, Marble’s numbers have climbed to 9 points, almost 4 rebounds, and 24 minutes.

And, during those last three games, the 6-foot-5, 190-pounder has shot an even 50 percent from the field, made 9 of 11 free throw attempts, was credited with 5 assists and 2 steals while charged with only 2 turnovers — a significant accomplishment for a freshman who has seen considerable action at the point.

“I think what he’s proven so far is that he’s a gamer. He’s got some talent. He can score. He’s not afraid,” UI Coach Fran McCaffery said Thursday when he met with the media in anticipation of Saturday’s game against Idaho State at 12:30 p.m. inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

“He sticks his nose in there on the glass and rebounds the ball. He is going to be aggressive offensively, and he’s not a mistake-maker, so that’s critical.”

McCaffery is clearly impressed with Marble’s on-court presence and his size and his shooting ability.

“I just don’t think he rattles all that much. He’s going to be aggressive, he’s going to be pretty solid,” Iowa’s first-year head coach said of one of a handful of rookies who are faring well as the Hawkeyes continue to ready themselves for the trifecta of intrastate rivals that is Northern Iowa, Iowa State and Drake.

“Teams might come after him a little more at full court and trap him or press him or deny him. The beauty with Devyn is he’s got the size to see over double teams and he gets rid of it before he gets himself in trouble. And he scores.

“He can also shoot right over you. He’s a terrific mid-range jump shooter…kind of a lost art today. I think his three ball will come and I’m OK with him shooting it.”

McCaffery is also convinced Roy’s son is like his father: One of the “good ones.”

“I’ve been around long enough (to know) that the really good ones, the minute they get here, they don’t rattle,” he said. “It’s kind of like Devyn knows ‘I belong here. If I make a mistake, I’m not going to let it wear me down and I’ll be back.'”