Men's Hoops Travels to Nebraska on Saturday

Feb. 19, 2013

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Iowa Game Notes

THE SETTING
Iowa (17-9, 6-7) hits the road on Saturday when it travels to Lincoln, Neb., to challenge Nebraska (12-14, 3-10). Tipoff is set for 1 p.m. (CT) at the Bob Devaney Sports Center. Saturday will be Iowa’s final game in the arena, which is in its final season for basketball.

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: TV information is undetermined at this time.

GAME #27 STORYLINES
? Iowa has won three-straight conference games for the first time since 2007; the Hawkeyes seek their first four-game Big Ten win streak since 2006 on Thursday at Nebraska.
? 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).
? Iowa is 13-2 when scoring 70 points or more; 15-1 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 four Big Ten players to average 13.4 points and 5.8 or more rebounds. The other three are Cody Zeller and Victor Oladipo 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 three contests, scoring 58 combined points (19.3 avg.).
? The Hawkeyes are 8-1 when Aaron White scores 16 points or more.
? The last three seasons, Iowa is 16-2 when scoring 80 points or more and 24-0 when holding opponents to fewer than 60 points.
? Fran McCaffery is three wins from career victory No. 300.

HAWKEYES WIN 3RD STRAIGHT GAME, BEAT MINNESOTA
? Iowa trailed Minnesota by as many as 16 points (21-5), but rallied from the early deficit to win by 21 points (72-51) Sunday afternoon in Iowa City.
? Sunday’s win was Iowa’s third straight victory, marking Iowa’s first three-game Big Ten winning streak since 2007.
? Five Hawkeyes scored in double figures: Roy Devyn Marble (15), Aaron White (15), Mike Gesell (11), Eric May (10) and Zach McCabe (10).
? Iowa shot 49 percent (21-of-43) from the field, including a staggering 61 percent (11-of-18) in the second half, marking its best shooting performance in a Big Ten game this season. Iowa improved to 16-3 when shooting 40 percent or better. Sunday marked the third consecutive contest the Hawkeyes shot 40 percent or better.
? Iowa improved to 13-2 at home this season, and to 24-0 when holding opponents to less than 60 points in the past three years.
? Senior co-captain Eric May scored in double figures for the first time in Big Ten play this season. He also led the team in rebounding, equaling a season high with seven boards.
? Freshman Mike Gesell had a career-high four steals, all of which came in the first half. Iowa had 12 steals as a team, one off its season high mark.
? Iowa shot 80.6 percent (25-of-31) from the free throw line. Junior Zach McCabe drained all seven of his free throw attempts, a career best. Roy Devyn Marble (7-of-8) and Aaron White (7-of-9) also made seven foul shots.
? Sunday’s game was played in front of a sellout crowd of 15,400, marking Iowa’s third sellout of the season (Wisconsin, Indiana and Minnesota).

ALL-TIME SERIES
Iowa holds a 13-8 advantage in the series that began with a 27-17 Husker win in 1907. The two team’s split last season’s two meetings, with each team winning on the road. The Hawkeyes have won nine of the last 13 and six of the last nine in the series. The series is tied, 5-5, in games played between the two schools in Lincoln. Iowa was Nebraska’s first-ever basketball opponent in the Bob Devaney Sports Center (Nov. 27, 1976). The Hawkeyes won that contest, 71-57.

SCOUTING NEBRASKA
? Nine of Nebraska’s 12 wins have come on its home court, including two in Big Ten play. The Huskers average 10,051 fans at the Bob Devaney Sports Center in 16 home contests. Thursday concludes a stretch of playing 4-of-5 at home for Nebraska.
? The Huskers have scored 64 points or more five times in Big Ten play, winning three of those five contests.
? Nebraska ranks 14th in the country in fewest turnovers per game (10.9).
? Nebraska has three players average double figures in scoring: Dylan Talley (13.8), Ray Gallegos (12.6), and Brandon Ubel (11.4). Ubel also ranks first in team rebounding (6.8).
? Ray Gallegos ranks first in the Big Ten in 3-pointers made (2.4) and minutes played (37.2); Brandon Ubel ranks sixth in free throw percentage (.796) and seventh in rebounding (6.8); Dylan Talley ranks 11th in scoring (13.8).
? Nebraska is one of two Big Ten schools (Illinois) with a new head coach this season. Tim Miles is on the Nebraska sideline after five seasons as head coach at Colorado State. Miles, who is in his 18th season as a head coach, also served as head coach at North Dakota State (2001-07), SW Minnesota State (1997-01), and Mayville State (1995-97).

