Iowa Hosts Ohio State Saturday, 'Blackout' CHA

Hawkeyes in the NBA | 24 Hawkeyes to Watch | Hawk Talk Monthly — January | Game Notes (PDF)

THE SETTING
Iowa (11-10, 3-5) returns home to host Ohio State (13-8, 3-5) on Saturday. Tipoff is slated for 7:05 p.m. (CT) on Mediacom Court at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Tickets are available for $33 for adults, and $20 for youth/UI students. Saturday is a “Blackout” at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Fans are encouraged to wear black clothing for the contest against Ohio State. The first 1,000 UI students in attendance will receive an exclusive Blackout T-shirt.
    Saturday will be the only regular season meeting between Iowa and Ohio State. Iowa and Ohio State are in a six-way tie for eighth place in the Big Ten standings.

ON THE AIR
Radio: Iowa games are broadcast on the Hawkeye Radio Network. Gary Dolphin handles the play-by-play, while Bob Hansen provides expert analysis. The network includes more than 40 stations that blanket the state of Iowa and portions of Illinois, Nebraska, Minnesota, Missouri, and Wisconsin. The Hawkeye Radio Network coverage includes a 60-minute pregame show.
TV: Dave Flemming and Dan Dakich will call the action Tuesday on ESPN2 (WATCHESPN).

COACHES VS. CANCER SUITS & SNEAKERS
Coach McCaffery and his staff will wear Nikes on the sidelines during Saturday night’s game against Ohio State. They are joining coaches from across the country who are trading in dress shoes for sneakers as part of the annual Coaches vs. Cancer Suits & Sneakers Week. Coaches vs. Cancer is a collaboration between the American Cancer Society and National Association of Basketball Coaches. The program empowers coaches, their teams and communities to join the fight against cancer by participating in awareness efforts, advocacy programs, and fundraising activities.

GAME #22 STORYLINES
•    Saturday will be the 157th meeting between Iowa and Ohio State in men’s basketball. The all-time series is tied, 78-78. The last six meetings between the Hawkeyes and Buckeyes, dating back to 2013, have each been decided by 10 points or less.
•    Both Iowa and Ohio State’s coaching staffs will be wearing sneakers with their dress attire on the sidelines on Saturday to help raise cancer awareness for Coaches vs. Cancer.
•    Iowa’s lineup of four freshmen (one redshirt) and one senior is its youngest consistent lineup in program history. Iowa’s 1943-44 squad started three freshmen, one sophomore, and one senior.
•    Four of Iowa’s last seven games were decided by six points or less, including two three-point contests decided in overtime.
•    Nicholas Baer is the only reserve in the Big Ten with 145+ points, 125+ rebounds, 25+ steals, and 25+ blocked shots this season.
•    Iowa is 6-0 when allowing 70 points or fewer and 4-0 when committing 12 turnovers or less.
•    Peter Jok has scored 25+ points eight times this year, a total that ties for the sixth most nationally. Jok ranks 19th in country — fourth among players from Power 5 conferences — in scoring per game (21.0). He also ranks 10th nationally in free throw accuracy (.915) and 45th in 3-pointers made (2.9).
•    Peter Jok, the Big Ten’s leading scorer, is currently averaging 21.0 points per game, including 18.4 per contest in conference play. The last Big Ten player to average at least 21 points per game was Minnesota’s Kris Humphries (21.7) in the 2003-04 campaign.
•    After missing 16 games recovering from a fractured wrist, senior Dale Jones returned to limited action against Maryland on Jan. 19 and at Illinois on Jan. 25.
•    Peter Jok is the first Big Ten player with four 30-point games before the month of February since Michigan’s Louis Bullock in 1998-99. Additionally, Jok is the first Hawkeye with four 30-point games in a season since Adam Haluska had five in 2006-07.
•    Three of Iowa’s top four scorers this season are true freshmen. Tyler Cook is second (11.9), followed by Cordell Pemsl (9.1), and Jordan Bohannon (8.7).
•    Peter Jok ranks 19th in Iowa career scoring with 1,311 points. The Hawkeye senior is 32 points from surpassing James Moses for 18th place.

HAWKEYES FALL AT ILLINOIS, 76-64
Illinois sprinted out to a 10-0 advantage and never looked back en route to a 76-64 win over Iowa Wednesday evening at the State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois.
•    Iowa’s bench scored 40 of its 64 points, led by Ahmad Wagner and Nicholas Baer each netting a team-best 12 points. The 12 points matched a season high for Baer, while Wagner tied a career high.
•    In addition to leading the squad in scoring, Baer paced the team in rebounding (7) and blocked shots (2).
•    Both teams made 26 field goals, but Illinois outscored Iowa, 15-7, at the free throw line and made nine 3-pointers compared to the Hawkeyes’ five.
•    Illinois snapped Iowa’s two-game win streak at the State Farm Center with the victory.
•    Four Illini scored in double figures: Michael Finke (17), Maverick Morgan (12), Malcolm Hill (11), and Leron Black (10).

