Jan. 29, 2016
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THE SETTING
No. 3/4 Iowa (16-4, 7-1), winners of nine of its last 10 games, welcomes Northwestern (15-7, 3-6) to Iowa City Sunday for the only regular season meeting between the two teams. Tipoff is scheduled for 2:06 p.m. (CT) on Mediacom Court at Carver-Hawkeye Arena (15,400). As of Friday afternoon, approximately 40 standing room only tickets remained for Sunday’s contest. A sellout is expected. Free trading cards will be distributed to the first 1,000 fans in attendance.
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). Wayne Randazzo and Stephen Bardo will call the action.
| GAME 21: Northwestern (15-7, 3-6) at #3/4 Iowa (16-4, 7-1) | |
|---|---|
| When | Sunday, Jan. 31, 2016 | 2:06 p.m. CT |
| Where | Carver-Hawkeye Arena — Iowa City, Iowa |
| Shop | Herky’s Locker Room |
| TV | BTN | Watch Online via BTN2GO Announcers: Wayne Randazzo and Stephen Bardo |
| Radio | Hawkeye Radio Network | Listen | Sirius 84 / XM 84 |
| GameTracker | Gametracker |
| All-time Series | Iowa leads, 114-59 |
| 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 #21 OPENING TIP
? Iowa has played 11 teams currently ranked in the RPI Top 50, going 7-4 in those contests. The Hawkeyes beat FSU (48), Wichita State (43), Michigan (31), Purdue twice (25), and MSU twice (19).
? Iowa has five wins over AP Top 25 teams this season, the most in the country.
? Iowa has won 13 straight home games, dating back to last February. The Hawkeyes are 10-0 at home this year, averaging 85.2 points and a +17.8 average margin of victory in those games.
? Iowa had its 13-game Big Ten regular season win streak, dating back to last year, snapped Thursday at Maryland. Iowa’s 7-0 Big Ten start was its best since the 1969-70 season (14-0).
? The Hawkeyes have won six of their seven league games by double figures.
? Jarrod Uthoff is the only player from a Power 5 conference with 365+ points, 125+ rebounds, and 55+ blocks.
? Jarrod Uthoff currently leads the Big Ten in scoring and blocked shots. The last Big Ten player to lead the league in both categories in the same season was Purdue’s JaJuan Johnson in 2011.
? Iowa’s four losses this season have come by a combined 18 points.
? Iowa is 49-7 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.
PCA ACADEMIC AWARD WINNERS TO BE RECOGNIZED
Each year, The Presidential Committee on Athletics (PCA) honors student-athletes who have achieved at least a 3.0 grade point average and have lettered in their sport. During the 2014-15 academic year, 222 student-athletes achieved this honor. Each year a student-athlete achieves this honor, they are commemorated with a medal — Bronze for their first year, then Light Bronze, Silver, and finally Gold. Honorees will be recognized at halftime of Sunday’s game.
HAWKEYES EARN HIGHEST NATIONAL RANKING SINCE 1987
Iowa vaulted six spots from ninth to third in the new Associated Press Poll. Iowa notched a pair of wins last week over Rutgers on the road (90-76) and No. 22 Purdue at home (83-71). The Hawkeyes also received a ranking of fourth in the USA Today Coaches Poll. Iowa’s No. 3 ranking is its highest during the Fran McCaffery era and highest since earning a No. 3 ranking in the Associated Press Poll on Dec. 8, 1987. For the third time in school history, Iowa’s football & men’s basketball teams are ranked in the Top 5 in the same season (1984-85 and 1960-61). It marks the first time in school history that football and men’s basketball were ranked as high as No. 3 in the same season. Iowa men’s basketball lost at No. 7 Maryland on Jan. 28; it was the first regular season Big Ten defeat by either the football, wrestling, or men’s basketball since the men’s basketball team lost at Northwestern in overtime on Feb. 16, 2015 — a span of 345 days.
ALL-TIME SERIES RECORDS
Iowa holds a 114-59 advantage over Northwestern in the series. The Hawkeyes have won six of the last eight meetings, including the regular season finale last year in Iowa City, 69-52. Iowa holds a 66-18 advantage in games played in Iowa City, including a 26-4 record in Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The Hawkeyes have won the last three contests played against the Wildcats in Iowa City. Iowa’s 26 wins over Northwestern in Carver-Hawkeye Arena are the most over any other opponent.
SCOUTING NORTHWESTERN
? Northwestern enters Sunday’s game on a four-game losing streak, with three of the setbacks coming to ranked opponents.
