Jan. 15, 2016
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THE SETTING
No. 16/19 Iowa (13-3, 4-0), winners of six straight, returns home Sunday to host the Michigan Wolverines (13-4, 3-1). Tipoff is scheduled for 3:36 p.m. (CT) on Mediacom Court at Carver-Hawkeye Arena (15,400). Only standing room only tickets remain for the contest. A sellout is expected.
ON THE AIR
Radio: Sunday afternoon’s game will be broadcast on the Hawkeye Radio Network. Gary Dolphin 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: Sunday afternoon’s game will be televised to a national audience on BTN (BTN2GO). Jeff Levering and Jon Crispin will call the action.
| GAME 17: Michigan (13-4, 3-1) at #16/19 Iowa (13-3, 4-0) | |
|---|---|
| When | Sunday, Jan. 74, 2016 | 3:36 p.m. CT |
| Where | Carver-Hawkeye Arena — Iowa City, Iowa |
| Shop | Herky’s Locker Room |
| TV | BTN | Watch Online via BTN2GO Announcers: Jeff Levering and Jon Crispin |
| Radio | Hawkeye Radio Network | Listen | Sirius 93 / XM 195 |
| GameTracker | Gametracker |
| All-time Series | Michigan leads, 91-60 |
| 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 #17 OPENING TIP
? Whiteout! Fans are encouraged to wear white clothing to Sunday’s game.
? Iowa has won 10 consecutive Big Ten regular season games dating back to last year, its longest such streak since the 1969-70 conference season (14-0).
? Iowa has won 11 straight home games, dating back to last February. The Hawkeyes are 8-0, averaging 85.9 points per game, inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena this season.
? Iowa’s 4-0 start in the Big Ten is its best since the 1998-99 season (4-0).
? Mike Gesell is the reigning B1G Player of the Week after posting 22 points & 10 assists vs. Nebraska.
? Iowa has become the first team since Duke and Kentucky in 1965 to beat the same top-5 opponent by 10 in same year (No. 1 and No. 4 Michigan State by 13 and 17 points, respectively).
? Jarrod Uthoff is the only player in the nation with 285+ points, 100+ rebounds, and 50+ 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.
? 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 59-2 when holding opponents to fewer than 61 points, the last six years.
GESELL PUTTING UP CAREER NUMBERS, NAMED BIG TEN PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Fourth-year starter Mike Gesell is having a career season leading the team at point guard. The native of South Sioux City, Nebraska, is averaging career bests in scoring (9.8), rebounds (3.5), assists (6.9), field goal percentage (.477), 3-point accuracy (.476), and assist-to-turnover ratio (3.33). Gesell was named Big Ten Player of the Week last Monday after posting 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. Gesell matched career highs in free throw’s made (11) and attempted (13). He scored 19 of his 22 points and dished out seven of his 10 assists in the second half. After netting a career-best 25 points (7-of-10 FG, 11-of-13 FT) to lift Iowa to an 83-70 win over No. 1 Michigan State, the senior had seven points, seven rebounds, and seven assists in Iowa’s victory at No. 14 Purdue on Jan. 2. His efforts earned him national and Big Ten player of the week honors Monday by the website College Sports Madness.
UTHOFF NAMED TO MID-SEASON LISTS
Senior forward Jarrod Uthoff has been named to a couple mid-season All-American lists after averaging 18.4 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 3.25 blocks after 16 games. NBC and ESPN both named the 6-foot-9, 221-pound forward to their second team list. Uthoff was also named to the Wooden Award Midseason Top 25 List and is one of 31 players nationally named to the Lute Olson Award Watch List. The leading candidates for the Wooden Award will be pared to 20 top players in early February.
SCOUTING MICHIGAN
? Michigan has played six of its last eight games at home in Ann Arbor, going 7-1 during that span. The lone setback came at nationally-ranked Purdue (87-70) on Jan. 7.
? The Wolverines notched a 70-67 win over No. 3 Maryland Tuesday evening at the Crisler Center in Ann Arbor. Michigan drained six more 3-pointers than Maryland (12-6) en route to victory. Guard Zak Irvin sank five of the 12 triples, leading the team with 22 points. Guard Derrick Walton posted a double-double (12 points and 10 rebounds).
? Three Wolverines average in double figures: Caris LeVert (17.6), Duncan Robinson (12.1), and Derrick Walton (10.2). LeVert has missed the last three games since sustaining an injury in late December.
