| GAME 29: Iowa (18-10, 9-6) at Penn State (15-13, 3-12) | |
|---|---|
| When | Saturday, Feb. 28, 2015 | 5:05 p.m. CT |
| Where | Bryce Jordan Center — University Park, Pa. |
| Shop | Herky’s Locker Room |
| Television | ESPNU | Watch Online via WATCHESPN Announcers: Clay Matvick and Sean Harrington |
| Radio | Hawkeye Radio Network | Listen | Sirius 91 / XM 91 |
| Live Stats | GameTracker |
| All-time Series | Iowa leads, 26-13 |
| 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. 26, 2015
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THE SETTING
Iowa (18-10, 9-6), winners of five of its seven games in the month of February, travel to University Park, Pennsylvania, Saturday to face Penn State (15-13, 3-12). Tipoff is slated for 5:05 p.m. (CT) at the Bryce Jordan Center.
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: Saturday night’s game will be televised nationally on ESPNU (WATCHESPN). Clay Matvick and Sean Harrington will call the action.
GAME #29 OPENING TIP
? Saturday will be the only regular season meeting between Iowa and Penn State. Iowa and Penn State met only once last year, with that game also played at Penn State (Iowa won, 82-70).
? According to ESPN, Iowa’s strength of schedule ranks 27th strongest in the country, which is tops among Big Ten teams.
? Junior Mike Gesell was named third team Academic All-America (3.93 GPA) on Thursday.
? Iowa is 17-1 this year when scoring 64+ points, with the lone loss coming to Iowa St. (90-75).
? Aaron White posted career highs in scoring (29) and 3-pointers made (3) in Iowa’s win over Illinois Wednesday in Iowa City. White surpassed B.J. Armstrong for fourth in UI career scoring.
? Iowa is 5-3 in road games this season, with four of the wins coming in league play. The five overall road wins rank third best in the Big Ten (Wisconsin – eight; Michigan State – six). Iowa’s five road victories are the most by a Hawkeye team since the 2002-03 campaign.
? Junior guard Anthony Clemmons has dished out 18 assists and committed only two turnovers in Iowa’s last four games.
? Iowa is averaging a double-double out of its center position of Adam Woodbury and Gabriel Olaseni. The duo combine to average 15 points and 10 rebounds.
IOWA WINS THIRD STRAIGHT, TOPS ILLINOIS
? Iowa held Illinois to 25 percent shooting from the field in the second half en route to a 68-60 win over the Fighting Illini Wednesday night in Iowa City. The win was Iowa’s third straight (Rutgers, Nebraska, and Illinois).
? Aaron White had a monster game, maybe the best of his career, posting career bests in scoring (29) and 3-pointers made (3). The Hawkeye senior also snagged nine rebounds and had two steals.
? Aaron White’s 29 points are the most by an Iowa player in a contest against Illinois since James Moses had 30 in 1991. Also, White became just the second player since 1996-97 to register 29+ points and 9+ rebounds against Illinois (Ohio State’s Evan Turner in 2010).
? Jarrod Uthoff (10), Aaron White (9), and Adam Woodbury (9) combined for 28 of Iowa’s 36 total rebounds. Uthoff’s 10 were a game high and marked the fourth time this season that the redshirt junior collected 10+ boards.
? Iowa attempted 30 free throws after Illinois was whistled for 25 fouls. The 30 free throw attempts are the most by the Hawkeyes since attempting 35 vs. Ohio State (Jan. 17).
? All nine Hawkeyes who saw action scored. Josh Oglesby was 2-of-2 from 3-point range.
? Rayvonte Rice (20) and Ahmad Starks (19) combined for 39 of Illinois’ 60 points.
STEALS MAKING A DIFFERENCE
In Iowa’s 18 victories, the Hawkeyes average 7.8 steals per game compared to 4.2 in their 10 defeats. The +3.6 steals per game difference in wins versus losses is second in the Big Ten behind Minnesota (+5.8). The +3.6 differential also is the eighth largest in the country.
ALL-TIME SERIES RECORDS
Iowa holds a 26-13 advantage in the series versus Penn State. The Hawkeyes have won six of the last eight meetings, including the last three. This marks the second straight year Iowa will have played Penn State once, with both games played in University Park. Penn State holds a 10-8 edge in games played at University Park. Iowa, on Jan. 4, 1997, was the first visiting team to win (67-59) in Penn State’s new arena (Bryce Jordan Center). Three of the 38 meetings in the series have been in postseason action, including the first meeting in the 1955 NCAA Tournament in Evanston, Illinois, with Iowa winning 82-53 on its way to the Final Four.
SCOUTING PENN STATE
? Penn State enters Saturday’s game having lost its last four games and six of its last seven.
