Men's Hoops Returns to Action Saturday at Penn State

Feb. 13, 2014

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Iowa Game Notes

THE SETTING
No. 16/15 Iowa (18-6, 7-4) returns to action at Penn State (13-12, 4-8) on Saturday. Tipoff is scheduled for 12:05 p.m. (CT) at the Bryce Jordan Center in University Park, Pa. Fran McCaffery, who is a Philadelphia native, has 72 wins as Iowa’s head coach, tying Sharm Scheuerman (1959-64) for eighth place on Iowa’s coaching wins chart.

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: Saturday afternoon’s game will be televised nationally on ESPNU. Mike Couzens and Darrin Horn will call the action.

GAME #25 STORYLINES
? Iowa and Penn State last met almost a year to the day (Feb. 14, 2013) in University Park, Pa., with the Hawkeyes edging the Nittany Lions, 74-72. Saturday will be the only regular season meeting between the two teams.
? Iowa is 12-0 this season when holding opponents to 70 points or less.
? Iowa improved to 6-0 in games following a loss this season with its 85-67 win over Michigan on Saturday. The Hawkeyes average 86.5 points, 19.3 assists, 8.2 steals, boast a +14 rebounding margin, and shoot 53 percent from the field (50 percent from 3-point range) and 77 percent from the foul line in the six games following a defeat.
? Iowa, Michigan and North Carolina are the only teams with a road win against an AP top-three team this season. The Hawkeyes won at then-No. 3 Ohio State (84-74) on Jan. 12.
? Iowa’s six losses have all come to teams ranked in the top-25 by a combined 21 points, including two in overtime. The Hawkeyes have lost games by two (Michigan State — overtime), three (Iowa State), four (Wisconsin), five (Villanova — overtime) and seven points (Ohio State).
? Devyn Marble is only active B1G player, and one of only nine in the country, to amass 1,500+ points, 325+ assists, 150+ steals, and 425+ rebounds. Marble, who is the only player to score 10+ points in every B1G game this season, has been named to the Naismith Trophy Top 30 List.

HAWKEYES CRUISE PAST MICHIGAN IN IOWA CITY
? Iowa avenged a loss in Ann Arbor a month ago with an 85-67 win over No. 10/16 Michigan Saturday in Iowa City. The 85 points are the most the Wolverines have allowed, in an non-overtime game, since 2007.
? The Hawkeyes improved to 6-0 in games following a loss this season, averaging 86.5 points in those games.
? Iowa has now beaten multiple AP Top 10 Big Ten teams in the regular season for the first time since 1990-91.
? Saturday’s 18-point victory was also Iowa’s largest versus an AP Top 10 team since beating No. 2 Missouri by 18 on Dec 15, 2001.
? Roy Devyn Marble scored 22 of his game-high 26 points in the first half, bolstered by 6-of-9 shooting from 3-point range in the first 20 minutes. The 22 points and six 3-pointers are the most by Marble in a half in his career. Marble’s efforts moved him past Hawkeye greats Greg Brunner, Don Nelson, and Andre Woolridge into 10th place on Iowa’s career scoring chart with 1,529 points.
? Iowa has registered 22 assists, marking the seventh time this season it had 20+ assists.
? Mike Gesell tied a career high with eight assists, to go along with 10 points, four rebounds, a game-high three steals, and only one turnover.
? Iowa shot a blistering 73 percent from 3-point territory in the first half (8-of-11). The Hawkeyes finished the game with 10 triples — the most in a Big Ten game this year for Iowa. It equaled the second most in a game this season by Iowa.
? Iowa held Michigan’s leading scorer, Nik Stauskas, to 10 points and four turnovers.

MARBLE NAMED TO NAISMITH TOP 30 LIST
University of Iowa senior Roy Devyn Marble has been named to the Naismith Trophy Midseason Top 30 List. The announcement was made Thursday. Marble currently ranks second in the Big Ten in scoring (17.8) and is the only player to score in double figures in every Big Ten game this season. The 6-foot-6, 200 pound guard is producing both offensively and defensively, as he is the only Big Ten player to average 16+ points and have 45+ steals. The native of Southfield, Mich., is the only active Big Ten player, and one of nine in the country, to amass 1,525+ points, 325+ assists, 425+ rebounds and 150+ steals. The team co-captain has scored 26 points or more eight times in his career, including in big games against nationally ranked opponents Wisconsin and Michigan. Marble is one of four Big Ten players on the list, joining Gary Harris and Keith Appling of Michigan State, and Nik Stauskas of Michigan.