? Forty-two percent of Michigan’s offensive production come via the 3-ball, making 186 triples (558) and totaling 1,329 points this season. Michigan ranks first in the league and 4th nationally in triples per game (10.9), while the Wolverines rank second in the conference in 3-point field goal percentage (.426).
? Junior Mark Donnal (6.7 ppg and 3.6 rpg) is the younger brother of Andrew Donnal, who was an offensive lineman at Iowa (2012-14). Donnal ranks third in the Big Ten in rebounding, averaging 7.8 boards per game in league play.
? Michigan assistant coach LaVall Jordan previously served as an Iowa assistant coach for three seasons (2007-10).
? John Bielein is in his 38th season as head coach (730-342) and his ninth at Michigan (179-114).
RETURNING STARTS
Iowa returns 134 of a possible 170 starting positions from the previous year (78.8 percent), the second-highest total during the Fran McCaffery era. Iowa’s starting five (Mike Gesell, Anthony Clemmons, Peter Jok, Jarrod Uthoff, Adam Woodbury) have a combined 19 years of college basketball experience.
ALL-TIME SERIES RECORDS
Michigan holds a 91-60 advantage in the series that began with a 19-15 Wolverine win in 1912. The Wolverines have won 11 of the last 15, but the Hawkeyes have won the last two meetings. Iowa won the only meeting a year ago, 72-54, in Ann Arbor. The series is tied, 36-36, in games played in Iowa City. Iowa holds a 15-13 edge in games played in Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Sunday will be the Wolverines’ first visit to Carver-Hawkeye Arena since an 85-67 loss to Iowa on Feb. 8, 2014. Three of the last five Iowa-Michigan games played in Iowa City have gone to overtime, dating back to 2009. Iowa won two of those three overtime contests.
LAST MEETING AGAINST MICHIGAN
? Iowa scored the last 12 points of the first half, holding Michigan scoreless the last 6:57 of the half en route to a 72-54 win in Ann Arbor on Feb 5, 2015. The Hawkeyes, who won its first game in Ann Arbor since 2008, handed the Wolverines their largest home defeat since 2010.
? Iowa’s 18-point win was its largest against Michigan in Ann Arbor since winning by 18 on Feb. 8, 1954.
? All five Hawkeye starters reached double figures in scoring for the first time in a conference game since Feb. 7, 2004 (versus Indiana). Jarrod Uthoff paced the Hawkeyes with 16 points, followed by Mike Gesell (14), Aaron White (13), Adam Woodbury (11), and Peter Jok (10).
? Iowa shot a season-best 63 percent (32-of-51) from the field, including a blistering 72 percent (18-of-25) in the second half.
? Iowa dominated the frontcourt, outscoring Michigan 42-16 in the paint, and owning a 33-17 advantage on the glass.
? Center Adam Woodbury collected six assists to go along with his 11 points. Woodbury became just the third Big Ten 7-footer to post 10+ points and 6+ assists in a game since 1996-97.
? Both teams possessed the ball recording six turnovers each.
? Aubrey Dawkins led Michigan with 16 points. Caris LeVert nor Derrick Walton played in last year’s game against Iowa due to injuries.
DIALING IT UP FROM LONG DISTANCE
Iowa averaged 5.6 3-pointers made per game a year ago. Through 16 games this season, the Hawkeyes are averaging nine triples, which ranks fourth in the Big Ten and 34th nationally. 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 15 games this season. Last year, Iowa shot 33.3 percent from behind the arc, which ranked 11th in the league. This season, the Hawkeyes are shooting at a 40 percent clip — 15th best in the nation.
IOWA OVERWHELMS MICHIGAN STATE IN EAST LANSING
? Iowa completed the season sweep over Michigan State for the first time since the 1992-93 season with a dominating, 76-59, victory over the fourth-ranked Spartans in East Lansing Thursday. It snapped an 18-game losing skid at the Breslin Center.
? Iowa outscored Michigan State 35-14 the last 16:07 of the first half to build a 22-point halftime advantage (47-25). The 22-point deficit was Michigan State’s largest at home since at least the 1996-97 season and its biggest anywhere in the regular season since trailing at Michigan by 23 points at halftime in 1997.
? Iowa’s 17-point win over Michigan State is its largest victory over the Spartans in East Lansing since a 75-57 win March 12, 1983.
? Jarrod Uthoff (15 points, 10 rebounds) recorded his fifth career double-double and first of the season. Peter Jok led the Hawkeyes, offensively, with 23 points, while Lansing native Anthony Clemmons tied a season high with 13 points.
