Hawkeyes to Host Central Arkansas Monday

Dec. 18, 2011

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Iowa Game Notes

TIP-OFF
? Iowa will play its second game in three days Monday when it hosts Central Arkansas.
? Tickets are $12 for adults and $5 for youths and UI students.
? Monday will be “Devon Archie Bobblehead Night”; 1,000 will be distributed to fans.
? Iowa has collected 10 steals or more in six games. The Hawkeyes own the second largest steal differential in the country (+59).
? Roy Devyn Marble has started at point guard the last three games, leading the team in scoring at Northern Iowa (14 points) and at Iowa State (personal best 21 points).
? Marble averaged 12.4 points, 3.6 assists, 2.7 rebounds and 1.7 steals the last seven outings.
? Iowa has scored 8.2 more points per game compared to last year, which is second in the Big Ten.
? Melsahn Basabe has averaged 12.5 points and 7.5 rebounds the last four games.
? Iowa is 7-0 when scoring 80 points or more, under McCaffery, the last two seasons. Furthermore, the Hawkeyes are 11-0 when holding opponents to fewer than 60 points.
? Matt Gatens is one of only six Division I players with 1,200+ points, 350+ rebounds and 180+ 3-pointers in their career so far.
? The Big Ten is the No. 1 ranked conference in the RPI and Sagarin ratings entering this week.

HAWKEYES BEAT DRAKE
A 15-3 surge to close the first half propelled the Iowa basketball team to an 82-68 victory Saturday night over Drake. For the second time this season (North Carolina A&T), five Hawkeyes scored in double figures: Matt Gatens (20), Bryce Cartwright (12), Aaron White (10), Melsahn Basabe (10) and Roy Devyn Marble (10). Gatens played all 40 minutes and also grabbed six rebounds and collected a game-high three steals. Cartwright scored all 12 of his points in the second half, while White netted nine of his 10 points in the first stanza. Iowa held Drake’s leading scorer, Ben Simons, to five points. The Hawkeye defense forced 19 Bulldog turnovers and converted those miscues into 19 points. Iowa shot 50 percent from the field (28-of-56) and 79 percent from the foul line (23-of-29).

IOWA, DRAKE TIP-INS
? Iowa blocked a season-high six shots, two each by Melsahn Basabe and Eric May, and one by Josh Oglesby and Aaron White.
? Matt Gatens topped the 20-point plateau for the third time this year and 12th of his career. Saturday marked the second time this year he played all 40 minutes (Campbell).
? After missing the Northern Iowa game due to injury and playing limited minutes at Iowa State, Bryce Cartwright played 28 minutes off the bench, netting 12 points, and collecting three assists and a steal.
? In addition to 10 points, Roy Devyn Marble dished out five assists for the second straight game.

MARBLE STEPS UP
Roy Devyn Marble’s level of play has been stellar the last seven games. The sophomore has averaged 12.4 points, 3.6 assists, 2.7 rebounds and 1.7 steals the last seven outings. Marble played a career high 37 minutes, starting at point guard, at Northern Iowa. Marble led Iowa in scoring at Northern Iowa (14 points on 7-of-12 shooting) and at Iowa State (career-high 21 points, bolstered by 10-of-11 shooting from the foul line). He has amassed 37 assists to only 10 turnovers, ranking second in the Big Ten in assist/turnover ratio (3.7) and third in the country. Marble has been credited with four assists or more seven times this season, including five in each of the last two contests.

SCOUTING CENTRAL ARKANSAS
? Monday will be the first-ever meeting between Iowa and Central Arkansas.
? Central Arkansas is located in Conway, Ark., and is a member of the Southland Conference. Iowa is 5-2 all-time against current teams in the Southland.
? Central Arkansas had a three-game win streak snapped at Arkansas State (71-64) on Dec. 10, which was the Bears’ last game.
? Former Arkansas and NBA player Corliss Williamson is in his second season as head coach for Central Arkansas. Williamson, who is in the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame, was the 13th overall pick in the 1995 NBA Draft. During his NBA career, he played for four teams: Sacramento (1995-2000; 2005-07), Toronto (2000-01), Detroit (2001-04) and Philadelphia (2004-05).
? Central Arkansas enters Monday’s game with a 5-4 record, notching wins over Ecclesia, Eastern Illinois, Tennessee-Martin, Southeast Missouri State and Henderson State. The Bears lost at Stanford, Sacramento State, Arkansas State and at home to Philander Smith.
? Central Arkansas averages 78.1 points per game, but its opponents average 80.7. The Bears shoot 26 percent from 3-point range and 53 percent at the free throw line.
? The Bears have four players averaging double figures in scoring: LaQuentin Miles (19.3), Jordan Harks (11.4), Mark Rutledge (10.6) and Jarvis Garner (10.4). Miles also leads the team in rebounding (7.0), steals (25), and free throws made (40) and attempted (77).

