Iowa counting on former suburban star to lead turnaround

This is not the first time Cully Payne is the fresh face battling with junior achievers and senior citizens on the basketball court.

The Iowa freshman point guard gets another test in his indoctrination to Big Ten hoops with his first conference road trip. It figures to be a hostile homecoming of sorts at 8 p.m. Tuesday against Illinois at Assembly Hall in Champaign.

But Payne, who spent his last two high school seasons at Schaumburg after the first two at Burlington Central, believes he's ready for what's coming on the court and from the stands.

More so than he was as a freshman playing with the Burlington Central varsity.

"I'd say I'm more prepared and more comfortable than as a freshman in high school," Payne said a night after Iowa lost its Big Ten opener 67-56 to unbeaten Purdue. "The mental aspect and preparation weren't there, and I'm more comfortable now."

That's not to say it has been easy for the 6-foot-1 Payne, who is second on the Hawkeyes in minutes played per game at 32. He's averaging 8.4 points, 3.8 assists and 2.6 rebounds and is shooting 38.6 percent from the field and 35.7 percent from 3-point range.

Payne said he watches film regularly with assistant coach LaVall Jordan to find ways to improve.

"It's definitely not like playing high school basketball," said Payne, who averaged 22 points a game last season at Schaumburg before missing his final 11 games with a back injury. "You aren't more athletic than everybody and you can't beat everyone off the dribble.

"Playing 40 minutes as a freshman in the Big Ten adjustment-wise has been good. The biggest difference is the speed of the game and physical play that goes on."

Payne is hardly alone on the Hawkeyes when it comes to experiencing growing pains. Four players transferred from the program in the spring and Winnebago's Devan Bawinkel is the only senior on the roster.

That has thrust Payne into an immediate leadership role for the 5-9 Hawkeyes, who lost 86-74 to Minnesota on Saturday and were hit with other issues this season.

Sophomore and No. 2 scorer Anthony Tucker missed the last three games after he was suspended indefinitely following an arrest for public intoxication. And head coach Todd Lickliter missed three games in December for a procedure to repair a torn carotid artery.

"We're getting better," Payne said. "We're young and we don't have a lot of depth. We have some real good young guys and great players to be around. It's a good experience for all of us."

Payne did display his expanded shooting range in late November in an 85-60 loss to second-ranked Texas. He nailed a three-quarter court shot that tied the game at halftime.

"It got me in the (ESPN) top 10," Payne said with a laugh. "It was the farthest I've ever hit one. When I let it go it felt good."

Which is how Payne feels about his tough transition to the Big Ten at Iowa.

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