Dec. 31, 2015
THE SETTING
Iowa (10-3, 1-0), winners of six of its last seven games, travels to West Lafayette, Indiana, to face No. 14/14 Purdue (13-1, 1-0). Tipoff is scheduled for 5 p.m. (CT) at Mackey Arena.
ON THE AIR
Radio: Saturday’s game will be broadcast on the Hawkeye Radio Network. Brent Balbinot will handle 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’s game will be televised to a national audience on BTN (BTN2GO). Kevin Kugler and Stephen Bardo will call the action.
| GAME 14: Iowa (10-3, 1-0) at #14 Purdue (13-1, 1-0) | |
|---|---|
| When | Saturday, Jan. 2, 2016 | 5:08 p.m. CT |
| Where | Mackey Arena — West Lafayette, Indiana |
| Shop | Herky’s Locker Room |
| TV | BTN | Watch Online via BTN2GO Announcers: Kevin Kugler and Stephen Bardo |
| Radio | Hawkeye Radio Network | Listen | Sirius 84 / XM 84 |
| GameTracker | Gametracker |
| All-time Series | Purdue leads, 87-73 |
| Iowa Team Info | Game Notes (PDF) | Media Guide | 2015-16 Stats (HTML) | 2015-16 Stats (PDF) |
| Big Ten Info | B1G Notes (PDF) | Media Guide | Conference Stats |
| Social Media | @IowaHoops  | #Hawkeyes | IowaHoops  | Facebook  |
GAME #14 OPENING TIP
? Iowa has lost its last two games to Purdue in West Lafayette by a combined seven points: 65-62 in overtime in 2013 and 67-63 in 2015.
? Iowa has won its last three conference openers — beating Nebraska two seasons ago; at No. 18 Ohio State a year ago and most recently topping No. 1 Michigan State Tuesday in Iowa City.
? Iowa has won eight of its last 12 true road games, including posting a 7-3 mark last season.
? Jarrod Uthoff, who was named Preseason All-Big Ten, is one of only three players in the country with 225+ points, 75+ rebounds, and 40+ blocks.
? Iowa has had nine different players score in double digits at least once this season. Senior Jarrod Uthoff has reached double figures in every game.
? Reserve walk-on Nicholas Baer has scored in double figures each of the last three games.
? Iowa has made 12 3-pointers in four games this season. The last time the Hawkeyes made 12+ 3-pointers in a game four times in a season was in 2009-10 (five times).
? Iowa’s three losses have come by a combined 12 points, including a one-point loss at Iowa State.
? Iowa is 46-7 when scoring 80 points or more, the last six seasons. The Hawkeyes are 58-2 when holding opponents to fewer than 61 points, the last six years.
ALL-TIME SERIES RECORDS
Purdue holds an 87-73 advantage in the series. Iowa has won two of the last three meetings, while the Boilermakers have won 12 of the last 15 meetings. Iowa and Purdue met only once a year ago, with the Boilermakers winning, 67-63, in West Lafayette, Indiana. The Boilermakers hold a 58-21 advantage in games played in West Lafayette. Purdue has won the last seven meetings in Mackey Arena. The Hawkeyes’ last victory at Mackey Arena came on Feb. 1, 2006 (77-68). Iowa lost its last last two games at Purdue by a combined seven points: 65-62 in overtime in 2013 and 67-63 in 2015.
CLOSING OUT THE NONCONFERENCE SCHEDULE
Iowa finished its nonconference schedule with a record of 9-3. Fran McCaffery‘s last four Hawkeye teams, including this season, won at least nine nonleague games: 2016 (9); 2015 (9); 2014 (11); 2013 (11). Iowa’s 2012 team won eight nonconference contests.
THREE TIMES THE CHARM
Iowa posted a 22-12 record last season, reaching the 20-win plateau for the third consecutive season. For the first time in 15 years, Iowa won 20 or more games in three consecutive seasons. The last time Iowa won at least 20 games four straight seasons was 1995-1999 — Tom Davis’ last five seasons as Iowa’s head coach.
