March 8, 2016
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Iowa B1G Tournament Game Notes 
THE SETTING
No. 18/20 Iowa (21-9, 12-6) earned the No. 5 seed at this week’s Big Ten Tournament and will square-off against either 12th-seeded Illinois (13-18, 5-13) or 13th-seeded Minnesota (8-22, 2-16) on Thursday. Tipoff Thursday is scheduled for approximately 1:30 p.m. (CT) at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. All-session and single-session tickets for the tournament are available: single-session ticket prices range from $20 to $85 depending on the session and seat location. All-session tickets remain available for $275 or $200 depending on seat location. Tickets will be available at the Bankers Life Fieldhouse box office, ticketmaster.com or charge by phone at 800-745-3000.
BIG TEN TOURNAMENT OPENING TIP
? Iowa finished 12-6 and in a tie for third place in the Big Ten standings for the second consecutive season. It marked the first time since the 1987 (3rd) and 1988 (T-3rd) seasons that the Hawkeyes finished third place or better in the Big Ten standings in consecutive seasons.
? Iowa has registered back-to-back 12+ win seasons in the league for the third time in program history (1981-82 and 1987-88).
? Iowa has produced first-team All-Big Ten honorees each of the last three seasons (Devyn Marble in 2014; Aaron White in 2015; Jarrod Uthoff in 2016), something that has not happened at the University of Iowa since 1946-48 (Herb Wilkinson in 1946 and 1947; Murray Wier in 1948).
? Iowa will be the No. 5 seed for the second consecutive year and fourth time overall.
? Iowa’s senior class has won 88 games, a total that ranks third most in school history over a four year span.
? Iowa’s Jarrod Uthoff (18.8) and Peter Jok (15.8) are the second highest scoring duo at Iowa the last 40 seasons, combining to average 34.6 points this season.
? Adam Woodbury pulled down 180 rebounds in 18 Big Ten contests (10.0 rpg). The center became the first Hawkeye since Reggie Evans (10.7 rpg) in 2001-02 to average 10+ rebounds during conference play. Woodbury has led Iowa in rebounding in 13 of its last 14 outings. Woodbury averaged 11.4 rebounds over the last 13 games, snagging 10 or more in nine of those games.
? Mike Gesell is the third Hawkeye to ever amass 1,000 points, 525 assists, and 150 steals. Gesell is believed to be the first Hawkeye ever with to post five 10+ assist games in a season (B.J. Armstrong had four 10+ assist games in 1988-89).
? Iowa has won 20 games or more each of the last four seasons — its longest streak since 1996-99.
? Iowa has five wins over AP Top 25 teams this season, which ties for second-most by the Hawkeyes over the last 20 seasons.
? The Hawkeyes completed regular season sweeps over Michigan and Michigan State for the first time since 1954.
? Iowa won a combined 11 Big Ten road games the last two years (six in 2015 and five in 2016). The last time Iowa won a combined 11 or more road games in consecutive seasons was 1987-88 (11) and 1955-56 (12).
? Jarrod Uthoff is the only player from a major conference to total 550+ points, 190+ rebounds, and 80+ blocks. The only other player nationally to parallel those numbers is Stony Brook’s Jameel Warney.
? 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. This season, the Hawkeyes are averaging 10.2 turnovers, which ranks 12th-fewest nationally.
? Fran McCaffery has guided Iowa to upper division finishes in the Big Ten in each of the last four seasons. McCaffery, who is one of just 12 Division I head coaches to take four different programs to the NCAA Tournament, has accumulated 16 first division finishes in 20 years as a head coach. McCaffery has posted 10 seasons of 20 or more wins as a head coach.
ON THE AIR
Radio: Iowa games at the Big Ten Tournament 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 BTN (BTN2GO). Kevin Kugler, Jon Crispin, and Rick Pizzo will call the action.
FIVE SEED HISTORY AT BIG TEN TOURNAMENT
Teams seeded fifth at previous Big Ten Tournaments are 11-18 at the tournament. Five seeds did not compete until the quarterfinals prior to 2012. The last four tournaments, after Nebraska joined the league, the No. 5 seed is 3-1 in first round contests. Five-seeds have advanced to the conference semifinals eight times in the 18-year tournament history, including two years ago. One No. 5 seed has advanced to the championship game (Ohio State in 2009).
