Men's Hoops Travels to No. 4 Wisconsin Sunday

Jan. 3, 2014

Iowa Game Notes

THE SETTING
Iowa (12-2, 1-0) returns to action Sunday when it travels to Madison, Wis., to face fourth-ranked Wisconsin (14-0, 1-0). Tipoff is set for 7:06 p.m. (CT) at the Kohl Center (17,249).

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.
TV: Sunday night’s game will be televised nationally on BTN (BTN2GO). Brian Anderson and Mike Kelley will call the action.

Game 15 | Iowa (12-2, 1-0) at Wisconsin (14-0, 1-0)
Date Sunday, Jan. 5 | 7:06 p.m. (CT)
Location Madison, Wisconsin | Kohl Center
TV BTN (BTN2GO)
Radio Hawkeye Radio Network
Live Coverage Twitter Game Updates
All-Time Series Iowa leads, 79-78

GAME #15 STORYLINES
? The last three meetings between Iowa and Wisconsin have been decided by four points or less, including last season’s double overtime contest in Madison.
? Senior Melsahn Basabe is only nine points from reaching 1,000 for his career.
? Junior forward Aaron White ranks first in the Big Ten in field goal percentage (.660) and fourth in free throw percentage (.833).
? Josh Oglesby made his season debut in Iowa’s last game, Dec. 22, against Ark.-Pine Bluff. The junior guard sank his first four 3-point attempts and finished the contest with 13 points.
? Gabriel Olaseni and Jarrod Uthoff combine to average 17.1 points, 11.8 rebounds and 3.2 blocks off the bench for the Hawkeyes.
? Roy Devyn Marble is only the second Hawkeye to amass 1,300+ points, 325+ assists and 400+ rebounds (Jeff Horner).
? Iowa’s two losses have come to teams with a combined 24-1 record (Villanova & Iowa State).
? Iowa’s backcourt of Mike Gesell (3.1) and Roy Devyn Marble (2.5) rank first and fourth, respectively in assist-to-turnover ratio in the Big Ten Conference.
? Iowa plays every Big Ten team that started 1-0 twice this season.

HAWKEYES BEAT NEBRASKA IN BIG TEN OPENER
? Iowa opened the Big Ten schedule with a 67-57 triumph over Nebraska in Iowa City on New Year’s Eve. The game was the only regular season meeting between the two teams.
? Three Hawkeyes scored in double figures: Roy Devyn Marble (15), Aaron White (13), and Jarrod Uthoff (11). Uthoff scored all 11 of his points in the second half.
? Four different Hawkeyes grabbed five or more rebounds: Roy Devyn Marble (8), Aaron White (7), Melsahn Basabe (7), and Gabriel Olaseni (5).
? The Hawkeyes closed the first half on a 12-1 run.
? Roy Devyn Marble moved into No. 16 on Iowa’s all-time scoring list (1,834 points).
? Iowa blocked eight shots, which equals the fourth-most during the Fran McCaffery era.
? Iowa did an outstanding job attacking the rim, earning 39 trips to the free throw line.

ALL-TIME SERIES RECORDS
Iowa leads the all-time series against Wisconsin by a narrow, 79-78, margin. Iowa has won three of the last four against Wisconsin. The two teams each won on its home floor a year ago — Iowa won 70-66 in Iowa City, while Wisconsin won 74-70 in double overtime in Madison. The two teams have split the last eight meetings. The last three meetings have been decided by a combined nine points. The last five meetings have been decided by seven points or less, with four of the five being decided by four points or fewer. Wisconsin holds a 50-28 advantage in games played in Madison. The Badgers have won 10 of the last 11 meetings in the Kohl Center. Iowa is 3-10 at the Kohl Center, winning there in 2011 (72-65), 2000 (61-55), and 1998 (79-76).

LAST SEASON AGAINST WISCONSIN
Aaron White averaged 15 points, six rebounds and 2.5 steals in two games against the Badgers last season, while Mike Gesell averaged 12.5 points in the two contests. Wisconsin’s Ben Brust averaged 12.5 points, while Sam Dekker averaged nine points in the two games against the Hawkeyes in 2013-14. Iowa and Wisconsin each scored 140 total points in the two games a year ago, with each team winning by four points.

UTHOFF, OLASENI LEADING HAWKEYES OFF BENCH
Junior Gabriel Olaseni and sophomore Jarrod Uthoff, who redshirted at Wisconsin his freshman season (2011-12), are averaging a combined 17.1 points, 11.8 rebounds and 3.2 blocks per game coming off the bench for the Hawkeyes. Uthoff ranks third on the team in scoring (10.9) and first in rebounding (6.5), while Olaseni ranks first on the squad in rejections (1.85) and fourth in rebounding (5.3). Uthoff is one of only eight Division I players to average better than 10.5 points and 6.5 rebounds off the bench.

ATTACKING THE RIM
Last season, Iowa ranked 20th in the country in free throw attempts per game. The Hawkeyes have improved on that number so far this season, averaging 30.6 foul shots per game, ranking ninth nationally.

BENCH MOB
Iowa’s reserves played a large role in Iowa’s 12 victories. Iowa’s bench is averaging 39.2 points, 23.2 rebounds and 3.8 blocks. As a team, the Hawkeye reserves rank first in the country in rebounding (23.2), and third in scoring (39.2) and blocks (3.8).

