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THE SETTING
Iowa (8-5, 0-0) will open Big Ten play on Wednesday at No. 15/15 Purdue (11-2, 0-0). Tipoff is set for 7:36 p.m. (CT) at Mackey Arena in West Lafayette, Indiana.
Wednesday marks only the second time in seven seasons under Fran McCaffery that the Hawkeyes will open league play on the road.
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: Wednesday’s game will be televised nationally on BTN (BTN2GO). Kevin Kugler and Jon Crispin will call the action.
BIG TEN OPENER STORYLINES
• Both Iowa and Purdue enter Wednesday’s league opener on win streaks; Purdue has won its last six, dating back to Dec. 3, while Iowa has won five straight dating back to Dec. 5.
• Iowa has won its last three Big Ten openers — beating Nebraska three seasons ago (67-57), at No. 18 Ohio State (71-65) two year ago, and top-ranked Michigan State last year (83-70).
• Iowa started its season 3-5, allowing opponents an average of 85.6 points at a 45 percent field goal percentage over the eight-game span. Since the 3-5 start, Iowa has won five straight, allowing 67.6 points per contest and a 32.8 field goal percentage defense during that five-game stretch.
• The Hawkeyes swept the regular season series over Purdue last year for the first time in 12 years (2004).
• Tyler Cook, who missed the last seven games due to injury, is expected to return at Purdue.
• Peter Jok had 17 points in the nonconference finale against Delaware State boosting his career scoring total to 1,166 points. Jok, who enters Wednesday’s game in 29th place on Iowa’s all-time scoring chart, is within reach of seven players on the list: Chad Calabria (1,168 points), John Johnson (1,172), Sam Williams (1,176), Val Barnes (1,188), Dave Gunther (1,188), Bill Logan (1,188), and Kevin Boyle (1,189).
• Freshmen Cordell Pemsl has scored in double figures in five of six starts.
• Three of Iowa’s top four scorers this season are true freshmen. Tyler Cook is second (13.7), followed by Cordell Pemsl (10.2), and Jordan Bohannon (8.7).
• Nicholas Baer posted his first career double-double versus UNI (11 points, 11 rebounds).
• Peter Jok, who scored his 1,000th career point against Memphis, has scored double digits in all 13 games, including netting 27 or more points five times. Jok ranks eighth in country — first among players from Power 5 conferences — in scoring per game (22.6). He also ranks 12th nationally in free throw accuracy (.925) and 24th in 3-pointers made (3.23).
• Cordell Pemsl ranks first in the Big Ten in field goal percentage, making 74.3 percent of his shot attempts (52-of-70). Pemsl is one of seven Division I players in the last 20 years to shoot 75 percent or better through 10 career games (minimum 50 attempts).
• 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.
BAER DOING BAER THINGS
Redshirt sophomore Nicholas Baer ranks first on the squad in steals (1.5), is second in rebounding (5.9), and fourth in assists (1.9). His 1.5 steals per game average ties for third best among Big Ten players.
Iowa is 7-1 this season when the native of Bettendorf, Iowa, scores at least seven points in a game. During Iowa’s five-game win streak, Baer averages 7.2 points and seven rebounds.
Baer has led the team in steals four times this year, being credited with three steals or more in a game a team-best four times, including Iowa’s win over North Dakota on Dec. 20.
Baer posted his first career double-double in Iowa’s win over Northern Iowa on Dec. 17, with 11 points and a game-high 11 rebounds.
HAWKEYES RECORD CONVINCING WIN OVER DELAWARE STATE
Ten Hawkeyes scored in an 89-57 victory over Delaware State on Dec. 22, in Iowa’s nonconference finale.
• For the second straight game, seven Hawkeyes scored eight points or more, with three reaching double figures: Peter Jok (17), Ahmad Wagner (12), and Isaiah Moss (10).
• Iowa freshmen combined for 52 of its 89 points.
• Iowa was credited with a season-best 12 steals, led by Peter Jok and Christian Williams’ three steals each. The three steals were season bests for both Williams and Jok.
• Iowa shot 57 percent (29-of-51) from the field, while holding Delaware State to 24 percent (16-of-66). The Hawkeyes held the Hornets without a field goal for over 12 minutes in the first half.
• The Hawkeyes outscored Delaware State 21-0 in fast break points and 33-12 in points off turnovers.
SCOUTING PURDUE
• Purdue enters Wednesday’s game ranked 15th nationally in both the Associated Press and Coaches polls, and 46th in the RPI. The Boilermakers are undefeated in the month of December, winning six contests by an average of 29 points.
• The Boilermakers and Hawkeyes have faced one common opponent: Notre Dame. Purdue edged the Irish, 86-81, on a neutral floor in Indianapolis. Iowa lost at Notre Dame, 92-78, in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge.
• The Boilermakers are 7-1 at home this season, with their lone defeat coming to the defending national champions, Villanova (79-76), on Nov. 14 in the Gavitt Games.