IOWA IN THE BIG TEN TOURNAMENT
Iowa has posted a 15-16 record in Big Ten Tournament games. The Hawkeyes earned tournament titles in 2001 and 2006 and lost in the title game in 2002. Only Illinois (25), Ohio State (25), Michigan State (24), and Wisconsin (21) have more wins and a higher winning percentage than the Hawkeyes. Ohio State and Michigan State have won four tournament titles, Wisconsin has won three, while Illinois, Iowa, and Michigan State have two tournament titles (Ohio State was forced to vacate its 2002 title). Iowa has played 10 different teams in the event, having met each team except Nebraska, Rutgers, and Maryland at least once (Rutgers and Maryland played in their first Big Ten Tournament in 2015). Iowa is the only team to claim the tournament title by winning four games in four days, that taking place in 2001 as a No. 6 seed. Iowa has been eliminated by the tournament champion in four of the 16 tournaments it did not win, including Michigan in the 1998 quarterfinals, Michigan State in the 2000 quarterfinals and 2012 quarterfinals, and Ohio State in the 2002 title game. The Hawkeyes, a fifth seed, lost to Penn State (67-58) in the first round of the tournament a year ago.
IOWA BY SEEDING
This marks the fourth time in tournament history that Iowa has been the fifth seed, including the second straight year. Iowa has never been the top seed, third seed or 11th seed. Iowa is 0-3 as a No. 5 seed in the Big Ten Tournament. In 1998, the Hawkeyes fell to fourth-seeded Michigan (77-66) in the quarterfinals. In 1999, Iowa lost to fourth-seeded Wisconsin (74-60) in the quarterfinals. Last season, Iowa lost to 13th-seeded Penn State (67-58) in the first round.
UTHOFF, GESELL EARN ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICA HONORS
Jarrod Uthoff has been named the 2015-16 Academic All-America of the Year for Division I Men’s Basketball, while Mike Gesell was voted to the Academic All-America second team. Uthoff has an economics degree and is pursuing a Master’s in leisure studies. He has a 3.42 G.P.A., including a 4.0 G.P.A. during the fall semester. He is a third-team All-America (USA Today) and is a finalist for the Oscar Robertson Trophy and the John R. Wooden Award. Uthoff leads the Big Ten in blocked shots (2.7 blocks per game), and is second in scoring (18.8 points per game) and 12th in rebounding (6.5 rebounds per game). In less than three years he has accumulated 1,238 points, 130 three-pointers, 564 rebounds and 172 blocks. Uthoff becomes Iowa’s second Academic All-American of the Year recipient; Adam Haluska earned the distinction in 2007. Additionally, UI junior Ally Disterhoft was honored as the 2015-16 Academic All-America of the Year for Division I Women’s Basketball. The University of Iowa becomes the first institution to sweep Academic All-American of the Year accolades for men’s and women’s basketball. Gesell, a native of South Sioux City, Nebraska, earned a finance degree in three years and is pursuing a Master’s in leisure studies. He has a 3.94 G.P.A., including a 4.11 G.P.A. during the fall semester. The point guard, who was a third team Academic All-American a year ago, becomes the third Hawkeye men’s basketball player to earn multiple Academic All-America laurels (Luke Recker in 2001 and 2002; Adam Haluska in 2006, and 2007). Gesell is one of three Hawkeyes to ever total 1,000 points, 525 assists, and 150 steals. Gesell ranks fourth in Iowa career assists (538), ninth in steals (156), and 40th in scoring (1,059). Gesell has directed the offense all four years, guiding the Hawkeyes to two NCAA Tournaments (2014 and 2015) and an NIT runner-up finish in 2013. Gesell ranks first on the Hawkeyes this season in assists (186) and steals (40), and fourth in scoring (8.5). He is believed to be the first Hawkeye ever to be credited with 10 or more assists in five games in a single season.
