| GAME 25: Iowa (15-9, 6-5) at Northwestern (10-14, 1-10) | |
|---|---|
| When | Sunday, Feb. 15, 2015 | 2:06 p.m. CT |
| Where | Welsh-Ryan Arena — Evanston, Illinois |
| Shop | Herky’s Locker Room |
| Television | BTN | Watch Online via BTN2GO Announcers: Eric Collins and Jon Crispin |
| Radio | Hawkeye Radio Network | Listen | Sirius 91 / XM 91 |
| Live Stats | GameTracker |
| All-time Series | Iowa leads, 113-58 |
| 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  |
Feb. 13, 2015
THE SETTING
Iowa (15-9, 6-5) hits the road Sunday for a contest against Northwestern (10-14, 1-10). Tipoff is scheduled for 2:06 p.m. (CT) at Welsh-Ryan Arena in Evanston, Illinois.
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: Sunday’s game will be televised nationally on BTN (BTN2GO). Eric Collins and Jon Crispin will call the action.
GAME #25 OPENING TIP
? Iowa has won the last two meetings against Northwestern in Evanston, Illinois.
? The Hawkeyes have won three of their five Big Ten road games this season.
? According to ESPN, Iowa’s strength of schedule ranks eighth best in the country.
? Iowa is 14-1 this year when scoring 64+ points, with the lone loss coming to Iowa St. (90-75).
? Iowa is 6-0 this season when sinking eight or more 3-pointers.
? Iowa has played eight opponents that have been ranked among the top 25 of the Associated Press poll this season, which ties for the third-most in the nation along with North Carolina. Only Oklahoma (11), Kansas (9) and Oklahoma State (9) have competed against more AP Top 25 opponents this season entering this weekend’s action.
? Aaron White and Wisconsin’s Frank Kaminsky are the only Big Ten players to average 15+ points and 6+ rebounds this season.
? Aaron White had eight rebounds versus Minnesota to surpass Greg Stokes and Acie Earl for sixth place in career rebounding at Iowa with 813 boards.
? Iowa is averaging a double-double out of its center position of Adam Woodbury and Gabriel Olaseni. The duo combine to average 15.5 points and 10.4 rebounds.
IOWA FALLS TO MINNESOTA IN IOWA CITY
? Minnesota avenged a home loss to Iowa in January with a 64-59 win over the Hawkeyes in Iowa City Thursday night.
? Iowa trailed by three points and had an opportunity to level the score down the stretch, but Maurice Walker forced a Mike Gesell turnover in the lane with 11 seconds.
? Iowa had three players score in double figures: Jarrod Uthoff (17), Peter Jok (16), and Aaron White (13). Jok’s 16 points are a career best.
? The Hawkeyes outrebounded the Gophers by eight (38-30).
? Iowa shot 81 percent from the free throw line (13-of-16).
? Minnesota’s Andre Hollins led all scorers with 20 points. Nate Mason contributed 12 points off the bench in the winning effort for the Gophers.
? Minnesota limited Iowa to 19 first-half points. Iowa shot 35 percent (8-of-23) from the field in the first half, but 50 percent (13-of-26) in the second stanza.
? Iowa assisted on 14-of-21 field goals, with 8-of-9 Hawkeyes who played recording at least one assist.
? The Gophers forced 16 turnovers and converted those Iowa miscues into 19 points.
ALL-TIME SERIES RECORDS
Iowa holds a 113-58 advantage over Northwestern in the series. The Hawkeyes have won five of the last six meetings against the Wildcats. Iowa won both regular season contests last season, however Northwestern beat Iowa in the first round of the 2014 Big Ten Tournament in Indianapolis. Iowa holds a 46-39 edge in games played in Evanston. The Hawkeyes have won the last two meetings in Evanston, dating back to 2013.
SCOUTING NORTHWESTERN
? After winning the Big Ten opener at Rutgers on Dec. 30, Northwestern has lost 10 straight games. Five of the 10 defeats have come by seven points or less, including an overtime loss at Michigan State.
? The Wildcats are 7-7 in home games this season, including an 0-5 mark in Big Ten home contests. Three of Northwestern’s next four games are at home, beginning Sunday.
? Northwestern lost its last game, 68-44, Tuesday night in Evanston to Michigan State. The Spartans held the Wildcats to four first-half field goals. Michigan State made 13 treys, while limiting Northwestern to just three 3-pointers, which equaled a season low (Elon). Northwestern’s Tre Demps led all scorers with 20 points.