IOWA HISTORY
Iowa’s overall record is 1,582-1,105 (.589). That includes a 1,010-353 (.741) record in home games, a 568-749 (.431) record in contests away from Iowa City, a 742-751 (.497) mark in Big Ten games and a 414-127 (.765) record in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
SCOUTING PURDUE
? Purdue is 13-1 overall, which includes a perfect 9-0 record at home this season. The Boilermakers lone setback came against Butler on a neutral court in Indianapolis by six points on Dec. 19.
? Purdue’s 16-player roster consists of five seniors, two juniors, four sophomores, and five freshmen. The Boilermakers have two 7-footers on their roster: (Hammons, 7-foot and Haas, 7-foot-2).
? Purdue has four players averaging double figures in scoring: A.J. Hammons (14.2); Isaac Haas (11.8); Caleb Swanigan (10.5); and Rapheal Davis (10.4).
? Purdue has six players who have made 12 or more 3-pointers this year, led by Kendall Stephens’ 30. As a team, the Boilermakers shoot 35.5 percent from long distance.
? Saturday will feature two of the conferences top blocking, assists, free throw shooting and 3-point field goal percentage defense teams. The Boilermakers rank second in the league in free throw accuracy (.749) and 3-point field goal percentage defense (.277); third in blocks (5.9), and fourth in assists (18.1). The Hawkeyes rank first in the Big Ten in blocked shots (6.2); and third in assists (18.5), free throw percentage (.736) and 3-point field goal percentage defense (.297).
? A.J. Hammons ranks second in the Big Ten in blocked shots (2.8), and fourth in field goal percentage (.619) and rebounds (8.1). Caleb Swanigan is tops in the league in rebounding (9.2).
? Matt Painter is in his 11th season as head coach at Purdue (225-126). Painter has guided the Boilermakers to seven NCAA Tournaments, including a return trip last season.
LAST MEETING AGAINST PURDUE
? Iowa dropped a 67-63 decision at Purdue on Jan. 24, 2015, in the only meeting between the two teams last season.
? The Hawkeyes trailed by seven points (60-53) with five minutes left, but rallied to take a one-point advantage (63-62) on a Mike Gesell jumper with 1:18 left. Purdue’s Rapheal Davis drained a deep 3-pointer with 45 seconds remaining, which proved to be the game-winner. Davis led all scorers with 24 points.
? Mike Gesell scored a season-high 18 points, including scoring 10 straight points to spark Iowa’s second half rally.
? Iowa senior Aaron White only played seven minutes (four points and two rebounds) leaving the game early in the second half with a stinger injury.
? Senior Gabriel Olaseni tallied nine points and snagged a game and career-high 16 rebounds, 11 of which were offensive. Olaseni is the first Hawkeye with 10+ offensive rebounds in a game since Ryan Bowen had 10 against Virginia on March 13, 1997.
? Iowa grabbed a season-high 24 offensive rebounds. The 24 offensive boards are the most a Boilermaker team has surrendered since 2009 against Penn State.
? Peter Jok grabbed a career-high nine rebounds in defeat.
DIALING IT UP FROM LONG DISTANCE
Iowa averaged 5.6 3-pointers made per game a year ago. Through 11 games this season, the Hawkeyes are averaging 9.5 triples, which ranks fourth in the Big Ten and 29th nationally. The Hawkeyes have made 114 triples through 12 games; the last time an Iowa team made over 110 3-pointers through the first 12 games of a season was the 2008-09 squad (110). Iowa made 12 triples in four games this season (Coppin State, Marquette, Dayton, and UMKC). The last time the Hawkeyes made 12+ 3-pointers in a game four times in a season was in 2009-10 (five times). Additionally, six of Iowa’s top 10 treys made in a game during the McCaffery era have occurred the first 12 games this season. Last year, Iowa shot 33.3 percent from behind the arc, while the Hawkeyes are shooting at a 40 percent clip this season.
