| GAME 33: Davidson (24-7) vs. Iowa (21-11) | |
|---|---|
| When | Friday, March 20, 2015 | 6:20 p.m. CT |
| Where | KeyArena — Seattle, Washington |
| Shop | Herky’s Locker Room |
| Television | TNT | Watch Online via NCAA MARCH MADNESS Announcers: Spero Dedes, Mike Gminski, and Jaime Maggio |
| Radio | Hawkeye Radio Network | Sirius 93 / XM 203 |
| 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  |
March 16, 2015
- NCAA Men’s Basketball Central
- Read the March issue of Hawk Talk Monthly
- Download your Hawk Talk Monthly iOS app
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- Download your Iowa Hawkeye Android app!
- Big Ten Network: Free Hawkeye Video
- 24 Hawkeyes to Watch
THE SETTING
Iowa (21-11) earned the No. 7 seed in the 2015 NCAA Tournament and will square-off against 10th-seeded Davidson (24-7) Friday at 6:20 p.m. (CT) at KeyArena in Seattle. Second-seeded Gonzaga (32-2) will play North Dakota State (23-9) at 8:50 p.m. (CT).
ON THE AIR
Radio: Iowa NCAA Tournament games will be 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. Games will also be available nationally on Westwood One radio affiliates and Sirius 93 and XM 203.
TV: Friday’s game will be televised nationally on TNT. Spero Dedes, Mike Gminski, and Jaime Maggio will call the action.
NCAA TOURNAMENT STORYLINES
? Iowa will be making its 24th NCAA Tournament appearance, including its second straight. Iowa and Davidson have only met one previous time; Iowa won 76-61 on Feb. 1, 1969.
? This will mark Iowa’s third trip to Seattle for an NCAA Tournament game. The Hawkeyes played in the Kingdome in the 1987 and 1988 NCAA Regionals.
? The last time Iowa played on the West Coast was at Oregon in 2012 (NIT Second Round).
? Iowa concluded the regular season winning six consecutive Big Ten games — its longest win streak against Big Ten competition since the 1986-87 season.
? Aaron White became Iowa’s 25th first-team All-Big Ten honoree, while Jarrod Uthoff was named to the coaches all-league third team. Gabriel Olaseni earned the Big Ten’s Sixth Man of the Year, becoming just the second Hawkeye to win that award (Doug Thomas in 2006).
? The Hawkeyes tied Purdue and Michigan State for third place in the Big Ten, which is Iowa’s best finish in the league standings since tying for second place in 2006.
? Iowa has won 20+ games in each of the last three seasons (25 in 2013, 20 in 2014, and 21 in 2015), its longest streak since a five-year stretch between 1994-95 to 1998-99.
? Since Feb. 16, Iowa senior Aaron White leads all Big Ten players averaging 21.1 points per contest (seven games).
? Jarrod Uthoff is the only player in the nation to have 50+ 3-pointers, 50+ blocks & 35+ steals.
? Iowa is 20-1 this year when scoring 64+ points, with the lone loss coming to Iowa St. (90-75).
? Aaron White is just the second Hawkeye since 1989 to score 20+ points in five straight games (Devyn Marble in 2014). The last Iowa player to reach 20 points in at least six consecutive basketball games was Greg Stokes during the 1984-85 campaign (eight straight).
? Iowa’s senior class amassed 59 home wins in its four-year career — the most in program history for a class. Iowa’s 1988, 2008, and 2009 squads rank second, winning 54 home contests.
? Iowa’s senior class has accounted for 84 wins (18 in 2012; 25 in 2013; 20 in 2014; and 21 in 2015). The 84 are the seventh most for a class. Iowa’s 1989 class ranks first with 97 victories.
? Aaron White is the only player in the country to average 16+ points, 7+ rebounds, while shooting above a 50 percent clip from the field and 80 percent from the free throw line.
? Fran McCaffery has guided Iowa to upper division finishes in the Big Ten in each of the last three seasons. McCaffery, who is one of just 12 Division I head coaches to take four different programs to the NCAA Tournament, has accumulated 15 first division finishes in 19 years as a head coach. McCaffery has posted nine seasons of 20 or more wins as a head coach.
