| GAME 16: Michigan State (10-5, 1-1) at Iowa (11-4, 2-0) | |
|---|---|
| When | Thursday, Jan. 8, 2014 | 6:05 p.m. CT |
| Where | Carver-Hawkeye Arena (15,400), Iowa City, Iowa |
| Tickets | Single-Game Tickets |
| Promotions | Promotions Schedule |
| Shop | Herky’s Locker Room |
| Television | ESPN | Watch Online via WATCHESPN Announcers: Dan Shulman, Jay Bilas, and Seth Greenberg |
| Radio | Hawkeye Radio Network | Listen | Sirius 91 / XM 91 |
| Live Stats | GameTracker |
| All-time Series | Michigan State leads, 70-53 |
| 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  |
Jan. 7, 2015
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- Big Ten Network: Free Hawkeye Video
- 24 Hawkeyes to Watch
THE SETTING
Iowa (11-4, 2-0), winners of nine of its last 11 games, entertains Michigan State (10-5, 1-1) on Thursday. Tipoff is slated for 6:05 p.m. (CT) on Mediacom Court at Carver-Hawkeye Arena (15,400). Tickets are $27 for adults and $15 for youth and UI students. Approximately 400 tickets remain for Thursday’s contest.
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: Thursday’s game will be televised nationally on ESPN (WATCHESPN). Dan Shulman, Jay Bilas, and Seth Greenberg will call the action.
GAME #16 OPENING TIP
? Thursday will be the only regular season meeting between Iowa and Michigan State.
? Iowa has won 31 of its last 36 home games, dating back to Jan. 19, 2013.
? Iowa became the first team in the country to post road wins over ranked opponents: No. 12 North Carolina (60-55) on Dec. 3 and No. 18 Ohio State (71-65) on Dec. 30.
? Iowa has started Big Ten play 2-0 for the first time since the 2002-03 season. The Hawkeyes started conference play 3-0 in 2002-03.
? Aaron White became Iowa’s all-time leader in free throws made (524) Monday vs. Nebraska.
? Jarrod Uthoff was named Big Ten Player of the Week for his efforts in leading Iowa to a pair of victories (at No. 18 Ohio State and vs. Nebraska).
? Aaron White is the only Hawkeye basketball player to ever record 1,500+ points, 750+ rebounds, 150+ assists and 100+ steals.
? Iowa is 5-0 this season when sinking eight or more 3-pointers.
? Iowa is averaging a double-double out of its center position of Adam Woodbury and Gabriel Olaseni. The duo combine to average 15.8 points and 11.1 rebounds.
? Jarrod Uthoff has made 21 of his team-leading 27 3-pointers in Iowa’s 11 victories.
HAWKEYES START 2-0 IN BIG TEN PLAY WITH WIN OVER NEBRASKA
? Iowa scored 35 points in each half and posted a 70-59 victory over Nebraska Monday in Iowa City. The win was Iowa’s second straight over Nebraska, dating back to last year.
? Jarrod Uthoff, Aaron White, and Gabriel Olaseni combined for 56 of Iowa’s 70 points. Aaron White equaled a season high, netting 23 points for the third time this season. Classmate Gabriel Olaseni scored 12 of his career-high 18 points at the charity stripe, going 12-of-13 (.923) from the foul line. Uthoff scored nine of his 15 points via the 3-point shot.
? Iowa, who ranks third in the country in free throw percentage (.777), was 31-of-38 (.816) at the foul line. The 31 makes equal the third most during the Fran McCaffery era. Olaseni and White’s 12 makes matched the fourth most by an individual the last five seasons.
? Aaron White led all rebounders with nine boards. The Hawkeye senior has just missed double-doubles the last three games, collecting nine rebounds and scoring 10+ points in each of those three contests (Iowa won all three games).
? Iowa’s bench produced 27 points, compared to only eight for Nebraska.
? Junior point guard Mike Gesell dished out a game-high six assists.
? The Hawkeyes valued the basketball, turning the ball over just nine times. Monday marked the third game this season that Iowa had fewer than 10 turnovers in a game (Iowa had seven turnovers against Iowa State and Longwood).
SCOUTING MICHIGAN STATE
? Thursday will be Michigan State’s first road game since playing at Notre Dame on Dec. 3. The Spartans have played seven straight home contests. Michigan State is 3-3 in games away from East Lansing, including a 1-1 mark in true road contests.
? Michigan State topped Indiana on Monday night in East Lansing, 70-50. Branden Dawson notched his second double-double of the season (14 points and 13 rebounds), while Denzel Valentine led the team in scoring with 15 points. The Spartans outrebounded the Hoosiers by 22 (50-28).
? Michigan State has alternated wins and losses its last five outings. The Spartans’ last three losses have come in overtime. Michigan State lost at Notre Dame (79-78) on Dec. 3, fell 71-64 at home to Texas Southern on Dec. 20, and dropped a 68-66 double overtime decision at home to Maryland in the conference opener on Dec. 30.