? Iowa made 10 treys, nine in the first half, while holding the Spartans to an opponent season-low 19 percent (4-of-21) from 3-point range.
? MSU entered the game averaging a Big Ten-best +13.6 rebounding margin; Iowa outrebound the Spartans by four (39-35).
? The Hawkeyes only turned the ball over nine times, once in the second half, marking the sixth time this season and third straight game that Iowa had nine or fewer turnovers in game.
? Michigan State has played 18 games this season and lost only twice — both times to the Hawkeyes.
? Sixteen of the 17 Hawkeyes on the active roster were not born the last time Iowa won at Michigan State (Okey Ukah).
NOTING IOWA’S COMEBACK AGAINST PURDUE
? Iowa trailed by 19 points at Purdue with 2:21 remaining in the first half. The Hawkeyes trailed by 17 points at halftime.
? The 19-point comeback is the third largest in school history and second biggest in a Big Ten contest. The Hawkeyes rallied from 23 points against Gardner-Webb in 2012 and 22 points at Illinois in 1987. Iowa won the Illinois game in overtime.
? Iowa is the fourth Division I team in the last 20 seasons to beat an AP Top 15 team after trailing by 17-or-more points at the half, and only the second team to accomplish the feat on the road.
? Iowa beat Purdue after trailing by 17 points at half, which is the largest halftime comeback in game between major-conference teams this season.
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 23 3-pointers and have been credited with 167 of Iowa’s 283 assists. Clemmons, who has started 41 of 120 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 digits in back-to-back games versus Drake and Tennessee Tech. He had a game-best four steals at No. 14 Purdue. Gesell is a four-year starter, who has 962 points, 462 assists, and 136 steals. He is 18 assists from tying Ronnie Lester (480) for fifth.
DOWN GOES #1
Iowa’s victory over Michigan State on Dec. 29, marked the first time it has ever beaten a No. 1 team at home (0-2, 1993 vs. Indiana and 2005 vs. Illinois). It was Iowa’s first win against a No. 1 ranked team since beating top-ranked Connecticut in New York City in 1999. Iowa became just the ninth unranked team in the last 20 seasons to beat an AP No. 1 by 13 or more points. The win over MSU was its first since 2011, snapping a nine-game losing streak.
BAER BECOMES RELIABLE RESERVE
After forward Dale Jones suffered a season-ending knee injury on Dec. 1, Nicholas Baer has seen his minutes increase. The redshirt freshman walk-on has taken advantage of the opportunity. Baer was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week (Dec. 21) after his performance against Drake (Dec. 19). He 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, averaging 5.6 points, shooting at a 49 percent clip from 3-point range (16-of-33) and 3.4 rebounds. Baer’s 16 blocked shots on the season rank second best on the team. He has scored in double figures and grabbed five or more rebounds in three of the last six games (Drake, Tennessee Tech, and Michigan State). Against the Spartans on Dec. 29, Baer totaled 11 points, five rebounds, and two blocks. He tallied seven crucial points, all in the final 6:30 of the game, and rejected two shots to help the Hawkeyes record their first win at Purdue since 2006. Baer made all three shot attempts, including a 3-pointer.
INCREASED WORK LOAD
The last couple seasons, Adam Woodbury split time at the center position with Gabriel Olaseni. With Olaseni having graduated, Woodbury’s minutes have increased. The 7-foot-1 center averaged 21 minutes per game a year ago alongside Olaseni. In his career when playing 28 minutes or more, Woodbury averages 10.8 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. The senior has played over 28 minutes five 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; 8 points and six rebounds vs. Nebraska; four points and eight rebounds at No. 4 Michigan 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.
FLOCKING TO CHA
Iowa sold out 16 home games the last two seasons. The Hawkeyes ranked 20th in national attendance in 2015, averaging 14,101 fans. It is the second straight season and 21st time that Iowa has cracked the top 20 in the national attendance rankings. Additionally, Iowa played in front of 475,998 fans in its 34 games (home, away, and on neutral courts) throughout the season. That figure ranked 13th in the country. As a conference, the 14 Big Ten schools averaged 12,781 fans to lead in the nation in average attendance for a 39th consecutive season. More than three million fans witnessed Big Ten games in person throughout the course of the 2014-15 season. For the second consecutive year, Iowa was one of seven Big Ten schools to rank in the top 20 nationally. This season, Iowa averages 12,816 fans, which includes one sellout crowd (vs. No. 1 Michigan State on Dec. 29). Sunday’s game is expected to be sold out.
