Jan. 19, 2016
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THE SETTING
No. 9/9 Iowa (14-3, 5-0), winners of seven straight, travel to Piscataway, New Jersey, on Thursday to face Rutgers (6-13, 0-6) in the only regular season meeting between the two teams. Tipoff is set for 6:01 p.m. (CT) at The Rutgers Athletic Center (8,000).
ON THE AIR
Radio: Thursday night’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: Thursday’s game will be televised to a national audience on ESPNU (WATCHESPN). Adam Amin and Craig Robinson will call the action.
| GAME 18: #9 Iowa (14-3, 5-0) at Rutgers (6-13, 0-6) | |
|---|---|
| When | Thursday, Jan. 21, 2016 | 6:01 p.m. CT |
| Where | Rutgers Athletic Center — Piscataway, New Jersey |
| Shop | Herky’s Locker Room |
| TV | ESPNU | Watch Online via WATCHESPN Announcers: Adam Amin and Craig Robinson |
| Radio | Hawkeye Radio Network | Listen | Sirius 83 / XM 195 |
| GameTracker | Gametracker |
| All-time Series | Iowa leads, 2-0 |
| 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 #18 OPENING TIP
? Iowa has played nine teams ranked in the RPI Top 50, going 6-3 in those contests. The Hawkeyes beat FSU (48), Wichita State (38), Michigan (37), Purdue (33), and MSU twice (16).
? Iowa has won 11 consecutive Big Ten regular season games dating back to last year, its longest such streak since the 1969-70 conference season (14-0).
? Iowa’s 5-0 start in the Big Ten is its best since the 1996-97 season (5-0).
? Sophomore Dom Uhl played his final season of prep basketball at Point Pleasant Beach in New Jersey (2013-14). Uhl has missed only two 3-pointers in five league games (9-of-11, .818).
? 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 315+ points, 100+ rebounds, and 50+ blocks.
? Iowa has won 10 of its last 14 true road games, dating back to last season.
? Peter Jok is the reigning Big Ten Player of the Week, averaging 19.5 points & 3.5 rebounds.
? Iowa’s three losses have come by a combined 12 points, including a one-point loss at Iowa St.
? Iowa is 47-7 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.
HAWKEYES EARN HIGHEST NATIONAL RANKING SINCE 2001
Iowa is ranked ninth in both The Associated Press and USA Today Coaches Poll after notching a pair of victories last week over No. 4 Michigan State on the road (76-59) and Michigan at home (82-71). Iowa’s No. 9 ranking is its highest during the Fran McCaffery era and first since being ranked seventh on Nov. 27, 2001. McCaffery’s 2013-14 squad was ranked as high as 10th on Jan. 20, 2014. For the first time since the 1988-89, Iowa’s football and men’s basketball teams are ranked in the Top 10 in the same season. The last time Iowa football, men’s basketball, or wrestling lost a Big Ten regular season game was Feb. 12, 2015 (men’s basketball lost to Minnesota).
UTHOFF NAMED TO MID-SEASON LISTS
Senior forward Jarrod Uthoff has been named to a couple mid-season All-American lists after averaging 18.6 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 3.1 blocks. 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.
ALL-TIME SERIES RECORDS
Thursday will be only the third meeting between Iowa and Rutgers. The Hawkeyes won the previous two meetings. Iowa won 87-73, on March 17, 1989, in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in Providence, Rhode Island, and 81-47 last year in Iowa City. B.J. Armstrong (35) and Roy Marble (24) combined to score 59 of Iowa’s 87 points in the contest played in 1989. Thursday will be Iowa’s first visit to Piscataway, New Jersey.
SCOUTING RUTGERS
? Rutgers enters Thursday’s contest on a six-game losing skid, most recently falling to nationally-ranked Purdue (107-57) at home. The Scarlet Knights are 6-6 in home contests this season with their last victory coming on Dec. 28, against UMASS Lowell (89-66).
? The Scarlet Knights have three players average double figures this season: Corey Sanders (14.2), Deshawn Freeman (13.1), and Mike Williams (11.4). Freeman has played only seven games and will miss the remainder of the season due to injury.
? In addition to leading the team in scoring, freshman Corey Sanders leads the squad in assists (3.3) and steals (1.5).
? Rutgers suffered its worst home loss in school history Monday evening, 107-57, to Purdue. The Boilermakers outrebounded the Scarlet Knights by 40 (63-23). Corey Sanders led Rutgers with 23 points and three assists.
? In addition to Freeman, Ibrahima Diallo and Shaquille Doorson will miss the remainder of the season due to injuries. Forward Jonathan Laurent has missed the last four contests. Rutgers has six players who average 20 minutes or more of game action in league play.