4 HAWKEYES EARN ALL-BIG TEN ACCOLADES
Senior Jarrod Uthoff and junior Peter Jok highlight Iowa’s All-Big Ten honorees, which were announced Monday by the Big Ten. Uthoff was named a unanimous selection to the first team by both league head coaches and media, while also being named to the five-player All-Defensive Team by the coaches. Uthoff becomes the first Hawkeye since Andre Woolridge in 1997 to be named a unanimous first team selection. Jok earned second team recognition by both the media and coaches, while seniors Mike Gesell and Adam Woodbury earned honorable mention laurels by the media. Gesell also was also named Iowa’s men’s basketball Sportsmanship Award recipient for the third consecutive season. Uthoff ranks second in the Big Ten in scoring (18.8), first in blocked shots (2.7), and tied for 10th in rebounding (6.5). The forward ranks 20th in Iowa career scoring (1,238) and fourth in blocked shots (172). Uthoff has scored in double figures in all but one game this season, including netting 20 points or more a team-best 14 times. This marks the third consecutive season an Iowa player has been picked on the All-Big Ten first team; Devyn Marble was honored in 2014 and Aaron White in 2015. The last time the Hawkeyes had first-team all-league honorees in back-to-back-to-back seasons was 1946-48 (Herb Wilkinson in 1946 and 1947, and Murray Wier in 1948). Jok is Iowa’s fifth different all-conference honoree under McCaffery. After averaging seven points per game a season ago, Jok surged 8.8 points this year, averaging 15.8 points contest. The 8.8 improvement is tops among Big Ten players. The guard ranks second on the team and 10th in the league in scoring (15.8), and is first on the team in steals per game (1.4), 3-pointers made (71), and free throw shooting (.856, 83-of-97). Gesell has started all 30 games this season and leads the team with 186 assists, seven shy of the single season record of 193 set by Andre Woolridge in 1996. He is averaging career bests in scoring (8.5), rebounds (3.2), assists (6.2), field goal percentage (.412), and 3-point percentage (.375). The four-year starter is believed to be the first Hawkeye ever to be credited with 10 or more assists five times in a single season. Woodbury has also been a four-year starter, averaging career bests this season in scoring (7.9), rebounding (8.5), free throw accuracy (.714, 60-of-84), field goal percentage (.574, 89-of-155), assists (1.0), and steals (0.5). He has posted seven double-doubles this season, which ties for seventh among Big Ten players. The center has totaled more than 800 points, 725 rebounds, and 100 assists over his four-year career.
ALL-TIME SERIES RECORDS
Illinois holds an 82-71 advantage in the series. The Hawkeyes have won five of the last six meetings, including a 77-65 decision in Champaign, Illinois, on Feb. 7. Iowa has only faced the Fighting Illini once at the Big Ten Tournament; Iowa won, 64-61, in Indianapolis in 2012. Minnesota holds a 103-94 advantage in the series. The 197 meetings are the most Iowa has played against any opponent. The two teams have split the last four meetings. Iowa won earlier this season, 75-71, on Feb. 14, in Iowa City. Iowa has beaten the Gophers twice in Big Ten Tournament action: 2000 (81-78 in Chicago) and 2006 (67-57 in Indianapolis).
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. This season, the Hawkeyes are averaging 10.2 turnovers, which ranks 12th-fewest nationally. The Hawkeyes have recorded nine or fewer turnovers in nine of their last 16 contests. Iowa ranks 22nd nationally in turnover margin (+2.9).
FOUR STRAIGHT 20-WIN SEASONS
Iowa has won 20 games or more each of the last four seasons — its longest streak in 15 years. It marks the first time since 1996-99 seasons that Iowa has posted four consecutive 20-win campaigns. Iowa is one of four Big Ten teams (Michigan State, Wisconsin and Ohio State) to post .500 or better winning percentages in conference play each of the past four seasons. Maryland has finished above .500 each of the last two seasons since joining the Big Ten in 2014-15.
UTHOFF NAMED FINALIST FOR OSCAR ROBERTSON TROPHY
Jarrod Uthoff is a finalist for the USBWA’s Oscar Robertson Trophy as the men’s national player of the year. The Hawkeye senior is one of two Big Ten players named to the 11-player list (Michigan State’s Denzel Valentine). Uthoff, a native of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, has scored in double figures in all but one game this season, including netting 20 points or more 14 times. The team co-captain leads the Big Ten in blocked shots (2.7) and is second in scoring (18.8). Voting for the award is conducted by members of the USBWA. The USBWA is comprised of over 900 journalists covering college basketball for newspapers, magazines and websites. The USBWA player of the year award will be presented on April 11 at the College Basketball Awards gala and dinner at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City.
HAWKEYES WIN AT MICHIGAN IN REGULAR SEASON FINALE
? Iowa ended a four-game losing streak with a 71-61 win over Michigan in Ann Arbor. The win was the Hawkeyes’ second straight at the Crisler Center in as many seasons.
