Men's Hoops Hosts Minnesota on Sunday

Jan. 17, 2014

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Iowa Games Notes

THE SETTING
No. 14/16 Iowa (14-3, 3-1), who has won 19 straight home games dating back to January 2013, hosts Minnesota (14-4, 3-2). Tipoff is slated for 12:01 p.m. (CT) on Mediacom Court at Carver-Hawkeye Arena (15,400). The game is sold out, as is the remaining home games on Iowa’s schedule. Iowa has won 28-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. Sunday is the 21-year anniversary of the death of former Hawkeye Chris Street. Street was killed in an auto accident in Iowa City on Jan. 19, 1993, 15 games into his junior season.

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 afternoon’s game will be televised nationally on BTN (BTN2GO). Eric Collins and Shon Morris will call the action.

GAME #18 STORYLINES
? Iowa has started 3-1 in league play for the first time since the 2005-06 campaign. That season was the last time the Hawkeyes played in the NCAA Tournament.
? Iowa has won 19 straight home games — the Carver-Hawkeye Arena record is 21.
? Roy Devyn Marble is the reigning Big Ten Player of the Week after averaging 18.5 points, 4.5 assists and 3.5 steals in wins over Northwestern and at No. 3 Ohio State.
? The win over No. 3 Ohio State last Sunday marked Iowa’s first over a top-five team since an 83-65 victory at second-ranked Missouri on Dec. 15, 2001, in Columbia, Mo.
? The first 1,500 fans Sunday will receive a free “Rock & Roll Fan” Fran McCaffery bobblehead.
? Senior Melsahn Basabe has posted double-doubles in Iowa’s last two games (NW and OSU).
? Iowa’s three losses have come to teams with a combined 45-3 record (Villanova, Iowa State and Wisconsin) — with each loss coming by five points or less.
? Junior forward Aaron White ranks first in the Big Ten in field goal percentage (.653) and fourth in free throw percentage (.850).
? Roy Devyn Marble is only the second Hawkeye to amass 1,400+ points, 325+ assists and 400+ rebounds (Jeff Horner).
? Iowa has scored 82 points or more in all but three games this season.

HAWKEYES WIN AT #3 OHIO STATE, 84-74
? Iowa rallied from a nine point deficit with 12:51 remaining to register its first true road win of the season, 84-74, at No. 3 Ohio State on Jan. 12 in Columbus.
? The Hawkeyes outscored the Buckeyes 22-9 the last 5:53 of the game. Furthermore, Iowa sank 10 of its final 11 free-throw attempts the last 1:26 of the contest.
? Sunday marked only the fourth time in Value City Arena history (since 1998-99) that an Ohio State opponent had five different players score 10+ points.
? Iowa joins North Carolina as the only teams with a road win against an AP top-three team this season.
? Sunday marked only the third time in the last four seasons that OSU allowed 80+ points and the first time since 2008 that a team registered 84+ points against the Buckeyes.
? Melsahn Basabe registered his second straight double-double and 15th of his career (11 points and 10 rebounds).
? Roy Devyn Marble shared game-high scoring honors with 22 points. Marble has scored 20+ points five times this season and 18 times in his career. Aaron White contributed 19 points and six rebounds, Mike Gesell netted 11 points, while Jarrod Uthoff added 10. It marked the first time since 1989 that Iowa had five double figure scores in Columbus.
? The Hawkeye defense forced 17 Ohio State turnovers and converted those miscues into 27 points. The Buckeyes entered the game averaging 11 turnovers.

CENTER OF ATTENTION
Iowa is getting 12.1 points, 9.3 rebounds and two blocks per game from their center position of Adam Woodbury and Gabriel Olaseni.

MARBLE NAMED BIG TEN PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Iowa senior guard Roy Devyn Marble is the reigning conference Player of the Week after leading the Hawkeyes to a pair of victories last week, including an 84-74 victory at No. 3 Ohio State. The honor is the first for Marble and first for a Hawkeye since Matt Gatens earned the award, Feb. 27, 2012. Marble averaged 18.5 points, shooting 60 percent from the field (12-of-20) and 3-point range (3-of-5). He averaged 4.5 assists, 3.5 steals and three rebounds in wins over Northwestern and Ohio State. The native of Southfield, Mich., shared game-high scoring honors in Sunday’s upset win netting 22 points. Marble scored 15 points, collected six assists and four steals, and had no turnovers in a 93-67 win over Northwestern in Iowa City on Jan. 9. Marble, who ranks second in Big Ten scoring (19.8 ppg) and steals (2.5 spg), was also tabbed Athlon Sports’ National Player of the Week and the Big Ten Player of the Week by CollegeSportsMadness.com.

BASABE JOINS TEAMMATES IN 1,000-POINT CLUB
Melsahn Basabe (1,020) joined teammates Roy Devyn Marble (1,412) and Aaron White (1,111) in Iowa’s 1,000-point club against Northwestern on Jan. 9. Marble netted his 1,000th point in the 2013 regular season finale against Nebraska, while White passed 1,000 points against Notre Dame (Dec. 3) earlier this year. Basabe, White, and Marble become Iowa’s fifth trio of players on the same team to reach the 1,000-point threshold, and first trio since 2005.

