Men's Hoops Visits Wisconsin on Wednesday

Feb. 4, 2013

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Iowa Game Notes

THE SETTING
Iowa (14-8, 3-6) travels to Madison, Wis., on Wednesday to play Wisconsin (15-7, 6-3). Tip-off is set for 8:06 p.m. (CT) inside the Kohl Center. Wednesday will be Iowa’s fourth road contest in five games and fifth time away from home in seven games.

ON THE AIR
Radio: All 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. Fans can also listen to the broadcast on satellite radio: Sirius (94) and XM (190).
Television: Wednesday night’s game will be televised on BTN (BTN2GO). Brian Anderson and Mike Kelley will call the action.

GAME #23 STORYLINES
? Wednesday concludes a stretch of playing 4-of-5 and 5-of-7 on the road for the Hawkeyes.
? Five of UI’s six Big Ten losses have come by margins of nine points or less, including three by three points. Iowa has one victory by seven points or less this season (70-66 over Wisconsin).
? Iowa won for only the second time since 2000 a year ago in Madison with a 72-65 win at the Kohl Center. The Hawkeyes held the Badgers to 11 percent (3-of-28) shooting from distance.
? Iowa will be gunning for its first four-game win streak over Wisconsin since 1986-89 when it won six straight over the Badgers.
? Iowa is 13-3 when shooting 40 percent or better from the field.
? Aaron White is one of only three Big Ten players to average 13.9 points and six rebounds or more. The other two being Cody Zeller of Indiana and Deshaun Thomas of Ohio State.
? The Hawkeyes are 8-1 when Aaron White scores 16 points or more.
? Iowa is 16-2 when scoring 80 points or more, the last three seasons. The Hawkeyes are 22-0 when holding opponents to fewer than 60 points, the last three years.
? Melsahn Basabe is averaging 9.7 points and seven rebounds in the last three games. He earned his first start of the season a week ago vs. Penn State (Jan. 31).

MINNESOTA CLIPS HAWKEYES IN MINNEAPOLIS, 62-59
? No. 23 Minnesota scored the final seven points in a 62-59 victory over Iowa on Sunday in Minneapolis. Trailing by two points, Minnesota’s Austin Hollins sank a 3-pointer off an inbounds pass with 11 seconds left, which proved to be the game-winning shot.
? Iowa’s bench outscored Minnesota 27-0 on Sunday. For the season, Hawkeye reserves average 25.5 points per game.
? The Hawkeyes made seven treys, equaling its highest total in Big Ten play (at Michigan).
? The Hawkeyes and Gophers each snagged 35 rebounds. Minnesota entered Sunday’s game with a Big Ten-best +9.6 rebounding margin.
? Freshman Mike Gesell led the team in scoring for the third time this season, scoring 11 points. Gesell also led Iowa in rebounding for the first time of his career, tying his career high mark of six boards.
? Zach McCabe scored 10 points off the bench, bolstered by 3-of-5 shooting behind the arc. It marked the third time this season the junior made three triples.
? Sophomore Aaron White scored in double-figures for the 17th time this season, and 35th time in his career, netting 10 points.
? Iowa assisted on all 10 first-half field goals and 17-of-21 (81 percent) for the game.
? Josh Oglesby netted eight points, the most he hass scored in a game since scoring 14 at Northwestern (Jan. 13).
? Iowa leading scorer, Roy Devyn Marble, was held scoreless for the first time since his freshman campaign.

ALL-TIME SERIES
Iowa leads the all-time series with Wisconsin, 79-77. After losing 13-of-15 games to the Badgers, the Hawkeyes have won the last three. Iowa swept the Badgers for the first time since the 1994-95 campaign (96-84 in Iowa City; 84-77 in Madison) a year ago, and edged Wisconsin 70-66 on Jan. 19 last month in Iowa City. The last time the Hawkeyes won three straight over Wisconsin was 1992-93. The last time Iowa won four consecutive was 1986-89 when it won six straight. The two teams have split the last eight meetings, but Wisconsin has won 13 of the last 18. The last four meetings have been decided by a combined 15 points. Wisconsin holds a 49-28 advantage in games played in Madison. The Badgers have nine of the last 10 meetings in the Kohl Center. Iowa is 3-9 at the Kohl Center, winning there in 2011 (72-65), 2000 (61-55), and 1998 (79-76). Iowa and Wisconsin have met three times at the Big Ten Tournament, with the Badgers winning twice. Wisconsin won in Chicago in 1999 and 2005, and Iowa won in Indianapolis in 2002.

