Blog

Iowa has gone a combined 8-for-40 from 3-point range in its last two games, but coach Fran McCaffery said during a teleconference this morning that the shots the Hawkeyes are getting are solid.
“I feel like we’ve had good looks. They’re open shots. The shots Matt missed on Saturday and the shots (Jordan) Stoermer had were good looks. Eric (May) has been getting good looks out there and (Devyn) Marble has been as well. Those guys are good shooters and we’re getting shots that we can make. I don’t have a problem with it. They’ll start to fall.”
McCaffery wouldn’t mind seeing that happen Tuesday when the Hawkeyes host Northern Iowa at 7 p.m.
McCaffery has prepared teams to face the Panthers before. His Siena teams split games with UNI the past two seasons, providing McCaffery with a good knowledge of the Panthers’ personnel.
“I have a good idea of their strengths and philosophy,” McCaffery said. “This year, they are a bit of a different team in who they go to, but their system is so good that they can plug new players into it and it continues to work.”
McCaffery appreciates the efficiency he sees as the Panthers run their sets and in the things that UNI does not attempt to do.
“They stay within the framework of what they do and they don’t make mistakes. They make teams beat them because they won’t beat themselves.”

Monday morning quick shots
* Saturday’s win over Idaho State was not televised live, but a rebroadcast will air at 11 p.m. today on the Big Ten Network.
* Iowa students will be admitted free to Tuesday’s game with UNI. They must pick up a ticket in advance at either the Iowa Memorial Union box office or the Carver-Hawkeye Arena ticket office.

When the final seconds ticked off the clock Saturday afternoon at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, Iowa basketball players rushed over to greet Hawkeye football defensive coordinator Norm Parker.
A basketball lover who frequents a number of games, Parker watched Iowa defeat Idaho State while seated in a wheelchair next to the basket.
Coach Fran McCaffery said he spoke to Parker briefly before the game and it was long-time trainer John Streif who pointed out his presence to Iowa players.
“I’m never cognizant of who is or isn’t in the stands,” junior guard Matt Gatens said. “I’ve got enough to deal with on the court.”
Gatens welcomed the opportunity to greet Parker afterward, though, and he wasn’t alone.
The mass greeting was spontaneous and lasted about a minute.
“It was good to see him. He looks good and I’m happy our players showed him the respect he deserves,” McCaffery said.
Gatens said he appreciated that Parker took time to enjoy a game, given the health issues he has dealt with this fall.
“He’s a great guy and it made sense to go over and thank him for coming out to watch our game,” Gatens said. “We appreciate all of our fans.”

Freshman Devyn Marble is getting a quick introduction to a variety of positions at the college level. Marble saw action not only as a back-up point guard in Iowa’s game at Wake Forest on Tuesday but as a shooting guard and at the wing or small forward’s position.
“The mentality at each spot is a little different and you have to adjust,” Marble said today. “At the point, I’m trying to set the tempo and get people involved. At the guards spots, they’re pretty similar. It’s more of a shooter’s mentality there.”
Marble has averaged 18.4 minutes in Iowa’s first seven games and he’s trying to make the most of whatever he’s asked to do.
“I’ll play wherever they need me,” he said. “I just like being out there, doing what I can to help the team.”
With point guard Cully Payne sidelined indefinitely following hernia surgery, that is leading Marble to some back-up minutes behind Bryce Cartwright at the point.
Coach Fran McCaffery likes what he has seen from Marble.
“He’s proven so far that he’s a gamer,” McCaffery said. “He’s got some talent, can score. He’s not afraid. He sticks his nose in there on the glass and rebounds the ball. He is going to be aggressive offensively, and he’s not a mistake maker, so that is critical.”