MARBLE TIES SCHOOL RECORD
Roy Devyn Marble tied the school record for 3-pointers in a half when he drained six in the first half vs. Michigan. Marble tied Chris Kingsbury, who sank six in the first half versus Drake on Nov. 29, 1994, and Justin Johnson, who made six in the second stanza against Indiana on Jan. 2, 2008.

ALL-TIME SERIES
Iowa holds a 25-13 advantage in the series vs. Penn State. The Hawkeyes have won five of the last seven meetings, with the two setbacks coming at University Park, Pa. Iowa won both meetings last year: 76-67 in Iowa City and 74-72 in University Park. Penn State holds a 10-7 advantage in games played at University Park. Iowa, on Jan. 4, 1997, was the first visiting team to win (67-59) in Penn State’s new arena (Bryce Jordan Center). Iowa’s win snapped the longest home winning streak in the nation at the time. Three of the 38 meetings in the series have been in postseason action, including the first meeting in the 1955 NCAA Tournament in Evanston, Ill., with Iowa winning 82-53 on its way to the Final Four.

LAST TIME SEASON VERUS PENN STATE
? Aaron White averaged 18 points (10-of-19 FG and 14-of-18 FT) and five rebounds in two games against Penn State a year ago. Roy Devyn Marble averaged 15 points and four assists, while Melsahn Basabe averaged eight rebounds and 10.5 points. Basabe had a double-double (10 points and 10 rebounds) in Iowa’s 76-67 home win on Jan. 13, 2013.
? Iowa shot 78.5 percent (51-of-65) from the foul line in its two games vs. PSU a year ago.
? Iowa had the rebounding edge against the Nittany Lions last season, pulling down an average of 8.5 more rebounds. The Hawkeyes outrebounded Penn State by 11 (40-29) in its two-point win (74-72) at Penn State on Feb. 14, 2013.
? Penn State’s D.J. Newbill averaged 23 points and seven rebounds in the two games last year against Iowa.
? Penn State guard Tim Frazier did not play against Iowa last season due to injury.

SCOUTING PENN STATE
? The Nittany Lions enter Saturday’s game winners of four of their last six. PSU is 8-6 at home this year, including a 2-4 mark in the Bryce Jordan Center during conference play.
? Saturday begins a stretch of playing three of four games at home for Penn State, before finishing the regular season with two straight on the road.
? Penn State posted a come-from-behind, 66-65, win at Indiana on Wednesday. The Nittany Lions trailed by 12 points with 3:34 remaining before closing the contest on a 15-2 run. PSU’s only lead of the game came on a Tim Frazier driving layup with six seconds left in the game. PSU forced 20 Hoosier turnovers and converted those into 22 points. Frazier finished with 14 points, six rebounds and tied a season high with four steals.
? Tim Frazier and D.J. Newbill account for 45 percent of Penn State’s offense. Newbill averages a team-best 17.2 points per game, while Frazier averages 16.1 points. Frazier also leads the team in assists (5.96) and steals (1.7). Frazier, who ranks 17th nationally in assists, became the school’s all-time assists leader in last Saturday’s loss to Illinois. Ross Travis is the team’s leading rebounder (6.9 rpg).
? The duo of Frazier (35.6) and Newbill (34.8) rank second and fifth, respectively, in minutes player per game in the league.
? Penn State has six players who have made 18 or more 3-pointers and two who have sank at least 33. Brandon Taylor leads the team with 37 triples, while Newbill is second with 33.
? Penn State opponents make 36 percent of its 3-point attempts and allow the opposition 71.9 points per game.
? Penn State has played 15 games decided by 10 points or less (7-8) and 3-6 in games decided by five points or fewer. The Nittany Lions have played more one-possession games (5) than any other Big Ten team.
? Patrick Chambers, like Fran McCaffery is from Philadelphia. Chambers graduated from Philadelphia University in 1994. McCaffery graduated from Penn in 1982.

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 16.5 points this season as a senior. White averaged 11.1 points as a rookie, 12.8 points as a sophomore, and 13.2 points this year as a junior.

IN THE RANKINGS
Iowa ranks fifth in the Sagarin ratings; seventh by KenPom; 10th in the BPI and 23rd in the RPI.

