Hawkeyes to Host NW Missouri State Sunday

Nov. 2, 2011

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Iowa Game Notes

THE SETTING
The Iowa Hawkeyes host Northwest Missouri State Sunday in an exhibition contest. Tip-off is slated for 3:35 p.m. on Mediacom Court at Carver-Hawkeye Arena (15,500). Sunday’s exhibition will be played as part of a doubleheader; the Iowa women are scheduled to entertain Winona State at 1:05 p.m.

Tickets are $5 for adults and free for youths and UI students and are good for both Sunday games. Free posters and schedule cards will be available.

The Hawkeyes open the regular season Friday, Nov. 11, when they host Chicago State (7:05 p.m.) in a Dale Howard Classic preliminary game.

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: There is no television coverage of Sunday’s exhibition. However, the game will be streamed live on hawkeyesports.com via the BTN Digital Network. Hawkeye All-Access subscribers can watch live video streams of UI events on the BTN Digital Network at no extra charge. Fans can also access the game via video.BTN.com.

SEASON TICKETS AND MINI PACKAGES ON SALE
Hawkeye fans can purchase a season ticket for $296 that includes 20 home games. UI Faculty and staff can purchase tickets for $252, while the price is only $85 for UI students. In addition, a $6 postage and handling fee will be added to each order.

There are also four different mini packages that range from a seven-game plan to 11 games. Call the UI Ticket Office (1-800-IA-HAWKS) for more information on a ticket plan that best fits your needs.

IOWA IN EXHIBITIONS
Iowa is 17-1 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 four seasons.

EXPERIENCED BACKCOURT
Iowa has the most experienced starting backcourt duo in the Big Ten. The Hawkeyes are the only league team with two starting senior guards, Bryce Cartwright and Matt Gatens.

IOWA INVOLVED IN CLOSE GAMES
Iowa was 2-7 in games decided by five points or less in 2011, with five of the defeats coming by three points. Three of those losses came in the last five Big Ten games. Iowa stunned sixth-ranked Purdue (67-65) in the regular season finale at Iowa City on March 5 and clipped Indiana (64-63), in Bloomington, on Feb. 5 for its two narrow victories. The Hawkeyes also had possession with an opportunity to tie (Northwestern) or win (Wisconsin and Michigan), but ultimately fell short in those contests.

2010-11 IOWA SEASON REVIEW
Iowa ended its 2010-11 season with an 11-20 record and a 4-14 mark in conference play.

Melsahn Basabe and Bryce Cartwright earned all-Big Ten recognition. Basabe was named to the coaches’ all-freshman team and earned honorable mention all-conference laurels from both the media and coaches. Cartwright was tabbed honorable mention all-Big Ten by the media voters.

Last year marked the third straight year Iowa had a player named to the coaches’ all-freshman squad. In 2009, Matt Gatens was honored, while Eric May was recognized in 2010.

Iowa’s schedule, again, proved to be demanding, ranking 49th in the nation in strength. Nineteen of Iowa’s 31 games were against teams that advanced to postseason play, including 14 contests against teams that advanced to the NCAA Tournament.

Iowa recorded Big Ten victories over sixth-ranked Purdue (67-65), Michigan State (72-52) and Indiana twice (91-77 and 64-63). The sweep of Indiana marked the first time the Hawkeyes swept the Hoosiers, in two games, in back-to-back seasons since 1944-45.

Gatens led the team in scoring (12.6) and steals (1.3). Gatens has led the Hawkeyes in scoring the last two seasons. Basabe led the team in rebounding (6.8) and blocks (1.3), while Cartwright had the most assists (5.8).

SCOUTING NORTHWEST MISSOURI STATE
? Northwest Missouri State is led by third-year head coach Ben McCollum (22-31). McCollum lived in Iowa City his first 6-7 years of his life before moving to Storm Lake. He was named Outstanding Camper in one of Iowa’s first basketball camps. McCollum began his college career at North Iowa Area Community College where he was a two-time all-region performer.
? The Bearcats posted a 10-16 record a year ago and an 8-14 mark in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association.
? Northwest Missouri State returns six players from last year. Junior guard DeShaun Cooper is their top returning scorer (16.3 ppg).
? The Bearcats were selected to finish fifth in the preseason MIAA Coaches Poll.
? The Bearcats averaged 69.1 points in 26 games last year.
? Northwest Missouri State has one Iowa native on its roster: Kyle Haake. The senior guard is from Harlan.

BASABE EARNS PRESEASON ACCOLADE
Sophomore forward Melsahn Basabe was tabbed preseason All-Big Ten second team by College Sports Madness. Joining Basabe on the second team are Michigan’s Tim Hardaway, Jr., Aaron Craft of Ohio State, Michigan State’s Draymond Green and Trevor Mbakwe of Minnesota.

