2010 Iowa Men's Basketball Schedule Released
Amid the college football news overload, the University of Iowa released their 2010-11 men's basketball schedule.
The schedule includes seven weekend home dates and a minimum of 18 regular season appearances on the Big Ten Network. The league will be airing all regular season and postseason game will be nationally televised on the conference television network.
"With the schedule being released, that means the season isn't too far away and that's exciting," said Head Coach Fran McCaffery in a statement released with the schedule. "We have a solid core of talented players who can compete in this league and we're excited to start the season."
According to HawkeyeSports.com, the Hawkeyes will play seven of their 12 non-conference games in Carver-Hawkeye Arena, with only two true road games and three other contests on a neutral court. Iowa will play Wisconsin and Penn State only once during the regular season.
Get Ready for Iowa's Melsahn Basabe
Iowa's summer basketball league, Prime Time League (PTL), is off to a high-scoring start for at least one new Hawkeye.
Prime Time is a place for high school, college, and professional players around the state of Iowa to hone their skills in preparation for the season.
Over the past two decades, several great Iowa basketball greats have participated in PTL, including NBA players like Ryan Bowen, Reggie Evans, and Ricky Davis.
"[Davis] was by far the most electrifying high school player that I have seen come through the PTL," remembered former Hawkeye legend Kenyon Murray.
Incoming freshman Melsahn Basabe appears to be following in Davis's PTL footsteps.
Cedar Rapids Gazette writer Scott Dochterman labels Basabe an "electrifying dunker ." He has been the star of the summer on both ends of the court, and has proved he can take control of a game when he needs to.
“I wanted to play hard to show people I respected the Iowa fan base,” Basabe mentioned in a post game interview. “But I put pressure on myself. I don’t want to embarrass myself.”
If his Prime Time League stats are any indication, the 6-7 power forward shouldn't have to worry about embarrassing himself come Big Ten Conference action.
The New York native continues to put up impressive numbers, averaging over 34 points and 10 rebounds a game in the three league match-ups so far this summer. He is also shooting better than 50 percent from behind the three-point line.
Wednesday Afternoon Hawkeye News
Track: Four Hawkeyes Earn all-America Honors [Hawkeye Sports] - Patrick Richards, Steven Willey, Erik Sowinski and Chris Barton each earned honors by placing seventh in the 1,600-meter relay at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships last weekend.
Brad Banks hosting football camp in Iowa City [Yahoo] - When you mention the name Brad Banks to any Iowa Football fan, the reaction is always the same. It’s always a smile with memories of his Heisman Trophy runner-up performance in the 2002 season. The former Hawkeye quarterback hasn’t called it a career just yet and is still pursuing his football dreams on a personal level, but he will be hosting his first football camp in Iowa City on July 10th at the Hawkeye Football complex.
Big '10 Welcomes Nebraska: A Student's Perspective - Today, I am extremely happy I chose Iowa because of its outstanding journalism school, but it always comes back to football. My best memories at Iowa so far are the football games the past two seasons.
Prime Time League observations [John Bohnenkamp] - Observations from Tuesday’s opening night of the Prime Time League.
Iowa college students rank second in the nation in volunteerism [U of Iowa] - The University of Iowa has helped Iowa become second in the nation in volunteerism. According to a report released Tuesday by Volunteering in America, Iowa college students rank second in the nation in volunteering within the college student demographic, up from 32nd in 2006, with 41 percent of college students volunteering their time in 2009.
Friday Morning Hawkeye News
Prairie hires former Hawkeye Moses as hoops coach - The school announced Tuesday that James Moses is its new head varsity coach. He replaces Paul Schenkelberg, who stepped down last month.
Cougill top pick of Prime Time draft [Hawk Central] - A member of the Iowa basketball team was selected first in the Prime Time League draft on Wednesday, but it might not be who you think. It wasn't junior-to-be Matt Gatens or sophomore-to-be Eric May, who both are returning starters from last season, but rather 6-foot-9 sophomore-to-be center Brennan Cougill, who played sparingly last season.
Clayborn Named To Playboy All-America Unit [Hawkeye Sports] - University of Iowa defensive end Adrian Clayborn has been named to the prestigious Playboy magazine pre-season all-America team.
Big Ten rankings: No. 18, Ricky Stanzi [ESPN] - No player in the Big Ten is tougher to grade than Stanzi. At times, he has been Iowa's worst enemy, throwing interceptions in bunches, four of which were returned for touchdowns last season. Iowa certainly has won in spite of Stanzi.
Iowa regents OK $4 billion school budget - The Iowa Board of Regents has approved a more than $4 billion dollar budget for next year, but several members are voicing concerns over variations in retirement contributions at the state's three public universities.
McCaffery Set For His First Prime Time League
As longtime ESPN announcer Chris Berman would say, get ready for some prime time.
Iowa's summer basketball league, called Prime Time League (PTL), is almost ready to begin. Prime Time is a place for high school, college and professional players around the state to hone their skills in preparation for the season.
Iowa City attorney Randy Larson started the league 24 years ago. Larson, who also coaches Iowa City Regina boys' basketball, is League Director.