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IOWA POWERS PAST MICHIGAN STATE IN BIG TEN OPENER
? Iowa improved to 10-3 overall and 1-0 in Big Ten play after upsetting No. 1 Michigan State, 83-70, in its conference opener inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena Tuesday night.
? Tuesday night’s victory over Michigan State marked the first time Iowa has ever beaten a No. 1 team at home (0-2, 1993 vs. Indiana and 2005 vs. Illinois).
? Iowa’s last win vs. a No. 1 ranked team was in 1999 against Connecticut in New York City.
? Iowa is just the ninth unranked team in the last 20 season to beat an AP No. 1 by 13 or more points.
? Iowa’s victory over Michigan State is its first since 2011, when the Hawkeyes topped the Spartans, 72-52, on Feb. 2, 2011, in Iowa City. Iowa’s win snapped a nine-game losing streak to the Spartans.
? Iowa has won seven consecutive Big Ten regular season games dating back to last year.
? Mike Gesell shot 7-of-10 from the floor and went 11-of-13 from the charity stripe on his way to a career-high 25 points (previous high: 23 vs. Northern Iowa, 12/15/12).
? Jarrod Uthoff notched 10 points and has now scored in double digits every game this year. He also denied a career-high six shots.
EXPERIENCED BACKCOURT
Iowa has two senior point guards (Mike Gesell and Anthony Clemmons) and a junior shooting guard (Peter Jok) on this year’s roster. Gesell and Clemmons have combined to sink 17 3-pointers and have been credited with 139 of Iowa’s 240 assists. Clemmons, who has started 38 of 117 games, was named the team’s Most Improved Player last spring after leading the team in 3-point accuracy (.373) and posting single-season bests in rebounding, steals, scoring, and free throw percentage in 2014-15. Clemmons netted in double figures in back-to-back games against Drake and Tennessee Tech. Gesell is a four-year starter, who has 925 points, 439 assists, and 135 steals. He is 41 assists from tying Ronnie Lester (480) for fifth.
BAER NAMED BIG TEN FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
Nicholas Baer was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week (Dec. 21) after his performance against Drake. The honor is the first of Baer’s career and the second time in as many weeks that a Hawkeye earned weekly recognition from the conference office (Jarrod Uthoff was named Big Ten Co-Player of the Week on Dec. 14. Baer scored 13 points making five of his 10 field goal attempts, including going 3-of-5 from 3-point range. The native of Bettendorf, Iowa, also grabbed seven rebounds and blocked a personal-best six shots while playing a career-high 30 minutes in Iowa’s 70-64 victory over Drake at the Hy-Vee Big Four Classic in Des Moines. Baer’s six blocks, four of which came in the first half against the Bulldogs, broke the Wells Fargo Arena record in a college basketball game. The six rejections in a game were also the most by an Iowa freshman since Melsahn Basabe denied six shots against Ohio State in 2011. Baer’s six blocks helped Iowa establish a school record for total blocks in a game with 14, besting the previous mark of 13 set against Illinois on March 5, 2013. Baer is averaging 15 minutes off the bench. He has made 15 of his 31 attempts (.484) from 3-point range this season. Baer’s 13 blocked shots on the season rank second best on the team. Baer has scored in double figures and grabbed five or more rebounds in each of the last three games (Drake, Tennessee Tech, and Michigan State). Against the Spartans, Baer totaled 11 points, five rebounds, and two blocks.
INCREASED WORK LOAD
The last couple seasons, Adam Woodbury split time at the center position with Gabriel Olaseni. With Olaseni having graduated, expect Woodbury’s minutes to increase according to coach McCaffery. The 7-foot-1, 250-pounder averaged 21 minutes per game a year ago alongside Olaseni. In his career when playing 28 minutes or more, Woodbury averages 11.7 points and 6.4 rebounds per game. The senior has played over 28 minutes three this year (15 points and seven rebounds vs. Wichita State; 11 points and 10 rebounds vs. Florida State; 12 points and five rebounds at Iowa State).