? Iowa’s 12 conference wins are the most by a Hawkeye team since 1997.
? Iowa’s six B1G road wins rank second behind Wisconsin (seven) for the most in the league. It’s seven overall road victories are the most by a Hawkeye team since the 1986-87 campaign.
HAWKEYES FALL TO PENN STATE AT BIG TEN TOURNAMENT
? Penn State overcame an 11-point deficit early in the second half to upend the fifth-seeded Hawkeyes, 67-58, in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament on March 12 in Chicago.
? Aaron White and Jarrod Uthoff combined to score 38 of Iowa’s 58 points. White tallied 21 points and controlled 13 rebounds for his 16th career double-double. Twelve of White’s 13 rebounds were defensive, a season best by an Iowa player. Uthoff registered 17 points, seven rebounds, and three blocked shots.
? Senior center Gabriel Olaseni tied an Iowa Big Ten Tournament record, rejecting five shots. He also contributed seven rebounds and six points.
? Iowa shot a season-low 26.3 percent (15-of-57) from the field. After holding the Nittany Lions to 25 percent (7-of-28) shooting from the field in the first half, Penn State rallied to shoot 53.6 percent (15-of-28) in the second stanza.
? Iowa dominated the glass, grabbing 49 rebounds compared to 34 for the Nittany Lions.
ALL-TIME SERIES RECORDS
Iowa is 1-0 all-time against Davidson, beating the Wildcats 76-61 in 1969 in Davidson, North Carolina. Potential Round of 32 match-ups would be against Gonzaga or North Dakota State. Iowa is 2-0 all-time against the Bulldogs and 1-1 against the Bison. The Hawkeyes played North Dakota State earlier this season and won 87-56 in November in Iowa City. Iowa lost to North Dakota State 21-17 in Iowa City in 1933. Iowa beat Gonzaga in 1984 (62-40) in Iowa City and in 1986 (84-64) in Spokane.
IOWA IN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT
Iowa is participating in the NCAA Tournament for the 24th time, including making its second straight appearance. Iowa, as an 11 seed, lost in overtime to Tennessee a year ago in the first round in Dayton. Iowa earned a No. 7 seed this season for the fourth time in program history. The Hawkeyes were also a No. 7 seed in 1983, 1991, and 2001. Iowa’s last NCAA Tournament victory came when it was a No. 7 seed in 2001. The Hawkeyes beat Creighton, 69-56, in Long Island, New York, in the first round before falling to Kentucky in the second round. The Hawkeyes hold an overall record of 27-25 in the tournament, advancing to the Final Four in 1955, 1956, and 1980. Iowa’s last victory in the tournament was over Creighton in the first round in 2001. The Hawkeyes reached the regional championship in 1987 and lost in the regional semifinal in 1988 and 1999. Below is a listing of Iowa’s seeding in the tournament and the results:
IOWA IN WASHINGTON STATE
Iowa is playing in the NCAA Tournament in the state of Washington for the third time. Iowa is 2-3 in games played in Washington, including a 1-2 record in Seattle and a 1-1 record in Pullman. Iowa defeated Northeast Louisiana in the first round before falling to Idaho in Pullman in 1982. Iowa defeated Oklahoma (93-91) in Seattle in the 1987 Sweet Sixteen before losing to UNLV (84-81) in the Elite Eight. The following year, Iowa lost to Arizona (99-79) in the Sweet Sixteen. All three of those games were played in the Kingdome in Seattle.
WHITE-McKILLOP CONNECTION
Iowa senior Aaron White played for Davidson head coach Bob McKillop the summer of 2013 when White was a member Team USA at the World University Games in Kazan, Russia. White was the first Hawkeye since Greg Brunner in 2005 to be named to a USA World University Games roster.
