April 6, 2016
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2015-16 Final Iowa Notes/Stats Packet 
2015-16 FINAL IOWA BASKETBALL NOTES
? For the second consecutive season, the Iowa basketball program won 22 games, tied for third place in the Big Ten, and won an NCAA Tournament game. Iowa has won back-to-back NCAA Tournament games for the first time since 1996 and 1997.
? For the first time under Fran McCaffery (2011-present) the Iowa Hawkeyes finished a season nationally ranked. Iowa is ranked 25th in both the Associated Press and USA Today Coaches polls.
? Iowa made its third straight NCAA Tournament appearance for the first time since 1991-93.
? Iowa has won 107 games the past five seasons (2012-16), its highest win total over a five-year span since 1985-89.
? 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 registered back-to-back 12+ win seasons in the league for the third time in program history (1981-82 and 1987-88). Also, Iowa has won 21 regular season games in consecutive years for the first time since 1996 (22) and 1997 (21).
? 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’s senior class won 89 games, a total that ranks third most in school history over a four year span.
? Jarrod Uthoff became Iowa’s fifth consensus All-American, earning second team honors, and first since Chuck Darling in 1952. He also became the first Iowa men’s basketball player to earn consensus All-America and Academic All-America accolades.
? Iowa’s Jarrod Uthoff (18.9) and Peter Jok (16.1) are the third highest scoring duo at Iowa the last 40 seasons, combining to average 35 points.
? 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 led Iowa in rebounding in 14 of the last 17 outings.
? Mike Gesell is the third Hawkeye to ever amass 1,000 points, 550 assists, and 150 steals. 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 Iowa’s single-season assists leader with 205 assists.
? Iowa has won 20 games or more each of the last four seasons — its longest streak since 1995-99.
? Iowa won five games over AP Top 25 teams, which ties for second-most by the Hawkeyes over the last 20 seasons.
? Iowa’s 269 3-pointers rank second most in Iowa single-season history, while its 719 3-point attempts rank third. Iowa’s 14 blocked shots versus Drake is a new school single-game record, while its 31 assists against Coppin State tie as the fourth most in program annals.
? Iowa 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 was the only player from a major conference to total 600+ points, 200+ rebounds, and 85+ blocks. The only other player nationally to parallel those numbers is Stony Brook’s Jameel Warney.
? Iowa averaged 10.3 turnovers in 2016, which is the best average for fewest turnovers in program history since turnovers became an official stat in 1980. The 10.3 average shatters the previous mark of 11.1, which was established in 2015.
? Adam Woodbury averaged 7.6 points and 8.3 rebounds as a senior. Woodbury became only the fourth Hawkeye to average at least 7.6 points and 8.3 rebounds the past 23 seasons (Ryan Bowen, Greg Brunner, and Reggie Evans). Since 1994, fewer than 40 players in the Big Ten have put up those numbers.
? Point guard Mike Gesell owns three of Iowa’s top five assist-to-turnover ratio’s since 1997. His 3.15 ratio in 2015-16 ranks first, while is 3.05 ratio in 2013-14 is second and his 2.21 ratio in 2014-15 is fifth.
? 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.
? Freshmen Andrew Fleming and Brandon Hutton were both granted a release from their scholarship and will transfer and continue their college careers at another institution.
IOWA’S SENIOR CLASS
Iowa’s senior class totaled 89 victories in its four years (25 in 2013; 20 in 2014; 22 in 2015; and 22 in 2016). The 89 wins rank third most by a senior class in school history; Iowa’s 1989 class ranks first with 97 wins, followed by 95 in the class of 1988.
IOWA HISTORY
Iowa has played 2,706 games since beginning basketball in 1902. Iowa’s overall record is 1,593-1,113 (.589). That includes a 1,015-355 (.741) record in home games, a 574-755 (.432) record in contests away from Iowa City, a 752-757 (.498) mark in Big Ten games and a 420-129 (.765) record in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
HAWKEYES OUTLAST TEMPLE IN OVERTIME
? Iowa led by as many as 12 points and held on for a 72-70 win over Temple in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in Brooklyn, New York.
? Adam Woodbury recovered an offensive rebound and scored the winning basket as time expired. The win was Iowa’s first buzzer-beater since Cyrus Tate scored at the buzzer in a 65-63 win over Kansas State on Nov. 29, 2008, in Las Vegas.
