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THE SETTING
Iowa (3-3) will travel to South Bend, Indiana, to face Notre Dame (6-0) in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge on Tuesday. Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. (CT) at the Joyce Center.
ON THE AIR
Radio: Iowa games are 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: Tuesday’s game will be televised nationally on ESPN2 (WATCHESPN). Bob Wischusen and LaPhonso Ellis will call the action.
GAME #7 STORYLINES
• Tuesday will be Iowa’s second game against an ACC opponent in five days. The Hawkeyes played Virginia last Friday at the Emerald Coast Classic in Niceville, Florida.
• Iowa is 5-10 in Challenges games, winning its last three ACC/Big Ten Challenge contests, winning home games against Florida State (78-75, OT) in 2015 and Notre Dame (98-93) in 2013, and on the road at North Carolina (60-50) in 2014.
• Peter Jok poured in 42 points against Memphis on Saturday. The 42 points are the most by a Hawkeye in 40 years and tie for the fourth most in a single-game in program history, tying Bruce King’s 42 points against Pittsburgh in 1976.
• Senior Dale Jones suffered a fracture in his right wrist and will miss the next 8-9 weeks.
• Peter Jok, who scored his 1,000th career point in Iowa’s last outing against Memphis on Saturday, has scored double digits in all six games, including netting 27 or more points in four of the contests. Jok leads the Big Ten and players from Power 5 Conferences in scoring, averaging 25.3 points per contest.
• Iowa head coach Fran McCaffery served as an assistant coach at Notre Dame for 11 seasons (1988-99). McCaffery worked on the staffs of Digger Phelps and John MacLeod.
• Nicholas Baer’s cousin, Kristin Baer, is a sophomore on the Notre Dame volleyball team.
• Peter Jok (152 points) and Tyler Cook (82 points) account for 45 percent of Iowa’s offense.
• Peter Jok was named to the preseason 10-player All-Big Ten first team, while also being named to the 2017 Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year Award and 2017 Naismith Trophy and John Wooden Award watch lists.
• Iowa has competed in postseason play the last five years (NCAA 2014-16; NIT 2012-13).
• The Hawkeyes won 22 games, tied for third place in the Big Ten, and won an NCAA Tournament game each of the last two seasons.
• Iowa has won 20 or more games in four consecutive seasons — its longest streak in 15 years.
• 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.
• Iowa is 53-9 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.
ALL-TIME SERIES RESULTS
Tuesday will be the 16th meeting between Iowa and Notre Dame, with the Irish leading the all-time series 9-6. Tuesday will be the third time the two teams will have played in four years. Iowa beat Notre Dame (98-93) in Iowa City in 2013, while the Irish edged the Hawkeyes (68-62) in Orlando last November at the Advocare Invitational.
Tuesday will be Iowa’s seventh game played at Notre Dame. The Hawkeyes won one of the previous six meetings in South Bend (64-62 in 1949). Iowa’s last visit to Notre Dame was in 1990 (L, 77-68).
MEMPHIS OUTRUNS HAWKEYES IN LAST OUTING
Iowa and Memphis combined for 192 points, with the Tigers outlasting the Hawkeyes, 100-92, in the third place game of the Emerald Coast Classic on Saturday in Niceville, Florida.
• Peter Jok was white-hot, posting career highs in points (42) and 3-pointers made (8). The 42 points are a tournament record, and tie for the fourth most scored by a Hawkeye in a single-game in program history. The senior was named to the all-tournament team.
• Peter Jok was a perfect 12-of-12 from the foul line. The 12 makes and attempts was one shy of the school record held by Glenn Vidnovic (13-of-13 vs. Purdue in 1969).
• The game featured 15 lead changes and three ties.
• Freshman forward Tyler Cook also scored in double figures, netting 17 points while also grabbing a team-high seven rebounds.
• Memphis had five players score in double digits and scored 27 of its 40 field goals in the paint.
• Iowa shot 54 percent (30-of-55) from the field, while Memphis made 55 percent (40-of-72) of its attempts.
SCOUTING NOTRE DAME
• Notre Dame has won its first six games of the season, winning four games at home and two on neutral floors. The 6-0 is the third best start in the Mike Brey era.
• Notre Dame returned nine letterwinners, including three starters, from last year’s team that advanced to the Elite Eight in the NCAA Tournament.
• The Irish have won its first six contests by an average of 24 points. Notre Dame has made 82.6 percent (95-of-115) of its free throw attempts. Matt Farrell is a perfect 15-of-15, while Bonzie Colson is 28-of-32 (.875) from the foul line through six games.