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.
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HAWKEYE FAST BREAKS
? Iowa’s 12.7 second-chance points per game average is second best in the Big Ten.
? In eight home games this season, Iowa averages 85.9 points and a +19.4 average margin of victory.
? Iowa’s senior class has totaled 80 wins in its four years: 25 in 2013; 20 in 2014; 22 in 2015; and 12 so far in 2016. Last season’s senior class amassed 85 victories, which ranked sixth in school history.
? Iowa defeated top-15 teams in back-to-back games (No. 1 Michigan State and No. 14 Purdue) for the first time since Nov. 2004 (beat No. 12 Louisville and No. 15 Texas).
? Iowa beat two ranked Big Ten (No. 1 Michigan State and No. 14 Purdue) teams in the same week for the first time since 1987.
? Iowa is just the second Big Ten team in the last 20 seasons to start 2-0 in conference play with both victories coming against ranked opponents (2009-10 Michigan State).
? Iowa has won 10 of its last 14 true road games, dating back to last season.
? Iowa’s win over Purdue on Jan. 2 is its first in West Lafayette, Indiana, since Feb. 1, 2006. Its victory at No. 4 Michigan State on Jan. 14, is its first since Jan. 28, 1993.
? Iowa ranks 41st nationally in assists per field goals made (60.5 percent).
? Iowa has posted road wins over a Big Ten ranked opponent each of the last three seasons.
? Iowa posted a 6-1 record during the month of December, with the only loss coming by one point at No. 2/4 Iowa State on Dec. 10.
? 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 on Dec. 29 in Iowa City.
? 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 10.3 turnovers through 16 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 won 21 regular season games last season, the most by a Hawkeye team since 2006 (22).
? 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 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.
FORMER HAWKEYE, JOHN JOHNSON, PASSES AWAY
Former Iowa men’s basketball standout John Johnson passed away last week at the age of 68 at his home in San Jose. Johnson, a native of Milwaukee, racked up 1,172 points in two seasons (1969-70) for the Hawkeyes; a total that places him 26th on Iowa’s all-time scoring list. He holds the top two scoring games in school history; pouring in 49 points against Northwestern as a senior (1970) and 46 against UW-Milwaukee his junior season (1968). Johnson also holds the school record for most field goals in a game with 20 (versus Northwestern). Johnson earned All-America and first-team All-Big Ten distinction his senior season after scoring a school-record 699 points, averaging a staggering 27.9 points per game in 25 contests. Johnson was a member of Iowa’s “Six Pack” — the highest scoring team in Big Ten history (102.9 ppg) that eclipsed the century mark 12 times. Johnson and the Ralph Miller-coached Hawkeyes won all 14 Big Ten games and advanced to the NCAA Tournament. Johnson’s scoring average of 23.9 points is second in Iowa history only behind Sam Williams (24.0 ppg in 1967-68). Johnson, who led the team in scoring and rebounding his two seasons at Iowa, was named team Most Valuable Player both in 1969 and 1970. Johnson was drafted seventh overall by Cleveland in the 1970 NBA Draft. He had a productive 12-year career with four NBA teams, making two All-Star Game appearances. Johnson won an NBA championship with the 1979 Seattle SuperSonics, where he was reunited with former Hawkeye teammates Fred Brown.
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). Jones is out of action the remainder of this season due to suffering a knee injury at practice on Dec. 1.
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 18 minutes, 7.4 points, and 4.4 rebounds per game this year. He has scored in double figures six times this season, including scoring all 10 of his points in the first half at No. 4 Michigan State. Uhl posted his first career double-double against UMKC with 14 points and a personal-high 10 boards. Uhl is shooting 78 percent (7-of-9) from behind the arc during Iowa’s 4-0 start in conference play. He pulled down team bests in rebounds three of the last six games, grabbing eight against Drake, seven versus Tennessee Tech, and eight against Nebraska. Uhl tallied six critical points via two 3-point shots the final 11:32 of the game at No. 14 Purdue. He contributed 10 points, including sinking a pair of 3-pointers, and controlled eight rebounds in Iowa’s win over Nebraska.
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 10th in the country in assists (6.9) and 21st in assist-to-turnover ratio (3.33). Gesell collected a career-best 12 assists in Iowa’s win over Coppin State and had 10 helpers in Iowa’s win vs. Tennessee Tech. He has been credited with nine or more assists seven times this season and 10 more three times. Gesell is the first Hawkeye with three 10-assist games in a season since Jeff Horner in 2005-06. He poured in a game and career-best 25 points in lifting Iowa to an 83-70 win over No. 1 MSU and posted his first career double-double in Iowa’s win over Nebraska (22 points and 10 assists).