RAISING THE BAR
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, 11.5 his sophomore campaign, 15.0 points as a junior, and 16.4 points this season as a senior. White averaged 11.1 points as a rookie, 12.8 points as a sophomore, and 13.8 points this year as a junior.

ALL-TIME SERIES RECORDS
Minnesota holds a 101-91 advantage in the series that began with a 47-10 Gopher win in 1902. The 192 meetings are the most Iowa has played against any opponent. The Gophers had won six straight in the series before the Hawkeyes have won three of the last four. Iowa swept the season series in 2012, while each team won on its home court a year ago, including a 72-51 Hawkeye win in Iowa City on Feb. 17, 2013. Iowa holds a 54-40 advantage in games played in Iowa City and a 19-9 advantage at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Iowa has won nine of the last 13 meetings in Iowa City, including six of the last nine.

LAST SEASON AGAINST MINNESOTA
Iowa had three players average double figures in two games against Minnesota a year ago: Aaron White (12.5), Mike Gesell (11.0), and Zach McCabe (10.0). In Iowa’s win against the Gophers last year, Iowa outscored Minnesota 38-22 in the second half, shooting 61 percent from the field the last 20 minutes. Iowa had five players score in double figures. At Minneapolis, the Hawkeyes led by one until Minnesota’s Austin Hollins sank a game-winning 3-pointer with 11 seconds left to lift the Gophers to a narrow, 62-59, win over Iowa. All five Gophers were responsible for Minnesota’s 62 points as its bench was held scoreless.

UTHOFF, OLASENI LEADING HAWKEYES OFF BENCH
Junior Gabriel Olaseni and sophomore Jarrod Uthoff are averaging a combined 16.2 points, 10.8 rebounds and 2.8 blocks per game coming off the bench for the Hawkeyes. Uthoff ranks third on the team in scoring (10.3) and rebounding (5.8), while Olaseni ranks first on the squad in rejections (1.5) and fourth in rebounding (4.9). Olaseni averages an offensive rebound every 6.28 minutes played. The junior leads Iowa with 42 offensive boards.

SCOUTING MINNESOTA
? Minnesota posted a 63-53 home win over No. 11 Ohio State Thursday night. The Gophers are 11-1 in home games and 2-1 in true road contests.
? Three Gophers average double figures: Andre Hollins (15.9); Austin Hollins (11.8); and DeAndre Mathieu (11.5).
? Minnesota ranks first in the conference in free throw accuracy (.755) and steals (8.4), and fourth in 3-pointers (7.7), and assists (14.4).
? Elliott Eliason ranks second in the league in blocked shots (2.7) and rebounding (8.9). The junior center pulls down a Big Ten-best 10.6 rebounds per game in league play. Junior guard Andre Hollins ranks 11th in Big Ten scoring (15.9). Junior DeAndre Mathieu ranks fourth in steals (1.9), while senior Malik Smith is first in free throw shooting (.878, 36-of-41).
? Elliott Eliason and Iowa’s Aaron White each grabbed a Big Ten-best 17 rebounds in a game this season. White had 17 boards at Iowa State, while Eliason controlled 17 in a win over Lehigh in Minnesota’s season opener.
? Richard Pitino is in his first season as head coach at Minnesota and second year overall. Pitino began his head coaching career at Florida International.

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 (3,506) tie for second 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 sixth.

ATTACKING THE RIM
Last season, Iowa ranked 20th in the country in free throw attempts per game (23.6). The Hawkeyes have improved on that number so far this season, averaging 30.3 foul shots per game, ranking sixth nationally. Iowa ranks third in the country in free throw makes (21.9).

HAWKEYES RANK HIGH IN STATISTICS
Iowa leads the Big Ten in scoring (86.4), scoring margin (+20.2), and field goal percentage defense (.368). The Hawkeyes also rank second in the conference in rebounding margin (+9.8), blocks (5.6), 3-point field goal percentage defense (.281), and assists (17.4). Iowa ranks second in the country in scoring margin (+20.2); fifth in field goal percentage defense (.368); seventh in scoring (86.4); eighth in rebounding margin (+9.8); ninth in assists (17.4); 14th in 3-point field goal percentage defense (.281); and 23rd in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.5). Individually, Mike Gesell ranks 21st in the country in assist-to-turnover ratio (3.15); Aaron White ranks 15th in field goal percentage (.653); and Roy Devyn Marble ranks 34th in steals (2.2).

BENCH MOB
Iowa’s reserves played a large role in Iowa’s 14 victories. Overall, Iowa’s bench is averaging 35.9 points, 21.6 rebounds and 3.4 blocks. In victories, Hawkeye reserves average 38.9 points and 22.9 rebounds, while in losses Iowa’s bench averages 22.3 points and 15.7 rebounds. Individually, Roy Devyn Marble averages 14.9 points in Iowa’s 14 victories, and 23.3 points in its three defeats.

