Men's Hoops to Play Nonconference Finale Sunday

Dec. 18, 2013

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Iowa Game Notes

THE SETTING
Iowa (10-2), who has won 16 straight home games dating back to January 2013, returns home to play its nonconference finale Sunday against Arkansas-Pine Bluff (2-8). Tipoff is slated for 1:02 p.m. (CT) on Mediacom Court at Carver-Hawkeye Arena (15,400). Tickets are available for $15 for adults, and $5 for UI students and youth. The first 1,500 fans in attendance will receive a free Iowa Christmas stocking. Iowa has won 25-straight home games against unranked opponents, dating back to the Dayton game on March 13, 2012 — the third-longest active streak in the Big Ten. Iowa has also won 22 straight at home against nonconference opponents, dating back to 2011.

ON THE AIR
Radio: 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.
Webstream: Sunday afternoon’s game will be available online at ESPN3.com. BJ Schaben and Kevin Lehman will call the action.

NONCONFERENCE FINALE STORYLINES
? Iowa is ranked No. 25 in the Associated Press rankings this week and receiving votes in the USA Today Coaches poll — one spot out of the coaches rankings in 26th.
? Aaron White posted game highs in points (25) and rebounds (17) at Iowa State. The 17 boards are the most by a Hawkeye since Greg Brunner cleared 23 vs. Minnesota in 2006. Additionally, White became the first Hawkeye since Jared Reiner (March 1, 2003 at Indiana) to post 25 points and 17 boards in a single-game.
? Junior Aaron White netted 20 points in Iowa’s win over Notre Dame (Dec. 3); his 19th point came with one second left in the game at the free throw line and was his 1,000th of his career.
? Gabriel Olaseni and Jarrod Uthoff combine to average 17.1 points, 12.1 rebounds and 3.3 blocks off the bench for the Hawkeyes.
? Roy Devyn Marble is only the third Hawkeye to amass 1,200+ points, 300+ assists and 350+ rebounds (Dean Oliver and Jeff Horner).
? Iowa is the only Big Ten team this season to have four different players post a double-double.
? Senior Melsahn Basabe is 23 points from reaching 1,000 for his career.
? Sophomore Mike Gesell ranks first in the country in assist-to-turnover ratio (5.38).

ALL-TIME SERIES RECORDS
Sunday will be the first meeting between Iowa and Arkansas-Pine Bluff. The Golden Lions are members of the Southwestern Athletic Conference. The Hawkeyes boast a perfect 10-0 record against current members of the SWAC.

IOWA STATE EDGES HAWKEYES IN AMES
? Iowa State scored the last eight points to rally to edge Iowa, 85-82, at Hilton Coliseum in Ames on Dec. 13.
? The Hawkeyes outrebounded the Cyclones by 14 (49-35), while Iowa State had the advantage at the free throw line, attempting 15 more foul shots than Iowa (36-21).
? Four Hawkeyes scored in double figures: Aaron White (25), Roy Devyn Marble (19), Jarrod Uthoff (12), and Mike Gesell (11).
? Roy Devyn Marble and Mike Gesell each dished out six assists. The six dimes equaled a season best for Marble.
? Aaron White (17) and Adam Woodbury (11) each posted career highs in rebounding.
? Both Roy Devyn Marble and Adam Woodbury collected two steals. The two thefts for Woodbury match a personal best.

UTHOFF, OLASENI LEADING HAWKEYES OFF BENCH
Junior Gabriel Olaseni and sophomore Jarrod Uthoff are averaging a combined 17.1 points, 12.1 rebounds and 3.3 blocks per game coming off the bench for the Hawkeyes. Uthoff ranks third on the team in scoring (10.4) and first in rebounding (6.8), while Olaseni ranks first on the squad in rejections (1.9) and fourth in rebounding (5.3). Uthoff is one of only eight Division I players to average better than 10 points and six rebounds off the bench.

BENCH MOB
Iowa’s reserves played a large role in Iowa’s 10 victories. Iowa’s bench is averaging 40.2 points, 23.7 rebounds and 3.8 blocks through 12 contests. As a team, the Hawkeye reserves rank first in the country in rebounding (23.7), and third in scoring (40.2) and blocks (3.8).