BROMMER TO MISS TIME DUE TO INJURY
Andrew Brommer sustained an injury on Oct. 13 towards the end of a team workout. The senior center suffered a right sprained knee and is expected to miss 3-4 weeks.

GATENS RANKS AMONG BIG TEN’S BEST FT SHOOTERS
Junior Matt Gatens has converted 86.7% (235-271) of his free throw attempts. He currently is tied with Purdue’s Jerry Sichting (.867, 273-315) for sixth in Big Ten career free throw percentage (minimum 200 made) behind Indiana’s Steve Alford (.898, 535-596), Penn State’s Joe Crispin (.885, 448-506), Wisconsin’s Rick Olson (.870, 260-299) Penn State’s Pete Lisicky (.868, 223-257) and Ohio State’s Jamar Butler (.868, 231-266).

BASABE RANKS HIGH ON HAWKEYE ROOKIE CHARTS
Melsahn Basabe had a stellar rookie campaign in 2011 and ranks among some of the best Iowa freshmen of all-time in a number of statistical categories. Basabe scored 342 points (11.0 avg.), pulled down 210 rebounds (6.8 avg.) and blocked 41 shots (1.3 avg.). Also, he was 131-229 (.572) from the field and 80-112 (.714) from the foul line.

BASABE ETCHED HIS NAME IN HAWKEYE RECORD BOOKS
Melsahn Basabe is the only Hawkeye rookie to ever amass over 340 points, 200 rebounds and 40 blocks. The native of Glen Cove, NY, finished his rookie campaign with 342 points, 210 rebounds and 41 blocks.

In fact, he is the first Iowa player — regardless of class — to accomplish the feat since Ryan Bowen totaled 447 points, 271 rebounds and 41 blocks his senior season in 1997-98.

HAWKEYE FAST BREAKS
? Iowa saw an increase in its attendance numbers in 2010-11. Compared to 2009-10, the Hawkeyes averaged 2,085 more fans than a year ago, an increase of 20%. Iowa averaged 9,550 fans two years ago, compared to 11,635 last year.
? Iowa returns 87.1% of its offensive production, including its top three scorers. The Hawkeyes also return 81.4% of their rebounding and 91.5% of their assists.
? Bryce Cartwright ranked first in Big Ten assists (6.83) and 18th nationally a year ago. He became the first Hawkeye since Dean Oliver (5.2 avg.) in 2001 to lead the Big Ten in assists, in conference play.
? Matt Gatens (1,103) ranks fourth among Big Ten seniors in career scoring. Ohio State’s William Buford (1,415) ranks first followed by Northwestern’s John Shurna and Indiana’s Verdell Jones III (1,115).
? Matt Gatens has made 163 career 3-pointers, which ranks sixth at Iowa. He is 30 triples from tying Brody Boyd (2001-04) for fifth place.

NO 3-POINTERS
Since the 3-point shot became part of the college game, Iowa has played 15 games in which it has failed to make a 3-point attempt. Iowa had made at least one 3-point basket in 239-straight games before missing all 12 attempts in an 85-66 road loss at Michigan State on March 2, 2011.

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 47 years of head coaching experience.

Director of Basketball Operations Jerry Strom is in his 31st season as a member of the Iowa basketball staff. Also, former Hawkeye standout and professional basketball player Ryan Bowen is the video coordinator. Bowen was on four NBA rosters (Denver, Houston, New Orleans and Oklahoma City).

IOWA IN CARVER-HAWKEYE ARENA
Iowa has compiled a 348-111 (.758) record in Carver-Hawkeye Arena since the facility opened in January, 1983. Iowa is 162-89 (.645) in Big Ten games and 186-22 (.894) in non-Big Ten contests.

Carver-Hawkeye Arena just completed a $47 million renovation that was completed thia past September.

ALL-SESSION BIG TEN TOURNAMENT TICKETS ON SALE
All-session tickets for the Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament are on sale. Tickets can be purchased at the Conseco Fieldhouse Box Office, Ticketmaster outlets, ticketmaster.com or by calling Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000. For more information regarding how to purchase tickets within Iowa’s block, contact the UI Athletic Ticket Office. Conseco Fieldhouse is the site of the men’s tournament from March 8-11, featuring 22 games over eight days.

Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament all-session tickets for the lower and club levels are available for $325 through Big Ten university ticket offices only. All-session tickets for the upper levels are available for $240 or $175 (depending on seat location) through Ticketmaster or the Conseco Fieldhouse Box Office only. Orders will be limited to eight all-session tickets.

In addition, the men’s tournament will continue to feature a special discounted rate of $50 for all-session tickets available only to students of 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 2011-12 regular season with three consecutive homes games. The Hawkeyes will entertain Chicago State (Nov. 11), North Carolina AT&T (Nov. 14) and Northern Illinois (Nov. 17).