Men's Hoops Returns Home to Host Minnesota

Feb. 15, 2013

• Read the February issue of Hawk Talk Monthly
• Download your Iowa Hawkeye iPad/iPhone app!
• Download your Iowa Hawkeye Android app!
• Big Ten Network: Free Hawkeye Video
• 24 Hawkeyes to Watch

Iowa Game Notes

THE SETTING
Iowa (16-9, 5-7) returns home to entertain Minnesota (18-7, 6-6) on Sunday. Tip-off is set for 1:06 p.m. (CT) on Mediacom Court at Carver-Hawkeye Arena (15,400). Limited number of standing room tickets in the student sections remain at $27 for adults, and $15 for UI students and youth. Free pizza slices will be distributed to the first 1,200 UI students, courtesy of U.S. Bank. Also, free BTN t-shirts will be available for the first 250 UI students.

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.
Television: Sunday afternoon’s game will be televised on BTN (BTN2GO). Brian Anderson and Sean Harrington will call the action.

GAME #26 STORYLINES
? Five of Iowa’s seven Big Ten losses have come by margins of four points or less, including three by three points or less. Two of those three defeats came in overtime (one in double overtime). One of those five defeats came at Minnesota (62-59) on Feb. 3.
? Iowa is 15-3 when shooting 40 percent or better from the field; 12-2 when scoring 70 points or more; 14-1 when having a higher field goal percentage than its opponents; 14-2 when recording more rebounds than its opponents.
? Aaron White is one of only three Big Ten players to average 13.4 points and 5.9 or more rebounds. The other two are Cody Zeller of Indiana and Deshaun Thomas of Ohio State.
? After scoring a combined two points at Minnesota and Wisconsin, Roy Devyn Marble has rebounded the last two contests vs. Northwestern and Penn State, scoring 43 combined points.
? The Hawkeyes are 8-1 when Aaron White scores 16 points or more.
? Iowa’s strength of schedule ranks 33rd in the country.
? The last three seasons, Iowa is 16-2 when scoring 80 points or more and 23-0 when holding opponents to fewer than 60 points.
? Fran McCaffery is four wins from career victory No. 300.

HAWKEYES WIN AT PENN STATE, 74-72
? Iowa recorded its first win of the season by three points or less with a 74-72 win at Penn State on Thursday night.
? The Hawkeyes posted scoring runs of 11-0 in each half en route to its second road victory of the season.
? Iowa shot 44 percent (24-of-54) from the field, marking its second consecutive contest shooting better than 40 percent. Iowa improved to 15-3 when shooting 40 percent or better.
? Roy Devyn Marble scored a team-high 22 points, his second straight game with at least 20 points. Marble has eclipsed the 20-point plateau a team-best five times this season.
? Mike Gesell netted 13 points, the fourth time in the past six games he has scored in double-figures.
? The 38 first-half points are the most by Iowa in the first half in Big Ten play and the most since Coppin State (40) on Dec. 22.
? Melsahn Basabe tied a season high with four blocks and two steals, to go along with 11 points.
? Iowa held a 40-29 advantage on the boards. Adam Woodbury pulled down a team-high seven rebounds for the Hawkeyes.
? Iowa sank 20-of-26 (.769) from the free throw line.

ALL-TIME SERIES
Minnesota holds a 101-90 advantage in the series that began with a 47-10 Gopher win in 1902. The 191 meetings are the most Iowa has played against any opponent. The Gophers had won six straight in the series before the Hawkeyes swept Minnesota a season ago. Minnesota escaped with a 62-59 win over Iowa earlier this season on Feb. 3 in Minneapolis to snap the Hawkeye two-game win streak in the series. Iowa holds a 53-40 advantage in games played in Iowa City and an 18-9 advantage at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Iowa has won eight of the last 12 meetings in Iowa City, including five of the last eight. The teams have met twice in the Big Ten Tournament. Along with a 2006 win in Indianapolis, Iowa defeated the Gophers 81-78 in the 2000 event in Chicago. Iowa also defeated the Gophers at a neutral site (Los Angeles) early in the 1964-65 season.