OGLESBY CLOSE TO RETURNING
Josh Oglesby broke a bone in his right foot during practice on Nov. 6. The shooting guard had surgery on Nov. 8 and has missed six weeks of game action. It is hopeful the junior will be able to make his season debut on Sunday against Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Oglesby (6-foot-5, 208 pounds) played in 37 contests, including two starts, a year ago. The native of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, scored 126 of his 165 points from 3-point territory his sophomore campaign.

HAWKEYES RANK HIGH IN STATISTICS
Iowa leads the Big Ten in scoring (88.9) and scoring margin (+23.0). The Hawkeyes also rank second in the conference in rebounding margin (+10.4), blocks (5.7), 3-point field goal percentage defense (.268), field goal percentage defense (.369), assist-to-turnover ratio (1.7), and assists (18.1). Iowa ranks fourth in the country in scoring margin (+23.0); sixth in field goal percentage defense (.369); seventh in scoring (88.9) and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.74); eighth in assists (18.1); and 19th in 3-point field goal percentage defense (.268). Individually, Mike Gesell ranks first in the nation in assist-to-turnover ratio (5.38), while Roy Devyn Marble ranks 38th in steals (2.25).

SCOUTING ARKANSAS-PINE BLUFF
? Arkansas-Pine Bluff (UAPB) ranks eighth in the country in steals per game (9.6). Individually, Tevin Hammond ranks seventh in the nation in thefts (3.0).
? UAPB lost 88-51 Tuesday night at Creighton. Tevin Hammond played all 40 minutes for the Golden Lions, scoring a team-high 22 points to go along with five assists and two steals. The Golden Lions were outrebounded by 16 (40-24) and outscored 22-3 in second chance opportunities in defeat.
? Davon Hayes leads the Golden Lions in scoring (12.6) and rebounding (7.0) through 10 games. Hammond averages 12.2 points, 4.2 assists and three steals per contest. Hammond (18-of-52, .369), Ghiavonni Robinson (16-of-42, .381) and Marcel Mosley (13-of-35, .371) are UAPB’s top 3-point threats.
? The Golden Lions are coached by George Ivory, who is in his sixth season as head coach (67-102, .396). Ivory guided UAPB to the 2010 SWAC tournament championship and a berth in the 2010 NCAA Tournament — its first in over four decades (1967).

HAWKEYES FINISH RUNNERS-UP AT BATTLE 4 ATLANTIS
Iowa won its first two games over Xavier (77-74 in overtime) and UTEP (89-53) before being edged by Villanova in the championship game (88-83 in overtime) at the Battle 4 Atlantis holiday tournament held at Paradise Island in the Bahamas. The Hawkeyes rallied from a 15-point deficit in their first contest against Xavier to win, but surrendered a 15-point first-half advantage to Villanova in the championship. Both contests went to overtime. Iowa cruised to a 36-point victory over UTEP in the semifinals. Seniors Roy Devyn Marble and Zach McCabe were honored on the all-tournament team. Marble led all scorers averaging 20.3 points, while also averaging 4.7 rebounds and 4.3 assists in the three games. His 61 points in the three contests tie the tournament record with Minnesota’s Andre Hollins (2012), while his 24 points against Villanova are the most by a player in a Battle 4 Atlantis championship game. McCabe averaged 13 points, shooting 50 percent from the field (14-of-28) and 3-point territory (8-of-16).

MARBLES RISING AMONG FATHER-SON SCORING COMBOS
Iowa’s Roy Marble (1986-89) and Roy Devyn Marble (2011-present) are rising among the leading father-son scoring duo in collegiate history. Currently, the Marble’s (3,441) rank third among father-son combos, playing at the same school, behind the Burtt’s of Iona (4,568) and the Perry’s of Holy Cross (3,506). Overall, the Marble’s are eighth.

CENTER OF ATTENTION
Iowa is getting 12 points, 9.6 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game from their center position of Adam Woodbury and Gabriel Olaseni.

BLOCK PARTY
Junior Gabriel Olaseni has blocked at least three shots five times this season. His 23 blocks rank sixth in the Big Ten (1.9 average). The center rejected five shots in the season opener against UNC Wilmington. As a team, Iowa ranks second in the Big Ten and 36th nationally in rejections per game (5.7).

