| GAME 14: Iowa (9-4, 0-0) at #18/21 Ohio State (11-2, 0-0) | |
|---|---|
| When | Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2014 | 12:02 p.m. CT |
| Where | Value City Arena — Columbus, Ohio |
| Shop | Herky’s Locker Room |
| Television | ESPN2 | Watch Online via BTN2GO Announcers: Dave O’Brien and Fran Fraschilla |
| Radio | Hawkeye Radio Network | Listen | Sirius 84 / XM 84 |
| Live Stats | GameTracker |
| All-time Series | Ohio State leads, 77-76 |
| Iowa Team Info | Game Notes (PDF) | Media Guide | 2014-15 Stats (HTML) | 2014-15 Stats (PDF) |
| Big Ten Info | B1G Notes (PDF) | Media Guide | Conference Stats |
| Social Media | @IowaHoops  | #Hawkeyes | IowaHoops  | Facebook  |
Dec. 28, 2014
THE SETTING
Iowa (9-4, 0-0) opens conference play Tuesday, Dec. 30, at No. 18/21 Ohio State (11-2, 0-0). Tipoff is slated for 12:02 p.m. (CT) at Value City Arena in Columbus, Ohio.
ON THE AIR
Radio: Iowa games are broadcast on the Hawkeye Radio Network. Gary Dolphin handles the play-by-play, along with color commentator Bob Hansen. The network includes more than 40 stations that blanket the state of Iowa and include portions of Illinois, Nebraska, Minnesota, Missouri and Wisconsin. The Hawkeye Radio Network coverage includes a 60-minute pregame show.
TV: Tuesday’s game will be televised nationally on ESPN2 (WATCHESPN). Dave O’Brien and Fran Fraschilla will call the action.
BIG TEN OPENING TIP
? Aaron White hails from Strongsville, Ohio, which is a Cleveland suburb. White will have a number of family and friends at Tuesday’s game.
? Tuesday will mark the first time since the 2008-09 season that the Hawkeyes will open league play on the road. Coincidentally, Iowa opened Big Ten play that season also at Ohio State. The Buckeyes edged the Hawkeyes, 68-65, on Dec. 31, 2008.
? Ohio State is 28-3 at home since the start of the 2013-14 season. The Hawkeyes were one of the three teams to beat the Buckeyes during that span at Value City Arena. Iowa won 84-74 on Jan. 12, 2014.
? In Iowa’s last game, Aaron White surpassed 1,500 career points and 500 career free throws in a 23-point, nine-rebound, and career-high five-steal effort against North Florida.
? Iowa’s 26-of-28 (.929) performance at the free throw line against North Florida is believed to be the best percentage by a Hawkeye team (minimum 25 attempts).
? The Iowa Hawkeyes won last year’s conference opener, 67-57, over Nebraska on Dec. 31 in Iowa City.
? Iowa is averaging a double-double out of its center position of Adam Woodbury and Gabriel Olaseni. The duo combine to average 15.9 points and 11.6 rebounds.
HAWKEYES BEAT NORTH FLORIDA
? Four Hawkeyes scored in double digits en route to an 80-70 triumph over North Florida on Dec. 22, in Iowa’s nonconference finale. Aaron White tied a season high with 23 points, while Mike Gesell and Peter Jok each netted 12, and Jarrod Uthoff chipped in 10.
? Peter Jok started for the first time in his career. The sophomore scored the 12 points in 22 minutes of action. Jok replaced Clemmons in the starting lineup, who played limited minutes due to a sore ankle.
? Iowa outscored the Ospreys by 20 at the foul line (26-6). The Hawkeyes drained 26-of-28 (.929) from the charity stripe, which is believed to be the highest percentage by a Hawkeye team (minimum 25 attempts).
? In addition to scoring 23 points, Aaron White grabbed nine rebounds and collected a career-high five steals.
? Jarrod Uthoff posted his third career double-double and first of the season with his 10-point, 12-rebound performance against the Ospreys. The 12 boards are a career best, as were his team-best five assists.
? Iowa collected 11 steals, which marked the sixth time this season that the Hawkeyes were credited with 10+ thefts in a game.
? The Hawkeyes sank eight 3-pointers (8-of-20, .400). Iowa improved to 4-0 this season when making eight or more triples.
? Gabriel Olaseni had nine points to go along with a game-high four blocks. The Hawkeye senior has rejected four shots or more four times this season.
FINDING WAYS TO SCORE
Aaron White ranks first in the country by a wide margin in highest percentage of points scored from free throws (minimum 200 total points). The Hawkeye senior has scored 81 of his 206 points (39 percent) from the charity stripe.’ In Iowa’s last game, White surpassed the 500 career free-throw plateau and 1,500-career point threshold. He ranks second in career free throws made (504) and 14th in scoring (1,507).