UTHOFF FILLS IT UP DURING FIRST HALF AT IOWA STATE
Senior Jarrod Uthoff scored 30 first-half points at second-ranked Iowa State, while also grabbing six rebounds, blocking two shots and collecting a steal. Uthoff made 11-of-13 shot attempts, including 5-of-6 from 3-point territory, while also going 3-of-4 from the charity stripe the first 20 minutes of action.
HAWKEYE FAST BREAKS
? Iowa ranks 34th in the country in assists per field goals made (61.2 percent). ? Iowa averaged 11.1 turnovers in 2015, which is the best average for fewest turnovers in program history since turnovers became an official stat in 1980. So far this season, the Hawkeyes are averaging 10.7 turnovers through 12 games. ? Iowa has won 38 of its last 39 nonconference home games, dating back to November, 2011. The lone loss came to Iowa State in 2014. ? Iowa returns seven letterwinners, including four starters. ? Iowa’s win over Florida State on Dec. 2, clinched the Big Ten/ACC Challenge for the Big Ten. The Hawkeyes have clinched the Challenge for the Big Ten each of the last two years. ? Iowa has competed in postseason play the last four years: NIT second round in 2012; NIT runner-up in 2013; NCAA first round in 2014; NCAA third round in 2015. The Hawkeyes tied for third place in the Big Ten last season — its best finish in nine years. ? Iowa won 21 regular season games last season, the most by a Hawkeye team since 2006 (22). ? Iowa has won at least 20 games in three consecutive seasons — its longest streak in 15 years. ? The Hawkeyes won seven true road games last season, including winning its final six regular-season Big Ten games for the first time since 1955. The seven total road wins were the most by a Hawkeye team since 1987. ? Iowa’s 12 conference wins last season are the most by a Hawkeye team since 1997. Also, its third place finish was its best in nine seasons. ? Iowa’s 83-52 effort over Davidson in the NCAA Second Round was the program’s first tournament win since 2001. It also marked the largest margin of victory in an NCAA Tournament 7/10 match-up. ? Iowa has had a first-team All-Big Ten honoree in each of the last two seasons: Devyn Marble in 2014 and Aaron White in 2015.
WELCOME NEWCOMERS
Despite having four returning starters, plus another who has starting experience, Iowa welcomes 10 newcomers to its 2015-16 roster. The 10 newcomers includes two players who received redshirts last season (Nicholas Baer and Brady Ellingson). Iowa’s 10 newcomers ties for third most among Division I schools: Portland State and Tennessee State have 11, followed by Iowa, UTEP, and Nebraska with 10. The Hawkeyes add five freshmen (Isaiah Moss, Andrew Fleming, Brandon Hutton, Ahmad Wagner, and Christian Williams), and three junior college transfers (Dale Jones, and Michael and Steven Soukup). The Soukups, who celebrated their 21st birthday this past Sunday, are identical twins.
MUSCLE GAIN
Last season, freshman Dom Uhl was listed a 6-foot-8 and 195 pounds. After a year in the weight room, the sophomore forward checks in a 6-foot-9 and 215 pounds entering this season. Uhl earned the team’s Newcomer Award last year. Uhl is averaging 17 minutes, 7.2 points, and 4.4 rebounds per game this year. He has scored in double figures four times this season. Uhl posted his first career double-double against UMKC with 14 points and a personal-high 10 boards. He pulled down team bests in rebounds two of the last three games, grabbing eight against Drake and seven versus Tennessee Tech.
