Men's Hoops Hosts Michigan State Tuesday

Jan. 27, 2014

• Read the January issue of Hawk Talk Monthly
• Download your Hawk Talk Monthly iOS app
• Download your Hawk Talk Monthly android app
• Download your Iowa Hawkeye Android app!
• Big Ten Network: Free Hawkeye Video
• 24 Hawkeyes to Watch

Iowa Game Notes

THE SETTING
No. 15/12 Iowa (16-4, 5-2) will entertain No. 6/7 Michigan State (18-2, 7-1) on Tuesday. Tipoff is slated for 6:05 p.m. (CT) on Mediacom Court at Carver-Hawkeye Arena (15,400). The game is sold out. Fans are encouraged to arrive early and allow extra time to park. Iowa, who has won 20 straight home games dating back to last January, will be looking to tie the Carver-Hawkeye Arena record of consecutive wins (21). 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. Tuesday is Iowa basketball’s inaugural “Black & Gold Spirit” game; alternating sections of black and gold in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

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: Tuesday night’s game will be televised nationally on ESPN (WATCHESPN). Mike Tirico, Jay Bilas and Allison Williams will call the action.

GAME #21 STORYLINES
? Tuesday pits Iowa — undefeated at home (11-0) — against Michigan State — undefeated away from East Lansing (9-0) at a sold out Carver-Hawkeye Arena; Iowa’s sixth sellout of the season.
? The Big Ten’s top two offensive teams square off on Tuesday — Iowa leads the Big Ten averaging 85.2 points per contest while Michigan State is second, averaging 79.7 points per game.
? Iowa is the only Big Ten team undefeated at home this season. The Hawkeyes have won 20 consecutive home games, tying Kentucky for the fifth-longest active streak in the country. The last team to beat Iowa in Carver-Hawkeye Arena is Michigan State (Jan. 10, 2013).
? The Hawkeyes are 5-2 to start Big Ten play — its best start in conference play since 2005-06, which is the last Hawkeye team to make the NCAA Tournament.
? Iowa, Michigan and North Carolina are the only teams with a road win against an AP top-three team this season.
? Iowa recorded its 10th win of the season by 20-plus points Saturday at Northwestern, the most of any Big Ten team this season.
? Iowa improved to 4-0 after a loss with its 76-50 win at Northwestern on Saturday.
? Roy Devyn Marble is only the second Hawkeye to amass 1,450+ points, 325+ assists and 425+ rebounds (Jeff Horner).

HAWKEYES CRUISE PAST NORTHWESTERN
? Six different Hawkeyes scored eight points or more in a 76-50 road win at Northwestern on Saturday in Evanston, Ill. It marked the second straight season Iowa held the Wildcats to 50 points in Welsh-Ryan Arena.
? The 26-point victory is Iowa’s largest in a Big Ten road game since winning at Northwestern by 27 (103-76) on March 5, 1987.
? The Hawkeyes, who also beat the Wildcats by 26 points (93-67) in Iowa City on Jan. 9, beat a team by 25-plus points twice in the same season for the first time since 1986-87 (also Northwestern).
? Iowa was led by senior guard Roy Devyn Marble, junior center Gabriel Olaseni and sophomore guard Mike Gesell. Marble netted all of his 14 points in the second half, while Olaseni posted his third double-double of the season (14 points and 10 rebounds) in only 17 minutes. The 14 points equaled a career high. Gesell tied a season-high with 11 points to go along with six assists and two steals.
? The Hawkeye bench was productive again, scoring 32 points and grabbing 17 rebounds.
? The Hawkeyes shot 52 percent from the field (28-of-54), while holding the Wildcats to 20 percent shooting from 3-point range (4-of-20).

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 16.1 points this season as a senior. White averaged 11.1 points as a rookie, 12.8 points as a sophomore, and 13.7 points this year as a junior.

ALL-TIME SERIES
Michigan State holds a 68-53 advantage over Iowa in the series that began with a 52-37 Michigan State win in 1938. Iowa and Michigan State played twice last year, with the Spartans winning both by three-point margins; the Spartans won 62-59 in Iowa City and 59-56 in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Tournament. Michigan State has won 11 of the last 12 meetings, including the last six. The Hawkeyes’ lone victory during that span was a 72-52 win on Feb. 2, 2011, in Iowa City. Iowa holds a 34-22 advantage in games played in Iowa City. The Hawkeyes’ last loss at home came to Michigan State on Jan. 10, 2013. Iowa has won six of the last 10 in Iowa City. Overall, Iowa has a 14-13 advantage in Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Michigan State, in 1983, won the first basketball game ever played in Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Michigan State’s 13 wins are the most by any Iowa opponent in the facility.