SELECT COMPANY
Aaron White is one of only two active Division I players (Oklahoma’s TaShawn Thomas) to have 1,500+ points, 700+ rebounds, 150+ assists, and 100+ steals. Also, his 13 career double-doubles tie Michigan State’s Brandon Dawson for the most of any active Big Ten player.
SCOUTING OHIO STATE
? Ohio State has played 11 of its first 13 games at home in Value City Arena. The Buckeyes are a perfect 11-0 at home, winning their last game, 100-55, over Wright State on Dec. 27.
? Both Iowa and Ohio State have played North Carolina. The Tar Heels beat the Buckeyes (82-74) on Dec. 20 in Chicago, while the Hawkeyes won in Chapel Hill (60-55) in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge on Dec. 3.
? Three Buckeyes average double figures in scoring: D’Angelo Russell (17.7 ppg), Marc Loving (12.4 ppg), and Sam Thompson (10.2 ppg).
? Shannon Scott leads the team in steals (33) and assists (100), while also averaging 7.9 points per contest. His 100 assists are the most of any Division I player in the country.
? The Buckeyes boast a +26.8 average margin of victory through nonconference play, which ranks second best in the country.
? Ohio State shoots better than 40 percent from 3-point range (107-of-255, .420). D’Angelo Russell has made a team-best 35 triples, followed by Marc Loving (26), and Kam Williams (20).
? The Buckeyes rank fourth in the nation in field goal percentage (.526), seventh in assist/turnover ratio (1.54), and eighth in scoring offense (85.3).
ALL-TIME SERIES RECORDS
Iowa snapped an eight-game losing skid to Ohio State with an 84-74 win in Columbus last season. Three weeks after that game, the Buckeyes beat the Hawkeyes in Iowa City, 76-69, to lead the all-time series by a narrow 77-76 margin. Twenty-one of the last 30 meetings, including both meetings last season, have been decided by 10 points or less, with 12 decisions by five points or less. Ohio State holds a 47-27 advantage in games played in Columbus. The Buckeyes have won seven of the last eight meetings in Columbus. Iowa was the first opponent to win at the Value City Arena, taking a 71-68 win in 1999.
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LAST SEASON AGAINST OHIO STATE
The road team won each of the two meetings last season between Iowa and Ohio State. Iowa forced 17 Ohio State turnovers and outrebounded the Buckeyes 40-31 in an 84-74 win over third-ranked Ohio State in Columbus on Jan. 12, 2014. Ohio native Aaron White netted 19 points and snagged six rebounds. Iowa rallied from a nine-point deficit with 12:51 remaining to upend the Buckeyes. Also, the Hawkeyes outscored the Buckeyes 22-9 the last 5:33 of the contest and sank 10 of its final 11 free throws to preserve the victory. It marked the first time since 2008 that a team registered 84+ points against Ohio State. Iowa had five players in double figures for the first time in game played at Columbus since 1989. In Iowa City on Feb. 4, 2014, the Buckeyes shot 54 percent (13-of-24) from the field in the second half to overcome a two-point halftime deficit and win 76-69 in Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The Buckeyes made seven 3-pointers and outscored the Hawkeyes by seven (19-12) at the foul line. Aaron White and Mike Gesell each averaged 13.5 points in last year’s two games against the Buckeyes. Additionally, Jarrod Uthoff scored 10 points off the bench in 26 minutes of action in Iowa’s win at Ohio State last season.
WHITE HOT
Aaron White ranks first among active Big Ten players in rebounding (746) and is third in scoring (1,507). White ranks first on the team in rebounding (7.2), steals (1.8), and scoring (15.8), and is third in assists (1.8) this season. White is seeking to become the first Hawkeye to lead the team in scoring and rebounding since Greg Brunner in 2006 (14.1 points and 9.2 rebounds per game). White was the only Big Ten player to average 13+ points and 7+ rebounds during league play in 2014. White became the first Hawkeye ever to register 1,300+ points, 650+ rebounds, 100+ steals, and 100+ assists by his junior season. White was the only player in the country to shoot better than 55 percent from the field and 80 percent from the foul line in 2014. He shot 58 percent from the field and 81 percent from the charity stripe. Again, White is the only player in the country to shoot better than 50 percent from the field (52 percent) and 80 percent from the charity stripe (88 percent). White became the fifth player, since 1960, to lead the Hawkeyes in rebounding three consecutive seasons. White joins Don Nelson (1960-62); Kevin Kunnert (1971-73); Bruce King (1975-77); and Greg Brunner (2004-06). He is seeking to become the first player all-time to lead the Hawkeyes in rebounding all four seasons. White became the 41st Hawkeye to surpass 1,000 career points with his 19th point scored with one second remaining at the free throw line versus Notre Dame (Dec. 3). He reached the 1,000-point milestone in his 82nd career game. White currently ranks 14th in Iowa scoring, surpassing Jeff Horner in Iowa’s last outing against North Florida with his 23-point effort.