HAWKEYES WON AT NEBRASKA LAST YEAR
Iowa posted a 62-53 win at Nebraska on Feb. 29, 2012. With the Hawkeyes leading 31-30, Iowa drained seven straight field goals (four of which were 3-pointers) from 14:25-10:16 in the second half to build a comfortable 49-35 cushion. Senior Matt Gatens scored 11 of his team-high 16 points in the second stanza, while Roy Devyn Marble netted all 11 of his points in the final 20 minutes. Senior Bryce Cartwright also had 11 points to go along with a team-high five assists. After shooting 1-of-7 (.143) from long distance in the first half, the Hawkeyes came out firing after the break, sinking 7-of-13 (.538) in the second half. Nebraska’s Brandon Ubel had a game-high 17 points on 7-of-7 shooting from the field and 3-of-4 from the foul line. The rest of the Huskers shot a combined 12-of-45 (.267).

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. Three of the four games came on the road. In total, Iowa has played seven games decided by four points or less (2-5). Michigan State is the only other Big Ten team to have played seven contests decided by four points or fewer.

MARBLE IN THE ZONE
After scoring only one basket in two losses by three points each, including one in double overtime, Roy Devyn Marble has regained his form. Iowa has won its last three games and during that streak, Marble led or shared the team lead in scoring in each game averaging 19.3 points and four rebounds. During the win streak, Marble is shooting 50 percent (17-of-34) from the field and 87 percent (20-of-23) from the free throw line.

FAMILIAR TERRITORY
Freshman guard Mike Gesell returns to his home state Thursday. Gesell hails from South Sioux City, Neb. Gesell ranks third in team scoring (9.1) and second in assists (73). Gesell is one of only four freshmen, from a major conference, to have made 28 3-pointers, 74 rebounds and 73 assists. Gesell played at the Bob Devaney Sports Center in the Nebraska state tournament his sophomore through senior seasons. He helped lead his team to the state title in 2010 and 2011, and a runner-up finish in 2012. Gesell was tabbed the Gatorade Nebraska Player of the Year his junior and senior seasons. The student body at his alma mater, made t-shirts to honor the freshman Hawkeye guard. The shirts read, “Nebraskans for Iowa Basketball,” and include Gesell’s name and his number, 10. Many of those shirts can be seen in attendance on Thursday. Iowa also has three players who are from Sioux City, on the Iowa side of the Missouri River — freshman Adam Woodbury, junior Zach McCabe and senior Christopher Rickert.

HAWKEYE FASTBREAKS
? After Thursday’s road game, Iowa concludes the regular season playing 3-of-4 at home.
? After Sunday’s 72-51 win over Minnesota, the Hawkeyes will be playing just one game in nine days.
? The Hawkeyes have won each of their last 26 games when holding opponents to 61 or fewer points, the longest active streak in the Big Ten.
? Iowa’s strength of schedule ranks 26th in the country.
? Iowa ranks fourth in the country in free throws made (17.8) and 10th in attempts (24.8).
? Iowa has won 18 of its last 21 home games, including 13-of-15 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 (.600).
? Hawkeye reserves are averaging 25.4 points per game, an average that ranks 23rd in the country. The Hawkeyes have played 10 players or more in 25 of their 26 games. The only contest in which they did not play 10 players was Iowa State (nine players).
? 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.
? 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 seven 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 (463) more free throws than its foes have attempted (455), 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.