LAST SEASON VERSUS MICHIGAN STATE
Michigan State edged Iowa 62-59 on Jan. 10, 2013, in Iowa City. Iowa led 56-53 with 1:34 left, but the Spartans rallied to score five consecutive points to take a 58-56 advantage with 48 seconds remaining before hanging on for the road win. The Hawkeyes played the game without the services of its leading scorer, Roy Devyn Marble, who sustained a sprained ankle in practice earlier in the week. Zach McCabe scored a season-high 15 points to lead Iowa. Ten Hawkeyes scored, but none reached double figures, in a 59-56 loss to the nationally-ranked Spartans on March 15, 2013, in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Tournament. Iowa led 47-35 with 10 minutes remaining in the game before the Spartans closed the contest on a 24-9 run. Mike Gesell led the Hawkeyes with nine points and two steals.

SCOUTING MICHIGAN STATE
? Michigan State is 3-0 in games decided by four points or less this season, and 4-1 in contests decided by five points or fewer. The Spartans are 2-0 in overtime, beating Ohio State and Minnesota (both at home).
? Michigan State dropped its first Big Ten Saturday night at home to nationally-ranked Michigan (80-75). The Wolverines made four more 3-pointers (11-7) and nine more free throws (25-16). Guard Gary Harris led all scorers with 27 points. Forward Matt Costello nearly had a double-double (nine points and nine rebounds) for the Spartans. Redshirt freshman Kenny Kaminsky started his first career game on Saturday night.
? Michigan State will be without the services of its leading rebounder, Branden Dawson, who pulls down 8.7 rebounds per game. The junior power forward broke his right hand last week. Dawson has registered a team-best five double-doubles this season. Senior center Adreian Payne (16.2 ppg and 7.7 rpg) has missed the last five games due to a sprained foot. His status for Tuesday’s game has yet to be determined.
? Michigan State ranks fourth in the country in assists (17.8); 10th in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.6); 13th in scoring margin (+15.0); and 14th in field goal percentage defense (.382).
? The Spartans rank first in the Big Ten (overall games) in assists (17.8); second in blocked shots (5.3), steals (8.0), scoring (79.7), 3-point accuracy (.386) and field goal percentage defense (.382); and third in field goal percentage (.478), 3-pointers made (7.7) and rebounding margin (+5.1).
? Garry Harris leads the Big Ten in scoring — in overall games (18.8) and is second in steals (2.2). Harris averages 19.9 points in eight Big Ten contests. Keith Appling ranks second in the league in assists (4.9) and third in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.5). Denzel Valentine is fourth in the Big Ten in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.4), while Travis Trice is fourth in 3-point accuracy (.429).

CLEMMONS, VALENTINE REUNITE
Iowa sophomore Anthony Clemmons and Michigan State sophomore Denzel Valentine were classmates at Sexton High School in Lansing, Mich. The duo won three consecutive conference championships (2010-12) and back-to-back Class B state titles (2011-12). Valentine’s father was Clemmons’ high school coach.

BASABE JOINS TEAMMATES IN 1,000-POINT CLUB
Melsahn Basabe (1,051) joined teammates Roy Devyn Marble (1,455) and Aaron White (1,151) 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.

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 (3,571) are third among father-son combos, playing at the same school, behind the Burtt’s of Iona (4,568). Overall, the Marble’s are ninth.

CENTER OF ATTENTION
Iowa is getting 11.9 points, 9.2 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game from their center position of Adam Woodbury and Gabriel Olaseni.