• Four starters average double figures in scoring: Bonzie Colson (17.2), V.J. Beachem (17.0), Steve Vasturia (15.3), and Matt Farrell (11.5). All five of Notre Dame’s starters are upperclassmen (three juniors and two seniors).
• In addition to leading the squad in scoring, Bonzie Colson averages a team-best 9.7 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game.
• Three players have made 11 or more 3-pointers: Matt Ryan (14), V.J. Beachem (13), and Steve Vasturia (11).
• In their last outing against Chicago State on Saturday, the Irish drained 17 3-pointers, seven by Matt Ryan. The sophomore finished with a career-high 23 points. Bonzie Colson finished with his third straight double-double (10 points, 11 rebounds).
• Notre Dame is coached by Mike Brey, who is in his 16th season on the Fighting Irish sidelines. Brey has guided Notre Dame to 15 20-win seasons and 13 NCAA Tournament appearances.
LAST MEETING VERSUS NOTRE DAME
Iowa and Notre Dame met last November in the Advocare Invitational in Orlando, Florida. The Irish outscored the Hawkeyes 14-9 in the last 3:30 of the contest to hold on for a 68-62 win. Iowa’s Peter Jok was the only Hawkeye to return this season who scored in that contest (eight points). Notre Dame’s V.J. Beachem tallied a team-best 16 points, while Bonzie Colson, Steve Vasturia, and Matt Ryan each contributed 11 points.
PETER JOK SCORCHING THE NETS
After averaging 7.0 points per game as a sophomore, Peter Jok averaged 16.1 points last year as a junior (+9.1), and is averaging a Big Ten-best 25.3 points so far this season as a senior (+9.2). The 9.1 improvement last year was tops among Big Ten players.
Jok was named to the preseason All-Big Ten first team, while also being named to the 2017 Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year Award and 2017 Naismith Trophy and John Wooden Award watch lists. Jok has scored 27 points or more four times this season, including scorching the nets for 42 points in Iowa’s last game against Memphis.
Jok was recognized as the Big Ten Player of the Week on Nov. 21 after averaging 28.5 points, six rebounds, two steals, and two assists against Seton Hall and UTRGV. Jok made all 10 free throw attempts and shot 59 percent (20-of-34) from the field, including 44 percent (7-of-16) from 3-point range in the two-game span.
Jok has made all 24 free throw attempts this season, and has made 26 straight dating back to the Temple game in the NCAA Tournament last March. The 26 consecutive free throws is his second longest streak (27 last season). The school record for consecutive free throws made is 34 set by Chris Street (Jan. 2-Jan. 16, 1993).
Jok, who scored career point No. 1,000 in Iowa’s last game against Memphis, has scored double digits 50 times in his career.
Last year, Jok was the first Hawkeye non-senior to average 16 points or more since Chris Kingsbury averaged 16.8 points as a sophomore in 1995.
IOWA HISTORY
Iowa has played 2,712 games since beginning basketball in 1902. Iowa’s overall record is 1,596-1,116 (.588). That includes a 1,018-356 (.741) record in home games, a 574-757 (.431) record in contests away from Iowa City, a 752-757 (.498) mark in Big Ten games and a 423-130 (.765) record in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
HAWKEYE FASTBREAKS
• Seven different Hawkeyes have reached double figures in scoring through four games this season.
• After scoring in double figures once in 27 games last year, sophomore Brady Ellingson has netted double digits twice in four games this season.
• Iowa surpassed the century mark for the 97th time in program history with a 116-84 win over Savannah State on Nov. 13. The 116 points equal the seventh most points scored in a game in program history.
• Iowa has won 40 of its last 42 nonconference home games, dating back to 2012.
• Peter Jok joined Reggie Evans (twice) and Aaron Fuller as the only Hawkeyes to post 30+ points and 10+ rebounds in a single game the last 20 years. Jok totaled 30 points and 11 rebounds against Seton Hall (Nov. 17). His efforts earned the team captain Big Ten Player of the Week honors on Nov. 21.
• Iowa posted school records in 3-pointers made (18) and attempted (43) in its victory over Savannah State on Nov. 13.
• Peter Jok scored 27 points in Iowa’s opener vs. Kennesaw State. The 27 points are the most by a Hawkeye in a season opener since Adam Haluska poured in 29 against The Citadel in 2006.
• Freshman Tyler Cook (10) joined Aaron White as the only two players to grab 10 or more rebounds in their first game as a Hawkeye in the past 20 years.
DALE JONES TO MISS 8-9 WEEKS DUE TO INJURY
Senior Dale Jones suffered a fracture in his right wrist in Iowa’s game against Seton Hall (Nov. 17) and is expected to miss approximately 8-9 weeks. After missing the first two games this season, Jones sustained the injury minutes after making his season debut against Seton Hall.