• Sophomore forward Caleb Swanigan earned his second straight Big Ten Player of the Week honors after averaging 26.5 points and 20.5 rebounds in a pair of wins over Western Illinois and Norfolk State. Swanigan shot 58.1 percent (18-of-31) from the field and 88.2 percent (15-of-17) from the foul line. He scored 21 points and snagged a career-high 21 rebounds against Western Illinois and then poured in a career-best 32 points and grabbed 20 rebounds versus Norfolk State for his nation-leading 10th double-double.
• Four Boilermakers average double figures: Caleb Swanigan (18.3), Isaac Haas (14.3), Vincent Edwards (11.8), and Carsen Edwards (10.4).
• Purdue has six players who have made 11 or more 3-pointers this season: Dakota Mathias (29-of-57, .509), P.J. Thompson (22-of-57, .386), Vincent Edwards (21-of-45, .467), Ryan Cline (18-of-37, .486), Carsen Edwards (17-of-58, .293), and Caleb Swanigan (11-of-21, .524).
• Purdue ranks third nationally in assists per game (20.1), seventh in fewest fouls per game (15.1), ninth in rebounding margin (10.7) and scoring margin (21.0), 11th in 3-point accuracy (.413), and 26th in scoring offense (84.3). Individually, Caleb Swanigan ranks first in the country in double-doubles (10), and second in rebounds per game (12.5), and defensive rebounds (9.46), while P.J. Thompson ranks third in assist-to-turnover ratio (5.2).
• Matt Painter is in his 12th season as head coach at Purdue (249-136, .647). Painter has guided the Boilermakers to eight NCAA Tournaments.
ALL-TIME SERIES RECORDS
Purdue holds an 87-75 advantage in the series. Iowa has won four of the last five meetings, including sweeping the season series a year ago: 70-63 in West Lafayette and 83-71 in Iowa City. It marked Iowa’s first regular season series sweep over Purdue in 12 years.
The Boilermakers hold a 58-22 advantage in games played in West Lafayette. Iowa snapped a seven-game losing skid in games played at Mackey Arena last year, with its 70-63 come-from-behind victory.
The last four games played at Mackey Arena (2012, 2013, 2015, and 2016) have each been decided by seven points or less, including one overtime contest (2013).
LAST YEAR AT PURDUE
• Iowa rallied from a 17-point halftime deficit to upend No. 14 Purdue, 70-63, at Mackey Arena in West Lafayette on Jan. 2, 2016. The victory marked Iowa’s first win over Purdue in West Lafayette since Feb. 1, 2006.
• The Hawkeyes trailed by as many as 19 points and were down, 37-20, at the half. Iowa outscored the Boilermakers, 50-26, in the second half.
• 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 was the fourth team in the last 20 seasons to beat an AP Top 15 team after trailing by 17-or-more points at the half, and only the second team to accomplish the feat on the road.
IOWA HISTORY
Iowa has played 2,719 games since beginning basketball in 1902. Iowa’s overall record is 1,601-1,118 (.589). That includes a 1,022-357 (.741) record in home games, a 575-758 (.431) record in contests away from Iowa City, a 752-757 (.498) mark in Big Ten games and a 427-131 (.765) record in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
PEMSLVANIA
Freshman Cordell Pemsl has had a great start to his collegiate career. The native of Dubuque, Iowa, has come off the bench in seven games, while starting six. In 13 total games, Pemsl has scored in double digits seven times and is averaging 10.2 points and 5.2 rebounds, while shooting a Big Ten-best 74.3 percent (52-of-70) from the field. Pemsl is one of seven Division I players in the last 20 years to shoot 75 percent or better through 10 career games (minimum 40 attempts).
In his six starts, he is averaging 14.3 points and 4.5 rebounds per contest. He has scored in double figures in five of six starts. Pemsl has made a staggering 80.5 percent of his shot attempts, missing only eight (33-of-41), in his six starts.
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 22.6 points so far this season as a senior (+6.5). 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 five times this season, including scorching the nets for 42 points against Memphis and 33 against Omaha on Dec. 3. Jok nearly had a triple-double against Stetson (15 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists) and a double-double against No. 25/25 Iowa State (23 points and nine rebounds).
Jok has been recognized as the Big Ten Player of the Week twice this season (Nov. 21 and Dec. 12). He averaged 28.5 points, six rebounds, two steals, and two assists against Seton Hall and UTRGV for the Nov. 21 award. Jok averaged a team-best 19 points, 8.5 rebounds, and five assists in contests versus Stetson and No. 25 Iowa State for the Dec. 12 distinction.
Jok, who scored career point No. 1,000 against Memphis, made his first 24 free throw attempts this season before misfiring on his first attempt at Notre Dame. Jok has had free throw streaks of 27 and 26 the last two seasons. He enters Wednesday’s game having made 15 straight. The school record for consecutive free throws made is 34 set by Chris Street (Jan. 2-Jan. 16, 1993).
Jok ranks eighth nationally in points per game (22.6), 12th in free throw accuracy (.925), and 24th in 3-pointers per contest (3.23). His 22.6 scoring average is tops best among players from Power 5 conferences.
Jok has made 174 career 3-pointers, which are the seventh most in program history. He is 19 triples from tying Brody Boyd (2001-04) for sixth place with 193.