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.
BLOCK PARTY
Iowa’s length has affected a number of opponent shot attempts this season. The Hawkeyes have blocked 101 shots this season (6.3), which is tops in the league and sixth nationally. The Hawkeyes block 10 percent of opponents field goal attempts, which ranks first in the league. Additionally, Iowa has rejected 31 combined shots and 13 percent of opponent shot attempts, through the first four Big Ten games (7.8 bpg). Jarrod Uthoff has denied 17 of those 31 shots.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Adam Woodbury
Adam Woodbury celebrated his 21st birthday this past Wednesday. The Hawkeyes improved to 4-0 in games played on or around his birthday the last four years: beating Northwestern on his birthday in 2013; winning at No. 3 Ohio State the day before his birthday in 2014; topping Minnesota on his birthday in 2015; winning at Michigan State the day after his birthday in 2016.
UTHOFF PRODUCING ON THE WING
Jarrod Uthoff is one of 10 men’s basketball players selected to the 2015 Preseason All-Big Ten team and was named to the 2015 Advocare Invitational after averaging 20 points in three games. Uthoff has amassed 968 points in 2 1/2 years of action. He is 32 points shy of reaching the 1,000-point plateau. The senior has scored in double figures in all 16 games, including reaching double figures in the first half in eight of those contests. Uthoff has scored 20 or more six times this year, including a personal-best 32, including 30 in the first half, at No. 2/4 Iowa State. He scored 25 points in back-to-back games (Purdue and Nebraska). Uthoff ranks first in the Big Ten in scoring (18.4) and blocks (3.25), and leads the Hawkeyes in 3-pointers (33) and rebounding (6.4). His 3.25 blocks per game ranks third best in the nation. Uthoff is one of only five players from a major conference since 1996-97 to average 18+ points and 3+ blocks per game. Uthoff averaged 17.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 5.5 blocks in leading Iowa to a pair of wins over top-15 teams (No. 1 Michigan State and No. 14 Purdue). He also blocked a career-high six shots against No. 1 Michigan State.
FRESH START
Peter 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 ftist in free throw accuracy (.838, 31-of-37). He has scored 20 or more points four times (20 at Marquette; a career-best 24 vs. Florida State; 21 vs. Tennessee Tech; 23 at Michigan State). In addition to netting 24 points against the Seminoles, Jok had a career-best four steals. The Hawkeye junior netted 19 against No. 1 Michigan State on Dec. 29 and bested that performance against the Spartans two weeks later dropping 23 points in a 17-point win in East Lansing. Jok had 11 points and tied a personal best with nine boards at No. 14 Purdue.
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 VS. RANKED TEAMS
Iowa is ranked No. 16 by the Associated Press and 19th in the Coaches Poll this week. Iowa has played six games this season against ranked opponents, posting a 4-2 record, which includes winning the last three contests (No. 1 Michigan State; No. 14 Purdue; No. 4 Michigan State). Iowa became just the fifth team ever, and first team since Duke and Kentucky in 1965, to beat the same top-5 opponent by 10 in same season. 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. The Hawkeyes rallied from a 19-point deficit to win 70-63 at No. 14/14 Purdue on Jan. 2. Iowa swept nationally-ranked Michigan State this season, beating the Spartans 83-70 on Dec. 29 in Iowa City when they were ranked No. 1 and 76-59 on Jan. 14 in East Lansing when the Spartans were ranked fourth.
WINNING ON THE ROAD
Iowa’s senior class has won at least once at 10 Big Ten arenas. The Hawkeyes have not played at Maryland and Rutgers yet (Iowa will visit those arenas later this month). The only arena in the conference this class has played in and not won a game is the Kohl Center (Wisconsin). This class has won at Penn State (three times), Ohio State (twice), Northwestern (twice), Illinois, Purdue, Indiana, Michigan State, Nebraska, Minnesota, and Michigan. Also, the 2016 Iowa senior class has beaten every Big Ten team at least once during their careers.
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 range (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.
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 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.
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. 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 — Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center.
ON THE HORIZON
Iowa hits the road for its first ever visit to Rutgers on Thursday. The Hawkeyes and Scarlet Knights will meet for the only time in the regular season in Piscataway, New Jersey. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. (CT) at The RAC. That game will be televised nationally on ESPNU (WATCHESPN).