? Jarrod Uthoff led all scorers with 29 points, the most since scoring 32 at Iowa State (12/10/15). Uthoff also added seven boards, four steals, and three blocks. He became just the fourth player from a major conference the past 10 seasons to post 29+ points, 7+ rebounds, 4+ steals, and 3+ blocks in a game (Kevin Durant, Texas; Andrew Wiggins, Kansas; Ben Simmons, LSU).
? Mike Gesell dished out 11 assists, tying Steve Carfino for most assists in a game by a Hawkeye against the Wolverines; Carfino had 11 assists versus Michigan in 1982. Gesell has recorded 10 assists or more five times this season.
? Anthony Clemmons reached double figures for the seventh time in nine games, scoring 12 points.
? Adam Woodbury grabbed 11 rebounds, marking the 12th time this season he has collected double digit rebounds in a game.
? Iowa registered 19 assists, while turning over the ball only eight times.
? Three Wolverines scored in double figures: Derrick Walton (14), Zak Irvin (11), and Muhammad Abdur-Rahkman (10).
UTHOFF, GESELL JOIN ELITE COMPANY
Jarrod Uthoff is just the third Hawkeye to accumulate 1,200+ points and 150+ blocks. Uthoff enters the Big Ten Tournament with 1,238 points and 171 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 joined an exclusive group after collecting four steals last week against Wisconsin. Gesell is one of three Hawkeyes to total more than 1,000 points, 525 assists, and 150 steals in a career. Gesell enters the Big Ten Tournament with 1,059 points, 538 assists, and 156 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.
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 (8.5), rebounds (3.2), assists (6.2), field goal percentage (.412), and 3-point accuracy (.375). Mike Gesell netted his 1,000th career point with his first bucket of the game in the first half at Indiana on Feb. 11. Gesell finished with 17 points — his highest point total since netting 22 vs. Nebraska on Jan. 5. He also was credited with his 500th career assist in Iowa’s win over Minnesota on Feb. 14. 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). 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 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.
DIALING IT UP FROM LONG DISTANCE
Iowa averaged 5.6 3-pointers made per game a year ago. Through 30 games this season, the Hawkeyes are averaging 8.2 triples. Iowa’s Peter Jok ranks seventh in the league averaging 2.4 triples per game. The Hawkeyes are 10-3 this year when Jok sinks at least three triples in a game. 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 11 times this season.
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HAWKEYES EARN HIGHEST NATIONAL RANKING SINCE 1987
Iowa is ranked 15th in the USA Today Coaches Poll and 16th in the Associated Press Poll released Monday. Iowa’s No. 3 ranking (Jan. 25) 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 and men’s basketball teams earned a Top 5 ranking in the same season (1984-85 and 1960-61). It marked 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.
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.
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).
MCCAFFERY SURPASSED BUCKY O’CONNOR FOR FIFTH IN VICTORIES AT IOWA
Fran McCaffery notched victory No. 115 as Iowa’s head coach on Feb. 7 at Illinois, surpassing Bucky O’Connor (1950, 1952-58) for fifth on Iowa’s all-time coaching win total. McCaffery increased his win total to 117 after Iowa’s win at Michigan in the regular season finale. Rollie Williams (1930-42, 1951) ranks fourth in victories with 139. Iowa’s game against Indiana (March 1) was Fran McCaffery‘s 200th game as Iowa’s head coach (117-84, .582).
MUSCLE GAIN
Last season, freshman Dom Uhl was listed a 6-foot-8 and 195 pounds. After a year in the weight room, the sophomore forward checks in a 6-foot-9 and 215 pounds entering this season. Uhl earned the team’s Newcomer Award last year. Uhl is averaging 17 minutes, 6.2 points, and 3.7 rebounds per game this year. He has scored in double figures seven times this season. 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 (Jan. 28) and six points, six rebounds, and one assist at Ohio State (Feb. 28). Uhl is shooting 50 percent (15-of-30) from behind the arc in conference play. He pulled down team bests in rebounds three times this season (Drake, Tennessee Tech, and Nebraska).
UTHOFF, IOWA GRACE COVER OF SPORTS ILLUSTRATED
Senior Jarrod Uthoff was on the cover of the Feb. 8, 2016, regional cover of Sports Illustrated. The article inside the magazine focused on the All-America candidate and the nationally-ranked Iowa Hawkeyes. Uthoff is the first Iowa basketball player since George Peeples on Jan. 24, 1966, to be on the cover of Sports Illustrated. George Kittle and the UI football team were on the Sports Illustrated cover this past November. It marks the first time in school history that Iowa football and men’s basketball were featured on Sports Illustrated covers in the same season.