BLOCK PARTY
Junior Gabriel Olaseni has blocked at least three shots five times this season. His 26 blocks rank eighth in the Big Ten (1.5 average). The center rejected five shots in the season opener against UNC Wilmington. Sophomore Jarrod Uthoff has blocked 22 shots (1.3 average), a total that ranks 11th in the league. As a team, Iowa ranks second in the Big Ten and 34th nationally in rejections per game (5.6).

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, who has posted double-doubles in Iowa’s last two games (Northwestern and Ohio State), is averaging 7.8 points and 6.8 rebounds. The 6.8 rebounds leads the team, while his 7.8 scoring average ranks fourth. Basabe pulls down nine rebounds per game in Big Ten play, an average that ranks second in the Big Ten. Basabe’s 686 career rebounds are the most among active Big Ten players. Since the start of the year, Basabe moved past Ryan Bowen for fourth place on Iowa’s career blocks list and currently has 138 rejections. 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.

WHITE HOT
Junior Aaron White ranks second on the team in rebounding (6.6) and ranks second in scoring (13.8). White is the only Big Ten player to average 15.5 points and 7.8 rebounds or better in conference play. 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). He currently ranks 31st in Iowa scoring. White became the first Hawkeye since Luke Recker (Nov. 14, 2001) to post 18+ points, 10+ rebounds and 5+ assists in a game when he had 18 points, 10 rebounds and five assists against the Wildcats on Jan. 9 in Iowa City. 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 14th nationally in field goal percentage (.653).

HOME COOKIN’
Iowa and its fans have once again made Carver-Hawkeye Arena a hostile and challenging place for opponents to visit. Iowa has won 19 consecutive home games, dating back to last season. The Hawkeyes’ last home setback came against nationally-ranked Michigan State on January 10, 2013. For the second consecutive season, Iowa won all its nonconference home games after beating Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Dec. 22, to finish its nonleague home slate a perfect 8-0. The Hawkeyes have won their first 10 home games this season after winning their final nine home contests a year ago. Overall, Iowa won a school-record 18 home victories (18-2) in 2012-13, 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). The Hawkeyes are two wins from equaling the Carver-Hawkeye Arena record for consecutive wins of 21, which spanned three seasons. The current record was established with the last win during the 2004-05 campaign, winning all 17 games in 2005-06, and earning victories in their first three games of the 2006-07 season. Iowa has won 28-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.

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, who has led the Hawkeyes in scoring three of the last four games, enters Sunday’s game against Minnesota 14th in Iowa career scoring with 1,412 points. The native of Southfield, Mich., averages 19.8 points, four assists, 4.3 rebounds and 3.3 steals in conference play. Marble ranks 34th in the country in steals (2.2).

IOWA HISTORY
Iowa has played 2,625 games since beginning basketball in 1902. Iowa’s overall record is 1,544-1,081 (.588). That includes a 984-345 (.740) record in home games, a 554-733 (.430) record in contests away from Iowa City, a 723-738 (.495) mark in Big Ten games and a 390-119 (.766) record in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

IOWA FASTBREAKS
? 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 or more players score in double figures in 11-of-17 games this season.
? The Hawkeyes have out-rebounded 14 of their 17 opponents.
? Iowa is 29-4 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 three games this season (77 against Xavier; 71 at Wisconsin; 67 versus Nebraska).
? Iowa has been credited with 20 or more assists six times this season. The Hawkeyes rank ninth nationally in assists (17.4).
? Jarrod Uthoff is averaging 10.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks off the bench. The sophomore has reached double digits in 10 games. The native of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, ranks sixth in the Big Ten in overall field goal percentage (.569) and is 17th in rebounding (5.8).
? 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 (373) more free throws than its opponents have attempted (349).
? 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.
? 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 14,679 fans this season. Iowa’s remaining seven home games have reached sellout status. Iowa has sold out four previous contests this season (Penn, Notre Dame, Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Nebraska). The additional seven sell outs will give the Hawkeyes 11 sellouts, their most since the 2001-02 season (16).

MCCAFFERY IN COACHES CHARITY CHALLENGE
Infiniti, ESPN, NABC and the NCAA have teamed up again to produce a one-of-a-kind charity competition — the Infiniti Coaches’ Charity Challenge. For 10 weeks, 48 coaches compete in a round robin bracket tournament for the chance to win $100,000 for charity. Iowa’s Fran McCaffery is one of 48 collegiate coaches taking part in this challenge. Fan participation will determine the ultimate winner over an eight-week period by registering and voting on a custom microsite on ESPN.com/Infiniti. The tournament is divided into four rounds. The coaches with the most votes will advance to the next round and earn more money for their charity. Go to ESPN.com/Infiniti each day and vote for Fran McCaffery and his charity, Coaches vs. Cancer

ON THE HORIZON
Iowa begins a two-game road trip when it travels to Michigan (Jan. 22) and Northwestern (Jan. 25). Both games will be televised on BTN.