Over the past two decades, several great Iowa basketball greats have participated in Prime Time.
Former Hawkeye player and current Iowa Basketball Video Coordinator Ryan Bowen has first-hand experience with PTL.
Friday Morning Hawkeye News
Iowa Close to Signing Juco Point Guard? [Hawkeye Nation] - Iowa head coach Fran McCaffery joined Jon Miller on his radio show Wednesday morning (Miller & Deace in the Morning, 1460 KXNO in Des Moines) discussed a junior college point guard.
Ex-Hawkeye Brad Banks planning football camp in Iowa City [Press Citizen] - Former Iowa quarterbacks Brad Banks and Jon Beutjer could be reunited again this summer on the University of Iowa campus of all places.
Former Hawkeye Horner to be next WDM Valley boys basketball coach [WCF Courier] - The former Mason City High and University of Iowa standout will be the new head boys basketball coach at West Des Moines Valley pending school board approval June 8.
Just how green is Iowa’s offensive line? [Mike Hlas] - Only 14 teams in the nation have less starting experience.
Iowa transfer cleared to play at UCF [ESPN] - Former Iowa running back Jeff Brinson is officially a member of the Central Florida football team.
Tuesday Morning Hawkeye News
Eye Openers: Best wishes, Sharm - Scheuerman, who became the youngest head coach in Big Ten history when he was hired by Iowa at the age of 24 in 1958, has been battling cancer.
Babe Bulaga? Packers rookie clears Miller Park fences [Mike Hlas] - “I was hoping just to hit a couple solid ones. Not make myself look like an idiot,” said Bulaga.
Iowa OL Bulaga belts long balls at Brewers game [KWWL] - Packers first-round draft pick Bryan Bulaga belted 14 homers in batting practice before the Milwaukee Brewers played the Philadelphia Phillies.
Barta contacted UTEP, Tulsa during coach search - Iowa athletics director Gary Barta reached out to Tom Davis and Keno Davis early in the men's basketball search process, according to information provided from a Freedom of Information request to the University of Iowa.
Hawkeye Legacy should help bring excitement back to Carver
Fran McCaffery appears to have done his homework before taking over as head coach at Iowa.
In doing his homework, McCaffery looks to have developed a plan that includes reconnecting with the roots of Iowa's cherished basketball history.
During the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, the University of Iowa men's basketball program was fairly successful.
Under head coach Lute Olson, the Hawkeyes won a Big Ten regular season championship and made their last trip to the Final Four to date. Under head coach Dr. Tom Davis, Iowa managed regular trips to the second round of the NCAA tournament.
Since then, Iowa has only one Big Ten tournament championship to go along with a handful of NCAA tournament bids and a record-setting number of loses last season. The lack of excitement and progress left many fans feeling rather lethargic.
To combat the apathy, McCaffery will tab into Iowa's past. He added two former Hawkeyes, Kirk Speraw and Ryan Bowen, to his staff to help coach a team full of Hawkeye offspring.
McCaffery Hires an Army of Experienced Coaches at Iowa
As Gary Vaynerchuk would say, Fran McCaffery is about to crush it as head coach at Iowa.
Vaynerchuk is a self-proclaimed "online marketing trailblazer" who made a name for himself through social media and good business. Using his video blog, he became a world-renowned wine expert who revolutionized the wine and social media industries.
The New York Jets fan recently wrote a book titled, CRUSH IT! Why NOW Is the Time to Cash In On Your Passion . In the book, he shows people how to find their passion and to turn it into a thriving business.
Vaynerchuk may have slipped McCaffery a copy of that book as he was leaving New York to take over as head coach for the Hawkeyes.
McCaffery found his passion as a basketball coach a long time ago, but he seems to have kicked that passion into overdrive since taking over responsibilities at Iowa. The chance to turn a down basketball program into a thriving success again was all the motivation he needed.
In his first month and a half in Iowa City, McCaffery has assembled an all-star staff of experienced coaches.
Friday Morning Hawkeye News
Hawkeye fans pack I-Club event - Seats at this year's annual Webster County I-Club Banquet were hard to come by. With a cast of University of Iowa headliners - including head football coach Kirk Ferentz - the event drew a near-record crowd of 500-plus supporters at the Starlite Village Best Western Motel here Tuesday.
Hawkeyes, Ferentz National Title Contenders - The Iowa Hawkeyes, led by respected coach Kirk Ferentz, are legitimate national title contenders this year in the world of College Football betting. Here’s a preview from Belmont.com, the leader in college football odds, props and analysis.
Ferentz frenzy: Iowa coach gets WBMS kids pumped [West Branch Times] - Despite his calm, even tone, Iowa Head Football Coach Kirk Ferentz had the West Branch Middle School pupils worked up into a frenzy last week with a motivational speech on setting goals to achieve success.
Iowa assistant coaches positive [Clinton Herabld] - The "first-teamers" might have been missing, but the assistants spoke positively about their programs at the University of Iowa on Wednesday night at the annual I-Club Banquet at Rastrelli's.
