Hawkeyes in the NBA | Hawk Talk Monthly — March | Big Ten Tournament Bracket (PDF) | Game Notes (PDF) | Iowa Tournament History & Clippings
| Date | Thursday, March 9, 2017 | 5:30 p.m. (CT) |
| Location | Washington, D.C. | Verizon Center |
| Tickets | hawkeyesports.com/tickets |
| Radio | Listen Live | Hawkeye Radio Network | Hawkeye All-Access |
| Television | ESPN2 |
| Live Stream | WATCHESPN |
| Live Stats | StatBroadcast |
| Live Updates | @IowaHoops |
THE SETTING
Iowa (18-13, 10-8) earned the No. 7 seed at this week’s Big Ten Tournament and will square-off against 10th-seeded Indiana (17-14, 7-11) on Thursday. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. (CT) at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C.
All-session and single-session tickets for the tournament are available: single-session ticket prices range from $25 to 90 depending on the session and seat location. All-session tickets remain available for $250 or $200 depending on seat location. Tickets will be available at the Verizon Center box office or ticketmaster.com.
ON THE AIR
Radio: Iowa games at the tournament are broadcast on the Hawkeye Radio Network, Sirius/XM and Compass Media Networks. 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, Dan Dakich, and Molly McGrath will call Thursday’s Big Ten Tournament second round game on ESPN2 (WATCHESPN).
IOWA BIG TEN TOURNAMENT STORYLINES
• Iowa enters the Big Ten Tournament having won seven of its last 10 games, including four straight. Indiana has lost six of its last eight games entering the tournament.
• Iowa has five RPI Top-50 wins this season: Purdue (219), Maryland (24), Iowa State (26), Wisconsin (38), and Michigan (46).
• Peter Jok is the first Big Ten player to win at least one game in all 14 Big Ten arenas during his collegiate career. Winning at the Kohl Center in Wisconsin (March 2), completed the sweep for Jok.
• Nicholas Baer is the only Division I men’s basketball player this year to amass 225+ points, 35+ blocked shots, 45+ steals, and 40+ 3-pointers. He is one of only two Big Ten players to accomplish the feat over last 20 years, joining Michigan State’s Draymond Green (2012).
• Jordan Bohannon is the only freshman nationally with 70+ 3-pointers and 140+ assists.
• Peter Jok (.9202, 150-of-163) is closing in on the Big Ten single-season free throw percentage record held by Steve Alford of Indiana (.9206, 116-of-126) in 1985.
• Thursday features two of the top 3-point weapons in the Big Ten: Iowa’s Peter Jok and James Blackmon, Jr. of Indiana. Blackmon ranks first in the league in 3-pointers per game (3.0), while Jok ranks third (2.6).
• Peter Jok broke Iowa’s single-game free throw record vs. Indiana, sinking 22-of-23 (Feb. 21).
• Iowa’s Jordan Bohannon and Ohio State’s D’Angelo Russell (2015) are the only two Big Ten freshman to ever amass 140+ assists and 70+ 3-pointers in a single-season.
• Jordan Bohannon sank eight 3-pointers (8-of-10) in Iowa’s win at No. 24/24 Maryland. The eight triples are the most by a freshman in a single game in Iowa history and one shy of the single-game school record.
• Senior Peter Jok (75) and freshman Jordan Bohannon (73) are the first Iowa duo to sink 70-or-more 3-pointers in the same season in school history.
• Freshmen Cordell Pemsl, Jordan Bohannon, Tyler Cook, and Isaiah Moss account for 42.8 percent of Iowa’s offense. Three of Iowa’s top four scorers this season are true freshmen; Tyler Cook is second (12.0), followed by Jordan Bohannon (9.8), and Cordell Pemsl (9.0).
• Peter Jok has scored 30+ points five times this year, a total that ties Washington’s Markelle Fultz for the most by a player from a Power 5 conference. Jok ranks fifth among players from Power 5 conferences in scoring (20.2). He also ranks fourth nationally in free throw accuracy (min 3.0 made per game), making 92 percent of his attempts (150-of-163).
• Iowa is 10-1 when allowing 70 points or fewer and 8-1 when committing 12 turnovers or less.
