| GAME 26: Rutgers (10-16, 2-11) at Iowa (15-10, 6-6) | |
|---|---|
| When | Thursday, Feb. 19, 2015 | 7:05 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 | ESPNU | Watch Online via WATCHESPN Announcers: Adam Amin and Craig Robinson |
| Radio | Hawkeye Radio Network | Listen | Sirius 92 / XM 195 |
| Live Stats | GameTracker |
| All-time Series | Iowa leads, 1-0 |
| 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. 18, 2015
- Read the February issue of Hawk Talk Monthly
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- Big Ten Network: Free Hawkeye Video
- 24 Hawkeyes to Watch
THE SETTING
Iowa (15-10, 6-6) returns to Iowa City Thursday to host Rutgers (10-16, 2-11). Tipoff is slated for 7:05 p.m. (CT) on Mediacom Court at Carver-Hawkeye Arena (15,400). Tickets are available for $27 for adults, and $15 for youth and UI students. The first 1,500 fans in attendance Thursday will receive a free Fran McCaffery Coaches vs. Cancer bobblehead. Twenty-one UI football players will take part in a halftime dance routine on Thursday.
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 ESPNU. Adam Amin and Craig Robinson will call the action.
GAME #26 OPENING TIP
? It was announced Tuesday that Iowa senior forward Aaron White is one of 16 players nationally named to the first-ever Karl Malone Award watch list.
? According to ESPN, Iowa’s strength of schedule ranks 13th best in the country.
? Iowa is 14-1 this year when scoring 64+ points, with the lone loss coming to Iowa St. (90-75).
? Junior forward Jarrod Uthoff has led Iowa in scoring in three of the last four games.
? The Hawkeyes lost each of their last two contests by five points: 64-59 vs. Minnesota and 66-61 at Northwestern (OT).
? Iowa has played eight opponents that have been ranked among the top 25 of the Associated Press poll this season, which ties for the fourth-most in the nation along with North Carolina. Only Oklahoma (11), Kansas (10) and Oklahoma State (9) have competed against more AP Top 25 opponents this season entering this week’s action.
? Iowa is averaging a double-double out of its center position of Adam Woodbury and Gabriel Olaseni. The duo combine to average 15.2 points and 10.2 rebounds.
? Josh Oglesby made two triples at Northwestern Sunday to surpass B.J. Armstrong in career 3-pointers made at Iowa with 138. He is two from moving past Luke Recker (139) for eighth.
NORTHWESTERN EDGES IOWA IN EVANSTON
? Northwestern outlasted Iowa, 66-61, in overtime Sunday in Evanston, Illinois.
? Trailing 54-51, Iowa’s Jarrod Uthoff sank an off-balance 3-pointer with four seconds remaining to send the game to overtime.
? Northwestern scored eight of its 12 points in overtime at the free throw line. For the game, the Wildcats were 15-of-20 (.750) at the charity stripe.
? Jarrod Uthoff led all scorers, pouring in a game and career-high 25 points on 8-of-16 shooting from the field, including a career-best 5-of-11 from 3-point range, and 4-of-4 from the foul line.
? Iowa leading scorer Aaron White, who played a season-high 40 minutes, was held to six points on 1-of-12 shooting from the field, but did pull down a game-high 13 rebounds.
? Josh Oglesby made two 3-pointers, collected a game-high two steals and grabbed three rebounds in 25 minutes off the bench.
ALL-TIME SERIES RECORDS
Thursday will be only the second meeting between Iowa and Rutgers. The Hawkeyes won the previous meeting, 87-73, on March 17, 1989, in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The game was played in Providence, Rhode Island. B.J. Armstrong (35) and Roy Marble (24) combined to score 59 of Iowa’s 87 points. Armstrong was 6-of-9 (.667) from 3-point range in that contest.
SCOUTING RUTGERS
? Rutgers has had one week to prepare for the Hawkeyes, last playing on Feb. 12.
? The Scarlet Knights fell, 61-51, at home to Purdue on Feb. 12. Kadeem Jack was the only Rutgers player to score in double digits (16). The Scarlet Knights were 9-of-19 (.474) from the charity stripe, compared to 16-of-23 (.696) for the Boilermakers.
? The Scarlet Knights are 2-7 in true road games, including an 0-6 mark in Big Ten road contests.
? Ten of Rutgers’ 13 conference games have been decided by 10 points or less, including four of its last five.
? Rutgers’ two conference victories have come over nationally-ranked Wisconsin (67-62) and Penn State (50-46) — both at home.
? Two Scarlet Knights average in double figures in scoring: Myles Mack (14.0) and Kadeem Jack (13.3). Mack also leads the team in steals (45), assists (114), 3-point shooting (49-of-156, .314), and free throw accuracy (78-of-91, .857). His free throw percentage (.857) ranks fourth best in the conference. Jack also ranks second on the squad in rebounding, pulling down 6.3 boards per outing.
? Rutgers ranks fifth in the league in 3-point field goal percentage defense (.324) and sixth in offensive rebounding (11.0).