SCOUTING WISCONSIN
? Wisconsin just concluded playing a stretch of playing 4-of-6 games away from home. The Badgers will now play two-straight at the Kohl Center, beginning Wednesday with the Hawkeyes. Wisconsin will host nationally-ranked Michigan on Saturday.
? Eight of Wisconsin’s nine Big Ten games have been decided by nine points or less, and the Badgers are 2-2 in conference games decided by five points or less.
? After shooting zero free throws in a 58-49 loss at nationally-ranked Ohio State last Tuesday, the Badgers sank 28-of-42 from the foul line in a 74-68 road victory at Illinois on Sunday in Champaign. Three Badgers scored in double figures: Ben Brust (20), Fran Kaminsky (19), and Ryan Evans (15).
? Jared Berggren leads the team in scoring (11.6), while Ben Brust ranks second (10.7) and Ryan Evans is third (10.6). Evans also ranks first in team rebounding (7.6).
? Frank Kaminsky, who averages 5.2 points, did not play against the Hawkeyes on Jan. 19 due to an eye injury suffered in the Indiana game on Jan. 15. Kaminsky nearly doubled his free throws total in the Illinois game on Sunday, sinking 12-of-14 and raising his season totals to 26-of-33.
? Wisconsin ranks first in the country in fewest turnovers (9.1); sixth in assist/turnover ratio (1.5); ninth in fewest fouls (14.4); 11th in scoring defense (55.6); 30th in scoring margin (11.6); and 36th in turnover margin (3.0).
? Both head coaches, Bo Ryan and Fran McCaffery, were raised in the Philadelphia area. McCaffery is a Philadelphia native, who attended La Salle High School, while Ryan was raised in Chester, Pa., and attended Chester High School.
? Wisconsin freshman Traevon Jackson is the son of BTN color analyst Jim Jackson.
? Wisconsin assistant coach Gary Close was an assistant coach at Iowa for 13 seasons (1987-99) under Tom Davis. He later was the head boys basketball coach at Regina High School in Iowa City for three years, leading his team to the state tournament his last two years.

IOWA BEAT WISCONSIN IN LAST MEETING
Iowa built a 20-point advantage in the first half and never looked back en route to a 70-66 victory over first-place Wisconsin Saturday inside a sold out Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Aaron White led Iowa with 17 points, while Roy Devyn Marble contributed 13 points. Iowa committed only seven turnovers, equaling a season low (Michigan). Wisconsin had zero steals and no blocks, which are season lows for a Hawkeye opponent. Iowa ended Wisconsin’s nation-leading streak of 11-straight games of holding their opponents to 60 or fewer points. Iowa’s starting backcourt had 10 points or more; Mike Gesell had 11, while Anthony Clemmons chipped in 10 points. The Hawkeyes outscored the Badgers 24-8 at the foul line. Iowa attempted 29 free throws compared to 12 for Wisconsin. The Black and Gold made 10-of-12 from the charity stripe the last 1:14 of the contest to help preserve the victory. White netted 13 of his 17 points at the foul line.

HAWKEYE FASTBREAKS
? For only the second time in the last two decades, the men’s basketball team has nine players logging 15.8 minutes or more per game, and 10 players averaging 9.4 minutes or more. Iowa’s 1998-99 team, that advanced to the Sweet 16 in the 1999 NCAA Tournament, had 10 players average 17 minutes or more.
? The Hawkeyes have played 10 players or more in 21 of their 22 games. The only contest in which they did not play 10 players was Iowa State (nine players).
? Iowa’s strength of schedule ranks 30th in the country.
? Junior Zach McCabe has averaged 2.3 steals the last three games.
? Co-captain Eric May has posted his best offensive rebound average, assist rate, turnover rate and free throw percentage of his career this season.
? Iowa shot 40 percent from the field in its win over Penn State, marking the first game since Wisconsin on Jan. 19 in which it shot at least 40 percent from the field. The Hawkeyes are 13-3 this season when shooting at a 40 percent clip or better.
? Seven of the 12 Big Ten teams enter this week with four losses or more in league play. The Big Ten is the No. 1 rated conference by the RPI.
? Adam Woodbury has almost the same number points (116) and rebounds (115).
? Last season, Iowa had eight different players post double digits in one game or more. This year, 11 different players have scored double figures for the Hawkeyes.
? Three of Iowa’s first six Big Ten games were one-plays. The Hawkeyes only play Michigan, Michigan State and Ohio State once. Iowa’s other one-play this season is Illinois (March 5 in Iowa City).
? Aaron White ranks 40th in the nation in free throw attempts per game (6.68).
? Iowa has made 57-of-168 (.339) 3-pointers in nine games away from home, while the Hawkeyes are 64-of-236 (.271) from long range in 13 home contests.
? Iowa ranks seventh in the country in free throws made (17.5) and ninth in attempts (24.7).
? Iowa has made (384) more free throws than its opponents have attempted (378), which is a staple of Fran McCaffery-coached teams.
? Iowa has had an attendance figure of 10,500 fans or greater in all 13 home contests, including sellouts of 15,400 against Indiana on Dec. 31 and Wisconsin on Jan. 19.
? Iowa’s 12 triples vs. UNI are the second most by a Fran McCaffery-coached Iowa team. Roy Devyn Marble’s 30 points and 14 free throws made rank third and first, respectively, the last three seasons under Fran McCaffery.
? Iowa has won 16 of its last 19 home games, including 11-of-13 this season, dating back to Feb. 1, 2012. The Hawkeyes’ two losses this season have come to nationally ranked teams (Indiana and Michigan State).