HAWKEYES WIN REGULAR SEASON FINALE OVER PENN STATE
Iowa led by as many as 27 points in the second half en route to a 90-79 triumph over Penn State at Iowa City in the only regular season meeting between the two teams.
• The 90 points are the most scored by Iowa in a regular-season home finale since scoring 103 against Wisconsin in the 1988 home finale.
• Iowa won its fourth straight game to close the regular season. The four-game win streak is Iowa’s longest during conference play and second longest of the year.
• Iowa had five players score in double figures: Peter Jok (21), Nicholas Baer (20), Cordell Pemsl (14), Jordan Bohannon (11), Tyler Cook (11). Baer’s 20 points are a career best. Jok scored 20 of his 21 points in the second stanza.
• Nicholas Baer was a perfect 4-of-4 from 3-point territory against the Nittany Lions. The redshirt sophomore has made 8-of-9 (.889) from long distance the last two games.
• Nicholas Baer (20 points, 10 rebounds) and Tyler Cook (11 points, 10 rebounds) each notched their second double-doubles of the season.
• Penn State had two players score in double digits: Josh Reaves (25) and Mike Watkins (17).
SEVENTH SEED HISTORY AT BIG TEN TOURNAMENT
Teams seeded seventh at previous Big Ten Tournaments are 13-19 at the tournament. The No. 7 seed has won at least one game four of the last six years, including the last three. Seven-seeds have advanced to the conference semifinals three times in the 19-year tournament history (2011, 2005, 2001). No seventh seed has advanced farther than the semifinals.
IOWA IN THE BIG TEN TOURNAMENT
This week is the first time the Big Ten Tournament will be played at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C. This will also be Iowa’s first ever visit to the Verizon Center.
Iowa has posted a 15-17 record in Big Ten Tournament games. The Hawkeyes earned tournament titles in 2001 and 2006 and lost in the title game in 2002. Only Illinois (27), Michigan State (27), Ohio State (26), and Wisconsin (21) have more wins and a higher winning percentage than the Hawkeyes. Michigan State has won five tournament titles, Ohio State has won four, Wisconsin has won three, while Illinois and Iowa have two tournament titles (Ohio State was forced to vacate its 2002 title).
Iowa has played 10 different teams in the event, having met each team except Nebraska, Rutgers, and Maryland at least once (Rutgers and Maryland played in their first Big Ten Tournament in 2015). Iowa is the only team to claim the tournament title by winning four games in four days, that taking place in 2001 as a No. 6 seed to become the lowest seed ever to win the tournament.
Iowa has been eliminated by the tournament champion in four of the 17 tournaments it did not win, including Michigan in the 1998 quarterfinals, Michigan State in the 2000 quarterfinals and 2012 quarterfinals, and Ohio State in the 2002 title game.
The Hawkeyes, a fifth seed, lost to Illinois (68-66) in the second round of the tournament a year ago.
IOWA BY SEEDING
This marks the third time in tournament history that Iowa has been the seventh seed (2000 and 2005). Iowa has never been the top seed, third seed or 11th seed.
Iowa is 3-2 as a No. 7 seed in the Big Ten Tournament. In 2000, the Hawkeyes beat No. 10 seed Minnesota (81-78) before falling to second-seeded Michigan State (75-65) in the quarterfinals in Chicago. In 2005 — also in Chicago — Iowa advanced to the semifinals after wins over No. 10 seed Purdue (71-52) and No. 2 seed Michigan State (71-69). The Hawkeyes were edged by third-seeded Wisconsin (59-56) in the semifinals.
4 HAWKEYES EARN ALL-BIG TEN RECOGNITION
Peter Jok was named first-team All-Big Ten by both conference head coaches and media. Nicholas Baer was voted the Big Ten Sixth Man of the Year by the head coaches, while Jordan Bohannon and Tyler Cook were both voted to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team by the coaches. Baer was also named Iowa’s men’s basketball Sportsmanship Award recipient. Iowa is the only Big Ten team with two players named to the All-Big Ten Freshman Team; this year is the first time in program history that the Hawkeyes had two players on the Big Ten All-Freshman Team (honor began in 2003).