SCOUTING MINNESOTA
? Minnesota snapped a two-game losing streak with a 58-53 overtime victory at home against No. 19 Wisconsin. Andre Hollins netted a game-high 21 points, while Austin Hollins had 11 and Rodney Williams returned from injury and contributed 10 points.
? Minnesota is 3-4 in true road games, including a 1-4 mark away from home in league play. After winning at Illinois on Jan. 9, the Gophers have lost their last four road contests. Three of the four setbacks came by seven points or less.
? Minnesota leads the Big Ten in blocks (6.0); ranks second in steals (8.5) and rebounding margin (+8.7); third in assists (15.3); and is fifth in field goal percentage (.453). Their +8.7 rebounding margin is eighth-best in the country, while their six blocks ranks ninth.
? Trevor Mbakwe ranks first in the conference in rebounding (8.7); third in blocks (1.7); and fourth in field goal percentage (.568). Andre Hollins ranks 10th in the league in scoring (14.1); seventh in 3-point accuracy (.405) and free throw percentage (.794); 11th in 3-pointers (2.0) and 10th in assists (3.5). Austin Hollins ranks second in the Big Ten in steals (2.0).
? Minnesota’s bench has averaged 9.3 points in Big Ten play. The Gopher bench scored zero points in a 62-59 win over the Hawkeyes in Minneapolis on Feb. 3.
? Minnesota has two players who have sank 40 or more 3-pointers: Andre Hollins (51) and Austin Hollins (41).
? Saturday is the first of two straight road games for the Gophers. After Sunday’s game against the Hawkeyes, Minnesota will travel to Columbus to take on Ohio State Feb. 20.

MINNESOTA CLIPPED HAWKEYES IN LAST MEETING
Then-No. 23 Minnesota scored the final seven points in a 62-59 victory over Iowa on Feb. 3 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. 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 and Aaron White each contributed 10 points. Iowa leading scorer, Roy Devyn Marble, was held scoreless for the first time since his freshman campaign. The Hawkeyes made seven treys in the game, equaling its highest total in Big Ten play (at Michigan). McCabe drained 3-of-7. Four Gopher starters reached double figures, led by Austin Hollins’ 17 points. Iowa’s bench outscored Minnesota, 27-0.

CLOSE CALLS
Iowa has lost five Big Ten games by four points or less for the first time since 2009. Four of the five defeats (MSU, Purdue, Wisconsin, and Minnesota) have come with the Hawkeyes having a late with under two minutes left, including the last three road games. Iowa was victorious in its last game, winning by two points (74-72) at Penn State.

HAWKEYE FASTBREAKS
? Iowa concludes the regular season playing 4-of-6 at home.
? Iowa ranks fifth in the country in free throws made (17.5) and 10th in attempts (24.6).
? Iowa has won 17 of its last 20 home games, including 12-of-14 this season, dating back to Feb. 1, 2012. The Hawkeyes’ two losses this season have come to nationally ranked teams (Indiana and Michigan State).
? Melsahn Basabe ranks second in the league in Big Ten field goal percentage (.597).
? Hawkeye reserves are averaging 25.5 points per game.
? Roy Devyn Marble averages 15.4 points in Hawkeye wins this year and 9.9 in losses.
? For the second time in the last two decades, the men’s basketball team has nine players logging 16 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 NCAA Tournament, had 10 players average 17 minutes or more.
? The Hawkeyes have played 10 players or more in 24 of their 25 games. The only contest in which they did not play 10 players was Iowa State (nine players).
? Co-captain Eric May has posted his best offensive rebound average, assist rate, turnover rate, and free throw percentage of his career this season.
? Seven of the 12 Big Ten teams enter this weekend with six or more losses in league play. The Big Ten is the No. 1 rated conference by the RPI.
? 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.
? Iowa has made (438) more free throws than its foes have attempted (432), which is a staple of Fran McCaffery-coached teams.
? 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.