IOWA, CENTRAL ARKANSAS TIP-INS
? Corliss Williamson played against the Hawkeyes when Iowa and Arkansas played for the Rainbow Classic championship on Dec. 30, 1994 in Honolulu, Hawaii. Williamson posted 17 points on 8-of-13 shooting and grabbed a game-high nine rebounds. The Razorbacks won the game 101-92.
? Entering last week, Iowa ranked 19th in the nation in turnover margin (5.0), 30th in steals (9.4), 41st in assist/turnover ratio (1.2) and 42nd in fewest turnovers per contest (12.2). Individually, Roy Devyn Marble ranks third in the nation in assist/turnover ratio (3.7), while Matt Gatens ranks 20th in free throw percentage (.886).
? Central Arkansas ranks 36th in steals per game (8.9). Individually, LaQuentin Miles ranks 11th nationally in steals (2.8), 22nd in double-doubles (4) and 36th in scoring (19.3).

IMPROVED DECEMBER STATS FOR BASABE
After a sluggish start to the season, sophomore Melsahn Basabe’s numbers in December have been good. Basabe has averaged 12.5 points and 7.5 rebounds the last four games. He shot 20-of-39 (.513) from the field in those contests. The previous seven contests, the native of Glen Cove, N.Y. averaged 6.4 points and 4.0 rebounds. Basabe posted a season-high 18 points and grabbed a game-high nine rebounds at Iowa State (Dec. 9). He had eight points and six rebounds at Northern Iowa (Dec. 6) and totaled 14 points and a season-high 10 rebounds for his eighth career double-double versus Brown (Dec. 3). In Iowa’s last game, Basabe netted 10 points, snagged five boards and rejected a game-high two shots.

BALANCED SCORING
Iowa has seven players averaging 7.4 points or more. Matt Gatens is first on the team (13.5), followed by Roy Devyn Marble (9.5), Melsahn Basabe (8.5), Eric May (8.3), Zach McCabe (7.7), Josh Oglesby (7.6) and Aaron White (7.4).

BIG TEN RANKINGS
Iowa ranks first in the Big Ten in steals (9.4), third in scoring (75.4), turnover margin (+5.0) and free throw percentage (.743), fifth in assist/turnover ratio (1.2), and sixth in assists (14.8).

HAWKEYES PUSHING THE TEMPO
An even more increased tempo by the Iowa Hawkeyes has led to 8.2 more points per game compared to last season, an increase that ranks second best in the Big Ten.

NUMBER OF THE WEEK – – 10
Iowa has won four of its last five games when Melsahn Basabe pulls down 10+ rebounds, including a 2-0 mark in 2011-12. Basabe is one of four active Big Ten players with at least 10 games of 10+ rebounds since the beginning of last season.

STEALING THE ROCK
Iowa is averaging 9.4 steals this season, collecting 10 steals or more in six times. Last season, the Hawkeyes averaged 6.7 thefts. The 9.4 steals rank first in the Big Ten and 30th in the country. The Hawkeyes have recorded 59 more steals than their opponents this season, which is the second-largest differential in the nation.

Matt Gatens AMONG SELECT GROUP
Matt Gatens is one of six active Division I players with 1200+ points, 350+ rebounds and 180+ made three-pointers in a career so far.

SINKING THE FREEBEES
Starters Matt Gatens (39-of-44), Melsahn Basabe (29-of-38) and Roy Devyn Marble (26-of-35) are a combined 94-of-117 (.803) from the free throw line. Gatens ranks third in Big Ten career free throw percentage (.870). Iowa has made 45-of-54 from the charity stripe the last two games; shooting 88 percent at Iowa State (22-of-25) and 79 percent versus Drake (23-of-29). The Hawkeyes have missed only six free throws (41-of-48, .854) in the final five minutes of games. Additionally, the Hawkeyes have missed only one free throw (12-of-13, .923) in the final minute of their 11 games

