Nov. 13, 2011
- Purchase Iowa Men’s Basketball Tickets
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- Take the Hawkeyes With You: Iowa Podcasts
- Iowa and the Big Ten Network
- Big Ten Network: Free Hawkeye Video
- 24 Hawkeyes to Watch
TIP-OFF
? Iowa hosts North Carolina A&T Monday on Mediacom Court at Carver-Hawkeye Arena at 7:05 p.m.
? Tickets are $12 for adults and $5 for UI students and youths.
? Monday is “Andrew Brommer Bobblehead Night” (1,000 bobbleheads will be given out).
? Monday’s game against North Carolina A&T is the second of three Dale Howard Classic preliminary games. The Hawkeyes will also face Campbell (Nov. 23).
? Monday will be the first ever meeting between the two teams.
? North Carolina A&T is located in Greensboro, N.C. The Aggies are a member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC). The Hawkeyes are a perfect 9-0 all-time against current members of the MEAC.
? Coach McCaffery has coached against North Carolina A&T three previous times (2000, 2001, 2002), all while he was head coach at UNC Greensboro. The Spartans won two of the three games against North Carolina A&T.
? Iowa is 5-1 all-time in games played on Nov. 14.
? Iowa will be gunning for its 350th win in Carver-Hawkeye Arena Monday. The Hawkeyes are 349-111 (.759) in Carver-Hawkeye Arena since January 1983.
SEASON TICKETS AND MINI PACKAGES ON SALE
Hawkeye fans can purchase a season ticket for $296. 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 to 11-game plan. Call the UI Ticket Office (1-800-IA-HAWKS) for more information on a ticket plan that best fits your needs.
HAWKEYES OVERWHELM CHICAGO STATE IN OPENER
Iowa won its first season opener in three years with an impressive 96-53 triumph over Chicago State Friday on Mediacom Court at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Iowa started the game on a 10-0 run and ended the half scoring the final 11 points to build a comfortable 43-20 halftime cushion. The Hawkeyes expanded on their lead in the second half, outscoring the Cougars 53-33 in the final 20 minutes. Four Hawkeyes scored in double figures: Aaron White (19), Melsahn Basabe (14), Zach McCabe (13) and Eric May (12). White also grabbed 10 rebounds to become the first Hawkeye to post a double-double this season (Iowa had four players collect double-doubles a year ago). Iowa shot the ball well the charity stripe, sinking 27-32 (.844) shots. Basabe (8-8) and White (5-5) combined to go a perfect 13-13 from the foul line.
SEASON OPENER TIP-INS
? Friday’s announced attendance of 12,897 was Iowa’s best attendance for a home opener since 2001 (15,500).
? Eric May dished out a game-high five assists, which is a new personal best.
? Roy Devyn Marble collected a career-high three steals. Marble had four steals in four contests a year ago. The native of Southfield, Mich., also grabbed seven rebounds and dished out four assists, both matching personal bests.
? Iowa’s 27 free throws made tied its season high of free throws made last season (27-39 vs. Indiana). Also, the 84.4 percent bested its season high from 2010-11 (minimum 15 attempts).
? Iowa’s defense held Chicago State to only 10 percent (1-10) shooting from long distance. The Hawkeyes forced 27 turnovers and converted those miscues into 25 points.
? Friday was a team win, as the Hawkeye bench contributed 57 points.
SCOUTING NORTH CAROLINA A&T
? North Carolina A&T is led by ninth-year head coach Jerry Eaves.
? North Carolina A&T lost its season opener 97-65 Friday night at Creighton in a Dale Howard Classic preliminary contest. No Aggie reached double figures in scoring. Forward Adam Witter was their leading scorer, netting nine points on 4-6 shooting from the field.
? North Carolina A&T was outrebounded 50-34 and outscored 16-2 in fastbreak points Friday.
? The Aggies posted a 15-17 overall record and a 9-7 conference mark a year ago.
? North Carolina A&T has appeared in nine NCAA Tournaments, including seven straight appearances (1982-88).
? The Aggies return nine lettermen, including four starters, from a year ago and also welcome seven newcomers. Eleven of the Aggies’ 17-player roster are upperclassmen. Nic Simpson is the team’s top returning scorer, who averaged 13.3 points, bolstered by a team-best 58 triples made. Thomas Coleman led the Aggies in scoring (17.0), rebounding (10.5), blocks (83) and steals (36) last season, but is the one starter not back.
? Twelve of North Carolina A&T’s first 15 games will be on the road. The Aggies will play in nine different states (Nebraska, Iowa, Indiana, North Carolina, Texas, Ohio, Florida, California and Hawaii) during that stretch.
WHITE SHINES IN DEBUT
Freshman Aaron White had a solid debut in Iowa’s 96-53 victory over Chicago State. White led all scorers with 19 points on 6-12 shooting from the field, including 2-3 from 3-point range, and a perfect 5-5 at the foul line. He also snagged a game-high 10 boards and registered two steals in only 18 minutes of game action. The 19 points is believed to be the most by a Hawkeye freshman in a season opener. Ricky Davis had 18 points against Chicago State in 1997, while Dick Ives netted 17 versus Western Illinois in 1944. Furthermore, White’s performance marked the first time a Hawkeye posted a double-double, in his debut since Dean Oliver posted 10 points and 12 assists in a victory over Chicago State in 1997. It marked the first time a Hawkeye had a double-double, points and rebounds, since Jess Settles had 13 points and 11 rebounds versus Drake in 1993.
