Carver now a House of Payne

Cully Payne is back to playing his style of basketball, and he's loving every second of it.

Iowa's sophomore point guard from Schaumburg, Ill., runs up and down the floor with darting quickness in the summer Prime Time League. He often makes whirlwind passes near the basket or an overhand jump pass at the top of the key. It's a part of the uptempo, fast-break offenses that are prevalent in the PTL and -- at least in style -- will closely resemble the one he'll run this year at Iowa.

As Iowa switches from a half-court style of offense under former Coach Todd Lickliter to a transition style under new Coach Fran McCaffery, the left-handed Payne must change with it. And he's excited about it.

"It's more up-and-down, but that's what I did in high school so it's not a big adjustment," Payne said. "It's a lot easier getting up-and-down than it is kind of grinding it out. More of the change is kind of being a role model, being a leader out there, a true point guard."

Payne always has taken a leadership position on his teams, whether it was in high school or at the AAU level. As a starting freshman point guard last year, he fought an internal battle between falling in line as a good soldier and becoming a vocal leader. Now, with heavy turnover and only six returning scholarship players, Iowa will count on Payne to provide on-court leadership.

"Last year it was kind of a ... you couldn't cross that line," Payne said. "Now, with a year experience, playing with the guys and having their respect, I can definitely be more of a leader out there."

Payne, who stands 6-foot-1, worked Lickliter's offense from the perimeter last year, trying to find shots for his teammates. Only when the offense exhausted all options did Payne take a shot. That changed in the Big Ten Tournament against Michigan. Payne opened up for 25 points, hitting all five of Iowa's 3-pointers. It was a stunning reversal, and Payne now expects to become a bigger factor in Iowa's offense as a scorer.

"Me and Coach McCaffery have talked incessantly on looking to score more, and that will open up my teammates and open up easy opportunities," he said.

Payne led Big Ten freshmen in assists with 3.8 a game, ranking sixth overall. He averaged 8.7 points and three rebounds a game.

Payne's skills have improved in one year, something former Iowa point guard Jason Price noticed in PTL competition. Price, who played at Iowa through 2000, said Payne has matured on the court and become more confident.

"Last summer you could really jump on his left hand and make him go right," Price said. "This summer you've got to play him more honest because he's really working at it. He gets to the middle of the defense so quick in the mid-range, I told him, 'You've got to start taking some of those instead of driving and trying to kick it so far because he's a great shooter. He can shoot the 3, so you've got to close out hard.

"I think he'll be really successful at Iowa once he starts learning his mid-range game."