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).
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.
HAWKEYE FASTBREAKS
• In two games against Purdue last season, Peter Jok averaged 12 points and five rebounds, Dom Uhl averaged seven points and 2.5 rebounds, while Nicholas Baer averaged five points and 2.5 boards.
• Iowa is 56-10 when scoring 80 points or more, the last seven seasons. The Hawkeyes are 63-2 when holding opponents to fewer than 61 points, the last seven years.
• As a team, Iowa ranks 21st nationally in assists per game (17.9), 23rd in scoring offense (84.6) and 45th in 3-pointers made (9.3).
• Peter Jok poured in 42 points against Memphis on Nov. 26. 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.
• Jordan Bohannon was 7-of-15 from long distance at Notre Dame on Nov. 29; the 15 attempts tied Justin Jackson for the second most 3-point attempts in a single-game in Iowa history.
• Eight different Hawkeyes have reached double figures in scoring this season.
• After scoring in double figures once in 27 games last year, Brady Ellingson has netted double digits three times this season.
• Peter Jok tied a Carver-Hawkeye Arena record against Omaha, making all 12 free throw attempts. The perfect 12-of-12 mark tied Luke Recker (2001 vs. Kansas State), Val Barnes (1992 vs. Ohio State), and Roy Marble (1988 vs. Northern Iowa).
• Iowa has scored 90 points or more five times 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 and are the most points scored in a game by a Big Ten team this season.
• Iowa posted school records in 3-pointers made (18) and attempted (43) in its victory over Savannah State on Nov. 13.
• Isaiah Moss was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week on Dec. 12. It marked the first time a rookie Hawkeye was honored by the conference office since Nicholas Baer on Dec. 21, 2015.
• 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.
• 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.
• Iowa athletic teams swept Iowa State in four competitions Dec. 7-10 (women’s basketball, men’s basketball, women’s swimming, and wrestling). The Hawkeyes lead the Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series, 14-7. With only three athletic events remaining, Iowa has clinched the series for 2016-17.
• Iowa has won 44 of its last 47 nonconference home games, dating back to 2012.
• 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 competed in postseason play the last five years (NCAA 2014-16; NIT 2012-13).
• 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.
HAWKEYES SWEEP BIG TEN WEEKLY HONORS
Senior Peter Jok and redshirt freshman Isaiah Moss were named Big Ten Player of the Week and Freshman of the Week, respectively, on Dec. 12. It marked the first time Iowa swept the weekly men’s basketball accolades (weekly freshman honors began in 2010).
Jok (6-6, 205 pounds) collected the third Big Ten weekly honor of his career and second this season. Jok helped lead the Hawkeyes to a pair of victories over Stetson (95-68) and No. 25 Iowa State (78-64). He averaged a team-best 19 points, 8.5 rebounds, and five assists in the two contests.
In Iowa’s upset over 25th-ranked Iowa State on Dec. 8, Jok lead all scorers and rebounders with 23 points and nine rebounds. Against Stetson, the team captain flirted with a triple-double recording 15 points, eight rebounds, and dishing out a career-high seven assists without committing a turnover.
Moss (6-5, 205 pounds) earned his first conference weekly recognition after averaging 17.5 points and five rebounds in Iowa’s two victories. The native of Chicago scored nine of his 14 points in the second half to help Iowa upend the 25th-ranked Cyclones.
Moss tallied personal bests in scoring (21), steals (2), and rebounds (6) in the Hawkeyes’ triumph over Stetson on Dec. 5. The shooting guard shot at a 50 percent clip from 3-point range in the two games (6-of-12), including going 5-of-8 (62.5 percent) from long distance against the Hatters.
2 HAWKEYES SIDELINED DUE TO INJURIES
Dale Jones and Tyler Cook are sidelined due to hand injuries suffered in November.
Jones suffered a fracture in his right wrist in Iowa’s game against Seton Hall (Nov. 17) and is expected to miss 8-9 weeks. The senior sustained the injury minutes after making his season debut. Jones, who transferred to Iowa in 2015 after three years at Tyler Junior College, has played limited minutes in only seven games during his Hawkeye career.
Cook fractured his right index finger during a practice on Thanksgiving at the Emerald Coast Classic and is expected to return to game action on Wednesday at Purdue. The Hawkeye freshman had surgery on Nov. 29 in Iowa City. Cook, who started the first six games of his collegiate career, ranks second on the team in scoring (13.7 points per game) and rebounding (5.3 rebounds per game).
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
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.
ALL-SESSION BIG TEN TOURNAMENT TICKETS ON SALE
All-session tickets for the 2017 Big Ten Basketball Tournament are on sale. The Big Ten 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 features a discounted student ticket program. Students of Big Ten universities are 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 are available in balcony sections.
ON THE HORIZON
Iowa will play its Big Ten home opener on New Year’s Day, Jan. 1. The Hawkeyes will welcome Michigan to Carver-Hawkeye Arena for the only regular season meeting between the two teams. The game is scheduled to start at 1:15 p.m. (CT) and will be televised on BTN (BTN2GO).