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 8.3 points and 5.7 rebounds in his last 10 games. He led the team in rebounding four of the last eight outings, averaging 6.4 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) on Jan. 31. Overall, Basabe ranks fourth in team scoring (7.3), first in blocks (1.2) and third in rebounding (4.5). He is only four rebounds away from grabbing career board No. 500.

DISHING THE ROCK
The Hawkeyes have assisted on 64.5 percent of their field goal makes (411 assists on 637 field goals), a rate that is 10th-best in the country.

WHITE HOT!
Aaron White has averaged 13.3 points and 4.7 rebounds the last seven 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 four Big Ten players to average 13.4 points and 5.8 rebounds this season, with the other three being Cody Zeller and Victor Oladipo of Indiana and Ohio State’s Deshaun Thomas. White has scored 37.2 percent (130/349) of his points from the free throw line, which ranks third best in the country. White leads the team in rebounding and is seeking to become the first Hawkeye to lead the team in rebounding both his freshman and sophomore seasons since Michael Payne in 1981-82 (7.4 rpg) and 1982-83 (7.5 rpg). White led Iowa last season (5.7 rpg) and ranks first this year (5.8 rpg). Additionally, Iowa is 8-1 this season when White scores 16 points or more.

DEFENSE IMPROVEMENT
Last year, Iowa allowed opponents 72.5 points per contest. Through 26 games in 2012-13, Iowa is yielding 63.7 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.

FANS FLOCKING TO CHA
Iowa has had an attendance figure of 10,500 fans or greater in all 15 home contests, including sellouts of 15,400 against Indiana on Dec. 31, Wisconsin on Jan. 19, and Minnesota on Feb. 17. Iowa averages 13,330 fans this season, which is its best average attendance figure since the 2002-03 season (13,235). Iowa has three remaining home contests to boast its average.

DEFENSE IMPROVEMENT, PART 2
Iowa has improved its 3-point field goal percentage defense by 5.5 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 236 points, 74 rebounds and 73 assists in a single season. Iowa has five regular season games remaining, plus postseason action to add to his below totals.

IN NATIONAL STATISTICS…
Iowa ranks 11th in 3-point field goal percentage defense (.290); 24th in assists (15.8); 33rd in field goal percentage defense (.390); and 34th in assist/turnover ratio (1.25).

FREEBIES
Iowa has attempted 25 or more free throws seven times during Big Ten play and 15 times total this season. The Hawkeyes made 25-of-31 (.806) from the charity stripe in their last outing vs. Minnesota. Iowa ranks fourth in the country in free throws made (17.8) and 10th in attempts (24.8). Aaron White, who ranks 31st in the country and third in the Big Ten in free throw attempts (6.92), has attempted double-digit foul shots in five games this season. White is 130-of-180 (.722) from the foul line, which is the most makes and attempts by a Hawkeye sophomore in school history.

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.

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.

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. 25) 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.

IOWA POSTS LARGEST COMEBACK IN SCHOOL HISTORY
Iowa trailed Gardner-Webb by 23 points (38-15) with 13 seconds left in the first half on Nov. 17 in Iowa City. Sophomore Josh Oglesby drained three free throws after being fouled on a 3-point attempt with one second remaining in the half to cut the deficit to 20 (38-18) at halftime. The Hawkeyes rallied in the second half and ultimately won by nine points (65-56), which is a 32-point swing. The comeback is believed to be the largest in school history. The last team in the country to overcome a 20+ halftime deficit was Harvard, which trailed Brown by 22 points (53-31) and won 85-78 on Feb. 12, 2011. The last Big Ten team to overcome a 20+ halftime deficit was Illinois, which trailed at Clemson by 20 points (47-27) and won 76-74 on Dec. 2, 2009. Iowa also overcame a 16-point first-half deficit on Sunday to Minnesota and ultimately won by 21 points — a 37-point swing!

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 will be idle this weekend before returning to action on Wednesday, Feb. 27, when it hosts Purdue (7:36 p.m., BTN).