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 (92) and ranks seventh in the Big Ten in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.0). Gesell averages 7.4 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 (12.2), rebounding (6.2), steals (25), and assists (46). He is the only Division I player with 40+ 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.
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 140 of his 365 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 is tied for fifth in Big Ten annals with Northwestern’s Evan Eschmeyer (1995-99) and is 19 makes from equaling Dave Schelhase of Purdue (582) for fourth in conference history. 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 131 games played, ranks first among active Big Ten players in rebounding (826) and is fourth in scoring (1,666). He passed Greg Stokes and Acie Earl for sixth on Iowa’s all-time rebounding chart against Minnesota a week ago Thursday. He is 26 boards from tying Bruce King for fifth place. White is one of 16 players named to the first-ever Karl Malone Award watch list. He ranks first on the team in rebounding (6.9), steals (1.3), and scoring (14.6), and is fourth in assists (1.5) this season. His rebounding and scoring averages rank third and 11th, 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 (50 percent) and 80 percent from the charity stripe (80.5 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 10 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, 825+ 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 (18).
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 13 games, beginning with that North Florida contest. Jok is averaging seven points per game for the season and 8.5 points since being inserted into the starting lineup, which ranks third during the 13-game stretch. He has made at least one triple in 12 of the last 17 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 three of Iowa’s last four 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.
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UTHOFF PRODUCING ON THE WING
Jarrod Uthoff ranks second in team scoring (12.2 ppg) and steals (1.0), and first in 3-point shooting (43-of-109, .394). He is the only Division I player to have 40+ 3-pointers, 35+ blocks and 25+ steals. Uthoff has made 28 of his team-leading 43 3-pointers in Iowa’s 15 victories. He is averaging a team-best 13.9 points and shooting 45 percent (59-of-131) in Big Ten play, while averaging 10.6 points and shooting 39.8 percent (51-of-128) in nonconference action. The redshirt junior, who has led the team in scoring in three of the last four games, poured in a game and career-high 25 points in Iowa’s loss at Northwestern on Sunday. His career-high fifth 3-pointer came with four seconds remaining in regulation to even the score and send the game to overtime. 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. Uthoff drained four triples in Iowa’s victory over Hampton (Nov. 14) and at No. 18 Ohio State (Dec. 30). He has reached double figures in 16 of Iowa’s 25 contests. He averaged a team-best 21 points in Iowa’s two games last week. 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 three road games remaining on its schedule.
? The Hawkeyes have had fewer than 10 turnovers in eight games this season (Iowa State, Longwood, Nebraska, Michigan State, Purdue, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Northwestern). Iowa had a season-low four turnovers at Northwestern on Sunday.
? 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 is 6-1 this season when sinking eight or more 3-pointers.
? 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.
? Iowa has nearly made (396) more free throws than its opponents have attempted (410).
? 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.
IMPROVED DEFENSE
After allowing 70.3 points a year ago, the Iowa defense has improved this season, allowing 7.6 fewer points per game (62.7). Also, opponents shot .415 from the field last season compared to .400 in 2014-15.
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 fifth in the Big Ten and 78th nationally, averaging 1.6 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 (1.4), rejecting at least one shot in 20-of-25 games. As a team, Iowa ranks 49th in the country in rejections (4.7).
WHITE NAMED TO KARL MALONE AWARD WATCH LIST
Iowa senior Aaron White is one of 16 players named to the first-ever Karl Malone Award watch list. Named after Hall of Famer and two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Karl Malone, the annual honor in its inaugural year recognizes the top power forwards in Division I men’s college basketball. White ranks third in the Big Ten in rebounding (6.0 rpg) and 11th in scoring (14.6 ppg). He is seeking to become the first Hawkeye in nine years to finish the season leading the team in scoring and rebounding (Greg Brunner in 2006). White is one of only two active Division I players (Oklahoma’s TaShawn Thomas), and the only Hawkeye ever, with 1,650+ points, 825+ rebounds, 175+ assists, and 125+ steals. The native of Strongsville, Ohio, is also the only Division I player to shoot better than 50 percent from the field and 80 percent from the free throw line the last two seasons. White ranks sixth in Iowa career rebounding (826), seventh in scoring (1,666), 13th in double-doubles (13), and first in free throws made (563) and attempted (736). Malone attended La. Tech due to its close proximity to his hometown of Summerfield, Louisiana. He led the Bulldogs to a Sweet 16 appearance and earned All-Southland honors in his three seasons while averaging 18.7 points and 9.3 rebounds per game. Malone achieved great success during his 19 seasons in the NBA as a 14-time NBA All-Star (1988-98, 2000-02), 11-time All-NBA First Team player (1989-99) and a member of the NBA’s 50th Anniversary All-Time Team. He also won two Olympic gold medals (1992, 1996). White is 1-of-2 players recognized from the Big Ten (Maryland’s Jake Layman) and 1-of-3 from the state of Iowa (UNI’s Seth Tuttle and Georges Niang of Iowa State).
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.
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 16 coaches who have advanced to the third 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 travels to Lincoln, Nebraska, for a contest against Nebraska in its first ever game in Pinnacle Bank Arena. Tipoff is scheduled for 2:06 p.m. (CT).