CLOSE CALLS
Iowa has lost three Big Ten games (Michigan State, Purdue and Minnesota), all by three points, when having a lead late. The Hawkeyes led by three points with 90 seconds left vs. Michigan State (lost 62-59); led by four points with two minutes left at Purdue (lost 65-62 in overtime); led by four points with two minutes left at Minnesota (lost 62-59).

BASABE… SPICY!
Melsahn Basabe’s play has been so good the last month that he was moved to the starting lineup in Iowa’s vs. Penn State (Jan. 31). The junior has averaged nine points and six rebounds in his last six games. He led the team in rebounding three of the last four outings, averaging 7.8 boards during that stretch. Basabe posted his first double-double of the season in Iowa’s win over Penn State (10 points and 10 rebounds). Overall, Basabe ranks fourth in team scoring (7.4), first in blocks (1.1) and third in rebounding (4.5).

DISHING THE ROCK
Iowa has done an outstanding job sharing the basketball this season. The Hawkeyes have assisted on 65.4 percent of their field goal makes (355 assists on 543 field goals), a rate that is eighth best in the country. In the Hawkeyes’ last game at Minnesota, it assisted on all 10 first-half field goals and 17-of-21 for the game (81 percent).

WHITE HOT!
Aaron White has averaged 16.3 points per game and 4.7 rebounds the last three games. He scored a career-high 27 points last week against Penn State, playing the small forward position. The sophomore is one of just three Big Ten players to average 13.9 points and six rebounds this season, with the other two being Cody Zeller of Indiana and Ohio State’s Deshaun Thomas. The Hawkeyes are 8-1 this season when White scores 16 points or more.

IN NATIONAL STATISTICS…
Iowa ranks 16th in the country in assists (16.1); 18th in 3-point field goal percentage defense (.288); 30th in assist/turnover ratio (1.26); and 38th in field goal percentage defense (.393).

WELCOME FRESHMEN
Iowa welcomes five newcomers to the fold for 2012-13. The newest Hawkeyes include guards Anthony Clemmons, Pat Ingram and Mike Gesell; forward Kyle Meyer and center Adam Woodbury. The class ranks 25th in the nation by ESPN.com.

McCAFFERY INVOLVED IN COACHES VS. CANCER CHALLENGE
Iowa’s Fran McCaffery is one of 48 NABC coaches taking part in the “Infiniti Coaches’ Charity Challenge.” Fan participation will determine the ultimate winner over an eight-week period by registering and voting on a custom microsite on www.ESPN.com/Infiniti. For the first six weeks, four brackets of 12 coaches will be paired against each other, with the winners from each group moving onto the next round in week seven and the final round in week eight. Fans can vote once per day for their favorite coach and his charity. Go to www.ESPN.com/Infiniti each day and vote for Fran McCaffery and his charity, Coaches vs. Cancer. The total Infiniti contribution will be more than $300,000. All 48 coaches’ charities are guaranteed at least $5,000 from Infiniti.

DEFENSE IMPROVEMENT
Last year, Iowa allowed opponents 72.5 points per contest. Through 21 games in 2012-13, Iowa is yielding 63.8 points. Iowa limited Northwestern (Jan. 13) to 50 points, its fewest output against Iowa since scoring 48 in Iowa’s 65-48 victory on Feb. 23, 1999 in Iowa City. Also, Iowa is holding its opponents to a much lower field goal percentage this season, compared to a year ago. Hawkeye opponents are shooting at a 39 percent clip this season, compared to 46 percent last season.

DEFENSE IMPROVEMENT, PART 2
Iowa has improved its 3-point field goal percentage defense by 5.7 percent this season compared to last. That improvement is tops in the Big Ten.

ALL-AROUND SKILLS
Mike Gesell is one of only four Hawkeye freshmen to total 195 points, 65 rebounds and 60 assists in a single season.

FREEBIES
Iowa made 31-of-39 free throws on Jan. 31 vs. Penn State. The last time the Hawkeyes made at least 31 foul shots in a Big Ten game was Jan. 16, 2007 against Indiana (32). The last time Iowa attempted at least 39 free throws in a league game was Feb. 5, 2005 vs. Michigan State (45). Aaron White, who ranks 40th in the country and third in the Big Ten in free throw attempts (6.68), has attempted double-digit foul shots in four games this season.

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 48 years of head coaching experience. Director of basketball operations Jerry Strom is in his 32nd season as a member of the Iowa basketball staff. Additionally, Iowa’s video coordinator, Al Seibert, has 18 years of collegiate coaching experience.

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 and game highlights, along with news stories and other content.

ON THE HORIZON
After playing 4-of-5 on the road, Iowa returns to Mediacom Court at Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Saturday to host Northwestern at 3:36 p.m. (CT). Tickets are $27 for adults, and $15 for UI students and youth.