Devyn Marble's poise crucial as his minutes increase at Iowa

IOWA CITY - Devyn Marble has got that on-court swagger that few freshmen display in their first year, let alone in their team's first month.

Whether it's his genetics - he's the son of Iowa's all-time leading scorer Roy Marble - or his cool, relaxed disposition, Marble shows no apprehension when shooting the ball. It's something that Iowa Coach Fran McCaffery likes about his 18-year-old backup guard from Detroit.

"I've been around long enough that the really good ones, the minute they get here, they don't rattle," McCaffery said. "Some will improve, most will improve, but when it comes to that aspect of it, it's kind of like, 'I belong here. I'm a good player, and I'm going to make things happen. If I make a mistake, I'm not going to let it wear me down and I'll be back.'"

Injuries have thrust Marble into a priority role just seven games into the season. Point guard Cully Payne is out indefinitely after surgery to repair a sports hernia and a torn oblique muscle. Off-guard Matt Gatens missed the first two games after surgery to repair a torn tendon in his left hand.

Against Wake Forest, Marble played 31 minutes - most of it at point guard - after Bryce Cartwright was pulled after two quick fouls. Marble hit half of his shots, scored 11 points, grabbed five defensive rebounds, dished two assists and had only one turnover.

"I just try to stay poised on the court," Marble said. "I know I'm a freshman - everybody knows I'm a freshman - but I try as hard as I can ... not to play like one. I know I can't afford to do that right now. I just mature. I feel like every game I'm getting better, every practice. I just keep coming out here and grinding."

Marble, a 6-foot-5 guard, originally was recruited by former coach Todd Lickliter to compete at both guard spots after playing the point in high school. When McCaffery took over as coach, Marble slid into the off-guard slot as a reserve for Gatens. But once Payne was injured, Marble started relearning the point.

"I like being in control a little bit," Marble said. "Once Cully went down, I knew (the point was an option) before (McCaffery) had to come and let me know or any coach that did. I was already prepared and ready."

Marble averages 7.0 points and 3.0 rebounds and about 19 minutes in Iowa's seven games.  He has just four turnovers so far, something he desperately tries to avoid. After a couple of trips up the court against Wake Forest, he learned quickly what he could and couldn't do with the ball.

"I hate turning the ball over. It's a pet peeve of mine. I hate turning it over," he said. "So I made sure to get my teammates open and to safe spots on the floor."

But as careful as he is with the ball, he's also unafraid to take calculated risks.

"The thing with him, I just don't think he rattles all that much," McCaffery said. "He's going to be aggressive. He's going to be pretty solid.

"You know, I think as we move further into the league, teams might come after him a little bit more at full court and trap him more or press him more, deny him. Make our two and three handle the ball. We'll see how he does then, but that's going to come with experience."

Marble's size also plays to his strengths, McCaffery said. Four of Marble's five baskets against Wake Forest were on jump shots.

"The beauty of him is he's got the size so he can see over the double teams," McCaffery said. "He gets rid of it before he gets himself in trouble, which any point guard should do, and he scores.

"If he is going against a guy that is smaller than him, he can get you on the side of him and raise up and shoot right over you. He's a terrific mid-range jump shooter. Kind of a lost art today. I think his 3-ball will come, and I'm OK with him shooting it. But we run him off screens, we do a lot of things with him because I trust him."