? Four Spartans average in double figures in scoring: Denzel Valentine (13.8), Travis Trice (13.3), Branden Dawson (10.9), and Bryn Forbes (10.0).
? Branden Dawson, who missed last season’s game in Iowa City due to injury, ranks 30th nationally in rebounding (9.1) and is second in team steals (1.4). Travis Trice leads the squad in assists, averaging six per contest, which is second best in the league.
? Michigan State ranks first in the Big Ten in field goal percentage defense (.368), 3-point field goal percentage defense (.273) and rebounding margin (+8.3), second in assists (18.3) and 3-point field goal percentage (.401), and third in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.4).
ALL-TIME SERIES RECORDS
Michigan State holds a 70-53 advantage over Iowa in the series that began with a 52-37 Michigan State win in 1938. Iowa and Michigan State played twice last year, with the Spartans winning both contests: 71-69 in overtime in Iowa City and 86-76 in East Lansing. Michigan State has won 13 of the last 14 meetings, including the last eight. The Hawkeyes’ lone victory during that span was a 72-52 win on Feb. 2, 2011, in Iowa City. Iowa holds a 34-23 advantage in games played in Iowa City. The Hawkeyes have won six of the last 11 in Iowa City. The teams have split the previous 28 meetings in Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Michigan State, in 1983, won the first basketball game ever played in Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Michigan State’s 14 wins are the most by any Iowa opponent in the facility.
LAST SEASON AGAINST MICHIGAN STATE
? Michigan State snapped Iowa’s 20-game home win streak, which was the sixth-longest in the country, with a 71-69 overtime win in Iowa City on Jan. 28, 2014.
? With the game tied, Iowa had an opportunity to win the game in regulation, but a Devyn Marble floating jumper in the lane and Melsahn Basabe tip attempt misfired sending the game to overtime. The Spartans led by as many as six points in the extra session.
? Iowa’s last 11 points of the second half were scored at the free throw line, and 17 of its last 19 points (including overtime) were scored at the charity stripe. The Hawkeyes scored one field goal the last 14:55 of game time, including overtime.
? Devyn Marble led all scorers with 21 points, while Aaron White netted eight of his 10 points from the foul line. White also led the team in rebounding (seven).
? Iowa was 30-of-43 from the free throw line. The 43 attempts equal the second most during the Fran McCaffery era.
? Michigan State was 10-of-29 (.345) from 3-point range, while Iowa was 3-of-12 (.250).
? Iowa dropped an 86-76 decision at No. 22 Michigan State in East Lansing on March 6, 2014. The Hawkeyes led 41-39 at halftime, but were outscored 47-35 in the second stanza. The Spartans opened the second half on a 9-0 run.
? Iowa had two players score in double figures: Devyn Marble (24) and Aaron White (10). White scored all 10 of his points in the final 16 minutes of the game.
? Iowa shot 86.7 percent (13-of-15) from the foul line. Michigan State attempted 11 more free throws than the Hawkeyes (20-of-26, .769).
? Iowa collected 10 steals and forced 16 Michigan State turnovers.
? The game featured seven ties and 13 lead changes.
CLEMMONS, VALENTINE REUNITE
Iowa junior Anthony Clemmons and Michigan State junior Denzel Valentine were classmates at Sexton High School in Lansing, Michigan. The duo won three consecutive conference championships (2010-12) and back-to-back Class B state titles (2011-12). Valentine’s father was Clemmons’ high school coach.
UTHOFF TABBED BIG TEN PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Junior Jarrod Uthoff was named Big Ten Player of the Week Tuesday by the Big Ten Conference office. The honor is the first of Uthoff’s career. Uthoff (6-9, 210) helped lead Iowa to its first 2-0 start in league play since the 2002-03 season with wins at No. 18 Ohio State (71-65) and vs. Nebraska (70-59). The native of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, shot at a 50 percent clip from the field (11-of-22), including (7-of-14) from 3-point territory, averaging 16.5 points, seven rebounds, 3.5 assists, and one block in Iowa’s two victories. Uthoff tallied 18 points, including sinking a 3-pointer and a 17-foot jumper on back-to-back possessions in the final 2:19 of the game, to preserve Iowa’s victory at Ohio State. He also matched career highs in assists (five) and 3-point field goals (four). The small forward contributed 15 points, seven rebounds, two assists, one block, and a steal in Monday’s 11-point triumph over Nebraska.
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WHITE HOT
Aaron White ranks first among active Big Ten players in rebounding (764) and is third in scoring (1,548). White ranks first on the team in rebounding (7.4), steals (1.7), and scoring (16.5), and is fourth in assists (1.7) 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 and Frank Kaminsky of Wisconsin are the only Big Ten players this season to average 16+ points and 7+ rebounds. 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 (86 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 11th in Iowa scoring, surpassing Andre Woolridge in Iowa’s last outing vs. Nebraska with his 23-point effort.