? Three Hawkeyes scored in double figures: Jarrod Uthoff (23), Peter Jok (16), and Adam Woodbury (10).
? Iowa was 17-of-22 (.773) from the free throw line, while Temple was 6-of-9 (.667).
? After shooting 55 percent (16-of-29) from the field in the first half, the Hawkeyes held Temple to 34 percent (11-of-32) shooting in the second half. Both teams made just one 3-pointer the last 25 minutes of the game (second half and overtime).
? Iowa only recorded three turnovers, which equaled a season low (Drake). It also marked its lowest turnover total in an NCAA Tournament game since having three against Virginia in 1997.
? Iowa was held without a field goal the last 5:08 of regulation. Temple’s Quenton Decosey made three free throws with two seconds left to send the game in overtime.
HAWKEYES FALL TO VILLANOVA IN SECOND ROUND
? Villanova shot 59 percent from the floor, including 53 percent from 3-point range, in an 87-68 win over Iowa in the NCAA Tournament second round in Brooklyn, New York.
? Iowa lost by the exact score (87-68) a year ago to second-seeded Gonzaga in the second round of the NCAA Tournament in Seattle, Washington.
? Jarrod Uthoff (16), Nicholas Baer (15), and Peter Jok (11) led the Hawkeyes in scoring.
? Villanova ultimately went on to win the national championship, beating North Carolina. Iowa has lost to four teams in NCAA tournaments who eventually went on to win the title: Duke in 1991 and 1992; Connecticut in 1999; Villanova in 2016.
UTHOFF, GESELL EARN ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICA HONORS
Jarrod Uthoff was 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 second-team All-America (USWBA, Sporting News) and was a finalist for the Oscar Robertson Trophy, John R. Wooden Award, and Karl Malone Award. Uthoff led the Big Ten in blocked shots (2.6 blocks per game), and was second in scoring (18.9 points per game) and 13th in rebounding (6.3 rebounds per game). In less than three years he accumulated 1,298 points, 137 three-pointers, 579 rebounds and 177 blocks. Uthoff became 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, became 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 (557), ninth in steals (160), and 38th in scoring (1,072). Gesell directed the offense the past four years, guiding the Hawkeyes to three NCAA Tournaments (2014, 2015, 2016) and an NIT runner-up finish in 2013. Gesell ranked first on the Hawkeyes this season in assists (205) and steals (44), and fourth in scoring (8.1). He is the first Hawkeye ever to be credited with 10 or more assists in five games in a single season.
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 WAS FINALIST FOR NATIONAL AWARDS
Jarrod Uthoff was one of 11 finalists for the USBWA’s Oscar Robertson Trophy as the men’s national player of the year. He was also one of five finalists for the Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year, and on the National Top 15 ballot for the John R. Wooden Award. Uthoff, a native of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, scored in double figures in all but one game in 2015-16, including netting 20 points or more a team-best 16 times. The team co-captain led the Big Ten in blocked shots (2.6) and was second in scoring (18.9). Uthoff was a consensus second-team All-America as a result of being named All-America by the USBWA, NABC, and Associated Press. He became Iowa’s fifth consensus All-American in program history and the first since Chuck Darling in 1952.
4 HAWKEYES EARN ALL-BIG TEN PRAISE
Senior Jarrod Uthoff and junior Peter Jok highlight Iowa’s All-Big Ten honorees. 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 ranked second in the Big Ten in scoring (18.9), first in blocked shots (2.6), and was 13th in rebounding (6.3). The forward finished is collegiate career ranked 19th in Iowa career scoring (1,298) and fourth in blocked shots (177). This marked 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 9.1 points this year, averaging 16.1 points contest. The 9.1 improvement was tops among Big Ten players. The guard ranked second on the team and ninth in the league in scoring (16.1), was second on the team in steals per game (1.25), and first in 3-pointers made (80), and free throw shooting (.852, 92-of-108). Gesell started all 33 games in 2015-16 and led the team with 2015 assists, which is a new school single season record. He averaged career bests in scoring (8.1), rebounds (3.2), assists (6.2), field goal percentage (.392), and 3-point percentage (.348). The four-year starter is the first Hawkeye ever to be credited with 10 or more assists five times in a single season. His 3.15 assist-to-turnover ratio is the best by any Hawkeye since 1997. Woodbury was also a four-year starter, averaging career bests this season in scoring (7.6), rebounding (8.3), field goal percentage (.550, 94-of-171), assists (0.9), and steals (0.5). He posted seven double-doubles in 2015-16, which tied for eighth among Big Ten players. He is just the fourth Hawkeye the past 23 seasons to average at least 8.3 points and 7.6 rebounds in a season (Ryan Bowen, Greg Brunner, and Reggie Evans). The center totaled more than 850 points, 750 rebounds, and 100 assists over his four-year career.