BASABE JOINS TEAMMATES IN 1,000-POINT CLUB
Melsahn Basabe (1,075) joined teammates Roy Devyn Marble (1,529) and Aaron White (1,194) 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 (3,645) are third among father-son combos, playing at the same school, behind the Burtt’s of Iona (4,568). Overall, the Marble’s are eighth and are nine points from moving past Rick and Jon Barry.

BENCH MOB
Iowa’s reserves played a large role in Iowa’s 18 victories. Overall, Iowa’s bench is averaging 33 points, 20.3 rebounds and three blocks. In victories, Hawkeye reserves average 37.5 points and 22.2 rebounds, while in losses Iowa’s bench averages 19.5 points and 14.5 rebounds.

CENTER OF ATTENTION
Iowa is getting 12.6 points, 9.4 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game from their center position of Adam Woodbury & Gabriel Olaseni.

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 21 of its last 23 home games, dating back to last year. Furthermore, Iowa has won 30 of its last 34 at home since the start of last season. Iowa won a school-record 18 home victories (18-2) in 2012-13, the most since posting 17 home victories in 2006. 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.

REBOUNDING BOOST
Last year, Iowa owned a +4.7 rebounding margin, while this season the Hawkeyes have a +9.8 advantage on the glass — a +5.1 margin of improvement from a year ago. Iowa’s rebounding margin of +9.8 ranks fifth in the country.

UTHOFF, OLASENI LEADING HAWKEYES OFF BENCH
Gabriel Olaseni and Jarrod Uthoff are averaging a combined 15.4 points, 10.2 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game coming off the bench for the Hawkeyes. Uthoff ranks third on the team in scoring (8.54 and fourth in rebounding (4.9), while Olaseni ranks first on the squad in rejections (1.4) and third in rebounding (5.4). Uthoff’s 8.4 scoring average ranks third-best in the Big Ten for reserves behind Northwestern’s Tre Demps and Malik Smith of Minnesota. Olaseni averages an offensive rebound every six minutes played. Nearly half of Olaseni’s rebounds are offensive (61 of 129); the center ranks fourth in the league (overall games) in offensive rebounding (2.5). Olaseni, leads the team with four double-doubles — posting two in the last four games (at Northwestern and at Illinois). The four double-doubles tie for the most in the nation by a reserve. Olaseni put up career highs at Illinois (15 points and 12 rebounds) on Feb. 1.

HAWKEYES RANK HIGH IN STATISTICS
Iowa leads the Big Ten in scoring (83.7) and scoring margin (+16.6). The Hawkeyes also rank second in the conference in rebounding margin (+9.8), field goal percentage (.473), assists (16.3), field goal percentage defense (.387), and 3-point field goal percentage defense (.295). Iowa ranks second in the country in scoring margin (+16.6); fifth in rebounding margin (+9.8) and scoring (83.7); 11th in assists (16.3); 12th in field goal percentage defense (.387) and 3-point field goal percentage defense (.295); and 28th in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.4). Individually, Mike Gesell ranks 13th in the country in assist-to-turnover ratio (3.2) and Roy Devyn Marble ranks 57th in steals (1.9).

IOWA FASTBREAKS
? Iowa is 3-0 in Big Ten games played on Saturday this season, beating Michigan at home last Saturday and notching road victories at Illinois and Northwestern.
? All six of Iowa’s losses have come by eight points or fewer to teams ranked in the RPI top 20. Iowa is one of five teams (Syracuse, Villanova, Wichita State, San Diego State) in the official NCAA RPI top 25 not to have lost to a team outside the RPI top 20.
? Roy Devyn Marble ranks eighth place on Iowa’s all-time steals chart (162).
? Roy Devyn Marble coming up huge down the stretch, averaging 10.8 points (78% FT & 46% FG) in the second half of Big Ten games this season.
? 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.
? A win Saturday would give the Hawkeyes their fourth Big Ten road victory of the season. The last time Iowa had four conference road wins was 10 years ago during the 2003-04 season.
? Iowa handed Michigan (18 points) and Minnesota (21 points) their most lop-sided loss this season.
? The Hawkeyes have out-rebounded 20 of their 24 opponents.
? Roy Devyn Marble averages 15.6 points in Iowa’s 18 victories, and 19 points in its six defeats.
? Iowa 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 third in the Big Ten in field goal percentage (.598) and fourth in free throw percentage (.832).
? Iowa has two of the Big Ten’s top five field goal percentage leaders: Aaron White (third – .598) and Melsahn Basabe (fourth – .557).
? 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 was the last Big Ten team to lose at home this season, falling 71-69, to No. 6/7 Michigan State on Jan. 28.
? Iowa has made (513) more free throws than its opponents have attempted (483).
? Iowa has attempted 318 free throws in 11 Big Ten games, the most in the league. Ohio State ranks second with 259 in 12 games.
? Iowa recorded its 10th win of the season by 20-plus points at Northwestern on Jan. 25, the most of any Big Ten team this season.
? Iowa (4) and Michigan State (6) 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-24 games this season.
? The Hawkeyes are 2-5 in games decided by five points or fewer.
? Iowa is 32-4 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 been credited with 20 or more assists seven times this season. The Hawkeyes rank 11th nationally in assists (16.3).
? Iowa held Michigan State leading scorer, Gary Harris, to a season-low nine points on Jan. 28 in Iowa City.
? Iowa is 1-2 in overtime games this season. The Hawkeyes beat Xavier (77-74), but lost to Villanova (88-83) and Michigan State (71-69).