SCOUTING OHIO STATE
•    Ohio State enters Saturday’s game 67th in the RPI. After starting conference play 0-4, the Buckeyes have won three of their last four contests.
•    The Buckeyes played three of their last four games at home, where they are 11-3. Away from Columbus, Ohio State is 2-5, including an 0-1 mark on a neutral court. Ohio State won its last road game, 74-73, at Nebraska on Jan. 18.
•    Ohio State has played 12 games decided by six points or less this season, including its last four games (3-1).
•    All five Buckeye starters average double figures in scoring, led by Jae-Sean Tate’s 13.9 points per game, followed by JaQuan Lyle (12.3), Marc Loving (11.5), Trevor Thompson (11.0), and Kam Williams (10.1).
•    Ohio State has two players who have made 30 or more 3-pointers: Kam Williams (35-of-92, .380) and Marc Loving (33-of-92, .359).
•    Ohio State won its last game, 78-72, over Minnesota Wednesday night in Columbus. The Buckeyes outscored the Golden Gophers, 23-14, at the free throw line. Marc Loving and Trevor Thompson each netted 19 points to lead the Buckeyes. Thompson also pulled down 10 boards to register his seventh double-double of the season of 10th of his career. Ohio State is 5-2 this season when Thompson posts a double-double.
•    Junior forward Keita Bates-Diop will miss the remainder of the season due to injury after playing in nine games. Bates-Diop was averaging 9.7 points and 5.2 rebounds prior to being sidelined.
•    Ohio State ranks 27th nationally in defensive rebounds per game (28.14) and 36th in field goal percentage defense (40.0). Individually, Trevor Thompson ranks 41st in the country in rebounds per contest (9.3), 48th in blocked shots per game (1.86), and 54th in double-doubles (7), while JaQuan Lyle is 52nd in assists per game (5.2).
•    Thad Matta is in his 13th season as head coach of Ohio State (333-116, .742). Matta has guided the Buckeyes to five Big Ten regular season championships during his tenure.

ALL-TIME SERIES RECORDS
The all-time series is tied, 78-78. Twenty-four of the last 33 meetings, including the last six, have been decided by 10 points or less, with 13 decisions by five points or less.  
    Iowa holds a 48-27 overall advantage in Iowa City and an 18-12 record versus the Buckeyes in Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The Hawkeyes snapped a five-game home losing skid to Ohio State the last time the Buckeyes visited Iowa City on Jan. 17, 2015 (76-67).

LAST MEETING
•    Ohio State outscored Iowa, 12-2, over the last four minutes of the game to post a 69-64 victory over Iowa on Feb. 28, 2016 in Columbus, Ohio, in the only regular season meeting between the two teams. 
•    Three Hawkeyes netted double figures: Mike Gesell (16), Jarrod Uthoff (16), and Peter Jok (12).
•    Iowa was held to a season-low 3-of-12 (.250) shooting from 3-point range. Ohio State was 5-of-18 (.278) from long distance.
•    Ohio State blocked six shots, including Mike Gesell’s game-tying layup attempt in the final seconds. For the first time in 95 games, Iowa did not register at least one block.
•    Three Buckeyes scored in double figures: Marc Loving (25), Keita Bates-Diop (19), and Kam Williams (11).

ROOKIE FLOOR GENERAL
After having two veteran point guards graduate last spring (Mike Gesell and Anthony Clemmons), Jordan Bohannon has done a fantastic job directing the Hawkeye offense as a freshman. Bohannon ranks first on the team in assists (4.9), second in minutes played (28.0), free throw accuracy (.893) and 3-pointers made (41), and fourth in scoring (8.7). He has netted 17 or more points in four games and led the squad in assists a team-best 16 times. His 2.56 assist-to-turnover ratio in league play ties for sixth.
    Bohannon netted 12 of his 17 points in the second half and overtime in Iowa’s triumph over Michigan on New Year’s Day. He also had six assists and no turnovers. The native of Marion, Iowa, nearly had his first double-double versus No. 17/19 Purdue on Jan. 12, with 12 points and a personal-best nine assists.

PEMSL MAKING THE MOST OF HIGH PERCENTAGE SHOTS
Freshman Cordell Pemsl has had a great start to his collegiate career. The native of Dubuque, Iowa, has started 14 games, while coming off the bench seven times. In 21 total games, Pemsl has scored in double digits 10 times and is averaging 9.1 points and five rebounds, while shooting 62.5 percent (75-of-120) from the field, which is second best in the league. He has scored in double figures in eight of the 14 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 21 points this season as a senior (+4.9). 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 Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year Award, Naismith Trophy and John Wooden Award watch lists, and a candidate for the Senior CLASS Award. Jok scorched 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, who has led the Hawkeyes in scoring each of the last six games, 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. The school record for consecutive free throws made is 34 set by Chris Street (Jan. 2-Jan. 16, 1993).
    Jok ranks 19th nationally in points per game (21.0), 10th in free throw accuracy (.915), and 45th in 3-pointers per contest (2.9). His 21.0 scoring average is fourth among players from Power 5 conferences. Jok has scored 25 points or more eight times this year, which ties for sixth nationally.
    Jok has made 193 career 3-pointers, which are the seventh most in program history. He is only one triple from surpassing 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 (Italy), 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).