? The Nittany Lions are 10-4 at home this season, including a 3-4 mark at the Bryce Jordan Center during league play. Penn State lost its last two home games to nationally-ranked Maryland (76-73) and Wisconsin (55-47).
? Penn State has had a week to prepare for the Hawkeyes, losing its last game (60-39) to Northwestern on Feb. 21 in Evanston, Illinois. Geno Thorpe was the lone Nittany Lion who reached double figures in scoring (13). Big Ten leading scorer D.J. Newbill was held to a season-low three points, but did grab a team-high nine rebounds. Penn State’s 39 points and 27 percent shooting from the field were season lows.
? The Nittany Lions have one player average double figures: D.J. Newbill (20.5 ppg). He also leads the team in free throw shooting (134-of-180), assists (84), and steals (34). Newbill’s scoring average ranks ninth nationally, while his free throw makes ranks sixth.
? Three Nittany Lions have made 40+ 3-pointers: Brandon Taylor (46), Shep Garner (45), and D.J. Newbill (44). Penn State averages 6.5 triples made per game, shooting at a 33 percent clip from distance.
? Penn State is 0-2 in overtime contests this season, falling to Purdue (84-77) on Jan. 17 and a double overtime game to Charlotte (106-97) on Nov. 20.
? Saturday will be the third game of a stretch of playing four of five games at the Bryce Jordan Center for the Nittany Lions.
LAST MEETING AGAINST PENN STATE
Iowa outscored Penn State 51-37 in the second half en route to an 82-70 win at Penn State on Feb. 15, 2014, at the Bryce Jordan Center. It was the only regular-season meeting between the two teams. The Hawkeyes were 31-of-40 (.775) from the foul line, including 13-of-14 from the free throw line over the last 2:31 of the game and 16-of-18 during the final 3:50. Mike Gesell tallied 13 points, bolstered by matching a career high with four 3-pointers. The point guard also dished out seven of Iowa’s 13 assists.
UTHOFF, GESELL EARN ACADEMIC DISTINCTION
Juniors Mike Gesell and Jarrod Uthoff were named Capital One Academic All-District first team honorees for their combined performance athletically and in the classroom. Gesell was also tabbed third team Academic All-America on Thursday becoming the first Hawkeye to accomplish the national distinction since Adam Haluska (first team) in 2007. 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 (102) and ranks seventh in the Big Ten in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.0). Gesell averages 7.1 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 (12.0), rebounding (6.1) and steals (30), and third in assists (53). He is the only Division I player with 45+ 3-pointers, 45+ blocks, and 30+ 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 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.
HAWKEYES HEATING UP
Iowa is 5-2 in the month of February, marking the first time since 2012 that the Hawkeyes posted five wins during the shortest month of the year. Iowa will be seeking its sixth win in the month of February on Saturday. The last time a Hawkeye team won six games in February was 1991. Iowa boasts a +13.4 scoring margin during the month of February, averaging 69.4 points per game, while allowing 56 points. The Hawkeyes are shooting 48.8 percent from the field and 39.6 percent from 3-point range in February. Both Jarrod Uthoff and Peter Jok are shooting 13-of-29 (.448) from 3-point territory in the month of February.
FINDING WAYS TO SCORE
Aaron White ranks first in the country in highest percentage of points scored from free throws (minimum 375 total points). The Hawkeye senior has scored 157 of his 425 points (37 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 fifth in Big Ten annals and is two makes from equaling Dave Schelhase of Purdue (582) for fourth in conference history. White has attempted 10+ free throws in eight games this year and 14 times in his career. Only two active players in the nation have accomplished that feat more than White.
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WHITE HOT
Aaron White, who is fourth in Iowa history with 134 games played, ranks first among active conference players in rebounding (854) and is fourth in scoring (1,726). He passed B.J. Armstrong for fourth on Iowa’s all-time scoring chart versus Illinois on Thursday. He is only three boards from tying Michael Payne for fourth place in Iowa career rebounding. White is the only Hawkeye ever to amass 1,700+ points and 850+ rebounds. White is one of 16 players named to the first-ever Karl Malone Award watch list. He ranks first on the team in rebounding (7.2), steals (1.3), and scoring (15.2), and is fifth in assists (1.5) this season. White is one of only two Big Ten players to average 15+ points and 6+ rebounds (Wisconsin’s Frank Kaminsky). His rebounding and scoring averages rank third 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 (51 percent) and 80 percent from the charity stripe (81 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. In Iowa’s nine conference wins, White is averaging 18.4 points per game, compared to 8.8 in the six defeats (White saw limited action in loss at Purdue due to injury). White currently ranks fourth in Iowa scoring; he is 43 points from surpassing Greg Stokes (1,768) for third all-time.