3 HAWKEYES EARN POSTSEASON BIG TEN HONORS
Seniors Aaron White and Gabriel Olaseni, and juniors Jarrod Uthoff and Mike Gesell, earned postseason accolades. After earning third-team All-Big Ten honors a year ago, White became the 25th Hawkeye in program history to be named to the first team (media and coaches). With Devyn Marble earning first team laurels a year ago, this marks the first time since 2007 Iowa players made the All-Big Ten first team in back-to-back years. Uthoff was named to the third team by the coaches and was honorable mention by the media. It marked the fourth straight season, Iowa had a player named to the third team. Olaseni was named the conference’s Sixth Man of the Year, becoming just the second Hawkeye to earn that distinction. Gesell was named the team’s Big Ten Sportsmanship honoree.
WHITE NAMED TO USWBA DISTRICT TEAM
Aaron White was named to the 10-player All-District VI team by the United States Basketball Writers Association (USBWA). The native of Strongsville, Ohio, becomes the second Hawkeye in as many years to garner all-district accolades (Roy Devyn Marble in 2014). District six includes players from the state of Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota. White (6-foot-9, 220 pounds) has started all 32 games, leading the team in scoring (16 ppg) and rebounding (7.5 rpg). He helped the Hawkeyes win 12 conference games for the first time in 18 years. He was also instrumental in leading Iowa to seven true road victories — the most by a Hawkeye team since 1987.
NCAA TOURNAMENT NOTEABLES
? The Big Ten and Big 12 led the nation, with each sending seven teams to the NCAA Tournament.
? Iowa was slotted 27th and Davidson 38th by the NCAA Tournament committee, who ranked the teams 1-68 prior to bracketing the teams.
? Davidson and Iowa played one common opponent. The Hawkeyes won at North Carolina (60-55) on Dec. 3, while the Tar Heels defeated Davidson (90-72) Nov. 11 in Charlotte.
? Fran McCaffery holds a 6-7 record when coaching against Davidson and Bob McKillop. McCaffery coached against the Wildcats while the head coach at UNC-Greensboro (1999-05). McCaffery last coached against Davidson in 2004-05, splitting two games that year.
? This will be Fran McCaffery‘s seventh NCAA Tournament appearance, while it will be the eighth tournament for Bob McKillop.
? Davidson did not play against any Big Ten Conference teams this season and Iowa did not play any members of the Atlantic 10 Conference.
? Davidson senior guard Tyler Kalinoski was named the Atlantic 10 Conference Player of the Year. The senior averages 17 points per game while shooting 47.1 percent from the field, 43.1 percent from three-point range and 78.7 percent from the foul line. Kalinoski ranks 15th nationally in 3-point accuracy (43.1) and 23rd in triples per game (2.94).
? Iowa is 22-12 all-time against current members of the Atlantic 10 Conference. Iowa’s last contest against a member of the Atlantic 10 came in the first round of the 2012 NIT, when Iowa defeated Dayton (84-75) in Iowa City.
? Davidson won 10 straight games before falling to VCU in the Atlantic 10 championship game. The Wildcats topped 100 points three times this season.
? Davidson ranks first in the country in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.8), second in 3-pointers made (10.9), sixth in scoring offense (79.9), and seventh in fewest turnovers (9.6).
AGAINST THE NCAA FIELD
During the regular season, Iowa posted an 8-7 record against teams in the NCAA Tournament. The Hawkeyes played 13 different opponents who were selected for the NCAA Tournament, including six Big Ten opponents and seven nonconference opponents. Five of Iowa’s 13 nonconference games came versus teams that won their league tournament (Hampton, Iowa State, North Dakota State, North Florida, and UNI). The Hawkeyes were 4-3 in those games, beating Hampton, North Dakota State, and North Carolina. Six other Big Ten teams will compete in this year’s tournament: Indiana, Maryland, Michigan State, Ohio State, Purdue, and Wisconsin. The Hawkeyes went 4-4 in contests against those teams. Iowa beat Indiana, Maryland, and Ohio State (twice). The Hawkeyes lost to Purdue, Michigan State, and Wisconsin (twice).
