Jan. 11, 2016
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ROSEMONT, Illinois — University of Iowa senior Mike Gesell was named Big Ten Player of the Week. The announcement was made Monday by the Big Ten Conference office.
The honor is the second Big Ten weekly Big Ten award that Gesell has earned during his Hawkeye career; the point guard was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week on Dec. 17, 2012.
Gesell posted his first career double-double (22 points and 10 assists) in a 77-66 victory over Nebraska on Jan. 5. The win improved Iowa to 3-0 in league play, its best start since the 2002-03 season.
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Gesell matched career highs in FTs made (11) and attempted (13). He scored 19 of his 22 points and dished out seven of his 10 assists in the second half. It was the Nebraska native’s final regular season game against the Huskers.
The native of South Sioux City, Nebraska, has been credited with 10-plus assists in three games this season, the most by a Hawkeye since Jeff Horner (2005-06). Gesell helped the Hawkeyes match its best start under Fran McCaffery (12-3) in six seasons. The win over Nebraska was also Iowa’s ninth straight in Big Ten regular season games, dating back to Feb., 2015.
Iowa has garnered three weekly honors from the Big Ten Conference this season. In addition to Gesell’s honor, Uthoff was named Co-Player of the Week on Dec. 14, while Nicholas Baer earned Freshman of the Week laurels on Dec. 21.
Gesell and the Hawkeyes (12-3, 3-0) return to action Thursday when they travel to East Lansing, Michigan, to face nationally-ranked Michigan State (16-1, 3-1). Tipoff from the Breslin Center is scheduled for 6 p.m. (CT). The game will be televised nationally on ESPN (WATCHESPN).