HAWKEYE FAST BREAKS
? Iowa won 10 Big Ten games by double digits. It’s the most by any Hawkeye team since the 1996-97 season.
? Iowa is 17-0 in games decided by 10 points or more this season and 4-9 in games decided by single digits. Each of Iowa’s last four losses have come by eight points or less.
? Iowa is 50-7 when scoring 80 points or more, the last six seasons. The Hawkeyes are 61-2 when holding opponents to fewer than 61 points, the last six years.
? Iowa has had a player score 20 points or more in 15 of its last 19 games, including three players (Jok, Uthoff, and Clemmons) total 20 or more points at Rutgers (Jan. 21). It marked the first time since 2000 (vs. Missouri) that Iowa had three players reach 20 points in a game: Luke Recker (23), Dean Oliver (22), and Reggie Evans (20). It is the first time three Hawkeyes poured in 20 points in a Big Ten game since 1989 (vs. Northwestern): Roy Marble (22), Ed Horton (21), and B.J. Armstrong (21).
? Adam Woodbury has led Iowa in rebounding in 13 of the last 14 contests, including controlling a career-high 18 boards vs. Wisconsin on Feb. 24.
? Iowa has won 13 of its last 21 true road games, dating back to last year. The Hawkeyes went 5-4 in Big Ten road games this season.
? Iowa went 7-1 during the month of January, with the only loss coming by six points at No. 7 Maryland. The last time Iowa won seven games in the month of January was the 1986-87 season (7-2).
? 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 swept Purdue for the first time since the 2003-04 season.
? Iowa swept both Purdue and Michigan State, boasting a +12.3 average margin of victory in the four games.
? 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 ranks second in the Big Ten in second chance points scored per game (12.3) and points off turnovers (16.3).
? Iowa ranks 21st nationally in fewest fouls per game (16.4).
? Iowa earned 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.
? 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 is only 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 38 of its last 39 nonleague home games, dating back to Nov., 2011. The lone loss came to Iowa State in 2014.
? Iowa won 21 regular season contests each of the last two years.
? 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.
? 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.
FAST START IN BIG TEN PLAY
Iowa reached the halfway point of its Big Ten schedule with a record of 10-1. The 10-1 mark was the program’s best start in Big Ten play since going 10-1 to start conference play the 1981-82 season. Since Iowa’s 1969-70 team that went 14-0, only this year’s squad and the 1981-82 team have started a Big Ten season, 10-1.
HAWKEYE FANS FLOCKED TO CHA
Iowa sold out 23 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. Iowa averaged 13,835 fans in 2015-16, which includes seven sellout crowds (Michigan State; Michigan; Purdue; Northwestern; Minnesota; Wisconsin). Iowa’s home finale against Indiana is approaching sellout status; it would be Iowa’s seventh sellout crowd of the season, the most since recording 11 sellouts in 2013-14.
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 in Iowa’s 70-64 victory over Drake at the Hy-Vee Big Four Classic in Des Moines. He is one of only four freshmen in the nation this season to post 13+ points, 7+ rebounds, and 6+ blocked in a single game this season. 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 14 minutes off the bench, averaging 4.4 points, shooting at a 42 percent clip from 3-point range (25-of-60) and 2.5 rebounds. Baer’s 19 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).
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 1,239 points. The senior had his 19-game double-digit scoring streak snapped on Jan. 28, scoring nine points at nationally-ranked Maryland. Uthoff has scored 20 or more 14 times this year. Uthoff’s 11 20-point games prior to the month of February are the most by a Hawkeye since Adam Haluska in 2006-07 (12). Uthoff ranks second in the Big Ten in scoring (18.8) and first in blocks (2.7), and is second on the team in 3-pointers (60) and rebounding (6.5). His 2.7 blocks per game ranks 12th in the nation. Uthoff is the second Big Ten player since 1996-97 to have 150+ blocks and 130+ 3-pointers made (Minnesota’s Michael Bauer, 1999-2004). He is also the second player nationally the last 20 years to average two blocks and two 3-pointers per game (Duke’s Shane Battier in 1999-00 and 2000-01). Uthoff is one of three players in the country to register 20+ points and 5+ blocks in a game three times this season (Stony Brook’s Jameel Warney and Pascal Siakam of New Mexico State).