Jones, who transferred to Iowa in 2015 after three years at Tyler Junior College in Texas, has played limited minutes in only seven games during his Hawkeye career. Jones suffered a season-ending knee injury in practice on Dec. 1, 2015, after competing in Iowa’s first six games. The native of Waterloo, Iowa, suffered his first knee injury in 2014.
NICHOLAS BAER PLAYED OVERSEAS IN AUGUST
Nicholas Baer averaged 8.5 points, 8.3 rebounds, and two steals in four games (3-1) overseas on the USA East Coast All-Star Team.
This marked the sixth consecutive year that a Hawkeye traveled overseas with the USA East Coast basketball team. In 2011, Matt Gatens and Bryce Cartwright traveled overseas; Zach McCabe went in 2012; Jarrod Uthoff was on the roster in 2013; Mike Gesell and Adam Woodbury competed in 2014; while Dom Uhl traveled with the team in 2015.
RECENT GRADUATES PLAYING PROFESSIONAL BASKETBALL
A number of recent Iowa basketball graduates are playing professionally: Melsahn Basabe (Greece), Anthony Clemmons (Austria), Mike Gesell (Denmark), Jarryd Cole (France), Matt Gatens (NBA D-League: Iowa Energy — injured), Devyn Marble (Greece), Gabriel Olaseni (Italy), Darius Stokes (Australia), Jarrod Uthoff (NBA D-League: Raptors 905), Aaron White (Russia), and Adam Woodbury (NBA D-League: Fort Wayne Mad Ants).
CARVER-HAWKEYE ARENA ENHANCEMENTS
The Iowa Athletic Department upgraded Carver-Hawkeye Arena’s video boards, sound system, lighting, digital scorestable displays, and playing surface this past summer.
A new four-sided centerhung video system is the centerpiece of the installation. The two main centerhung displays measure approximately 14.5 feet high by 26 feet wide and the other two centerhung displays measure 9.5 feet high by 16.5 feet wide. The project also upgraded the auxiliary displays located near the ceiling at each side of the arena.
BAER NOMINATED FOR GOOD WORKS TEAM
Sophomore Nicholas Baer is a nominee for the 2017 Allstate NABC Good Works Team.
This prestigious community service award recognizes a distinguished group of student-athletes who have demonstrated a commitment to enriching the lives of others and contributing to the greater good in their communities.
College sports information directors and basketball coaches across the country nominated players who exhibit exceptional leadership skills and an unwavering commitment to volunteerism.
THE HY-VEE CLASSIC TICKETS ON SALE
The state’s four NCAA Division I men’s basketball teams will be in action in the same venue for the fifth consecutive year at Wells Fargo Arena on Saturday, Dec. 17.
The first game of the doubleheader will feature Northern Iowa and Iowa beginning at 3:30 p.m. The game will be broadcast on ESPN3. Iowa State and Drake will play the second game at 6 p.m., with the game being broadcast on Mediacom.
Tickets, which range in price from $30-75, are on sale exclusively through Hy-VeeTix.com, 844-55-HYVEE, 22 Hy-Vee Stores in Des Moines and Ames, or the Wells Fargo Arena Box Office. Tickets are good for admission to both games of the doubleheader.
One of the marquee basketball events in the Midwest, The Hy-Vee Classic has sold out each of the last two years.
ALL-SESSION BIG TEN TOURNAMENT TICKETS ON SALE
All-session tickets for the 2017 Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament are on sale. The Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament will take place at the Verizon Center in Washington D.C., March 8-12.
Lower level tickets may be purchased through the UI Ticket Office. General public tickets may be purchased at Ticketmaster outlets, ticketmaster.com, or by calling Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000.
All-session tickets for the lower level at the Verizon Center are available for $400 through the Big Ten university ticket offices only. All-session tickets general public tickets are available for $200 or $250 (depending on seat location) through Ticketmaster or the Verizon Center box office only. Orders will be limited to eight all-session tickets.
The tournament will continue to feature a discounted student ticket program. Students of Big Ten universities will be able to purchase tickets for $20, good for only the session or sessions featuring their school. All students must have a valid student ID for entry. Student section seating will be available in balcony sections and orders will be limited to one ticket per student.
ON THE HORIZON
After playing three games away from Iowa City, the Hawkeyes return home to play three straight contests. Iowa will first host Omaha on Saturday (1 p.m.), followed by games against Stetson (Dec. 5, 6 p.m.) and Iowa State (Dec. 8, 7 p.m.).