COACHING EXPERIENCE
Fran McCaffery has one of the most experienced coaching staffs in the country. The Iowa men’s basketball staff has 65 years of combined collegiate head coaching experience and more than 130 years of collegiate coaching under their belts.

ATTENDANCE ON THE RISE
Iowa’s attendance has increased each season since Fran McCaffery’s arrival in Iowa City. The Hawkeyes averaged 11,635 in 16 games in 2011; 11,908 fans in 19 contests in 2012; and 13,625 in 20 games last season. Iowa’s attendance boost from 2012 to 2013 ranked as the eighth-largest in the country. Iowa averages 14,567 fans this season.

BASABE MOVIN’ ON UP
Senior Melsahn Basabe has had a solid start to the 2013-14 season. The native of Glen Cove, N.Y., is averaging 7.4 points and 6.3 rebounds in only 18 minutes per game of action. Since the start of the year, Basabe has moved past Ryan Bowen for fourth place on Iowa’s career blocks list with 131. Basabe led the team in blocked shots in each of his first three seasons with the Hawkeyes. The senior will be looking to become the third Hawkeye since 1980 to lead the squad in rejections four straight seasons. Greg Stokes led the team in blocks 1982-86, while Acie Earl led the team from 1990-93. Basabe, who’s 645 career rebounds are the most among active Big Ten players, has 1,000 career points in his sights. Basabe enters Sunday’s contest against Arkansas-Pine Bluff with 977 points.

WHITE HOT
Junior Aaron White ranks second on the team in rebounding (6.6) and scoring (13.7). White, who led the Hawkeyes in rebounding in each of his first two seasons, is looking to become the fifth player since 1960 to lead the Hawkeyes in rebounding three consecutive seasons. White would join Don Nelson (1960-62); Kevin Kunnert (1971-73); Bruce King (1975-77); and Greg Brunner (2004-06). White became the 41st Hawkeye to surpass 1,000 career points with his 19th point scored with one second remaining at the free throw line versus Notre Dame (Dec. 3). The native of Strongsville, Ohio, became the first Hawkeye in 10 years to amass 25 points and 17 rebounds in a game at Iowa State on Dec. 13. The last Hawkeye to accomplish the feat was Jared Reiner on March 1, 2003 at Indiana. The 17 rebounds are the most in a single-game since Greg Brunner cleared 23 against Minnesota on Jan. 18, 2006. White ranks second in the league in field goal percentage (.667).

MARBLE EARNS WEEKLY PRAISE
Senior Roy Devyn Marble poured in 61 points to tie the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament record, earning Big Ten Player of the Week accolades by College Sports Madness. Marble averaged 20.3 points, 4.7 rebounds and 4.2 assists in the three games. Marble passed Kenyon Murray (1993-96) and Jeff Moe (1985-88) on Iowa’s career scoring chart. Marble enters Sunday’s game against the Golden Lions 17th with 1,325 points, 18 points shy of James Moses (1,343).