DISTRIBUTOR AND PROTECTOR
Point guard Mike Gesell has done an outstanding job directing the Hawkeye offense his entire Hawkeye career. Gesell owns two of Iowa’s top four assist-to-turnover ratio’s since the 1996-97 season. His 3.05 ratio in 2013-14 ranks first, while his 2.21 ratio in 2014-15 ranks fourth. Dean Oliver’s 2.75 ratio in 2000-01 is second, followed by Ryan Luehrsmann’s 2.21 in 1997-98 ranking third. The native of South Sioux City, Nebraska, ranks 12th in the country in assists (6.7). Gesell collected a career-best 12 assists in Iowa’s win over Coppin State and had 10 helpers in Iowa’s against Tennessee Tech. He has been credited with nine or more assists six times this season. Gesell poured in a game and career-best 25 points in lifting Iowa to an 83-70 win over No. 1 Michigan State earlier this week.
UTHOFF, GESELL, WOODBURY EARN ACADEMIC DISTINCTION
Mike Gesell and Jarrod Uthoff were named 2015 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, earned his degree in finance in three years. Last 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, graduated last May with a degree in economics. Additionally, Gesell, Uthoff, and Adam Woodbury were named 2015 Academic All-Big Ten.
UTHOFF PRODUCING ON THE WING
Jarrod Uthoff, who was named third-team All-Big Ten last season, ranked second in team scoring (12.4 ppg), and steals (1.1), and first in 3-point shooting (54-of-145, .372). He was the only Division I player to have 50+ 3-pointers, 55+ blocks and 35+ steals. This season, Uthoff is one of 10 men’s basketball players selected to the 2015 Preseason All-Big Ten team, selected by a media voting panel, and was named to the 2015 Advocare Invitational after averaging 20 points in three games. The senior has scored in double figures in all 13 games, including reaching double figures in the first half in six of those contests. Uthoff has scored 20 or more five times this year, including a personal-best 32, including 30 in the first half, at No. 2/4 Iowa State. Uthoff ranks third in the Big Ten in scoring (17.6) and first in blocks (3.1), and leads the Hawkeyes in 3-pointers (27), and rebounding (6.2). His 3.1 blocks per game ranks sixth best in the nation. Uthoff is one of only three players in the nation with 225+ points, 75+ rebounds, and 40+ blocked shots.
FRESH START
Peter Jok made his first start of his career on Dec. 22, 2014, versus North Florida. The native of West Des Moines, Iowa, started 21 of the last 22 games last year. Jok started 2015 with a new number, changing from No. 3 last year to No. 14 this season. Jok averaged seven points per game in 2014-15, which ranked fifth on the squad. His 36 triples in 2015 rank as the sixth most by a sophomore in Iowa history. His 19 steals, 44 assists, 83 field goals and 36 treys last season were single season bests. This season, Jok ranks second on the team in scoring (13.8 ppg) and is first in free throw accuracy (.839, 26-of-31). He has scored 20 or more points three times (20 at Marquette on Nov. 19; a career-best 24 vs. FSU on Dec. 2; 21 vs. Tennessee Tech on Dec. 22). In addition to netting 24 points against the Seminoles, Jok had a career-best four steals. The Hawkeye junior has scored in double figures eight of his last 11 games played, including netting 19 against No. 1 Michigan State earlier this week.
IOWA VS. RANKED TEAMS
Saturday will be Iowa’s fifth contest against a ranked opponent this season, posting a 2-2 record in the previous four outings. The Hawkeyes split their two games versus ranked opponents at the Advocare Invitational in Orlando (Nov. 26-27). Iowa fell to No. 17 Notre Dame (68-62), but overwhelmed No. 20 Wichita State (84-61). The Hawkeyes were edged at No. 2/4 Iowa State (83-82) on Dec. 10, but beat top-ranked Michigan State (83-70) on Dec. 29, in Iowa City.
GESELL NOMINATED FOR GOOD WORKS TEAM
Senior Mike Gesell is a nominee for the 2016 Allstate NABC Good Works Team. 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.