OGLESBY MAKES SPLASH IN DEBUT
Josh Oglesby broke a bone in his right foot during practice on Nov. 6. The shooting guard had surgery on Nov. 8 and missed six weeks of game action. The junior made his season debut on Dec. 22 against Arkansas-Pine Bluff, scoring 13 points. Oglesby played 20 minutes, sinking his first four 3-point attempts and finishing 4-of-5 from long distance. Oglesby was held scoreless in 11 minutes of action in the Big Ten opener against Nebraska on Dec. 31. He will be making his third appearance of the season on Sunday. Oglesby (6-foot-5, 208 pounds) played in 37 contests, including two starts, a year ago. The native of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, has scored 68 percent of his points from 3-point territory (273/401).

HAWKEYES RANK HIGH IN STATISTICS
Iowa leads the Big Ten in scoring (87.1), scoring margin (+22.2), and field goal percentage defense (.361). The Hawkeyes also rank second in the conference in rebounding margin (+9.9), blocks (5.7), field goal percentage (.476), and assists (17.8). Iowa ranks third in the country in scoring margin (+22.2) and field goal percentage defense (.367); fifth in scoring (87.1); seventh in assists (17.8); eighth in 3-point field goal percentage defense (.272); and 18th in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.5). Individually, Aaron White ranks 12th in the country in field goal percentage (.660).

BLOCK PARTY
Junior Gabriel Olaseni has blocked at least three shots five times this season. His 26 blocks rank sixth in the Big Ten (1.85 average). The center rejected five shots in the season opener against UNC Wilmington. Sophomore Jarrod Uthoff has blocked 19 shots (1.4 average), a total that ranks ninth in the league. As a team, Iowa ranks second in the Big Ten and 33rd nationally in rejections per game (5.7).

SCOUTING WISCONSIN
? The Badgers enter this weekend’s play one of seven unbeaten teams in the country (Syracuse, Iowa State, Oregon, Ohio State, Arizona and Wichita State).
? Sunday will be Wisconsin’s fifth time at home in six games. The Badgers are 8-0 at the Kohl Center in 2013-14, averaging 16,984 fans per game.
? Wisconsin ranks first in the Big Ten in 3-point accuracy (.392); second in 3-pointers made (8.3) and scoring defense (59.8); and third in field goal percentage (.472).
? Four Wisconsin starters average double figures in scoring: Sam Dekker (14.5), Frank Kaminsky (13.9), Ben Brust (12.4), and Traevon Jackson (10.6). Kaminsky netted a school-record 43 points against North Dakota earlier this season — the most points by a Big Ten player in 2013-14.
? Wisconsin ranks first in the country in fewest fouls per game (14.4) and fewest turnovers (8.2), and 14th in scoring defense (59.8).
? Point guard Josh Gasser ranks second in the conference in free throw percentage (.863), while shooting guard Ben Brust ranks second in 3-pointers made (2.8).
? The Badgers have five players who have made 13 triples or more: Brust (39), Dekker (17), Kaminsky (16), Jackson (13), and Gasser (13).

CENTER OF ATTENTION
Iowa is getting 12.1 points, 9.5 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game from their center position of Adam Woodbury and Gabriel Olaseni.

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 (3,464) 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.

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.

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 6.2 rebounds in 18 minutes of action per game. Since the start of the year, Basabe has moved past Ryan Bowen for fourth place on Iowa’s career blocks list with 135. 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 657 career rebounds are the most among active Big Ten players, has 1,000 career points in his sights. Basabe enters Sunday night’s contest against Wisconsin with 991 points.

WHITE HOT
Junior Aaron White, who averaged 15.3 points and 8.7 rebounds the last three games, ranks second on the team in rebounding (6.3) and scoring (13.2). 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 first in the league and 12th nationally in field goal percentage (.660).

HOME COOKIN’
The Hawkeyes posted a school-record 18 home wins last season (18-2), the most since posting 17 home victories in 2006. Iowa’s two losses came by less than four points to nationally-ranked teams (Michigan State and Indiana). For the second consecutive season, Iowa won all its nonconference home games after beating Pine Bluff on Dec. 22 to finish its nonleague home slate 8-0. Iowa has won 27-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 23 straight at home against nonconference foes, dating back to 2011. Overall, Iowa has won 18 consecutive home games dating back to January 2013.

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 enters Sunday’s game against the Badgers 16th in Iowa career scoring with 1,348 points — 13 points shy of Bruce King (1,361) for 15th place.

IOWA FASTBREAKS
? Iowa’s next three weekend games will be played on Sunday, with two coming on the road.
? Iowa and Michigan State are the only Big Ten team this season to have four different players post a double-double.
? Iowa finished its nonconference schedule 11-2 for the second straight season.
? 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-14 games this season.
? The Hawkeyes have out-rebounded 11 of their 14 opponents.
? Iowa is 27-4 when scoring 80 points or more, the last four seasons. The Hawkeyes are 38-1 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 two games this season (77 against Xavier and 67 versus Nebraska).
? Iowa has been credited with 20 or more assists five times this season. The Hawkeyes rank seventh nationally in assists (17.8).
? Jarrod Uthoff is averaging 10.9 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 1.35 blocks off the bench. The sophomore has reached double digits in nine games. The native of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, ranks sixth in the Big Ten in free throw percentage (.830) and is 10th in rebounding (6.5).
? 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 (308) more free throws than its opponents have attempted (265).
? 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).
? 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.

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 14,752 fans this season.

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).

ADDITIONAL SINGLE-GAME TICKETS ON SALE
A limited number of tickets are available for Iowa’s eight remaining 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 returns home to host Northwestern on Thursday, Jan. 9. Tipoff is slated for 8 p.m. (CT) on Mediacom Court at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The game will be televised nationally on ESPNU.