IOWA FASTBREAKS
? Iowa had three players (Basabe, Uthoff and Olaseni) post double-doubles in its victory over Fairleigh Dickinson. It marked the first time in 20 years three Hawkeyes recorded double-doubles, in the same game, in points and rebounds.
? Iowa has had four players score in double figures in 9-of-12 games this season.
? The Hawkeyes have out-rebounded 10 of their 12 opponents.
? Iowa is 26-4 when scoring 80 points or more, the last four seasons. The Hawkeyes are 36-1 when holding opponents to fewer than 61 points, the last four seasons.
? Iowa’s average starting lineup height is 6-foot-6. The Hawkeye lineup consists of two sophomores, one junior, and two seniors.
? Zach McCabe and Roy Devyn Marble were named to the Battle 4 Atlantis all-tournament team.
? Iowa has scored 82-plus points in all but one game this season (77 against Xavier).
? Iowa has been credited with 20 or more assists four times this season. The Hawkeyes rank eighth nationally in assists (18.1).
? Jarrod Uthoff is averaging 10.4 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks off the bench. The sophomore has reached double digits in seven games. The native of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, ranks fourth in the Big Ten in free throw percentage (.864) and is 10th in rebounding (6.8).
? Iowa scored 80-plus points in each of its first five games for the fourth time in school history (also 1986-87, 1994-95 & 1997-98).
? Iowa has made (268) more free throws than its opponents have attempted (230).
? Iowa played overtime games two days apart (Xavier and Villanova) for the third time in program history. The Hawkeyes plated five extra minutes against Maryland (Dec. 25, 1984) and Cornell (Dec. 27, 1984), and Michigan (Jan. 9, 1992) and Illinois (Jan. 11, 1992).
? Iowa’s overtime win over Xavier marked its first overtime victory since March 7, 2009 (versus Penn State — double overtime). The Hawkeyes had lost five straight overtime games before last week’s win over Xavier.
? Iowa’s win over UTEP was the team’s seventh consecutive to start the season. The last time an Iowa team won seven straight to start a year was 2000-01; that team won its first nine.
? Iowa’s 249 points and 19.0 assists average, in three games, are a Battle 4 Atlantis tournament records.
? The Hawkeyes erupted for 100-plus points for consecutive contests (Maryland-Eastern Shore and Abilene Christian) for the first time since the beginning of the 1997-98 campaign where Iowa topped the century mark three straight games (105 vs. Chicago State; 112 vs. North Texas; 101 vs. Long Island).
? Aaron White is the first Hawkeye since Jared Reiner (2002-03) to score at least 20 points and grab 15 or more rebounds in a game. White had 20 points and 15 rebounds in Iowa’s win over Nebraska-Omaha.
? In Iowa’s season opener, Jarrod Uthoff (14 points, seven rebounds, four blocks) became only the second Big Ten player since the 1996-97 season to register 14-plus points, seven-plus rebounds and four-plus blocks in his first career game (Ohio State’s Greg Oden, 2006-07).
? The Hawkeyes blocked 12 shots versus UNC Wilmington, one shy of the school record of 13 set last year vs. Illinois. Junior Gabriel Olaseni rejected five shots, all in the first half.
? Iowa’s five turnovers against Abilene Christian are its fewest in a game since five against Boise State on Dec. 22, 2011.
? Fran McCaffery has guided Iowa to win improvements in each of his first three seasons, going from 11 wins, to 18, to 25 last year. McCaffery’s highest win total as a head coach is when he coached Siena to back-to-back 27-win seasons in 2009 and 2010.
? Roy Devyn Marble and Aaron White have each increased their scoring output each season in an Iowa uniform. Marble averaged 5.7 points as a freshman, to 11.5 his sophomore campaign and 15.0 points last season as a junior. White averaged 11.1 points as a rookie and 12.8 points last year as a sophomore.
? Darius Stokes earned a scholarship after being a walk-on the last three years. The Cedar Rapids, Iowa, native is a redshirt junior.
? Okey Ukah has been added to the roster as a walk-on. The Iowa City native is a junior.

ADDITIONAL SINGLE-GAME TICKETS ON SALE
A limited number of tickets are available for Iowa’s nine Big Ten games. There are no limits to the number of tickets that can be purchased per game with the following exceptions: A limit of four (4) tickets for Iowa’s games weekday games against Michigan State, and all of Iowa’s games against Big Ten opponents played on either Saturday or Sunday.

WORLD TRAVELERS
Iowa traveled to France and the United Kingdom in August to compete in six exhibition games. The Hawkeyes posted a 5-1 record against professional teams, boasting a +22.0 scoring margin. Aaron White led the team, averaging 13.6 points, followed by Peter Jok (13.3), Melsahn Basabe (12.6) and Roy Devyn Marble (11.2). Prior to traveling with his teammates to Europe in August, White also competed for Team USA at the World University Games in Russia in July. The Hawkeye junior played in five countries in five months: Russia (July), England (August), France (August), United States (November), and Bahamas (November).

HAWKEYEBASKETBALL.COM
Check out the Iowa basketball team’s 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
Iowa will have eight days off before opening conference action, Dec. 31, at home against Nebraska (6 p.m. CT). The team will return to practice on Friday, Dec. 27, after a brief Christmas break. The Big Ten opener on New Year’s Eve will be televised on BTN.