UTHOFF NAMED BIG TEN CO-PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Iowa’s Jarrod Uthoff was named Big Ten Co-Player of the Week along with Maryland’s Melo Trimble on Dec. 14. The honor is the second of Uthoff’s career, having first earned the recognition on Jan. 6, 2015. Uthoff shot 61 percent from the field (22-of-36), including a blistering 69 percent from 3-point territory (9-of-13), and 86 percent from the free throw line (6-of-7) in two games, averaging nearly a double-double (29.5 points and nine rebounds). He also averaged 2.5 blocks. The native of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, scored a career-high 27 points in a 90-56 win over Western Illinois, and then bested that performance with a personal-best 32 points in a one-point loss at No. 2/4 Iowa State. The Hawkeye senior scored 24 of his 27 points in the first half against the Leathernecks and 30 of his 32 in the first 20 minutes against the Cyclones. Uthoff’s 32 points are the most by a Hawkeye since Matt Gatens had 33 against Wisconsin in 2012, and the most by a Big Ten player this season against a ranked opponent.
UTHOFF NAMED TO ADVOCARE INVITE ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Iowa’s Jarrod Uthoff was one of five players named to the 2015 Advocare Invitational All-Tournament Team. Uthoff joined Xavier’s Trevon Bluiett and Jalen Reynolds, Scoochie Smith of Dayton, and Justin Robinson of Monmouth (MVP). Uthoff averaged 20 points in three games (Dayton, Notre Dame, and Wichita State), reaching double figures in the first half in all three games. The Hawkeye senior also averaged 5.7 rebounds and 2.7 blocks, and shot at a 50 percent clip (23-of-46).
IN MEMORY…
Iowa’s all-time leading scorer, Roy Marble, passed away on Sept. 11, 2015, at the age of 48. Marble led the Hawkeyes to four straight NCAA Tournament appearances, including advancing to the Elite Eight in 1987 and Sweet 16 in 1988, and led the team in scoring three consecutive seasons. In memory of Marble, RM23 is stitched on the upper right corner of Iowa’s jerseys this season.
2 HAWKEYES SELECTED IN LAST 2 NBA DRAFTS
Roy Devyn Marble and Aaron White were selected in the second round of the NBA Draft each of the past two seasons — Marble in 2014 by Orlando and White in 2015 by Washington. The Hawkeyes are one of four Big Ten schools to have multiple players drafted by NBA teams the last two years.
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.
McCAFFERY’S HONORED WITH FIGHTING SPIRIT AWARD
The American Cancer Society honored Fran and Margaret McCaffery with the Fighting Spirit Award, Sept. 30, in Troy, New York, at the 10th Anniversary Coaches vs. Cancer Basket Ball. The McCaffery’s were honored for bringing attention and their tremendous amount of fundraising for cancer research. McCaffery was also honored with the Coaches vs. Cancer Champion Award during Final Four Weekend in Indianapolis last April. The honor is awarded annually to a college coach who has been engaged vigorously in the Coaches vs. Cancer program’s fundraising, education and promotional initiatives and has demonstrated leadership in the fight to save more lives from cancer. The McCaffery’s helped raise $176,000 at October’s cancer research fundraiser, which will benefit the Adolescent and Young Adult Program Fund in Johnson County. The McCaffery family committed $22,000 this year and an additional $10,000 per year for the duration of his contract at Iowa.
COACHING EXPERIENCE
Fran McCaffery has the most experienced coaching staffs in the country. The Iowa men’s basketball staff has 67 years of combined collegiate head coaching experience and more than 130 years of collegiate coaching under their belts — the most experience of any Division I college basketball program in the country.
ON THE HORIZON
Iowa returns home Tuesday to host Nebraska in the only regular season meeting between the two teams. Tipoff is slated for 8 p.m. on Mediacom Court at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The game will be televised on BTN (BTN2GO).