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 has made at least one triple in four of the last five games and 8-of-12 games this season.

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.

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 this season, averaging 29.5 foul shots per game, ranking eighth nationally. Iowa ranks third in the country in free throw makes (21.4).

BASABE MOVIN’ ON UP
Senior Melsahn Basabe, who has posted three double-doubles this season, is averaging 7.8 points and 6.5 rebounds. Basabe pulls down seven rebounds per game in Big Ten play, an average that ranks fourth in the Big Ten. Basabe’s 727 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.

WHITE HOT
Junior Aaron White ranks first on the team in rebounding (6.5) and ranks second in scoring (13.2). White is one of only two Big Ten players to average 13.2 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 20th in Iowa scoring after surpassing Bill Logan (1954-56) and Dave Gunther T(1957-59) Saturday against Michigan. 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 third in the league in field goal percentage (.598).

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. College Sports Madness recognized Marble a second time on Feb. 9 after he led Iowa with 26 points in an 85-67 victory over Michigan. 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 versus 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 seven of the last 11 games, enters Saturday’s game at Penn State 10th in Iowa career scoring with 1,529 points. Marble is 32 points from ninth-place Dean Oliver (1,561). He has netted 21 points or more seven times this season, including 26 against Michigan last Saturday. The native of Southfield, Mich., averages 17.8 points, 2.2 assists, 3.9 rebounds and 1.6 steals in conference play. Marble ranks 57th in the country in steals (1.9). Marble is the only Big Ten player to average 16.5+ points, 2.9+ assists and 1.9+ steals. Marble surpassed Mon’ter Glasper and Jim Bartels for eighth place on Iowa’s all-time steals chart (160) against Illinois (Feb. 1). He is four thefts from tying Jeff Horner for seventh. Marble has come up huge down the stretch, averaging 10.8 points (78% FT & 46% FG) in the second half of Big Ten games this season.

IOWA TIP-INS
? Iowa finished its nonconference schedule 11-2 for the second straight season.
? Michigan won three straight games last month 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 played 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.
? 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.
? 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).
? 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.

BLOCK PARTY
Junior Gabriel Olaseni has blocked at least three shots five times this season. His 35 blocks rank ninth in the Big Ten (1.5 average). The center rejected five shots in the season opener against UNC Wilmington. Sophomore Jarrod Uthoff has blocked 28 shots (1.2 average), a total that ranks 11th in the league. As a team, Iowa ranks second in the Big Ten, and 36th nationally, in rejections (5.1).

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 14,885 fans this season. Iowa’s remaining three home games have reached sellout status. Iowa has sold out eight previous contests this season (Penn, Notre Dame, Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Nebraska, Minnesota, Michigan State, Ohio State and Michigan). The additional three 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.

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. The first round of the event has ended and thanks to your votes, Iowa’s Fran McCaffery has advanced to round two, guaranteeing at least $7,500 for his charity, Coaches vs. Cancer. McCaffery is one of 24 coaches to advance to the second round, with the top 16 advancing to the third round. 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.

“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 (Feb. 19) 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 remains on the road when it travels to Bloomington, Ind., to face Indiana on Tuesday, Feb. 18. The game will be the only regular season meeting between the two teams this season.