UTHOFF PRODUCING ON THE WING
Jarrod Uthoff ranks second in team scoring (10.6 ppg) and is second in steals (1.4). The redshirt junior averaged 14 points, six rebounds, and three steals in Iowa’s two games in New York. He drained a personal-best four triples in Iowa’s victory over Hampton (Nov. 14). He has reached double figures in eight of Iowa’s first 13 contests. The native of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, tallied eight points and equaled career bests in rebounding (11) and blocked shots (five) in Iowa’s five-point victory at No. 12 North Carolina. He posted his third double-double of his career and first of the season in Iowa’s win over North Florida on Dec. 22, registering 10 points and a career-best 12 rebounds. He also dished out a personal-best five assists.
IOWA HISTORY
Iowa has played 2,654 games since beginning basketball in 1902. Iowa’s overall record is 1,559-1,095 (.587). That includes a 997-350 (.740) record in home games, a 558-742 (.429) record in contests away from Iowa City, a 729-746 (.494) mark in Big Ten games and a 401-124 (.764) record in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE
In recognition of Mike Gesell’s outstanding academic record in the Tippie College of Business at The University of Iowa, the junior has been invited to become a member of Beta Gamma Sigma, the National Scholastic Honor Society for business students. This honor is reserved for students who have earned GPAs that place them in the top 10 percent of their class. The UI chapter, established in 1920, is one of the 10 oldest in the nation.
WHITE NOMINATED FOR GOOD WORKS TEAM
The National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) and Allstate Insurance Company announced the nominees for the 2015 Allstate NABC Good Works Team. Among the nominees is University of Iowa basketball student-athlete Aaron White. This prestigious community service award recognizes a distinguished group of student-athletes who have demonstrated a commitment to enriching the lives of others and contributing to the greater good in their communities. College sports information directors and basketball coaches across the country nominated players who exhibit exceptional leadership skills and an unwavering commitment to volunteerism. From the 158 NABC nominees, distinguished voting panels will select two 10-member teams comprised of five student-athletes from the NCAA Division I level. The final roster of 20 award recipients will be unveiled in February.
HAWKEYE FAST BREAKS
? Iowa has made (187) more free throws than its opponents have attempted (184).
? Iowa has had three players post doubled-doubles this year (Adam Woodbury, Gabriel Olaseni, and Aaron White). Only Michigan State has more players notch double-doubles (four).
? Sophomore guard Peter Jok is one of three Hawkeyes averaging double figures in scoring the last three games (10.0 ppg).
? Iowa is 36-6 when scoring 80 points or more, the last five seasons. The Hawkeyes are 47-2 when holding opponents to fewer than 61 points, the last five years.
? Iowa ranks 16th in the country in field goal percentage defense (36.2), 17th in free throw percentage (75.7), 23rd in fewest fouls per game (15.5), and 26th in blocked shots (5.5).
? Aaron White has attempted 10 free throw or more in four games this season. White has made the third-most free throws (73) in the country. Maryland’s Melo Trimble is first with 78.
BLOCK PARTY
Senior Gabriel Olaseni denied a game-high four shots in Iowa wins over Hampton (Nov. 14), Northern Illinois (Nov. 26) and North Florida (Dec. 22). He denied a career-high five shots in Iowa’s win over Northern Illinois. Olaseni ranks second in the Big Ten and 34th nationally, averaging 2.5 rejections per game. He also ranks seventh in Iowa career blocks (119). Olaseni denied three shots against Iowa State. Uthoff ranks 10th in the league in blocks (1.5), rejecting at least one shot in 10-of-13 games. As a team, Iowa ranks 26th in the country in rejections (5.5).
COACHING EXPERIENCE
Fran McCaffery has one of the most experienced coaching staffs in the country. The Iowa men’s basketball staff has 66 years of combined collegiate head coaching experience and more than 130 years of collegiate coaching under their belts.
HAWKEYEBASKETBALL.COM
Check out the Iowa basketball team’s website, HawkeyeBasketball.com, devoted to everything on-and-off-the-court surrounding the program. HawkeyeBasketball.com, allows fans a chance to go behind the scenes with the Hawkeye basketball program on and off the court. The site is complete with exclusive videos, photo galleries and content featuring the basketball program.
ON THE HORIZON
Iowa will have five days to prepare for its next conference opponent when it hosts Nebraska on Monday, Jan. 5, in the Hawkeyes’ conference home opener. Iowa will play Michigan State at home next week on Thursday, Jan. 8.