? Northwestern has three players average in double figures: Tre Demps (12.0), Bryant McIntoch (11.9), and Alex Olah (11.0).
? Alex Olah leads the squad in rebounding (6.2) and blocks (41), while Bryant McIntosh leads the team in assists (104) and free throw shooting (42-of-49, .857). Olah has the same number of blocks as Iowa’s Gabriel Olaseni (41).
? Twenty-nine percent of Northwestern’s field goals this season have come from 3-point territory. Tre Demps (37) and Bryant McIntosh (30) have combined to make 67 triples.
LAST SEASON AGAINST NORTHWESTERN
Iowa beat Northwestern by 26 points in each of the regular season meetings, but the Wildcats posted a 67-62 win over the Hawkeyes at the 2014 Big Ten Tournament in Indianapolis. In the three games against the Wildcats last season, Iowa outrebounded Northwestern by an average of 15 boards per game. Iowa made 19 3-pointers, while the Wildcats sank 20. Aaron White averaged 9.3 points and 6.7 rebounds. White made all 11 free throw attempts and shot 53 percent (8-of-15) from the field. Jarrod Uthoff averaged 8.7 points and 5.3 rebounds in the three contests. In Iowa’s 26-point win at Evanston a year ago, Iowa shot 52 percent (28-of-54) from the field and outscored the Wildcats by nine (15-6) at the free throw line. The Hawkeyes grabbed 24 more rebounds (44-20) than Northwestern.
UTHOFF, GESELL EARN ACADEMIC DISTINCTION
Juniors Mike Gesell and Jarrod Uthoff have been named Capital One Academic All-District first team honorees for their combined performance athletically and in the classroom. The Hawkeye duo will advance to the Capital One Academic All-America Team ballot, where first-, second-, and third-team All-America honorees will be selected later this month. Gesell, a native of South Sioux City, Nebraska, is a finance major maintaining a 3.93 grade point average. He leads the team in assists (90) and ranks eighth in the Big Ten in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.0). Gesell averages 7.3 points per game. Earlier this fall, Gesell earned invitation to Beta Gamma Sigma, the National Scholastic Honor Society for business students at the University of Iowa who have garnered GPA’s that place them in the top 10 percent of their class. Uthoff, a native of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, is an economics major with a 3.34 GPA. Uthoff ranks second in team scoring (11.7), rebounding (6.3), steals (25), and assists (45). He is the only Division I player with 35+ 3-pointers, 35+ blocks, and 25+ steals. He was named the Big Ten Player of the Week on Jan. 6, following his performances in Iowa wins over No. 18 Ohio State and Nebraska. The last Iowa player to earn Academic All-District distinction was Adam Haluska in 2007, who also earned first team Academic All-America accolades. The Iowa women’s basketball team also had two players recognized (Sam Logic and Ally Disterhoft). The University of Iowa is one of only two schools to have two men and two women’s basketball student-athletes earn Academic All-District laurels.
IOWA HISTORY
Iowa has played 2,664 games since beginning basketball in 1902. Iowa’s overall record is 1,565-1,099 (.587). That includes a 1,000-353 (.739) record in home games, a 561-743 (.430) record in contests away from Iowa City, a 735-750 (.495) mark in Big Ten games and a 404-127 (.761) record in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
FINDING WAYS TO SCORE
Aaron White ranks first in the country in highest percentage of points scored from free throws (minimum 350 total points). The Hawkeye senior has scored 136 of his 359 points (38 percent) from the charity stripe. On Jan. 5 against Nebraska, White surpassed Roy Marble as Iowa’s all-time leader in free throws. He currently ranks sixth in Big Ten annals and is five makes from surpassing Northwestern’s Evan Eschmeyer (563) for fifth in conference history. White was 7-of-10 (.700) from the foul line in Iowa’s win over No. 16 Maryland last Sunday. White has attempted 10+ free throws in seven games this season and 13 times in his career. Only two active players in the country have accomplished that feat more than White.