POSSESSING THE ROCK
After averaging 11.1 turnovers in 2015, which was the best average for fewest turnovers in program history since turnovers became an official stat in 1980, the Hawkeyes shattered that average one year later. Iowa averaged 10.3 turnovers in 33 games, which is the new benchmark moving forward. The Hawkeyes had nine or fewer turnovers 14 times in 2015-16, including recording a season-low three turnovers versus Drake (Dec. 19) and Temple (March 18). Iowa’s three miscues against Temple was its fewest in an NCAA Tournament game since having three against Virginia in 1997. Iowa ranked 25th nationally in turnover margin (+2.8).
UTHOFF, GESELL JOIN ELITE COMPANY
Jarrod Uthoff is just the third Hawkeye to accumulate 1,200+ points and 175+ blocks. Uthoff scored 1,298 points and 177 blocks. The other two 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 accomplished the feat in three seasons. Mike Gesell joined an exclusive group earlier in 2015-16. Gesell is one of three Hawkeyes to total more than 1,000 points, 550 assists, and 160 steals in a career. Gesell finished his career with 1,072 points, 557 assists, and 160 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 PUT UP CAREER NUMBERS
Fourth-year starter Mike Gesell had a career season leading the team at point guard. The native of South Sioux City, Nebraska, averaged career bests in scoring (8.1), rebounds (3.2), assists (6.2), field goal percentage (.392), and 3-point accuracy (.348). He broke Iowa’s 20-year old single-season assists record, previously held by Andre Woolridge (1996), with 205 assists as a senior. 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. 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. 4, by the website College Sports Madness.
UTHOFF, IOWA GRACE COVERS OF SPORTS ILLUSTRATED
Senior Jarrod Uthoff was on the cover of the Feb. 8, 2016 and March 17, 2016, regional covers of Sports Illustrated. It marked the first time in Hawkeye history that a student-athlete was on the cover of Sports Illustrated twice in the same year. 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.
DIALING IT UP FROM LONG DISTANCE
Iowa averaged 2.6 more 3-pointers in 2015-16 (8.2) than it did the previous season in 2014-16 (5.6). Peter Jok ranked seventh in the league averaging 2.5 triples per game. The Hawkeyes were 11-4 in 2015-16 when Jok sank at least three triples, including the NCAA Tournament win over Temple. Iowa made 12 triples in four games in 2015-16 (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 occurred the first 20 games in 2015-16. Iowa made 10 or more triples 11 times in 2015-16.
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HAWKEYES EARN HIGHEST NATIONAL RANKING SINCE 1987
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. Iowa was ranked nationally in both polls the last 11 weeks of the 2015-16 season. Iowa finished the season ranked 25th in both polls, marking the first time since 2006 that an Iowa team finished a season ranked in the Top 25. 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.
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 garnered four weekly honors from the Big Ten in 2015-16, including capturing back-to-back laurels on Jan. 11 (Mike Gesell) and Jan. 18 (Peter Jok). It marked 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 have 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).
MUSCLE GAIN
As a freshman, Dom Uhl was listed a 6-foot-8 and 195 pounds. After a year in the weight room, the sophomore forward checked in at 6-foot-9 and 215 pounds entering the 2015-16 season. Uhl averaged 17 minutes, six points, and 3.6 rebounds per game in 2015-16. He scored in double figures seven times as a sophomore. Uhl posted his first career double-double vs. 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 shot 50 percent (15-of-30) from behind the arc in conference play. Overall, he shot 45 percent (27-of-60) from long distance; that percentage ranks second best among Hawkeye sophomores in school history.