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 101 of his 247 points (41 percent) from the charity stripe. White went 12-of-15 (.800) from the foul line in Iowa’s win over Nebraska on Monday. His fifth make was his 517th free throw, which surpassed Roy Marble as Iowa’s all-time leader in free throws. He currently ranks eighth in Big Ten annals and is 12 makes from surpassing Indiana’s Steve Alford (535) for seventh in conference history.
SELECT COMPANY
Aaron White is one of only two active Division I players (Oklahoma’s TaShawn Thomas) to have 1,500+ points, 750+ rebounds, 150+ assists, and 100+ steals. He is the only Hawkeye ever to post those numbers in the program’s history. Also, his 13 career double-doubles ranks second among active Big Ten players; Michigan State’s Branden Dawson ranks first with 14.
UTHOFF PRODUCING ON THE WING
Jarrod Uthoff ranks second in team scoring (11.4 ppg) and and is second in steals (1.3), and first in 3-point shooting (27-of-67, .403). The redshirt junior had 18 points, seven rebounds, and a career-high five assists in Iowa’s road win against the Buckeyes. He drained a personal-best four triples in Iowa’s victory over Hampton (Nov. 14) and at No. 18 Ohio State (Dec. 30). He has reached double figures in 10 of Iowa’s first 15 contests. Uthoff has made 21 of his team-leading 27 3-pointers in Iowa’s 11 victories. 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.
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.
IOWA HISTORY
Iowa has played 2,656 games since beginning basketball in 1902. Iowa’s overall record is 1,561-1,095 (.588). That includes a 998-350 (.740) record in home games, a 559-742 (.430) record in contests away from Iowa City, a 731-746 (.495) mark in Big Ten games and a 402-124 (.764) record in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
FRESH START
Sophomore Peter Jok made his first start of his career on Dec. 22 against North Florida. The native of West Des Moines, Iowa, finished that contest with 12 points. Jok remained in the starting lineup at Ohio State and vs. Nebraska. Jok is averaging 5.5 points per game. He has made at least one triple in five of the last seven games, including a personal-best four in Iowa’s win over UMBC on Dec. 6.
HAWKEYE FAST BREAKS
? Iowa has made (261) more free throws than its opponents have attempted (227).
? Senior center Gabriel Olaseni is averaging 19.5 points, 11.7 rebounds, and 4.6 blocks per 40 minutes played.
? Josh Oglesby has made 134 career 3-pointers. He is three triples from surpassing B.J. Armstrong for 10th on Iowa’s all-time 3-point chart.
? Iowa has had three players post double-doubles this year (Adam Woodbury, Gabriel Olaseni, and Aaron White). Only Michigan State has had more (four).
? Iowa is 36-6 when scoring 80 points or more, the last five seasons. The Hawkeyes are 48-2 when holding opponents to fewer than 61 points, the last five years.
? Iowa ranks third in the country in free throw percentage (77.7), 30th in field goal percentage defense (37.8), 33rd in fewest fouls per game (15.9); 38th in scoring defense (59.3), and 41st in 3-point field goal percentage defense (29.1).
? 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).
? Aaron White has attempted 10+ free throws in five games this season, including attempting 15 in Iowa’s last game versus Nebraska on Monday. White has made the fourth-most free throws (101) in the country. Maryland’s Melo Trimble is first with 106.
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 49th nationally, averaging 2.1 rejections per game. He also ranks seventh in Iowa career blocks (119). Olaseni denied three shots against Iowa State. Uthoff ranks 11th in the league in blocks (1.5), rejecting at least one shot in 12-of-15 games. As a team, Iowa ranks 32nd in the country in rejections (5.3).
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.
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.
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.
ALL-SESSION BIG TEN TOURNAMENT TICKETS ON SALE
All-session tickets for the 2015 Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament are on sale. The Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament will return to the United Center in Chicago, March 11-15. The event will feature a five-day format for the first time in conference history. Lower level tickets may be purchased through the UI Ticket Office. Upper level tickets may be purchased at Ticketmaster outlets, ticketmaster.com, by calling Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000 or going to unitedcenter.com. All-session tickets for the 100 and 200 levels at the United Center are available for $375 through the Big Ten university ticket offices only. All-session tickets for the 300 level are available for $275 or $200 (depending on seat location) through Ticketmaster or the United Center box office only. Orders will be limited to four all-session tickets. The tournament will continue to feature a discounted student ticket program. Students of Big Ten universities will be able to purchase tickets for $20, good for only the session or sessions featuring their school. All students must have a valid student ID for entry. Student section seating will be available in balcony sections and orders will be limited to one ticket per student.
ON THE HORIZON
Iowa will return to action Tuesday on the road at Minnesota. Tipoff is scheduled for 8:06 p.m. (CT) at Williams Arena in Minneapolis. The Hawkeyes return home Saturday, Jan. 17, when they welcome Ohio State to Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