WHITE HOT
Aaron White, who is eighth in Iowa history with 130 games played, ranks first among active Big Ten players in rebounding (813) and is fourth in scoring (1,660). He passed Greg Stokes and Acie Earl for sixth on Iowa’s all-time rebounding chart in Iowa’s last outing vs. Minnesota. He is 39 boards from tying Bruce King for fifth place. White ranks first on the team in rebounding (6.7), steals (1.4), and scoring (15.0), and is fourth in assists (1.45) this season. His rebounding and scoring averages rank fifth and ninth, respectively in the Big Ten this year. 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 nation 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 this season, White is the only player in the nation to shoot better than 50 percent from the field (52.5 percent) and 80 percent from the charity stripe (80 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, 2012). He reached the 1,000-point milestone in his 82nd career game. White currently ranks seventh in Iowa scoring; he is 16 points from surpassing Ronnie Lester (1,675) for sixth all-time.
SELECT COMPANY
Aaron White is one of only two active Division I players (Oklahoma’s TaShawn Thomas) to have 1,650+ points, 800+ rebounds, 175+ assists, and 125+ 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 (17).
UTHOFF PRODUCING ON THE WING
Jarrod Uthoff ranks second in team scoring (11.7 ppg) and steals (1.0), and first in 3-point shooting (38-of-98, .388). He is the only Division I player to have 35+ 3-pointers, 35+ blocks and 25+ steals. Uthoff was named Big Ten Player of the Week on Jan. 6 by the Big Ten Conference after his performance in Iowa’s win at No. 18 Ohio State (Dec. 30) and vs. Nebraska (Jan. 5). Uthoff averaged 16.5 points, seven rebounds, and 3.5 blocks in those two games. The redshirt junior 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 15 of Iowa’s 24 contests, including scoring a team-best 17 points against Minnesota on Thursday. Uthoff has made 28 of his team-leading 38 3-pointers in Iowa’s 15 victories. He is averaging 12.9 points and shooting 44 percent (51-of-115) in Big Ten play, while averaging 10.6 points and shooting 39.8 percent (51-of-128) in nonconference action. Uthoff 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 had 22 points, five rebounds, four assists, and four blocks at Minnesota on Jan. 13. Uthoff became the first player to amass 22+ points, 5+ rebounds, 4+ assists, and 4+ blocks in a Big Ten contest since Minnesota’s Joel Przybilla versus Iowa on Jan. 12, 2000. The native of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, has two double-doubles this season (North Florida and Michigan State). He had 10 points and a personal-best 12 boards against North Florida (Dec. 22), and 12 points and a team-best 10 rebounds versus Michigan State (Jan. 8).
HAWKEYE FAST BREAKS
? Iowa is 12-1 this season when scoring 70+ points and 13-2 when shooting at a higher percentage than its opponents.
? The Hawkeyes have won four true road games this season, equaling its road win total from a season ago. Iowa has four road games remaining on its schedule.
? Iowa was the first team in the country to post road wins over two ranked opponents: No. 12 North Carolina (60-55) on Dec. 3 and No. 18 Ohio State (71-65) on Dec. 30.
? The Hawkeyes have had fewer than 10 turnovers in seven games this season (Iowa State, Longwood, Nebraska, Michigan State, Purdue, Wisconsin, and Michigan). Iowa had a season-low six turnovers at Michigan last Thursday.
? Iowa has beaten Ohio State and Michigan both on the road in the same season for the first time since 1998-99.
? The Hawkeyes are 7-2 when Gabriel Olaseni scores in double figures this season.
? Iowa has nearly made (383) more free throws than its opponents have attempted (390).
? Iowa’s 18-point win against Michigan in Ann Arbor is its largest since winning by 18 on Feb. 8, 1954.
? All five starters reached double figures at Michigan for the first time in a conference game since Feb. 7, 2004 (vs. Indiana).
? Iowa has reached sell out status in four games this season. The Hawkeyes average 14,066 fans through 15 home games.
? Adam Woodbury collected six assists to go along with his 11 points at Michigan. Woodbury became just the third Big Ten 7-footer to post 10+ points and 6+ assists in a game since 1996-97.
? Iowa recorded a season-low six turnovers at Michigan (Feb. 5). The six turnovers are the second fewest by a Hawkeye team in the Fran McCaffery era (five on five occasions).
? Gabriel Olaseni scored 18 points in consecutive games against Nebraska (Jan. 5) and Michigan State (Jan. 8). The London native became just the fifth Big Ten player since 2006 to record back-to-back 18-point games off the bench (Indiana’s Will Sheehey in 2012; Michigan’s DeShawn Sims in 2008; Minnesota’s Lawrence McKenzie in 2007; and Ohio State’s Deaquan Cook in 2006).