? Northwestern is 4-2 in road games this season, picking up victories over Virginia Tech, DePaul, Nebraska, and Minnesota. Sunday will be the third time in four games that the Wildcats will have played a road game.
? Three Wildcats average in double figures: Bryant McIntosh (15.0), Tre Demps (13.7), and Alex Olah (11.3). Olah also leads the team in blocked shots (26).
? Northwestern lost its last two outings by an average of 26.5 points. In the Wildcats’ last game versus Michigan State on Thursday, they shot 4-of-23 (.174) from behind the 3-point arc, while the Spartans made 61.5 percent (16-of-26) of its attempts from 3-point range. Bryant McIntosh had 14 points, while Aaron Falzon contributed 11. Northwestern was 17-of-19 (.895) from the charity stripe.
? Northwestern has played three overtime games this season (2-1).
? The Wildcats rank ninth in the country in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.58), 14th in fewest turnovers per contest (10.3), 31st in 3-point attempts (23.8), and 34th in assists (16.3). Senior Tre Demps ranks first in the Big Ten and 11th nationally in minutes played per game (36.6), while Bryant McIntosh is first in the conference in assists (6.8).
? Northwestern ranks fifth in the league in field goal percentage defense (.406), 3-pointers made (8.2) and assists (16.3), and sixth in turnover margin (+0.9).
? Chris Collins is in his third season as a head coach, all at Northwestern (44-43, .506).
LAST MEETING AGAINST NORTHWESTERN
? Aaron White, Jarrod Uthoff, and Adam Woodbury combined to score 54 points in a 69-52 Iowa win over Northwestern on March 7, 2015, in Iowa City on `Senior Day.’
? Senior Aaron White scored 25 points, topping the 20-point plateau for the fourth consecutive contest.
? Mike Gesell equaled a then-career best with nine assists. He became the first Big Ten player with zero points and 9+ assists in a game since Ohio State’s Jamar Butler in 2007-08.
? Iowa limited Northwestern to one offensive rebound, while the Hawkeyes grabbed 14 offensive rebounds. Iowa outscored the Wildcats 16-0 in second chance points.
? Tre Demps was the only Wildcat to score in double figures, netting 15. Alex Olah pulled down a game-high 10 rebounds to go along with seven points.
? Both teams made eight 3-pointers in the contest.
UTHOFF, GESELL APPROACHING ELITE COMPANY
Jarrod Uthoff is two blocks from becoming just the third Hawkeye to accumulate 1,000 points and 150 blocks. Uthoff enters Sunday’s game with 1,042 points and 148 blocks. The other two of the club are Acie Earl (1,779 points and 365 blocks) and Greg Stokes (1,768 points and 228 blocks). Earl and Stokes played four years, while Uthoff is in the middle of his third season. Mike Gesell is about to become the fourth Hawkeye to total more than 1,000 points, 500 assists, and 150 steals. Gesell enters Sunday’s game with 984 points, 484 assists, and 141 steals. B.J. Armstrong (1,705 points, 517 assists, and 178 steals), Dean Oliver (1,561 points, 561 assists, and 205 steals), and Jeff Horner (1,502 points, 553 assists, and 166 steals) are the other Hawkeyes to accomplish the feat.
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 is 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.
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 10 turnovers through 20 games, which ranks seventh-best nationally. The Hawkeyes have recorded nine or fewer turnovers in five of their last seven contests. Iowa ranks 14th nationally in turnover margin (+3.7).
HAWKEYES DROP BIG TEN ROAD GAME AT MARYLAND
? Iowa lost its first Big Ten regular season game in over 11 months Thursday evening at College Park, Maryland. The seventh-ranked Terrapins recorded a 74-68 victory over the third-ranked Hawkeyes in their first-ever visit to the XFINITY Center.
? Four starters for each team tallied double figures in scoring. Iowa’s double-digit scorers were Peter Jok (14), Mike Gesell (12), Adam Woodbury (11), and Anthony Clemmons (11). Maryland was led by Robert Carter and Rasheed Sulaimon, each scoring 17 points.
? Both teams shot at a low percentage from 3-point range. Iowa shot 21 percent (5-of-24), while Maryland was 6-of-25 (24 percent). The Terrapins misfired on all 10 of its 3-point attempts in the second half.
? Sophomore Dom Uhl came off the bench and scored nine points for the Hawkeyes. Iowa’s leading scorer, Jarrod Uthoff, scored nine points and had 10 rebounds — it marked the first contest this season that the Iowa senior failed to score in double digits and block at least one shot.