LAST YEAR IN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT
? Iowa led by as many as 12 points in the first half, but Tennessee rallied to send the game to overtime and ultimately prevail 78-65 in an NCAA Tournament first round game played at Dayton Arena in Dayton, Ohio.
? Two Hawkeyes scored in double figures: Adam Woodbury (16) and Peter Jok (10). Woodbury, whose 16 points are a career high, joined Kevin Boyle as the only Hawkeyes with 16+ points, 8+ rebounds and 1+ assist in their first career NCAA Tournament game.
? Iowa’s reserves outscored Tennessee’s bench 35-4. The Volunteers were led by starting forward Jarnell Stokes, who posted a double-double (18 points and 13 rebounds).
? The Hawkeyes shot 87 percent (13-of-15) from the foul line. Tennessee attempted twice as many free throws as Iowa (25-of-30, .833).
STATE OF IOWA IN THE TOURNAMENT
The state of Iowa has three teams in the 2015 NCAA Tournament, as Iowa, Northern Iowa, and Iowa State are all participating. The last time those three Iowa teams all competed in the same NCAA Tournament was 2005. Earlier this season, the state of Iowa had three teams ranked in the Jan. 19 Associated Press weekly poll (Jan. 19) — Iowa State was ninth, Northern Iowa was 20th, while Iowa was ranked 25th. The state of Iowa is one of nine states with as many as three teams in the tournament. Indiana (Butler, Indiana, Notre Dame, Purdue, Valparaiso) and Texas (Baylor, SMU, Stephen F. Austin, Texas, Texas Southern) lead the way with five teams, while New York (Manhattan, Buffalo, St. John’s, Albany), Ohio (Cincinnati, Dayton, Ohio State, Xavier) and North Carolina (Davidson, Duke, North Carolina, North Carolina State) each have four. Matching Iowa with three teams are California (San Diego State, UC-Irvine, UCLA), Pennsylvania (Lafayette, Robert Morris, Villanova), and Virginia (Hampton, Virginia, VCU).
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STREAKING
Iowa lost its first round game of the Big Ten Tournament to Penn State, but finished the regular season winning its last six games. It marked the first time since 1987 that a Hawkeye team won six consecutive Big Ten games. It also marked the first time since 1955 that the Hawkeyes won their final six contests of the regular season. Iowa’s 1955 squad, which advanced to the Final Four, won its final 14 games of the regular season. Iowa won its final three road games of the season (Nebraska, Penn State, and Indiana). The last a Hawkeye team won its final three regular season road games was 1984 (Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Northwestern). Iowa has won 20-or more games for the third straight season. The Hawkeyes won 21 regular season games, which is the highest regular season total for Iowa under Fran McCaffery and the most since 2006 (22).
IMPROVED DEFENSE
After allowing 70.3 points a year ago, the Iowa defense has improved this season, allowing 8.4 fewer points per game (61.9). The 8.4 improvement ranks eighth best in the country among the seven major conferences. Also, opponents shot .415 from the field last season compared to .392 in 2014-15.
WHITE JOINS ELITE LIST
Aaron White enters the NCAA Tournament with 1,814 points and 894 rebounds in his four-year career. The Hawkeye senior is one of only five players in conference history to amass more than 1,800 points and 850 rebounds.
ON POINT
Mike Gesell joins Dean Oliver and Jeff Horner as the only Iowa players in the program’s history to amass 750+ points, 325+ assists, 200+ rebounds, and 100+ steals his freshman through junior seasons. His 124 assists this season rank as the eighth most by an Iowa junior in program history.
FINDING WAYS TO SCORE
Aaron White ranks second in the country in highest percentage of points scored from free throws (minimum 500 total points) behind Maryland’s Melo Trimble (36.9 percent). The Hawkeye senior has scored 189 of his 513 points (36.8 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 fourth in Big Ten annals and is three makes from equaling Kiwane Garris of Illinois (615) for third in conference history. White has attempted 10+ free throws 12 times this year, including four of the last five contests, and 27 times in his career. Only four active players in the nation have accomplished that feat more than White. White has made 124 free throws this season, which are the most by any Iowa senior in program history.