UTHOFF, OLASENI LEADING HAWKEYES OFF BENCH
Junior Gabriel Olaseni and sophomore Jarrod Uthoff are averaging a combined 15.5 points, 10.6 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game coming off the bench for the Hawkeyes. Uthoff ranks third on the team in scoring (9.2) and rebounding (5.5), while Olaseni ranks first on the squad in rejections (1.3) and fourth in rebounding (5.2). Uthoff’s 9.2 scoring average ranks fourth-best in the Big Ten for reserves behind Northwestern’s Tre Demps, Deverell Biggs of Nebraska and Minnesota’s Malik Smith. Olaseni averages an offensive rebound every 5.84 minutes played. More than half of Olaseni’s rebounds are offensive (52 of 103); the center ranks fourth in the leafue (overall games) in offensive rebounding (2.6). Olaseni, who had 14 points and 10 rebounds at Northwestern on Saturday, is the first Hawkeye with three double-doubles in a season, coming off the bench, since Glen Worley had three during the 2002-03 campaign. Olaseni’s three double-doubles tie Melsahn Basabe and Aaron White for the team lead this season.

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 29.6 foul shots per game, ranking ninth nationally. Iowa ranks fourth in the country in free throw makes (21.5).

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 20 consecutive home games, dating back to last season. The Hawkeyes’ last home setback came against nationally-ranked Michigan State on Jan. 10, 2013. Furthermore, Iowa has won 29 of its last 31 home games since the start of last season. The Hawkeyes have won their first 11 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 one win 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 29-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.

HAWKEYES RANK HIGH IN STATISTICS
Iowa leads the Big Ten in scoring (85.2), scoring margin (+19.1), and field goal percentage defense (.376). The Hawkeyes also rank second in the conference in rebounding margin (+10.0), 3-point field goal percentage defense (.280), and assists (16.9). Iowa ranks second in the country in scoring margin (+19.1); sixth in scoring (85.2) and rebounding margin (+10.0); eighth in field goal percentage defense (.376); 10th in 3-point field goal percentage defense (.280); 11th in assists (16.9); and 29th in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.4). Individually, Mike Gesell ranks ninth in the country in assist-to-turnover ratio (3.3); Aaron White ranks 15th in field goal percentage (.633); and Roy Devyn Marble ranks 46th in steals (2.0).

IOWA FASTBREAKS
? Iowa has started 5-2, or better, in Big Ten play for the 12th time. Each of the previous 11 teams made the NCAA Tournament. Iowa’s 1969-70 team started 7-0, while its 1981-82 and 1986-87 squads started conference play 6-1.
? Junior forward Aaron White ranks first in the Big Ten in field goal percentage (.633) and fifth in free throw percentage (.840).
? Iowa has three of the Big Ten’s top six field goal percentage leaders: Aaron White (first – .633); Melsahn Basabe (fourth – .585); Jarrod Uthoff (sixth – .550).
? Iowa’s win over No. 3 Ohio State on Jan. 12, 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.
? Iowa started 16-4 for the first time since the 2000-01 campaign and 5-2 in Big Ten play for the first time since the 2005-06 season.
? Iowa is the only Big Ten team to be undefeated at home (11-0).
? Iowa has made (430) more free throws than its opponents have attempted (398).
? Iowa has attempted 204 free throws in seven B1G games, the most in the league. Michigan State ranks second with 171 in eight games.
? All four of Iowa’s losses have come by eight points or fewer to teams ranked in the top 25 this week.
? Iowa has assists on 58 percent of its field goals this season (338/579), a percentage that ranks 38th in the country.
? Iowa (4) and Michigan State (5) are the only Big Ten team to have at least four different players post a double-double.
? Iowa has had four or more players score in double figures in 12-of-20 games this season, including five players reach double figures in two of its last three contests (Ohio State and Minnesota).
? The Hawkeyes have out-rebounded 17 of their 20 opponents.
? Adam Woodbury had six rebounds in Iowa’s last game at Northwestern, the most for the sophomore since grabbing a career-high 11 at Iowa State on Dec. 13, 2013.
? Iowa is 30-4 when scoring 80 points or more, the last four seasons. The Hawkeyes are 39-1 when holding opponents to fewer than 61 points, the last four seasons — with the one loss coming to Michigan State (59-56) at the Big Ten Tournament last season.
? Iowa’s average starting lineup height is 6-foot-6. The Hawkeye lineup consists of two sophomores, one junior, and two seniors.
? Iowa has scored 82-plus points in all but five games this season (77 against Xavier; 71 at Wisconsin; 67 versus Nebraska; 67 at Michigan; 76 at Northwestern).
? Iowa has been credited with 20 or more assists six times this season. The Hawkeyes rank eighth nationally in assists (16.9).
? Jarrod Uthoff is averaging 9.2 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 1.2 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 field goal percentage (.550).

