MBB To Set to Host Season Opener Friday Night

Hawkeye Fan Shop — A Black & Gold Store | Hawkeyes in the NBA | Hawk Talk Monthly — November | Game Notes (PDF) | Buy Tickets

THE SETTING
Iowa (0-0) tips off the 2016-17 season Friday night against Kennesaw State (0-0). Tipoff is set for 8:35 p.m. (CT) on Mediacom Court at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. 
    There will be a women’s-men’s basketball doubleheader Friday with the women hosting Oral Roberts beginning at 6 p.m. (CT). Fans with a men’s ticket are welcome to attend the women’s game with their men’s ticket and sit in sections DD – JJ & E – I (above row 24).

ON THE AIR
Radio: Iowa games are broadcast on the Hawkeye Radio Network. Gary Dolphin will handle 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.
Stream: Friday’s game will be streamed on mobile devices and computers via BTN Plus on BTN2GO. Zach Mackey, Mac McCausland, and Taylor Brooks will call the action. There is a monthly or annual subscription fee to watch the game.

SEASON OPENER: KEY STORYLINES
•    Tickets can be purchased at the UI Ticket Office. Tickets are $18 for adults and $5 for youths and UI students.
•     Iowa will unveil its 2016 NCAA Tournament banner prior to the game. Friday is also Dance Marathon Day. 
•     Friday will be the first ever meeting between Iowa and Kennesaw State.
•     Fran McCaffery is 13-7 in season openers, including a 10-1 mark in home openers. The Hawkeyes beat Gardner-Webb, 76-59, in their season opener a year ago in Iowa City. 
•    Senior Peter Jok scored 19 of his game-high 28 points in the first half en route to a 95-73 exhibition game win over Division II Regis University on Nov. 4, in Iowa City. 
•    Iowa has won 37 of its last 38 nonconference home games, dating back to 2012.
•    Iowa returns seven letterwinners, including second leading scorer Peter Jok (16.1 ppg) from a year ago.
•    Peter Jok was one of 10 players named to the Preseason All-Big Ten team as selected by a media voting panel. He is also one of 20 players nationally named to the 2017 Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year Award Watch List.
•    Iowa has competed in postseason play the last five years (NCAA 2014-16; NIT 2012-13).
•    The Hawkeyes won 22 games, tied for third place in the Big Ten, and won an NCAA Tournament game each of the last two seasons. 
•    Iowa sold out 23 home games the last three seasons. The Hawkeyes ranked 19th in national attendance in 2015-16.
•    Iowa has won 20 or more games in four consecutive seasons — its longest streak in 15 years. 
•    Iowa averaged 10.3 turnovers in 2016, which is the best average for fewest turnovers in program history since turnovers became an official stat in 1980. The 10.3 turnover margin shattered the previous record of 11.1 set the previous season in 2015.
•    Fran McCaffery has guided Iowa to upper division finishes in the Big Ten in each of the last four seasons. McCaffery, who is one of just 12 Division I head coaches to take four different programs to the NCAA Tournament, has accumulated 16 first division finishes in 20 years as a head coach. McCaffery has posted 10 seasons of 20 or more wins as a head coach.
•    Iowa is 50-7 when scoring 80 points or more, the last six seasons. The Hawkeyes are 61-2 when holding opponents to fewer than 61 points, the last six years.

SCOUTING KENNESAW STATE
•    Kennesaw State is located in Georgia, has an enrollment of 35,000, and competes as a member of the Atlantic Sun Conference.
•    The Owls posted an 11-20 overall record, while going 7-7 and finishing fifth in the Atlantic Sun Conference a year ago.
•    Kennesaw State returns eight letterwinners, including three starters from last season. Kendrick Ray led the team in scoring as a freshman, averaging 18.7 points per game. Ray was named Newcomer of the Year and was recognized on the Atlantic Sun all-conference second team.
•    Kennesaw State won its exhibition game, 60-58, over Georgia Southwestern on Nov. 4. The Owls missed all 11 3-point attempts, but grabbed 11 more rebounds than their opponent. Senior captain Aubrey Williams led the team registering a double-double (12 points, 11 rebounds) in 23 minutes of action. Kendrick Ray tallied 11 points and dished our four assists.
•    Head coach Al Skinner is in his second season at the helm after going 11-20 in his first year. Prior to being named head coach on April 26, 2015, Skinner guided teams to nine NCAA Tournament appearances and four conference titles during tenures at Rhode Island and Boston College. Skinner is a two-time BIG EAST Coach of the Year (2001, 2005) and was named the 2001 national coach of the year.
•    Ten of Kennesaw State’s 15 players are underclassmen (6 freshmen, 4 sophomores, 2 juniors, 3 seniors).
•    Nine of Kennesaw State’s first 12 games to start the season will be on the road.