SELECT COMPANY
Aaron White is the only active Division I player to have 1,800+ points, 875+ rebounds, 175+ assists, and 125+ steals. He is the only Hawkeye ever to post those numbers in the program’s history. Also, his 16 career double-doubles ranks second among active Big Ten players; Michigan State’s Branden Dawson ranks first (18).
IOWA HISTORY
Iowa has played 2,672 games since beginning basketball in 1902. Iowa’s overall record is 1,571-1,101 (.588). That includes a 1,003-353 (.740) record in home games, a 564-745 (.431) record in contests away from Iowa City, a 741-751 (.497) mark in Big Ten games and a 407-127 (.762) record in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
HAWKEYE FAST BREAKS
? Iowa is 16-1 this season when scoring 70+ points and 18-2 when shooting at a higher percentage than its opponents.
? Iowa is 8-3 in its last 11 games, winning its eight games by a 17.4 margin, with each of the three setbacks coming by single digits (two by five points and one by nine).
? According to ESPN, Iowa’s strength of schedule ranks 28th strongest in the country, which ranks fourth among Big Ten teams (Michigan State – seven; Wisconsin – 16; Indiana – 23).
? Iowa is averaging a double-double out of its center position of Adam Woodbury and Gabriel Olaseni. The duo combine to average 14.9 points and 10 rebounds.
? 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 won seven true road games this season. The last time Iowa won seven true road games was during the 1986-87 campaign.
? The Hawkeyes are 10-2 when Gabriel Olaseni scores in double figures this season.
? Iowa is 9-1 this season when sinking eight or more 3-pointers.
? Iowa is 3-0 in games played on March 20 and 2-2 in games contested on March 22.
? Iowa has made (524) more free throws than its opponents have attempted (522).
? Iowa is one of only two teams to record a win at Ohio State this season (Wisconsin).
? Iowa’s 12 conference wins are the most during the Fran McCaffery era (2010-present) and most since 1997.
? Junior guard Anthony Clemmons has made 16 of his last 17 (.941) free throw attempts combined the last six games.
? Iowa has had fewer than 10 turnovers in 10 games this year. Iowa had a season-low four turnovers at Northwestern (Feb. 15).
? Iowa beat Ohio State, Indiana, and Michigan on the road in the same season for the first time since 1969-70.
? Aaron White became just the third Hawkeye to register 21+ points and 14+ rebounds in a Big Ten road game (at Penn State on Feb. 28) since 1996-97 (Jared Reiner at Indiana in 2003 and Greg Brunner at Indiana in 2004).
? Mike Gesell’s five assists against Penn State in the Big Ten Tournament propelled the junior to ninth on Iowa’s career assists chart. Gesell enters the NCAA Tournament 11 assists shy of tying Kenny Arnold (1979-82) for eighth place (352).
? Iowa reached sell out status in five games this season. The Hawkeyes averaged 14,101 attendees in 18 games.
? All five starters reached double figures at Michigan for the first time in a conference game since Feb. 7, 2004 (vs. Indiana).
? Aaron White’s 29 points on Feb. 25, are the most by an Iowa player vs. Illinois since James Moses had 30 in 1991. Also, White became just the second player since 1997 to register 29+ points and 9+ rebounds against Illinois (Ohio State’s Evan Turner in 2010).
? 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.
? 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 or more 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 38-6 when scoring 80 points or more, the last five seasons. The Hawkeyes are 54-2 when holding opponents to fewer than 61 points, the last five years.