BENCH MOB
Iowa’s reserves played a large role in Iowa’s 16 victories. Overall, Iowa’s bench is averaging 34.7 points, 21 rebounds and three blocks. In victories, Hawkeye reserves average 38.7 points and 22.7 rebounds, while in losses Iowa’s bench averages 18.8 points and 14.3 rebounds. Individually, Roy Devyn Marble averages 14.9 points in Iowa’s 16 victories, and 20.8 points in its three defeats.

SHARPSHOOTER
Junior Josh Oglesby, who missed the first 12 games of the season due to an injured foot, made his first four 3-point attempts of the game against Arkansas-Pine Bluff (Dec. 22) and Minnesota (Jan. 19). The junior finished with 13 and 17 points, respectively. Oglesby netted eight points in Iowa’s last game at Northwestern.

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.

BLOCK PARTY
Junior Gabriel Olaseni has blocked at least three shots five times this season. His 26 blocks rank ninth in the Big Ten (1.3 average). The center rejected five shots in the season opener against UNC Wilmington. Sophomore Jarrod Uthoff has blocked 24 shots (1.2 average), a total that ranks 12th in the league. As a team, Iowa ranks fourth in the Big Ten in rejections (5.1).

BASABE MOVIN’ ON UP
Senior Melsahn Basabe, who has posted three double-doubles this season, is averaging 8.2 points and a team-best 6.7 rebounds. Basabe pulls down 7.6 rebounds per game in Big Ten play, an average that ranks fourth in the Big Ten. Basabe’s 703 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 140 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 (6.5) and ranks second in scoring (13.7). White is one of only two Big Ten players to average 13.7 points and 6.5 rebounds or better (Northwestern’s Drew Crawford). 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 26th in Iowa scoring after surpassing Bob Hansen and Kevin Kunnert at Michigan (Jan. 22) last week. 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 (.633).

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 earned his first Player of the Week honors by the Big Ten and was also recognized as Athlon Sports’ National Player of the Week on Jan. 13, after leading the Hawkeyes to a pair of victories at No. 3 Ohio State (84-74) and vs. Northwestern (93-67). 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 the two victories. Marble, who has led the Hawkeyes in scoring four of the last seven games, enters Tuesday’s game versus Michigan State 14th in Iowa career scoring with 1,455 points. The native of Southfield, Mich., averages 17.4 points, 2.4 assists, four rebounds and 1.7 steals in conference play. Marble ranks 46th in the country in steals (2.0).

IOWA TIP-INS
? Iowa finished its nonconference schedule 11-2 for the second straight season.
? Michigan’s last three wins have come over top-10 ranked opponents (Wisconsin, Iowa and Michigan State). The Wolverines became first team since Iowa in 1987 to post three straight victories against top-10 teams.
? 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.
? Zach McCabe and Roy Devyn Marble were named to the Battle 4 Atlantis all-tournament team.
? 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 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 beat Minnesota, 94-73, on Jan. 19 in Iowa City. The 21-point loss is the Gophers’ most lop-sided loss of the season. The 94 points are its most against Minnesota in a non-OT game since scoring 99 points versus the Gophers on Feb. 18, 1989.
? Iowa’s 249 points and 19.0 assists average, in three games, are a Battle 4 Atlantis tournament records.
? Iowa’s win at Ohio State on Jan. 12, marked only the third time in the last four seasons that Ohio State allowed 80-plus points and the first time since 2008 that a team registered 84-plus points against the Buckeyes.
? In Iowa’s win at Ohio State on Jan. 12, it marked the first time since 1989 that Iowa had five double figure scorers in Columbus.
? 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.

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).

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).

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 14,744 fans this season. Iowa’s remaining six home games have reached sellout status. Iowa has sold out five previous contests this season (Penn, Notre Dame, Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Nebraska and Minnesota). The additional six sell outs will give the Hawkeyes 11 sellouts, their most since the 2001-02 season (16).

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.

“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 Wednesday (Jan. 29) 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.

ON THE HORIZON
Iowa concludes a stretch of playing three-of-four on the road when it travels to Champaign, Ill., to challenge Illinois on Saturday. Tipoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. (CT) at the State Farm Center.