? Adam Woodbury recorded his third straight double-double (11 points and 10 rebounds) and fifth of the season. Woodbury is the first Hawkeye to record a double-double in three straight games since Greg Brunner in 2005-06.
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 (9.0), rebounds (3.6), assists (6.6), field goal percentage (.445), and 3-point accuracy (.393). 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.
FLOCKING TO CHA
Iowa sold out 19 home games the last three 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. This season, Iowa averages 13,333 fans, which includes three sellout crowds (No. 1 Michigan State on Dec. 29; Michigan on Jan. 17; Purdue on Jan. 24). Sunday’s game against Northwestern is expected to reach sellout status.
Peter Jok NAMED BIG TEN PLAYER OF THE WEEK ON JAN. 18
Peter Jok collected his first Big Ten Player of the Week honor of his career on Jan. 18. 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 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. Only twice in school history has three different Hawkeyes earned Big Ten Player of the Week distinction in the same season, 2015-16 (Gesell, Jok, and Uthoff) and 2000-01 (Reggie Evans, Dean Oliver, and Luke Recker — twice).
DIALING IT UP FROM LONG DISTANCE
Iowa averaged 5.6 3-pointers made per game a year ago. Through 20 games this season, the Hawkeyes are averaging 9.1 triples, which ranks third in the Big Ten and 33rd 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, eight of Iowa’s top 11 treys made in a game during the McCaffery era have occurred the first 20 games this season. Iowa has made 10 or more triples in four of the last five games and 11 times 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 — 18th best in the nation. Iowa’s 3-point percentage (.400) is its best in a season since the 1997-98 season (40.1 percent).
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 rank 35th and 37th nationally, respectively, in assist-to-turnover ratio. Clemmons, who has started 45 of 124 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 nine points and 3.4 assists over the last 10 games. Gesell is a four-year starter, who has 984 points, 484 assists, and 141 steals. The Hawkeye senior is 33 assists from tying B.J. Armstrong for fourth in Iowa career assists.
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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 five points, shooting at a 41 percent clip from 3-point range (18-of-44) and three rebounds. Baer’s 18 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).
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, 7.5 points, and 4.1 rebounds per game this year. He has scored in double figures seven times this season, including scoring nine points or more in four of the last six contests (Nebraska, Michigan State, Michigan, and Maryland). Uhl posted his first career double-double against UMKC (Dec. 5) with 14 points and a personal-high 10 boards. He had nine points, two rebounds, and a steal at No. 7 Maryland Thursday evening. Uhl is shooting 57 percent (12-of-21) from behind the arc in conference play. He pulled down team bests in rebounds three times this season (Drake, Tennessee Tech, and Nebraska).
BLOCK PARTY
Iowa’s length has affected a number of opponent shot attempts this season. The Hawkeyes have blocked 116 shots this season (5.8), which ranks second in the conference and 13th nationally. Uthoff has put together back-to-back 50+ block seasons, totaling 56 last season and 57 this year. He is the first Hawkeye since Erek Hansen in 2005 and 2006 to register more than 50 rejections in consecutive seasons.
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.
UTHOFF PRODUCING ON THE WING
Jarrod Uthoff has amassed 1,042 points. The senior had his 19-game double-digit scoring streak snapped Thursday, scoring nine points at Maryland. Uthoff has scored 20 or more nine times this year, including five of the last seven games (Purdue, Nebraska, Michigan, Rutgers, and Purdue). He netted a personal-best 32, including 30 in the first half, at No. 2/4 Iowa State on Dec. 10. Uthoff ranks first in the Big Ten in scoring (18.4) and blocks (2.85), and is second on the Hawkeyes in 3-pointers (43) and rebounding (6.4). His 2.85 blocks per game ranks 10th best in the nation. In two games last week, Uthoff averaged 21 points, 5.5 rebounds, two assists, and two blocks while shooting 54 percent from the field, including 73 percent from 3-point range.
UTHOFF NAMED TO MID-SEASON LISTS
Senior forward Jarrod Uthoff has been named to a couple mid-season All-American lists. He averages 18.4 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 2.85 blocks. NBC and ESPN both named the 6-foot-9, 221-pound forward to their second team list. Uthoff is also on the Wooden Award Midseason Top 25, Oscar Robertson Trophy Top 20 Watch List and is one of 31 players on the Lute Olson Award Watch List. Uthoff is the only player in from a Power 5 conference to amass 365+ points, 125+ rebounds, and 55+ blocks.
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 (6.6) and 35th in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.9). 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 eight 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 is on pace to surpass Andre Woolridge, who ranks second in career assists. He poured in a game and career-best 25 points in lifting Iowa to an 83-70 win over No. 1 Michigan State and posted his first career double-double in Iowa’s win over Nebraska (22 points and 10 assists).