NOT YOUR AVERAGE BAER
Sophomore Nicholas Baer ranks first on the squad in blocks (1.3), steals (1.4) and rebounding (6.1), and is tied for third in assists (1.8). His is the only reserve in the Big Ten with 145+ points, 125+ rebounds, 25+ steals, and 25+ blocked shots this season. Baer is tied for eighth in the Big Ten in steals (1.5) and ninth in blocked shots (1.3).
    The native of Bettendorf, Iowa, has led the team in steals six times this year, being credited with three steals or more in a game a team-best five times.
    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. He has pulled down 10 or more rebounds in two of his last five games (11 at Nebraska and 10 versus No. 17/19 Purdue).

KRIENER MAKING MOST OF OPPORTUNITY
Iowa got six crucial points against nationally-ranked Purdue on Jan. 12, from freshman reserve Ryan Kriener. The skilled big man followed up that performance with a career night at Northwestern on Jan. 15, posting personal bests in scoring (14), minutes (22), and 3-pointers made (1). He had six rebounds, four points, one assist, and one steal versus Maryland on Jan. 19 and four points and three rebounds at Illinois on Wednesday night. Prior to the last four games, Kriener had only seen action in one other Big Ten game (at Purdue on Dec. 28).  Kriener is shooting 55 percent (25-of-45) from the floor this season.

A CLOSER LOOK AT IOWA’S FRESHMEN PRODUCTION
•    For the first time in program history, Iowa has had four freshmen score at least 20 points in a game: Tyler Cook (24 vs. Seton Hall); Jordan Bohannon (23 at Notre Dame); Isaiah Moss (21 versus Stetson); Cordell Pemsl (21 versus Stetson). 
•    For the first time in school history, Iowa has had five freshmen reach double figures in scoring in a game: Tyler Cook, Jordan Bohannon, Cordell Pemsl, Ryan Kriener, and Isaiah Moss.
•    Iowa freshmen have accumulated 57 combined starts this season, which ties for fourth most in program history. Iowa’s 2013 freshmen class had 81 starts, followed by 2010 (62), and 2009 (59).

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
•    Ten of the 14 Big Ten teams have four or more losses in conference play entering this weekend’s competition.
•    Ryan Kriener became the 10th different Hawkeye to have reached double figures in a game this season after netting 14 at Northwestern on Jan. 15.
•    Iowa is 58-11 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.
•    Iowa has scored 90 points or more six times this season.
•    Peter Jok totaled 29 points, six rebounds, and a career-best eight assists vs. No. 17/19 Purdue on Jan. 12. Jok became just the third Big Ten player with at least 29 points, six rebounds, and eight assists in a game versus a ranked foe in the last 20 years (Minnesota’s Nate Mason in 2017 and Denzel Valentine of Michigan State in 2016). Additionally, he is the first Hawkeye to post those numbers in any game since Adam Haluska had 31 points, nine assists, and nine rebounds vs. Coppin State in 2006.
•    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.
•    After scoring in double figures once in 27 games last year, Brady Ellingson has netted double digits four 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 played in back-to-back overtime games (Michigan and Nebraska) for the first time since Dec. 25 and Dec. 27, 1984.
•    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 in a game in school history and are the most points 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.
•    Iowa made all 13 of its free throw attempts at No. 15 Purdue on Dec. 28. The last time a Hawkeye team made all of its free throws (min. 10 attempts) was at Virginia (15-of-15) in the NIT quarterfinals on March 27, 2013.
•    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.
•    The 183 points in the Iowa-Nebraska double overtime game on Jan. 5 are the most points scored in the 28-game series history.
•    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 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.

HAWKEYES SWEPT 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.

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.

IOWA HISTORY
Iowa has played 2,727 games since beginning basketball in 1902. Iowa’s overall record is 1,604-1,123 (.588). Iowa’s 1,604 wins are 39th most among Division I programs. That includes a 1,025-358 (.741) record in home games, a 575-762 (.430) record in contests away from Iowa City, a 755-762 (.498) mark in Big Ten games and a 430-132 (.765) record in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

VOTE FOR McCAFFERY IN THE CHARITY COACHES CHALLENGE
Iowa’s Fran McCaffery is one of 48 collegiate coaches taking part in the annual Coaches Charity Challenge. Fan participation determines the ultimate winner over an eight-week period. The tournament is divided into four rounds. 
    Thanks to your votes, coach McCaffery was one of 24 coaches to advance to the next round. The coaches with the most votes will advance to the quarterfinals and earn more money for their charity. Visit Iowa’s social media sites @IowaHoops on Twitter and /hawkeyehoops on Facebook for more information on how to vote for McCaffery and Coaches vs. Cancer.

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.