Basabe Confident Through 'Rough Patch'

Nov. 29, 2011

• 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

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 — Melsahn Basabe is suffering through a “rough patch” early in his sophomore season for the University of Iowa men’s basketball team, but his confidence is unwavering.

“I’ve been working hard,” said Basabe. “I’ve been coming to practice every day, and I usually come in early to shoot most days and stay after. Why should I lose confidence after a few rough games?

“I don’t think anyone has had a perfect career. Michael Jordan didn’t do that. I think Melsahn Basabe can go through a few rough patches. I just told myself to stick to doing what I do best.”

Basabe opened his season with comparable numbers to his first season when he was selected to the Big Ten all-Freshman team. He averaged 12.3 points and 5.7 rebounds in leading the Hawkeyes to a 3-0 start.

He followed it up with three consecutive two point games against Creighton, Campbell and IPFW. Now Basabe’s is putting in the work trying to get back to form.

“I am going to tell myself that I shouldn’t be doing anything other than playing with the energy I played with last year,” he said. “Everything will fall into place. I have been coming to practice working hard, so I know I’ll start playing well.”

Senior Bryce Cartwright and sophomore Roy Devyn Marble — Iowa’s two primary options at the point guard position — say the key to getting Basabe back to the productive player they’re used to seeing is to get him going early.

“We need to get him some easier baskets and create more for him,” said Cartwright, who leads Iowa with 27 assists. “He’s the type of player that if he sees his first bucket go in early, it could be one of those nights for him. He needs some early encouragement.”

“Getting him the ball in better position and getting him a few easy buckets here and there to make the game come easier for him,” said Marble. “That will help him out a lot.”

UI head coach Fran McCaffery says part of Basabe’s struggles are due to the added weight put on to his 6-foot-7 frame. The forward played at the 210 pound range as a freshman before bulking up to 225 during the offseason.

“It’s not fat. He’s in phenomenal shape physically,” said McCaffery. “You’ve got to endure a long season. You’re asking a guy to play the four and five in the Big Ten… 230 is light… 215 is really light.

“He did it fairly well last year. I still think he’ll be up over 220 no matter what. He’s got to learn how to play at that weight.”

McCaffery can see the effects of the added weight in the way Basabe is moving around the floor.

“He’s not moving the same way,” said McCaffery. “He was quicker, faster and bouncier. He was all over the court. I do think he’s thinking a little bit too much, trying to make too many moves and putting the ball on the deck more than he should.

“But he’s practiced well, so I know that he’s capable of getting back to where he needs to.”

Marble says the team will go to Basabe more often to help him work through his struggles.

“We’re going to give him the ball a lot more (against Clemson) and in the future,” said Marble. “He should be able to go back to his old self.”

Iowa faces Clemson tonight in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge on Mediacom Court inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena beginning at 8:20 p.m. (CT). The game will be televised on ESPNU with Adam Amin and LaPhonso Ellis calling the action.