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). Woodbury has totaled five double-doubles this season, including three straight, which tie for the fourth most in the league. Woodbury is the first Hawkeye to record a double-double in three straight games since Greg Brunner in 2005-06. He has led the team in rebounding the last four games.
HAWKEYE FAST BREAKS
? Iowa is the only team in the country with six Top 25 wins over teams in the Sagarin ratings.
? Iowa has won 11 of its last 16 true road games, dating back to last season.
? Iowa has had a player score 20 points or more in eight of its last nine games.
? A win Sunday would give Iowa its seventh victory in the month of January. The last time Iowa won seven contests in the month of January was the 1986-87 season (7-2).
? Iowa has five wins versus AP Top 25 teams this season, which is the most in the country this season and tied for second-most by the Hawkeyes over the last 20 seasons.
? Iowa swept both Purdue and Michigan State, boasting a +12.3 average margin of victory in the four games.
? Only four times over the last two decades has Iowa swept the regular season series with the opponent ranked in both games — two of the four times have taken place this season (Michigan State and Purdue).
? Iowa gets its first win over a ranked Big Ten opponent (Purdue) while being ranked in the Top 10 since beating No. 16 Ohio State while ranked No. 8 on Feb 13, 1989.
? 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).
? 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.
? Adam Woodbury has led Iowa in rebounding the last four contests, including controlling a season-high 11 boards at Rutgers.
? Iowa will play back-to-back Big Ten home games this week against Northwestern (Sunday) and Penn State (Wednesday).
? Iowa’s first four road games in the Big Ten this season have come against Purdue, Michigan State, Rutgers, and Maryland.
? Iowa’s senior class has totaled 83 wins in its four years: 25 in 2013; 20 in 2014; 22 in 2015; and 15 so far in 2016. Last year’s senior class amassed 85 victories, which ranked sixth in school history.
? Fifteen of Iowa’s 20 games played this season have been contested under two hours.
? Iowa has posted road wins over a Big Ten ranked opponent each of the last three seasons.
? 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 swept Purdue for the first time since the 2003-04 campaign.
? 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 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. The Hawkeyes are currently 6-0 during the month of January.
? 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.
? 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 has won at least 20 games in three consecutive seasons — its longest streak in 15 years.
? 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.
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 (14.7 ppg) and second in free throw accuracy (.822, 37-of-45). He has scored 20 or more points five times (20 at Marquette; a career-best 24 vs. Florida State; 21 vs. Tennessee Tech; 23 at Michigan State; 29 at Rutgers). Last week at Rutgers, Jok equaled a career best with five 3-pointers made. Jok’s 29-point outburst ties for seventh most by a Hawkeye during the Fran McCaffery era. After averaging seven points per game a season ago, Jok has surged 7.7 points this year averaging 14.7 points per contest. The +7.7 improvement ranks second among Big Ten players over the last two seasons. 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.
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, which is the largest halftime comeback between major-conference teams this season.
? 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.
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.
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.
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.
IOWA VS. RANKED TEAMS
Iowa is ranked No. 3 by the Associated Press and fourth in the USA Today Coaches Poll this week. Iowa has played eight games this season against ranked opponents, posting a 5-3 record, which includes winning four of its last five contests (No. 1 Michigan State; No. 14 Purdue; No. 4 Michigan State; No. 22 Purdue). Iowa’s five victories over AP ranked opponents are the most in the country. 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.
WINNING ON THE ROAD
Iowa’s senior class has won at least once at 12 Big Ten arenas. The only gyms in the conference this class has played in and not won a game are the XFINITY Center (Maryland) and 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, Rutgers, 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 CANDIDATE FOR GOOD WORKS, SENIOR CLASS AWARDS
Senior Mike Gesell is a nominee for the Allstate NABC Good Works Team and one of 30 candidates for the Senior CLASS Award. This prestigious Good Works 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. An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School, the Senior CLASS Award focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages students to use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities. To be eligible for the award, student-athletes must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence: community, classroom, character, and competition.
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.
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. McCaffery is one of 24 coaches who earned enough votes to advance to the second round of voting. Visit ESPN.com/Infiniti each day and vote for McCaffery, using multiple email addresses, and his charity — Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center.
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).
COACHING EXPERIENCE
Fran McCaffery has the most experienced coaching staff 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 remains home for its second straight home game when it hosts Penn State Wednesday. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. on Mediacom Court at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The game will be nationally televised on ESPNU.