SELECT COMPANY
Aaron White is one of only two active Division I players (Oklahoma’s TaShawn Thomas) to have 1,700+ points, 850+ rebounds, 175+ assists, and 125+ steals. He is the only Hawkeye ever to post those numbers in the program’s history. Also, his 14 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 16 games, beginning with that North Florida contest. Jok is averaging 7.4 points per game for the season and 8.9 points since being inserted into the starting lineup, which ranks third during the 16-game stretch. He has made at least one triple in 15 of the last 20 games, including multiple 3-pointers in five of the last seven contests. Jok has scored in double figures in five of Iowa’s last seven games, averaging 10.9 points and shooting at a 45 percent clip from 3-point range (13-of-29) during the seven-game span. He netted a career-high 16 points vs. Minnesota (Feb. 12) and 14 points against Nebraska last Sunday in Lincoln.
UTHOFF PRODUCING ON THE WING
Jarrod Uthoff ranks second in team scoring (12 ppg) and steals (1.1), and first in 3-point shooting (46-of-118, .390). He is the only Division I player to have 45+ 3-pointers, 45+ blocks and 30+ steals. Uthoff has made 31 of his team-leading 46 3-pointers in Iowa’s 18 victories. He is averaging 15.7 points per game, shooting 49 percent (39-of-79) from the field and 100 percent (16-of-16) from the foul line, in Iowa’s seven conference road games, while averaging 11 points, shooting 40 percent (32-of-79) from the field, in its eight league home contests. The redshirt junior, who has led the team in scoring in four of the last seven games, poured in a game and career-high 25 points in Iowa’s loss at Northwestern (Feb. 15). His career-high fifth 3-pointer came with four seconds remaining in regulation to even the score and send the game to overtime. The Cedar Rapids, Iowa, native 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 18 times this season. He averages 14.6 points per contest over the last five games. Uthoff tallied eight points and equaled career bests in rebounding (11) and blocked shots (five) in Iowa’s win 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. Uthoff 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 14-1 this season when scoring 70+ points and 16-2 when shooting at a higher percentage than its opponents.
? In conference statistics rankings, Iowa ranks third in field goal percentage (.463) and fourth in 3-point accuracy (.365).
? Junior guard Anthony Clemmons has amassed 18 assists and only two turnovers the last four games.
? The Hawkeyes have won five true road games this season. Iowa has two road games remaining on its schedule. The last time Iowa won five true road games in the regular season was in 2002-03.
? Iowa has had fewer than 10 turnovers in nine games this year. Iowa had a season-low four turnovers at Northwestern (Feb. 15).
? 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 8-2 when Gabriel Olaseni scores in double figures this season.
? Iowa is 7-1 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 (440) more free throws than its opponents have attempted (453).
? Iowa has reached sell out status in four games this season. The Hawkeyes average 14,025 fans through 17 home games.
? Iowa is the only Big Ten team post a win at Ohio State this year.
? Iowa’s 34-point win over Rutgers is the largest by a Big Ten team in league play this year and the biggest by an Iowa team in conference play since a 91-57 win over Northwestern in 1998.
? 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).
? 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.
? 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 two double-doubles this year (Adam Woodbury, Jarrod Uthoff, Gabriel Olaseni, and Aaron White). Iowa and Michigan State are the only Big Ten schools to have four players with multiple double-doubles this season.
? Iowa is 37-6 when scoring 80 points or more, the last five seasons. The Hawkeyes are 53-2 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 8.8 fewer points per game (61.5). Also, opponents shot .415 from the field last season compared to .393 in 2014-15.
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 ninth in the Big Ten and 88th nationally, averaging 1.5 rejections per game. His 42 blocks are the fifth most by a Hawkeye senior in program history. He also ranks fifth in Iowa career blocks (129). Uthoff ranks fifth in the league in blocks (1.6), rejecting a game-high four shots in back-to-back games (Nebraska and Illinois). As a team, Iowa ranks 52nd in the country in rejections (4.6).
DICKERSON GRANTED RELEASE TO TRANSFER
Fran McCaffery announced Monday that Trey Dickerson has decided to transfer from the program and has been granted a full release from his scholarship. The 6-foot guard averaged 2.7 points, 1.2 assists and 0.5 rebounds in 15 games this season with the Hawkeyes.
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 (7.1 rpg) and ninth in scoring (15.2 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 1,700+ points, 850+ 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 fifth in Iowa career rebounding (854) and fourth in scoring (1,726), 14th in double-doubles (14), and first in free throws made (580) and attempted (756). 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 one of three 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.
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.
ON THE HORIZON
Iowa remains on the road for a Tuesday contest at Indiana. The game in Bloomington, Indiana, will be the only regular season meeting between the two teams. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. (CT) at Assembly Hall. The game will be televised nationally on ESPN.
