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THE SETTING
Iowa (9-7, 1-2) returns home to host Rutgers (11-5, 0-3) on Sunday afternoon. Tipoff is set for 3:36 p.m. (CT) on Mediacom Court at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Sunday is Iowa’s annual “Lettermen’s Day”. A number of former Hawkeyes will be in attendance.
Tickets are available for purchase for $33 for adults, and $20 for youth and UI students.
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: Sunday’s game will be televised nationally on BTN (BTN2GO). Jeff Levering and Shon Morris will call the action.
NOT YOUR AVERAGE BAER
Redshirt sophomore Nicholas Baer ranks first on the squad in blocked shots (1.4), steals (1.3) and rebounding (6.3), and is fourth in assists (1.9). His 1.3 steals per game average ties for eighth best among Big Ten players, while his 1.4 blocks per game ties for ninth.
Iowa is 8-2 this season when Baer scores at least seven points in a game.
The native of Bettendorf, Iowa, 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.
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 had a team-best 11 rebounds and matched a personal best with six blocks in Iowa’s last game at Nebraska on Thursday night.
NEBRASKA EDGES HAWKEYES IN DOUBLE OVERTIME SHOOTOUT
Nebraska snapped a five-game losing skid to Iowa with a thrilling 93-90 double overtime victory on Thursday evening at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, Nebraska.
• The 183 points are the most scored in an Iowa-Nebraska contest and Thursday was the first overtime contest in the 28-game series history.
• Four Hawkeyes scored in double figures: Peter Jok (34), Isaiah Moss (17), Tyler Cook (14), and Cordell Pemsl (10). Jok posted his Big Ten-best fourth 30-point effort of the season; Moss reached double figures for the fifth time, while Cook for the seventh time.
• Nicholas Baer equaled a career high with six blocks to go along with five points and a team-best 11 rebounds. Baer has snagged 10 or more boards three times in his career.
• Nebraska was 19-of-35 (.543) from the foul line, while Iowa was 13-of-17 (.765). The Huskers attempted 16 free throws to Iowa’s two in the two overtime sessions.
• Nebraska guard Glynn Watson, Jr. led Nebraska with 34 points, bolstered by a blistering 7-of-8 shooting from 3-point territory.
SCOUTING RUTGERS
• Rutgers started its season 11-1 before losing its last four games. The 11-1 start is its best start to a season since winning its first 31 games during the 1975-76 season.
• Sunday will be the fifth time in six games that Rutgers will have played away from home, including three of four true road contests to start its Big Ten schedule.
• Rutgers lost its last game 95-63 at Michigan State on Wednesday. The Spartans outscored the Scarlet Knights 33-9 beyond the 3-point arc and shot 58 percent from the field compared to 42 percent for Rutgers. Corey Sanders led Rutgers with 22 points.
• Four Scarlet Knights average double figures: Nigel Johnson (12.1), Mike Williams (11.5), Deshawn Freeman (11.2), and Corey Sanders (10.9).
• Rutgers ranks third in the Big Ten in steals (6.9) and scoring defense (64.3), and is fourth in rebounding margin (+8.8). The Scarlet Knights are last in scoring offense (69.9), 3-pointers made (4.7) and 3-point field goal percentage (.296).
• Center C.J. Gettys ranks fourth in the league in field goal percentage (.616), while Corey Sanders is tied for third in steals (1.6). Mike Williams is Rutgers’ main 3-point weapon ranking 21st in the conference in triples made (1.8).
• Rutgers is ninth nationally in offensive rebounding (14.9), 15th in rebound margin (+8.8), 23rd in field goal percentage defense (.388), and 34th in blocked shots (5.3). Individually, Deshawn Freeman ranks 35th in the country in double-doubles (6).
• Iowa and Rutgers have played on common opponent: Seton Hall. Iowa lost to the Pirates (91-83) on Nov. 17 in Iowa City, while the Scarlet Knights lost (72-61) on Dec. 23 in New Jersey.