BLOCK PARTY
Iowa’s length has affected a number of opponent shot attempts this season. The Hawkeyes have blocked 148 shots this season (4.9), which ranks fourth in the conference and 34th nationally. Iowa had its streak on 94 straight games with at least one blocked shot snapped at Ohio State (Feb. 28). Uthoff has put together back-to-back 50+ block seasons, totaling 56 last season and 81 this year. He is the first Hawkeye since Erek Hansen in 2005 and 2006 to register more than 50 rejections in consecutive seasons. Additionally, Uthoff (81 in 30 games) joins Acie Earl and Erek Hansen as the only Hawkeyes to record 80 or more rejections in a season. Uthoff is the third Hawkeye since 1983 (blocked shots became a statistic in 1983) to lead the league in rejections.
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 14th and 87th nationally, respectively, in assist-to-turnover ratio. Clemmons is third on the team in scoring (9.3), while Gesell in fourth (8.5). Clemmons 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 10.6 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 2.7 assists over the last 10 games. Gesell is a four-year starter, who has 1,059 points, 538 assists, and 156 steals. The Hawkeye senior is 23 assists from tying Dean Oliver for third in Iowa career assists.
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 18th in the country in assists (6.2) and 14th in assist-to-turnover ratio (3.3). Gesell collected a career-best 12 assists in Iowa’s win over Coppin State and also against Minnesota. He has been credited with nine or more assists 10 times this season and 10 or more five times. Gesell is believed to be the first Hawkeye ever to post five 10+ assist games in a season (B.J. Armstrong had four 10+ assist games in 1988-89). He is on pace to surpass Dean Oliver, who ranks third 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).
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.
INCREASED WORK LOAD
The prior 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 9.9 points and 8.5 rebounds per game. The senior has played over 28 minutes 12 times this year. Woodbury has totaled seven double-doubles this season, which ties three other players for seventh in the league. Woodbury is the first Hawkeye to record a double-double in three straight games (Rutgers, Purdue, and Maryland) since Greg Brunner in 2005-06. He has led the team in rebounding 13 of the last 14 games, including snagging a career-best 18 boards versus Wisconsin (Feb. 24). The 18 rebounds are the most by any player in a Big Ten game this season. Furthermore, 10 of the 18 boards were on the offensive glass — the most by a Hawkeye since Gabriel Olaseni had 11 at Purdue last season. Woodbury is averaging 11.4 rebounds per game over the last 13 games. Woodbury (10.0 rpg) became the first Hawkeye since Reggie Evans (10.7 rpg) in 2001-02 to average 10+ rebounds during conference play. Woodbury grabbed 13 defensive rebounds against Penn State on Feb. 3 — the most by a Hawkeye since Kurt Looby (Nov. 13, 2006 versus The Citadel).
FRESH START
Peter Jok started 2015 with a new number, changing from No. 3 last year to No. 14 this season. Jok ranks second on the team in scoring (15.8 ppg) and first in free throw accuracy (.856, 83-of-97; 21 straight makes entering this week’s Big Ten Tournament). He has scored 20 or more points nine times this season, including a career-best 29 points at Rutgers (Jan. 21). The 29-point outburst at Rutgers ties for seventh most by a Hawkeye during the Fran McCaffery era. Iowa is 10-3 when Jok makes at least three triples in a game this season. After averaging seven points per game a season ago, Jok has surged 8.8 points this year averaging 15.8 points per contest. The +8.8 improvement is tops among Big Ten players. 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. Jok is one of four Hawkeyes since 2005-06 to average 2+ 3-pointers and one steal per game in a season (Jeff Horner in 2006; Adam Haluska in 2007; Matt Gatens in 2012).
NOTING IOWA’S COMEBACK AGAINST PURDUE
? Iowa trailed by 19 points at Purdue (Jan. 2) 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 became the fourth Division I team in the last 20 seasons to beat an AP Top 15 team after trailing by 17+ points at halftime, 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 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).
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.
UTHOFF NAMED BIG TEN CO-PLAYER OF THE WEEK — DEC. 14
Iowa’s Jarrod Uthoff was named Big Ten Co-Player of the Week along with Maryland’s Melo Trimble on Dec. 14. 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.
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.
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.