FRIDAY PARKING INFORMATION
•    Public parking will not be available in Lot 75, as this lot will be reserved for men’s basketball parking pass holders that will be displaced from their regular lot by women’s basketball and football RV parking pass holders. Public parking will be available for $5 in Lots 65 (Finkbine Commuter), 43N, 43W and 43NW. Hospital Ramps 3, 4 and the Newton Road Ramp will also be available at the applicable hourly rate.  
•    Public parking and shuttle service to Carver-Hawkeye Arena will not be available at the Hancher Auditorium lot, as the newly re-opened Hancher Auditorium has an event scheduled Friday night.  
•    Cambus service will begin at 5 p.m. from the Cambus stop on the south side of the Pentacrest in downtown Iowa City (on Washington Street, south of Clinton Street). This service will drop off fans one block east of Carver-Hawkeye Arena at the VA Loop, as well as pick-up fans postgame from the VA Loop. This service will begin at 5 p.m. and run until 8:30 p.m., then resume at 10:15 p.m. and run for 60 minutes following the end of the men’s basketball game.
•    ADA parking will be available in Lot 33. Entry is only available through Dental Drive (no access of Hawkins Drive) and requires display of a valid, state-issued ADA placard and the $5 cash fee.

HAWKEYES BEAT REGIS IN EXHIBITION
Senior Peter Jok scored 19 of his game-high 28 points in the first half en route to a 95-73 exhibition game win over Division II Regis University on Nov. 4, in Iowa City. 
•    The Hawkeyes led by as many as 24 points in the second half.
•    Iowa attempted 41 free throws, making 28 (.683), while the Rangers were 15-of-22 (.682) from the charity stripe.
•    Iowa outscored Regis University, 21-4 in fastbreak points.
•    Sophomore point guard Christian Williams had 11 points, five assists and no turnovers, while freshman forward Tyler Cook posted 15 points, six rebounds, and three steals.
•    The Hawkeyes forced 20 turnovers and converted those Ranger miscues into 28 points.

CARVER-HAWKEYE ARENA ENHANCEMENTS
The Iowa Athletic Department upgraded Carver-Hawkeye Arena’s video boards, sound system, lighting, digital scorestable displays, and playing surface this past summer. 
    A new four-sided centerhung video system is the centerpiece of the installation. The two main centerhung displays measure approximately 14.5 feet high by 26 feet wide and the other two centerhung displays measure 9.5 feet high by 16.5 feet wide. The project also upgraded the auxiliary displays located near the ceiling at each side of the arena.

TICKETS FOR HEROES
The University of Iowa Athletics Ticket Office is offering the opportunity for fans to purchase and donate basketball tickets to active duty and veteran military members, law enforcement officials and firefighters, through the “Tickets for Heroes” program.
    This opportunity will honor heroes by providing tickets at no cost when Iowa hosts a men’s and women’s basketball doubleheader on Military Appreciation Day, set for Sunday, Nov. 13. Basketball tickets purchased to donate are priced at $12. 
    Fans who are interested in purchasing and donating tickets for Military Appreciation Day, may use the promotion code TICKETS4HEROES at hawkeyesports.com/tickets. Fans may also contact Rachael Bedell at the UI Athletics Ticket Office (319-384-4299), Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

PETER JOK ENTERS FINAL SEASON AS A HAWKEYE
After averaging seven points per game as a sophomore, Peter Jok surged 9.1 points last year as a junior averaging 16.1 points per contest. The +9.1 improvement was tops among Big Ten players. Jok’s 16.1 scoring average ranks second among Big Ten players returning this season behind Illinois’ Malcolm Hill (18.1 ppg).
    Jok was named to the preseason All-Big Ten first team and third-team All-America by the website College Sports Madness, while also being recognized on the 10-player All-Big Ten squad voted on by the media. Jok is also one of 20 players nationally named to the 2017 Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year Award Watch List. 
    Jok ranked second on the team in scoring (16.1 ppg) and first in free throw accuracy (.852, 92-of-108). Jok made 28 straight free throws before missing in the win over Temple (3-of-5). He scored 20 or more points 10 times in 2015-16, including a career-best 29 points at Rutgers (Jan. 21) and versus Illinois (March 10). The 29-point outbursts tie for seventh-most by a Hawkeye during the Fran McCaffery era. 
    Jok became the first Hawkeye non-senior to average 16 points or more since Chris Kingsbury averaged 16.8 points as a sophomore in 1995.