? Rutgers has allowed 85 points or more in each of its last four games, including 90-plus points in each of the last three outings: Nebraska (90), Ohio State (94), and Purdue (107).
? Thursday concludes a stretch of playing three of four home games for Rutgers.
? Eddie Jordan is in his third season as head coach (28-55) at Rutgers.
LAST MEETING AGAINST RUTGERS
? Iowa led by as many as 34 points en route to an 81-47 victory over Rutgers on Feb. 19, 2015, in Iowa City. The 81 points were the most points scored by the Hawkeyes in league play last season.
? Four Hawkeyes scored in double figures: Jarrod Uthoff (14), Aaron White (13), Gabriel Olaseni (12), and Peter Jok (11).
? Iowa shot 51 percent (30-of-59) from the field, including 47 percent (8-of-17) from 3-point territory. Rutgers was limited to 33 percent (18-of-55) from the floor and 46 percent (6-of-13) from the charity stripe.
? The Hawkeyes forced 19 Rutgers turnovers and converted those miscues into 20 points.
? Anthony Clemmons dished out a game and season-high seven assists to go along with equaling a season high with three steals.
? Dom Uhl tallied nine points and matched a personal best with six rebounds.
? Myles Mack (11 points) and D.J. Foreman (10 points and eight rebounds) paced the Scarlet Knights.
Peter Jok NAMED BIG TEN PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Peter Jok collected his first Big Ten Player of the Week honor of his career, playing an integral part in helping Iowa extend its winning streak to seven games last week. Jok led Iowa to a pair of wins at No. 4 Michigan State and Michigan at home. Jok averaged 19.5 points, shooting at a 58 percent clip from the field (14-of-24), including a blistering 63.6 percent (7-of-11) from 3-point range. He also averaged 3.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 1.5 steals per game. The native of West Des Moines, Iowa, helped snap an 18-game losing skid at Michigan State (Jan. 14) — Iowa’s last win at the Breslin Center came in 1993. Jok netted 19 of his game-high 23 points in the first half against the Spartans. The 6-foot-6, 205-pound guard netted 14 of his 16 points in the second half and had four rebounds in an 82-71 win against Michigan on Sunday in Iowa City. Iowa has garnered four weekly honors from the Big Ten Conference this season, including capturing back-to-back Player of the Week laurels; senior Mike Gesell earned the honor last week. It marks the first time Hawkeye players earned consecutive Player of the Week accolades since Adam Haluska (Jan. 30) and Jeff Horner (Feb. 6) earned co-Player of the Week honors in 2006. It is the first time in school history that two Hawkeyes earned the weekly honor in consecutive weeks without sharing the award with another Big Ten student-athlete. It also is the first time since the 2004-05 campaign that a Hawkeye earned Player of the Week distinction at least three times (Greg Brunner and Horner — twice).
GESELL PUTTING UP CAREER NUMBERS
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 (9.5), rebounds (3.6), assists (6.9), field goal percentage (.470), 3-point accuracy (.435), and assist-to-turnover ratio (3.5). Gesell was named Big Ten Player of the Week on Jan. 11 after posting his first career double-double (22 points and 10 assists) in a 77-66 victory over Nebraska (Jan. 5). Gesell matched career highs in free throws 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 on Jan. Jan. 4, by the website College Sports Madness.
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.
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 state of Iowa became just the second state ever to have three teams beat the top-ranked team in the country. UNI toppled UNC on Nov. 21 and Iowa State downed Oklahoma on Jan. 18). Four teams from North Carolina beat No. 1 teams in 1997-98.
HAWKEYES UPEND MICHIGAN IN IOWA CITY
? Four Hawkeyes scored in double figures in an 82-71 victory over Michigan Sunday afternoon in Iowa City.
? Iowa’s 14-3 record is the best start during Fran McCaffery‘s six-year tenure at the school.
? Jarrod Uthoff led the Hawkeyes with 23 points, shooting 9-of-20 from the field, while Peter Jok netted 14 of his 16 points in the second half.
? The Hawkeyes also shot a season best 10-of-11 (.909) from the free throw line and 51 percent from the field (31-of-61).
? The Hawkeyes only turned the ball over four times, marking the seventh time this season and fourth straight game that Iowa had nine or fewer turnovers in game.
? Derrick Walton led the Wolverines with 16 points, while Aubrey Dawkins had 12 points off the bench.
? The win was Iowa’s third consecutive over Michigan in Carver-Hawkeye Arena, marking only the second time the Hawkeyes have won three straight over the Wolverines in Carver-Hawkeye Arena history (also 1995-97).