Jok is the fourth Hawkeye to earn All-Big Ten first team accolades the last four seasons, joining Roy Devyn Marble (2014), Aaron White (2015), and Jarrod Uthoff (2016). It marks the second time in program history that Iowa has had at least one player on the first-team all-league team four consecutive seasons: Herb Wilkinson (1945-47), Clayton Wilkinson (1946), and Murray Wier (1948).
FINISHING STRONG
Iowa won four straight games to end the regular season. The Hawkeyes rank among the best in the league over the last half (nine games) of conference play: Purdue (8-1), Minnesota (8-1), Iowa (6-3), Michigan (6-3).
Furthermore, Iowa posted a 3-2 record against the top three teams in the Big Ten standings (Purdue, Wisconsin, and Maryland). The Hawkeyes beat each of those three teams once, including recording road victories at No. 24 Maryland (83-69) and No. 21 Wisconsin (59-57).
IOWA HISTORY
Iowa has played 2,737 games since beginning basketball in 1902. Iowa’s overall record is 1,611-1,126 (.588). Iowa’s 1,611 wins are 39th most among Division I programs. That includes a 1,029-359 (.741) record in home games, a 578-764 (.431) record in contests away from Iowa City, a 762-765 (.499) mark in Big Ten games and a 434-133 (.765) record in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
BOHANNON NAMED BIG TEN FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
Point guard Jordan Bohannon was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week by the conference office on Monday.
Bohannon led Iowa to victories last week over No. 21 Wisconsin (59-57) and Penn State (90-79). The native of Marion, Iowa, averaged 11 points, five assists, 2.5 rebounds, and 2.5 3-pointers made in the two games.
Bohannon sank the game-winning 3-pointer with nine seconds remaining at 21st-ranked Wisconsin on March 2. The win was just Iowa’s fourth ever victory at the Kohl Center and first since 2011.
In Iowa’s home win over Penn State on Sunday, Bohannon tallied 11 points and five assists. The win capped a season-best four-game Big Ten win streak for Iowa to close the regular season.
Bohannon is the only Division I freshman in the country this season with 140-or-more assists and 70-plus 3-pointers made.
The honor is the second of the season for Bohannon and marks the fifth time a Hawkeye men’s basketball player has earned weekly praise by the Big Ten Conference. Peter Jok was named Player of the Week on Nov. 21 and Dec. 12; Isaiah Moss was tabbed Freshman of the Week on Dec. 12, and Bohannon previously earned freshman laurels on Feb. 6.
JORDAN CLIMBING THE BOHANNON 3-POINT CHART
Jordan Bohannon, who is the youngest of four brothers who played collegiate basketball, trails only his brother Matt in most 3-pointers made in a season by a Bohannon. Matt made 93 triples last year for Northern Iowa. Jordan is second, followed by Jason, who sank 68 for Wisconsin during the 2009-10 season.
Bohannon has made 73-of-187 (.390) from 3-point range this season. The percentage trails only Brady Ellingson on the team, with Ellingson attempting 123 fewer shots (32-of-64, .500). Bohannon’s 73 triples trails only Peter Jok (75) by two for the team lead.
LAST MEETING
Four Hawkeyes scored in double figures, paced by senior Peter Jok’s 35 points en route to a 96-90 overtime victory over Indiana on Feb. 21, in Iowa City.
• The game was only the sixth played in overtime between Iowa and Indiana, and first since 1999, in the 176-game series history.
• Iowa outscored Indiana, 39-16, at the free throw line. Peter Jok went a staggering 22-of-23 from the line breaking the 55-year old school record for makes and also establishing a new arena benchmark for attempts.
• Peter Jok scored 15 of his 35 points in overtime, two points shy of the NCAA record (17) for scoring in any overtime session. Jok became the third Hawkeye to score 30+ points against Indiana the last 20 years, joining Adam Haluska and Matt Gatens.
• Iowa was 39-of-47 from the free throw line against the Hoosiers. The 39 makes are the most by a Hawkeye team since the 1994 squad made 40 versus Wisconsin. The 47 attempts are the most since Iowa took 49 attempts against Omaha in 2013.
• Iowa’s defense forced 22 Hoosier turnovers, converting those miscues into 25 points.