NICHOLAS BAER PLAYED OVERSEAS IN AUGUST
Nicholas Baer averaged 8.5 points, 8.3 rebounds, and two steals in four games (3-1) as Iowa’s representative on the USA East Coast All-Star Team.
    This marked the sixth consecutive year that a Hawkeye traveled overseas with the USA East Coast basketball team. In 2011, Matt Gatens and Bryce Cartwright traveled overseas; Zach McCabe went in 2012; Jarrod Uthoff was on the roster in 2013; Mike Gesell and Adam Woodbury competed in 2014; while Dom Uhl traveled with the team in 2015.

RECENT GRADUATES PLAYING PROFESSIONAL BASKETBALL
A number of recent Iowa basketball graduates are playing professionally: Melsahn Basabe (Greece), Anthony Clemmons (Austria), Mike Gesell (Denmark), Jarryd Cole (France), Matt Gatens (NBA D-League: Iowa Energy), Devyn Marble (Greece), Gabriel Olaseni (Italy), Darius Stokes (Australia), Jarrod Uthoff (NBA D-League: Raptors 905), Aaron White (Russia), and Adam Woodbury (NBA D-League: Fort Wayne Mad Ants).

BAER NOMINATED FOR GOOD WORKS TEAM
Sophomore Nicholas Baer is a nominee for the 2017 Allstate NABC Good Works Team. 
    This prestigious community service award recognizes a distinguished group of student-athletes who have demonstrated a commitment to enriching the lives of others and contributing to the greater good in their communities.
    College sports information directors and basketball coaches across the country nominated players who exhibit exceptional leadership skills and an unwavering commitment to volunteerism.

IOWA HISTORY
Iowa has played 2,706 games since beginning basketball in 1902. Iowa’s overall record is 1,593-1,113 (.589). That includes a 1,015-355 (.741) record in home games, a 574-755 (.432) record in contests away from Iowa City, a 752-757 (.498) mark in Big Ten games and a 420-129 (.765) record in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

THE HY-VEE CLASSIC TICKETS ON SALE
The state’s four NCAA Division I men’s basketball teams will be in action in the same venue for the fifth consecutive year at Wells Fargo Arena on Saturday, Dec. 17.
    The first game of the doubleheader will feature Northern Iowa and Iowa beginning at 3:30 p.m. The game will be broadcast on ESPN3. Iowa State and Drake will play the second game at 6 p.m., with the game being broadcast on Mediacom.
    Tickets, which range in price from $30-75, are on sale exclusively through Hy-VeeTix.com, 844-55-HYVEE, 22 Hy-Vee Stores in Des Moines and Ames, or the Wells Fargo Arena Box Office. Tickets are good for admission to both games of the doubleheader.
    One of the marquee basketball events in the Midwest, The Hy-Vee Classic has sold out each of the last two years.

ALL-SESSION BIG TEN TOURNAMENT TICKETS ON SALE
All-session tickets for the 2017 Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament are on sale. The Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament will take place at the Verizon Center in Washington D.C., March 8-12. 
    Lower level tickets may be purchased through the UI Ticket Office. General public tickets may be purchased at Ticketmaster outlets, ticketmaster.com, or by calling Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000.
    All-session tickets for the lower level at the Verizon Center are available for $400 through the Big Ten university ticket offices only. All-session tickets general public tickets are available for $200 or $250 (depending on seat location) through Ticketmaster or the Verizon Center box office only. Orders will be limited to eight all-session tickets. 
    The tournament will continue to feature a discounted student ticket program. Students of Big Ten universities will be able to purchase tickets for $20, good for only the session or sessions featuring their school. All students must have a valid student ID for entry. Student section seating will be available in balcony sections and orders will be limited to one ticket per student. 

ON THE HORIZON
Iowa will return to action on Sunday when it hosts Savannah State in a preliminary game for the Emerald Coast Classic. Tipoff is set for 2:35 p.m. (CT) on Mediacom Court at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.