HAWKEYE FAST BREAKS
? Iowa has played a pair of basketball games in New York City three of the past four seasons. Iowa faced Maryland and Baylor in the 2013 NIT and Syracuse and Texas in the 2K Classic in November 2014; all four games were played at Madison Square Garden. Iowa challenged Temple and Villanova this past March at Barclays Center in Brooklyn in the NCAA Tournament.
? Iowa won 10 Big Ten games by double digits. It’s the most by any Hawkeye team since the 1996-97 season.
? Iowa was 17-1 in games decided by 10 points or more and 5-10 in games decided by single digits. Ten of Iowa’s 11 defeats came by single digits.
? 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 had a player score 20 points or more in 17 of its last 22 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).
? 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 in 2015-16.
? Iowa ranked 20th nationally in fewest fouls per game (16.3).
? 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 was 3-4 during the month of February, with three of the four setbacks coming away from Iowa City.
? 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 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 won 21 regular season contests each of the last two years.
? Iowa became the first team since Duke and Kentucky in 1965 to beat the same top-5 opponent by 10 in the 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 has competed in postseason play the last five years: NIT second round in 2012; NIT runner-up in 2013; NCAA first round in 2014; NCAA third round in 2015; No. 7 seed in 2016 tournament.
? Iowa has had a first-team All-Big Ten honoree in each of the last three seasons: Devyn Marble in 2014; Aaron White in 2015; Jarrod Uthoff in 2016.
FAST START IN BIG TEN PLAY
Iowa was 10-1 just past the halfway point of the Big Ten schedule. 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 started a Big Ten season, 10-1.
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, 2016, 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 118 after Iowa’s win over Temple in the NCAA Tournament. 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 (118-84, .584).
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 was 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. All three Iowa state schools (Iowa, Iowa State, and Northern Iowa) advanced to the Round of 32 in the NCAA Tournament in 2015-16.
BLOCK PARTY
Iowa’s length has affected a number of opponent shot attempts in 2015-16. The Hawkeyes blocked 156 shots this season (4.7), which ranked fourth in the conference and 40th nationally. Iowa had its streak of 94 straight games with at least one blocked shot snapped at Ohio State (Feb. 28). Iowa has blocked 150 or more shots each of the past four years, which is the most consecutive 150-block seasons in school history (blocked shots became a stat in 1983). Uthoff put together back-to-back 50+ block seasons, totaling 56 last season and 86 in 2015-16. He is the first Hawkeye since Erek Hansen in 2005 and 2006 to register more than 50 rejections in consecutive seasons. Additionally, Uthoff (84 in 32 games) joined Acie Earl and Erek Hansen as the only Hawkeyes to record 80 or more rejections in a year. Uthoff became the third Hawkeye since 1983 (blocked shots became a statistic in 1983) to lead the league in rejections.
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 NAMED CONSENSUS ALL-AMERICAN
Jarrod Uthoff became Iowa’s fifth consensus All-American and first since Chuck Darling in 1952. Uthoff, who amassed 1,298 career points, had his 19-game double-digit scoring streak snapped on Jan. 28, scoring nine points at nationally-ranked Maryland. Uthoff scored 20 or more a team-best 16 times in 2015-16. Uthoff’s 11 20-point games prior to the month of February were the most by a Hawkeye since Adam Haluska in 2006-07 (12). Uthoff ranked second in the Big Ten in scoring (18.9) and first in blocks (2.6), and was second on the team in 3-pointers (66) and rebounding (6.3). His 2.6 blocks per game ranked 11th in the nation. Uthoff was the second Big Ten player since 1996-97 to have 150+ blocks and 130+ 3-pointers made (Minnesota’s Michael Bauer, 1999-2004). He was 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 was one of three players in the country to register 20+ points and 5+ blocks in a game three times in 2015-16 (Stony Brook’s Jameel Warney and Pascal Siakam of New Mexico State).
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.