• Sophomore Christian Williams tallied a personal-best 10 points, scoring on 5-of-6 attempts. In addition to scoring nine points, freshman Jordan Bohannon posted team bests in steals (4) and assists (6).
• Indiana had four players score in double figures: Robert Johnson (19), James Blackmon Jr. (18), Thomas Bryant (12), and Josh Newkirk (11). Blackmon, Johnson, and Newkirk all fouled out of the contest in the overtime session.
SCOUTING INDIANA
• Indiana (RPI – 81) has lost six of its last eight games, with the two victories coming against Northwestern (63-62) and Ohio State (96-92).
• Six of Indiana’s 11 losses in conference play have come by six points or fewer, including a 96-90 overtime defeat at Iowa.
• The Hoosiers are 3-10 in games away from Bloomington, Indiana, this season, including a 1-2 mark in neutral site games. Indiana beat Kansas (103-99) in the season opener in Hawai’i, but lost to Butler (83-78) and Louisville (77-62), both in Indianapolis.
• Indiana won its last game played, 96-92, at Ohio State on March 4, in Columbus, Ohio. The Hoosiers led by as many as 18 points, shooting a blistering 58.6 percent (34-of-58) from the field. Indiana’s starters scored 93 of its 96 points. Robert Johnson led all scorers with 26, to go along with a team-best six assists and no turnovers. James Blackmon, Jr., contributed 22 points.
• Indiana has three active players average in double digits in scoring: James Blackmon Jr. (17.0), Robert Johnson (13.3), and Thomas Bryant (12.9). OG Anunoby, who averages 11.1 points and 5.4 rebounds, is sidelined the remainder of the season due to injury.
• The Hoosiers rank ninth in the country in rebounding margin (+7.5), 28th in field goal accuracy (.480), 53rd in blocked shots per game (4.5), and 59th in defensive rebounding (26.8).
• James Blackmon Jr. ranks 29th in the country in 3-pointers made per game (3.0) and 34th in 3-point field goal percentage (.412).
• Indiana ranks first in the Big Ten in rebounding margin (+7.5), second in overall scoring (80.4) and field goal percentage (.480), third in 3-pointers made per game (8.7), and fourth in 3-point field goal percentage (.376).
• The Hoosiers have scored 90+ points nine times this season, including topping the century mark five times.
• Tom Crean is in his ninth season as head coach at Indiana (165-133, .554).
ALL-TIME SERIES RECORDS
Indiana holds a 100-76 advantage in the series that began with an 18-12 Hoosier win in 1909. The two teams have split the last 12 meetings. Iowa won the only regular season meeting between the two teams this season, 96-90, in overtime in Iowa City.
Thursday will only be the third meeting between the two teams on a neutral floor, with the Hawkeyes winning both previous meetings by two points each at Big Ten tournaments: 63-61 in 2001 (Chicago) and 62-60 in 2002 (Indianapolis).
DOUBLE TROUBLE
Prior to this season, two Iowa freshmen scored 20+ points in the same game only twice in program history: Dick Ives (43) and David Danner (32) versus Chicago on Feb. 5, 1944 and Ronnie Lester (20) and Larry Olsthoorn (20) versus Michigan on Jan. 17, 1977.
Iowa has accomplished the feat twice this season. First by rookie duos Cordell Pemsl (21) and Isaiah Moss (21) versus Stetson. Jordan Bohannon (24) and Tyler Cook (21) became the fourth Hawkeye duo to accomplish the feat — first do do so in a road game — in school history at Maryland (Feb. 25).
BENCH SQUAD
Iowa’s bench has played a pivotal part of its success this season. In 31 games, Hawkeye reserves average 25.2 points per game. During Iowa’s four-game win streak, the Iowa bench has averaged 31.3 points per contest. Iowa reserves scored 42 points in its last game against Penn State on Sunday in Iowa City.
HAWKEYE FASTBREAKS
• Iowa was 4-1 in Big Ten rematch games this season. The Hawkeyes beat Rutgers, Purdue, Nebraska, and Maryland, but lost to Illinois.
