Fun facts: Hampton-Iowa

College basketball season starts tonight. It ends April 6. That's a long time from now.

That said, here is the first installment of Fun Facts, Iowa basketball style. The game: Hampton at Iowa. The site: Iowa City. One of the songs Iowa's pep band will play: 'Separate Ways' by Journey. The band released this song in 1983. Yet, it seems Iowa's band has played it since at least 1968.

Now, on with the Fun Facts.

1. Iowa has won its last three season-openers by an average of 39 points.

2. Hampton was picked by league coaches and sports information directors to finish second in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference behind North Carolina Central, which won the league last year and lost to Iowa State in the NCAA tournament.

3. Iowa is 13-0 against MEAC teams.

4. Hampton guard Deron Powers is the Pirates' leading returner in scoring and assists. He is a preseason first-team All-MEAC player. He is a criminal justice major who hopes to become a lawyer.

5. Iowa has a home winning streak of 24 games against nonconference teams. The last loss was to Clemson in 2011.

6. Hampton made 65.7 percent of its free throw tries last year, which ranked 302nd out of the 345 Division I teams. Hampton's foes made just 66.2 percent. North Carolina was 338th in the nation last year at 62.6 percent.

7. Iowa centers Gabe Olaseni and Adam Woodbury have never attempted a 3-point shot in a game.

8. Before playing their first home game, the Pirates will have played in Iowa City, Syracuse, N.Y., Fargo, N.D. (twice) and Boone, N.C.

9. Hampton's school colors are white and reflex blue.

10. Other schools with the team name 'Pirates' include Seton Hall, East Carolina and Whitworth University.