BAER BECAME RELIABLE RESERVE
After forward Dale Jones suffered a season-ending knee injury on Dec. 1, Nicholas Baer saw his minutes increase. The redshirt freshman walk-on has taken advantage of the opportunity. Baer sparked a late surge in Iowa’s last outing against Illinois at the Big Ten Tournament. Baer scored eight points in the final four minutes of the game. He had one of his best games as a Hawkeye against Villanova, totaling 15 points, four rebounds, and two steals in 25 minutes of action. 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 was one of only four freshmen in the nation in 2015-16 to post 13+ points, 7+ rebounds, and 6+ blocked in a single game. 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 had another stellar outing in Iowa’s final game of the 2015-16 season against Villanova, totaling 15 points, four rebounds, and two steals. Baer averaged 14.5 minutes off the bench, averaging 4.8 points, shooting at a 39 percent clip from 3-point range (26-of-66) and 2.6 rebounds. Baer’s 19 blocked shots ranked second best on the team. He scored in double figures five times in 2015-16.
EXPERIENCED BACKCOURT
Iowa had two senior point guards (Mike Gesell and Anthony Clemmons) and a junior shooting guard (Peter Jok) on the 2015-16 roster. Gesell and Clemmons ranked 14th and 70th nationally, respectively, in assist-to-turnover ratio. Clemmons was third on the team in scoring (8.9), while Gesell was fourth (8.1). Clemmons was named the team’s Most Improved Player 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. The native of Lansing, Michigan, posted single-season bests in every statistical category (scoring, steals, assists, rebounding, 3-pointers, and free throws) in 2015-16. Gesell was a four-year starter, who amassed 1,072 points, 557 assists, and 160 steals. The Hawkeye senior finished his career fourth in Iowa career assists.
DISTRIBUTOR AND PROTECTOR
Point guard Mike Gesell did an outstanding job directing the Hawkeye offense his entire Hawkeye career. Gesell owns three of Iowa’s top five assist-to-turnover ratio’s since 1997. His 3.15 ratio in 2014-15 ranks first, while is 3.05 ratio in 2013-14 is second and his 2.21 ratio in 2014-15 is fifth. Dean Oliver’s 2.75 ratio in 2000-01 is third, followed by Ryan Luehrsmann’s 2.21 in 1997-98 ranking fourth. The native of South Sioux City, Nebraska, ranked 17th in the country in assists (6.2) and 14th in assist-to-turnover ratio (3.15). Gesell collected a career-best 12 assists in Iowa’s win over Coppin State and also against Minnesota. He was credited with nine or more assists 10 times in 2015-16 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 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 prior couple seasons, Adam Woodbury split time at the center position with Gabriel Olaseni. With Olaseni having graduated, Woodbury’s minutes increased in 2015-16. 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 averaged 9.2 points and 8.1 rebounds per game. The senior played over 28 minutes 15 times. Woodbury averaged 7.6 points and 8.3 rebounds as a senior. Woodbury became only the fourth Hawkeye to average at least 7.6 points and 8.3 rebounds the past 23 seasons (Ryan Bowen, Greg Brunner, and Reggie Evans). Since 1994, fewer than 40 players in the Big Ten have put up those numbers. His 8.3 rebounding average tied for first in the Big Ten with Purdue’s Caleb Swannigan. Woodbury totaled seven double-doubles in 2015-16, which tied three other players for eighth 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 led the team in rebounding 14 of the last 17 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 (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 past season. Jok ranked second on the team in scoring (16.1 ppg) and first in free throw accuracy (.852, 92-of-108). Jok made 28 straight free throws before missing in the win over Temple (3-of-5). He scored 20 or more points 10 times in 2015-16, including a career-best 29 points at Rutgers (Jan. 21) and vs. Illinois (March 10). The 29-point outbursts tie for seventh most by a Hawkeye during the Fran McCaffery era. After averaging seven points per game a season ago, Jok surged 9.1 points this year averaging 16.1 points per contest. The +9.1 improvement was 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.
HAWKEYES TRAVEL TO FLORIDA IN NOVEMBER
Iowa, Memphis, Providence, and Virginia headline the field for the 2016 Emerald Coast Classic, presented by Global Sports. First and second-round games will be played at on-campus sites Nov. 12 through Nov. 23, with the third round and championship round scheduled Thanksgiving weekend on Nov. 25-26 at The Arena on the campus of Northwest Florida State College in Niceville, Fla.
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; Indiana). Iowa’s seven sellout crowds are the most since recording 11 sellouts in 2013-14. The past four seasons, Iowa’s 2016 senior class played in front of nearly 1 million fans (988,429).
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).
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.
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.