HAWKEYE FAST BREAKS
? Iowa has not had a game decided by fewer than 10 points this season. The average margin of victory in the Hawkeyes’ six victories is 22.8 points, while the margin of defeat is 17 points.
? Roy Devyn Marble has 37 assists to only 10 turnovers this season. His 3.7 assist/turnover ratio ranks second in the Big Ten.
? Sophomore Zach McCabe is shooting at a 64 percent clip (18-of-28) from the field over the last six games.
? Iowa is 15-8 in games played on Dec. 22.
? Freshman Josh Oglesby became the first Hawkeye reserve to lead the team in scoring, in back-to-back games (Northern Illinois and Creighton), since Ricky Davis paced Iowa with 25 and 18 on the road at Wisconsin (Feb. 3) and Michigan State (Feb. 7), respectively, in 1998. Like Oglesby, Davis accomplished the feat as a freshman.
? Coach McCaffery has played at least 10 players in nine of Iowa’s 11 contests; nine played in the Hawkeyes’ last two game at Iowa State (Dec. 9) and versus Drake (Dec. 17). Iowa’s bench averages 30.4 points.
? Iowa’s 61.9 percent (13-of-21) 3-point percentage and 56 rebounds against Brown are the most of any Big Ten team this season.
? Iowa has had five players score in double figures twice this season (North Carolina A&T and Drake). The Hawkeyes had five players score 12 points or more in its win over North Carolina A&T (Nov. 14). It marked only the fourth time the Hawkeyes had five players tally 12 points or more in a game (UW-Green Bay in 2003, Michigan in 2004, SIU-Edwardsville in 2010 and North Carolina A&T in 2011).
? Matt Gatens’ 20 points versus Drake propelled him past Jeff Moe (1985-88) into 16th place on Iowa’s all-time scoring chart. The senior is 85 points from tying James Moses (1989-92) for 15th place. Gatens has amassed 1,258 points entering Monday’s contest against Central Arkansas.
? 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 year, an increase of 20%. Iowa averaged 9,550 fans two years ago, compared to 11,635 last year.

IMPROVEMENT UNDER McCAFFERY IN SECOND YEAR OF PROGRAM
Fran McCaffery-coached teams have posted improved win totals from their first year to second with McCaffery as a head coach. At Lehigh, his team improved by two wins (13 in 1986 to 15 in 1987). His UNC Greensboro team had four more victories from 2000 (15) and 2001 (19). At Siena his team improved by five victories, registering 15 in 2006 to 20 in 2007.

HAWKEYES ARE TOUGH AT HOME
Iowa has won 78 of its 110 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 in 2011.

IOWA IN CARVER-HAWKEYE ARENA
Iowa has compiled a 354-113 (.758) record in Carver-Hawkeye Arena since the facility opened in January, 1983. Iowa is 162-89 (.645) in Big Ten games and 192-24 (.889) in non-Big Ten contests.

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.

WHITE TABBED BIG TEN CO-FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
Iowa freshmen Aaron White was named Big Ten co-Freshman of the Week after his performance in Iowa’s season opening victory over Chicago State (Nov. 11). White shared the weekly honor with Indiana’s Cody Zeller. White shined in his Hawkeye debut, leading all scorers and rebounders with 19 points and 10 rebounds in 18 minutes of action. The native of Strongsville, Ohio, shot 50 percent (6-of-12) from the field and sank all five free throw attempts. The 19 points are the most by an Iowa freshman in a season opener, equaling Dick Ives’ 19 scored against Nebraska in his debut on Dec. 10, 1943. Furthermore, White’s performance marked the first time a Hawkeye posted a double-double, in a season opener, since Dean Oliver had 10 points and 12 assists in a victory over Chicago State in 1997. It was the first time a Hawkeye freshman had a double-double, points and rebounds, since Jess Settles had 13 points and 11 rebounds versus Drake in 1993.

WELCOME NEW HAWKEYES
Iowa has six new faces on the team this season: Gabriel Olaseni, Josh Oglesby, Aaron White, Stephen McCarty, Kyle Denning and Christopher Rickert. Olaseni, Oglesby and White are on scholarship, while Denning, McCarty and Rickert are walk-ons.

SPERAW TAKING PART IN “SHOTS FROM THE HEART”
Iowa men’s basketball assistant coach Kirk Speraw is one of 256 collegiate basketball coaches taking part in the second annual “Shots from the Heart”, which is an event created by Angela Lento and Joe Dwyer of collegeinsider.com to increase awareness for the growing problem of Heart Disease and raise money to benefit the Skip Prosser Foundation. Speraw posted a victory over Old Dominion’s Jim Corrigan in the first round of the tournament. He moves on to round two to face Saddi Washington of Oakland University. Speraw shot his free throws, sinking all 25. The second round will take place in December, while the Sweet 16 and Round of Eight will occur in January, and the semifinals and finals are scheduled for February. To view the brackets and/or learn how you can contribute to the Skip Prosser Foundation” visit: collegeinsider.com.

HAWKEYEBASKETBALL.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.

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 in three days when it entertains Boise State Thursday at 7 p.m. on Mediacom Court at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The game against the Broncos will be the last non-conference game for the Hawkeyes.