• Steve Pikiell is in his 12th season as a head coach and his first season at Rutgers. Sunday will be Pikiell’s second visit to Carver-Hawkeye Arena. In 2013, Pikiell’s Stony Brook team dropped a 75-63 decision to the Hawkeyes on March 22, 2013, in the NIT Round of 16.
ALL-TIME SERIES RECORDS
Sunday will be only the fourth meeting between Iowa and Rutgers. The Hawkeyes won the previous three meetings. Iowa won, 87-73, on March 17, 1989, in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in Providence, Rhode Island; 81-47 in Iowa City on Feb. 19, 2015; and 90-76 last season in Piscataway.
B.J. Armstrong (35) and Roy Marble (24) combined to score 59 of Iowa’s 87 points in the contest played in 1989.
LAST MEETING
• Three Hawkeyes scored 20 or more points en route to a 90-76 triumph at Rutgers on Jan. 21, 2016.
• Peter Jok (29), Anthony Clemmons (20), and Jarrod Uthoff (20) led the team in scoring. Jok and Clemmons’ point totals were career bests for the backcourt mates. 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).
• Peter Jok’s 29-point effort was bolstered by shooting 5-of-9 from 3-point range. The five triples equaled a career high. Iowa finished the game with 11 treys.
• Corey Sanders led Rutgers with 12 points and nine assists. Mike Williams contributed 17 points, while Jonathan Laurent had 14 points.
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 (4.6), second in minutes played (27.1), free throw accuracy (.864) and 3-pointers made (33), and fourth in scoring (8.9). He has netted 17 or more points in four games, led the squad in assists a team-best 12 times, and turned the ball over only three times in three conference games.
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.
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 nine. In 16 total games, Pemsl has scored in double digits nine times and is averaging 9.8 points and 5.4 rebounds, while shooting 66 percent (61-of-92) from the field.
In his nine starts, he is averaging 12.2 points and five rebounds per contest. He has scored in double figures in seven of nine 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 22.9 points this season as a senior (+6.8). 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 has scored 25 points or more six 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. The school record for consecutive free throws made is 34 set by Chris Street (Jan. 2-Jan. 16, 1993).
Jok ranks 14th nationally in points per game (22.9), 21st in free throw accuracy (.914), and 22nd in 3-pointers per contest (3.25). His 22.9 scoring average is tops among players from Power 5 conferences and seventh overall.
Jok has made 184 career 3-pointers, which are the seventh most in program history. He is nine 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
• Iowa is 57-11 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.
• As a team, Iowa ranks 28th nationally in assists per game (17.2), 24th in scoring offense (83.9) and 55th in 3-pointers made (9.1).
• 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 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 has scored 90 points or more six 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 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.
• 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.
IOWA HISTORY
Iowa has played 2,722 games since beginning basketball in 1902. Iowa’s overall record is 1,602-1,120 (.588). Iowa’s 1,602 wins are 39th most among Division I programs. That includes a 1,023-357 (.741) record in home games, a 575-760 (.431) record in contests away from Iowa City, a 753-759 (.498) mark in Big Ten games and a 428-131 (.765) record in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
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.
2 HAWKEYES SIDELINED DUE TO INJURIES
Dale Jones and Tyler Cook have missed time due to hand injuries suffered in November.
Cook fractured his right index finger during a practice on Thanksgiving at the Emerald Coast Classic. He missed seven games before returning to action on Dec. 28 against No. 15 Purdue. Cook, who started the first six games of his collegiate career, ranks second on the team in scoring (13.2 ppg) and third in rebounding (5.4 rpg).
Jones suffered a fracture in his right wrist in Iowa’s game against Seton Hall (Nov. 17) and is expected to miss another month. 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.
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.
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.
The coaches with the most votes will advance to the next round 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.
ON THE HORIZON
Iowa remains home for a return game against nationally-ranked Purdue on Thursday, Jan. 12 (8 p.m. CT). Tickets are available at hawkeyesports.com/tickets.