WHITE HOT
Aaron White’s play this season garnered the Hawkeye senior first-team All-Big Ten and USWBA All-District honors. The last month (six games), White has averaged 21.1points and 9.7 rebounds. During the six-game stretch, he is shooting 53 percent (45-of-85) from the field, 60 percent (9-of-15) from 3-point range, and 84.5 percent (49-of-58) from the foul line. His average of 21.1 since Feb. 16, is tops in the Big Ten. White ranks second in Iowa history with 1,814 points, third with 894 rebounds, and is first with 138 games played. He ranks first among active conference players in rebounding (894) and is third in scoring (1,814). He is the only Hawkeye and one of only five Big Ten players ever to amass 1,800+ 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 (7.5), steals (1.3), and scoring (16.0), and is fifth in assists (1.4) this season. White is the only player in the country to average 16+ points and 7+ rebounds, with a 50+ field goal percentage & 80+ free throw percentage. His rebounding and scoring averages rank third and seventh, respectively, in the Big Ten this year. White will become the first Hawkeye to lead the team in scoring and rebounding in the same season since Greg Brunner in 2006 (14.1 points and 9.2 rebounds per game). 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 (81.5 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 will become the first player all-time to lead the Hawkeyes in rebounding all four seasons. In Iowa’s 12 conference wins, White averaged 19.4 points per game, compared to 8.8 in the six defeats (White saw limited action in loss at Purdue due to injury).
FRESH START
Sophomore Peter Jok made his first start of his career on Dec. 22 versus North Florida. The native of West Des Moines, Iowa, has started 19 of the last 20 games (senior Josh Oglesby got the start on March 7 for “Senior Day”). Jok is averaging seven points per game for the season, which ranks fifth on the squad. He has made at least one triple in 17 of the last 23 games, including multiple 3-pointers in six of the last 10 contests. Jok netted a career-high 16 points vs. Minnesota (Feb. 12) and 14 points against Nebraska (Feb. 22) in Lincoln.
UTHOFF PRODUCING ON THE WING
Jarrod Uthoff, who was named third team All-Big Ten, ranks second in team scoring (12.3 ppg), and steals (1.2), and first in 3-point shooting (54-of-140, .386). He is the only Division I player to have 50+ 3-pointers, 50+ blocks and 35+ steals. Additionally, Uthoff is one of only two Big Ten players to average 12+ points, 6+ rebounds, and 1.5+ blocks (Wisconsin’s Frank Kaminsky). Uthoff has made 38 of his team-leading 54 3-pointers in Iowa’s 21 victories. He averaged a team-best 15 points per game, shooting 45.5 percent (48-of-99) from the field and 100 percent (19-of-19) from the foul line, in Iowa’s nine conference road games, while averaging 11.6 points, shooting 42 percent (38-of-91) from the field, in its nine league home contests. His 54 blocks and 54 triples rank fourth and fifth best, respectively, by an Iowa junior in program history. The redshirt junior poured in a game and career-high 25 points in Iowa’s overtime 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 performances 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 22 times this season. He averages 14.6 points per contest over the last nine 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).
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, 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 (124) and ranks sixth in the Big Ten in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.2). 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 (12.3), rebounding (6.3) and steals (38), and is first in blocked shots (54) and 3-point shooting (54-of-140, .386). He is the only Division I player with 50+ 3-pointers, 50+ blocks, and 35+ 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). Along with Gesell, Disterhoft and Logic were named Academic All-America. The University of Iowa is the only Division I school in the country to have a combined three men’s and women’s basketball players earn the national distinction.
OLASENI NAMED BIG TEN SIXTH MAN OF THE YEAR
Senior Gabriel Olaseni became just the second Hawkeye to be recognized as the Big Ten’s Sixth Man of the Year. Iowa’s Doug Thomas earned the distinction in 2006. Olaseni ranks third on the Hawkeyes in scoring (8.3), second in blocked shots (50) and free throw shooting (88-of-116), and fourth in rebounding (4.9). Olaseni has denied four or more shots five times this season, including five shots twice (Northern Illinois and Penn State). His 50 blocks are the third most by a Hawkeye senior in program history. Among the Big Ten reserves this year, he ranks first in blocks (50), and second in rebounding (4.9) and scoring (8.3).
COACHING EXPERIENCE
Fran McCaffery has the most experienced coaching staff 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.
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).
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 (7.4 rpg) and seventh in scoring (15.9 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 the only active Division I player, 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 third in Iowa career rebounding (881), second in scoring (1,793), 14th in double-doubles (15), and first in free throws made (602) and attempted (782). Malone attended Louisiana 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.
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.