McCABE HAS ANOTHER SOLID SEASON OPENER
For the second straight year, Zach McCabe had a good stat line on his season opener. McCabe totaled 13 points and five rebounds against Chicago State Friday. Last season, the native of Sioux City had 11 points and seven boards versus South Dakota State.
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.
GATENS RANKS AMONG BIG TEN’S BEST FT SHOOTERS
Senior Matt Gatens has converted 86.8% (237-273) of his free throw attempts. He currently is tied with Penn State’s Pete Lisicky (.868, 223-257) and Ohio State’s Jamar Butler (.868, 231-266) for fourth 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) and Wisconsin’s Rick Olson (.870, 260-299).
DALE HOWARD CLASSIC TICKETS IN DES MOINES
Fans can purchase tickets to the Dale Howard Classic in Des Moines that pits Iowa against Creighton (Nov. 20), a number of ways. Fans can buy tickets at the Wells Fargo ticket office, online at www.dahltickets.com, calling 1-866-55-DAHLS or at any of the 13 Des Moines and Ames area Dahl’s Food Stores. Fans planning on attending are encouraged to buy tickets in advance to avoid long lines the day of the game.
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
? Seven of Iowa’s first eight contests will be played at home, with the non-home game during the stretch being played on a neutral floor in Des Moines versus Creighton.
? Matt Gatens is only two points from equaling Kenny Arnold (1979-82) for 29th place and eight from matching Michael Payne (1982-95) and Chris Kingsbury (1994-96) for 27th on Iowa’s career scoring chart.
? Iowa saw an increase in its attendance numbers in 2010-11. Compared to 2009-10, last year’s Hawkeyes averaged 2,085 more fans than the previous season, an increase of 20%. Iowa averaged 9,550 fans two years ago, compared to 11,635 last year.
? 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.
? Iowa’s five freshmen, in 2011, averaged a combined 22.9 points per game, an average that ranked third in the Big Ten behind Ohio State (34.0) and Michigan (31.7). Two of Michigan’s freshmen are redshirts.
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).
HAWKEYES ARE TOUGH AT HOME
Iowa has won 73 of its 103 games (.709) in Carver-Hawkeye Arena (15,500) over the last eight seasons, including win streaks of 21 straight overall and 12 straight Big Ten Conference wins. Iowa has won 10 of its last 20 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, 9-9 in 2010 and 8-8 this season.
IOWA IN CARVER-HAWKEYE ARENA
Iowa has compiled a 349-111 (.759) record in Carver-Hawkeye Arena since the facility opened in January, 1983. Iowa is 162-89 (.645) in Big Ten games and 187-22 (.895) in non-Big Ten contests.
CARTWRIGHT JOINS SELECT GROUP
Point guard Bryce Cartwright dished out 123 assists, during Big Ten play, becoming only the sixth Hawkeye since 1975 to lead the league in assists. Cartwright finished with 10 more assists than second place Darius Morris of Michigan (113). Cartwright’s 6.83 assists average is the highest by an Iowa player since Cal Wulfsberg’s 7.7 average in 1975. Cartwright, who averaged 10.9 points and 5.8 assists in 2011, is one of only two Iowa players to ever average better than 10.5 points and 5.8 assists in a single-season. Andre Woolridge is the other Hawkeye to accomplish the feat. Woolridge averaged 20.2 points and six assists in 1997; 13.1 points and six assists in 1996 and 14 points and 5.8 assists in 1995.
WELCOME NEW HAWKEYES
Iowa has six new faces on the team this season: Gabriel Olaseni, Josh Oglesby, Aaron White, Steven McCarty, Kyle Denning and Christopher Rickert. Olaseni, Oglesby and White are on scholarship, while Denning, McCarty and Rickert are walk-ons.
HAWKEYEHOOPS.COM
Check out the Iowa basketball team’s new website, HawkeyeBasketball.com, devoted to everything on-and-off-the-court surrounding the program. HawkeyeBasketball.com, allows fans a chance to go behind the scenes with the Hawkeye basketball program on and off the court. The site is complete with exclusive videos, photo galleries and content featuring the basketball program. HawkeyeBasketball.com will be updated throughout the year with exclusive videos, including game highlights and player features, along with news stories and other content.
IOWA HISTORY
Iowa has played 2,626 games since beginning basketball in 1902. Iowa’s overall record is 1,578-1,048 (.601). That includes a 943-347 (.731) record in home games, a 545-711 (.434) record in contests away from Iowa City, a 703-718 (.495) mark in Big Ten games and a 349-111 (.759) record in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
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. The Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament will call Indianapolis and Conseco Fieldhouse home this March and again in 2014 and 2016. The 2012 tournament marks the eighth time Indianapolis has hosted the Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament at Conseco Fieldhouse.
ON THE HORIZON
Iowa returns to action Thursday when it entertains Northern Illinois. Tip-off is slated for 7:05 p.m. on Mediacom Court at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.