? Iowa has had four players post double-doubles this year (Adam Woodbury, Jarrod Uthoff, Gabriel Olaseni, and Aaron White). Only Michigan State has had more (five).
? Iowa is 36-6 when scoring 80 points or more, the last five seasons. The Hawkeyes are 50-2 when holding opponents to fewer than 61 points, the last five years.
WOODBURY HELPS IOWA POST 2 WINS LAST WEEK
Adam Woodbury collected a career-high six assists to go along with his 11 points in Iowa’s win at Michigan (Feb. 5). Woodbury tied a career high with 16 points on 6-of-7 shooting from the field and making all four free-throw attempts in Iowa’s win over No. 16 Maryland. In the two games last week, Woodbury averaged 13.5 points, while shooting 68.8 percent from the field. His efforts earned the junior College Sports Madness Big Ten Player of the Week honors.
FRESH START
Sophomore Peter Jok made his first start of his career on Dec. 22 vs. North Florida. The native of West Des Moines, Iowa, has started the last 12 games, beginning with that North Florida contest. The sophomore has shot at a 60 percent clip in Iowa’s last three outings, making 15-of-25 field goal attempts. Jok is averaging 7.1 points per game for the season and 8.9 points since being inserted into the starting lineup, which ranks third during the 12-game stretch. He has made at least one triple in 12 of the last 16 games, including a personal-best four in Iowa’s win over UMBC (Dec. 6). Jok tallied 13 points on 5-of-8 shooting from the field, including 3-of-5 from 3-point range, in Iowa’s win at Minnesota (Jan. 13). Jok has scored in double figures in each of Iowa’s last three games, netting 10 points at Michigan, contributing 15 points vs. No. 16 Maryland and scoring a career-high 16 points vs. Minnesota. Jok drained two triples at Michigan, three in four tries (.750) against the Terrapins, and another two against the Gophers.
IOWA VS. RANKED TEAMS
The Hawkeyes are 4-5 against opponents ranked in either the Associated Press or USA Today Coaches polls this season. Iowa won at No. 12 North Carolina (60-55) on Dec. 3, at No. 18 Ohio State (71-65) on Dec. 30 and completing the season sweep against the 25th-ranked Buckeyes (76-67) in Iowa City on Jan. 17, and beat No. 16 Maryland (72-55) in Iowa City on Feb. 8. The Hawkeyes fell to No. 10 Texas (71-57) and No. 23 Syracuse (66-63) in New York City, at home to No. 13 Iowa State (90-75) and twice to No. 5 Wisconsin (82-50 on Jan. 20 and 74-63 on Jan. 31).
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 fourth in the Big Ten and 84th nationally, averaging 1.7 rejections per game. His 41 blocks are the fifth most by a Hawkeye senior in program history. He also ranks fifth in Iowa career blocks (128). Uthoff ranks eighth in the league in blocks (1.5), rejecting at least one shot in 19-of-24 games. As a team, Iowa ranks 49th in the country in rejections (4.8).
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 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. Iowa ranks first, followed by Indiana and Tulsa.
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 returns 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.
MCCAFFERY IN COACHES CHARITY CHALLENGE
Infiniti, ESPN, NABC and the NCAA have teamed up again to produce a one-of-a-kind charity competition — the Infiniti Coaches’ Charity Challenge. For 10 weeks, 48 coaches compete in a round robin bracket tournament for the chance to win $100,000 for charity. Iowa’s Fran McCaffery is one of 48 collegiate coaches taking part in this challenge. Thank you fans for voting McCaffery, who is one of the top 24 coaches who have advanced to the next round of voting. Fan participation will determine the ultimate winner over an eight-week period by registering and voting on a custom microsite on ESPN.com/Infiniti. The tournament is divided into four rounds. The coaches with the most votes will advance to the next round and earn more money for their charity. Visit ESPN.com/Infiniti each day and vote for McCaffery, using multiple email addresses, and his charity — Coaches vs. Cancer.
ON THE HORIZON
Iowa returns to Iowa City next Thursday to host Rutgers in the only regular season meeting of the season. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. (CT) on Mediacom Court at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Tickets are still available for that contest.