UTHOFF FILLS IT UP DURING FIRST HALF AT IOWA STATE
Senior Jarrod Uthoff scored 30 first-half points at No. 2/4 Iowa State (Dec. 10), 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. He finished the contest with 32 points.
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DIALING IT UP FROM LONG DISTANCE
Iowa averaged 5.6 3-pointers made per game a year ago. Through 17 games this season, the Hawkeyes are averaging 9.1 triples, which ranks third in the Big Ten and 30th 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 17 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’s 3-point percentage of 40.5 is its best in a season since the 1990-91 season (40.6 percent).
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 been credited with 180 of Iowa’s 302 assists. Clemmons, who has started 42 of 121 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 is averaging seven points and 2.7 assists during Iowa’s seven-game win streak. Gesell is a four-year starter, who has 966 points, 469 assists, and 138 steals. He is 11 assists from tying Ronnie Lester (480) for fifth.
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 13,104 fans, which includes two sellout crowds (No. 1 Michigan State on Dec. 29 and Michigan on Jan. 17).
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 46 percent clip from 3-point range (17-of-37) and 3.3 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 four times this season (UMKC, Drake, Tennessee Tech, and Michigan State).
POSSESSING THE ROCK
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 9.9 turnovers through 17 games, which ranks seventh-best nationally. The Hawkeyes only turned the ball over four times Jan. 17, versus Michigan, marking the seventh time this season and fourth straight game that Iowa had nine or fewer turnovers in game. Iowa ranks 13th nationally in turnover margin (+3.9).
UTHOFF PRODUCING ON THE WING
Jarrod Uthoff has amassed 991 points in 2 1/2 years of action. He is nine points shy of reaching the 1,000-point plateau. The senior has scored in double figures in all 17 games, including reaching double figures in the first half in nine of those contests. Uthoff has scored 20 or more seven times this year, including three of the last four games (Purdue, Nebraska, and Michigan). He netted a personal-best 32, including 30 in the first half, at No. 2/4 Iowa State. Uthoff ranks first in the Big Ten in scoring (18.6) and blocks (3.1), and is second on the Hawkeyes in 3-pointers (35) and rebounding (6.2). His 3.1 blocks per game ranks fourth 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.
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, 7.6 points, and 4.2 rebounds per game this year. He has scored in double figures seven times this season, including scoring 10 points in each of Iowa’s last three contests (Nebraska, Michigan State, and Michigan), shooting at a 69 percent clip (11-of-16) in those wins. Uhl posted his first career double-double against UMKC (Dec. 5) with 14 points and a personal-high 10 boards. Uhl is shooting 82 percent (9-of-11) from behind the arc during Iowa’s 5-0 start in conference play. He pulled down team bests in rebounds three times this season (Drake, Tennessee Tech, and Nebraska).
HAWKEYE FAST BREAKS
? Iowa has had a player score 20 points or more in each of its last six games.
? Iowa’s 12.6 second-chance points per game average is second best in the Big Ten.
? In nine home games, Iowa averages 85.4 points and a +18.4 average margin of victory.
? Iowa’s senior class has totaled 81 wins in its four years: 25 in 2013; 20 in 2014; 22 in 2015; and 14 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 swept Michigan State for the first time since the 1992-93 season. The Hawkeyes’ win in East Lansing on Jan. 14, was their first since 1993, snapping an 18-game losing streak at the Breslin Center. 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.
? 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’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 has won 12 straight home games, dating back to last February. The Hawkeyes are 9-0, averaging 85.4 points per game, inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena this season.
? Iowa ranks 36th 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 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.
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 six 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; 12 points and six rebounds vs. Michigan).
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 ninth in the country in assists (6.9) and 14th in assist-to-turnover ratio (3.5). 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).
BLOCK PARTY
Iowa’s length has affected a number of opponent shot attempts this season. The Hawkeyes have blocked 104 shots this season (6.1), which is tops in the league and seventh nationally. The Hawkeyes block 10 percent of opponents field goal attempts, which ranks first in the league. Additionally, Iowa has rejected 34 combined shots and 12 percent of opponent shot attempts, through the first five Big Ten games (6.8 bpg). Jarrod Uthoff has denied 18 of those 34 shots.
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 (13.9 ppg) and first 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 averaged 21 points in two games against Michigan State early in conference play. His 23 points at Michigan State (Jan. 14) and 16 against Michigan (Jan. 17) earned Jok Big Ten Player of the Week accolades.
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.
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.
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.
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. 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). 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 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.
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.
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.
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 to host nationally-ranked Purdue on Sunday. Tipoff is set for noon (CT) on Mediacom at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The game will be televised nationally on BTN (BTN2GO). Standing room only tickets remain for this contest. A sellout is expected.