FANS FLOCKING TO CHA
Iowa has had an attendance figure of 10,500 fans or greater in all 14 home contests, including sellouts of 15,400 against Indiana on Dec. 31 and Wisconsin on Jan. 19. The Hawkeyes are averaging 13,182 fans this season, which is its best average attendance figure since the 2002-03 season (13,235). Iowa has four remaining home contests to boast its average.

DISHING THE ROCK
The Hawkeyes have assisted on 65.3 percent of their field goal makes (402 assists on 616 field goals), a rate that is eighth-best in the country.

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 8.8 points and six rebounds in his last nine games. He led the team in rebounding four of the last seven outings, averaging 6.9 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 (7.5), first in blocks (1.2) and third in rebounding (4.6). He is seven rebounds away from grabbing career board No. 500.

WHITE HOT!
Aaron White has averaged 13 points and 4.8 rebounds the last six games. He scored a career-high 27 points against Penn State (Jan. 31), moving to the small forward position. The sophomore is one of just three Big Ten players to average 13.4 points and 5.9 rebounds this season, with the other two being Cody Zeller of Indiana and Ohio State’s Deshaun Thomas. Iowa is 8-1 this season when White scores 16 points or more.

HOME COOKIN’
After only playing two home games the last 29 days, the Hawkeyes will finish its regular season schedule playing 4-of-6 in the friendly confines of Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Iowa is 12-2 at home this season, averaging 13,182 fans.

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 24 games in 2012-13, Iowa is yielding 64.2 points. 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 5.3 percent this season compared to last. That improvement is tops in the Big Ten.

ALL-AROUND SKILLS
Mike Gesell is one of only three Hawkeye freshmen to total 225 points, 70 rebounds and 70 assists in a single season.

IN NATIONAL STATISTICS…
Iowa ranks 14th in 3-point field goal percentage defense (.292); 17th in assists (16.1); 33rd in assist/turnover ratio (1.26); and 34th in field goal percentage defense (.390). Individually, Anthony Clemmons is 45th in the country in assist/turnover ratio (2.31).

FREEBIES
Iowa made 31-of-39 free throws 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 31st in the country and third in the Big Ten in free throw attempts (6.83), has attempted double-digit foul shots in five games this season. White is 123-of-171 (.719) from the foul line, which is the most makes and attempts by a Hawkeye sophomore in school history.

HAWKEYES ARE TOUGH AT HOME
Iowa has won 98 of its 136 games (.721) in Carver-Hawkeye Arena (15,400) over the last nine 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, 8-8 in 2011 and 13-6 in 2012.

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.

“HAWK TALK WITH Fran McCaffery”
University of Iowa basketball fans may join Iowa Coach Fran McCaffery and radio announcer Gary Dolphin for the “Hawk Talk with Fran McCaffery” radio call-in show. The next show will take place Monday (Feb. 18) at Carlos O’Kelly’s Mexican Cafe in Iowa City from 7-8:30 p.m. Fans can call in and ask the coach a question by calling 1-877-464-2957.

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.

ALL-SESSION BIG TEN TOURNAMENT TICKET INFORMATION
All-session tickets for the Big Ten Basketball Tournament is on sale now. The tournament returns to the United Center in Chicago from March 14-17. It will be the eighth time the tournament will be held in Chicago and the first time since 2007. Lower level tickets for both tournaments can be purchased at all 12 Big Ten university ticket offices. Upper level tickets may be purchased at Ticketmaster outlets, ticketmaster.com or by calling Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000 or through the United Center ticket offices at 312-455-4668 or unitedcenter.com. All-session tickets for the 100 and 200 levels at the United Center are available for $325 through the Big Ten university ticket offices only. All-session tickets for the 300 level are available for $240 or $175 (depending on seat location) through Ticketmaster or the United Center box office only. Orders will be limited to eight all-session tickets.

ON THE HORIZON
Iowa hits the road on Thursday for its first game of the regular season against Nebraska. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. (CT). Thursday will mark Iowa’s final basketball game at the Bob Devaney Center. The Huskers will be moving to their new arena, the Pinnacle Bank Arena, next season.