• Iowa sank 16 3-pointers in its 83-69 win at Maryland (Feb. 25), which are the most by a Hawkeye team in a Big Ten game in school history. The Hawkeyes are only one of four teams to make 16 triples in a road game against a ranked opponent this season.
• Iowa made 39 free throws against Indiana, a total that ties for third most in a single-game in program history (39 versus Minnesota on Jan. 13, 1993).
• Iowa is 64-12 when scoring 80 points or more, the last seven seasons. The Hawkeyes are 65-2 when holding opponents to fewer than 61 points, the last seven years.
• Iowa has scored 90 points or more eight times this season.
• Peter Jok scored 15 of Iowa’s 21 overtime points in Iowa’s win over Indiana (Feb. 21). The 15-point effort on overtime was only two points short of the NCAA record for scoring in any OT period. The record of 17 was achieved twice before (Ron Howard of Howard in 2003 and David Hawkins of Temple in 2004).
• Ryan Kriener became the 10th different Hawkeye to have reached double figures in a game this season after netting 14 at Northwestern (Jan. 15).
• Iowa had three players earn weekly praise by the Big Ten. Peter Jok was named Player of the Week on Nov. 21 and Dec. 12, Isaiah Moss was tabbed Freshman of the Week on Dec. 12, and Jordan Bohannon was Freshman of the Week on Feb. 6 and March 5.
• Peter Jok totaled 29 points, six rebounds, and a career-best eight assists vs. No. 17/19 Purdue (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 sank 8-of-10 (80 percent) from 3-point territory in Iowa’s win at Maryland. The eight triples are the most by a freshman in a single game in Iowa history and one shy of the single-game school record.
• Jordan Bohannon was 7-of-15 from long distance at Notre Dame; the 15 attempts tied Justin Johnson for the second most 3-point attempts in a single-game in Iowa history.
• 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 (Nov. 13).
• Iowa’s 14-point win at Maryland (Feb. 25) equaled the Terrapins’ largest margin of defeat at home this season (73-59 home loss to Pittsburgh on Nov. 29, 2016).
• 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.
• 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 versus Kennesaw State. The 27 points are the most by a Hawkeye in an opener since Adam Haluska had 29 vs. 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 has won 44 of its last 47 nonconference home games, dating back to 2012.
• 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 straight 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 five seasons. McCaffery has accumulated 17 first division finishes in 21 years as a head coach.
FROM DOWNTOWN…
First-team All-Big Ten performer Peter Jok has been shooting the ball extremely well his final two seasons in a Hawkeye uniform. Jok has made 155 3-pointers in 61 total games the last two seasons (2.5 per game).
Iowa 3-pointers Made in a 2-year Span:
Chris Kingsbury (1995-96): 182
Jeff Horner (2005-06): 156
Peter Jok (2016-17): 155
Adam Haluska (2006-07): 154
JOK NAMED FINALIST FOR NATIONAL AWARDS
Peter Jok is one of five finalists for the Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year Award and one of 10 finalists for the Senior CLASS Award.
The Jerry West Award recognizes the top shooting guards in Division I men’s college basketball, while the Senior CLASS Award recognizes an individual with notable achievements in four areas of excellence: community, classroom, character and competition.
Jok is the Big Ten leading scorer, averaging 20.2 points per game. He has scored 25 points or more 10 times this season, including a career-best 42 against Memphis (Nov. 26). In addition to leading the Big Ten in scoring, he is fourth nationally (min. 3.0 made per game) in free throw accuracy (.920) and third in 3-pointers made per game (2.6).
Jok and his teammates have assisted each spring in the “Iowa Day of Caring” and is on pace to graduate this spring.
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 (4.5), second in minutes played (28.7), 3-pointers made (73), free throw accuracy (.848), and third in scoring (9.8). He has netted 17 or more points in six games and led the squad in assists a team-best 21 times.
Bohannon had a career night at No. 24 Maryland (Feb. 25), pouring in a game and personal-best 24 points on 8-of-10 shooting from 3-point range. The eight triples are the most by an Iowa freshman in school history and one shy of the school record. He went 11-of-19 (.579) from long distance in road wins over ranked opponents No. 24 Maryland and No. 21 Wisconsin.
Bohannon, who is a two-time Big Ten Freshman of the Week honoree (Feb. 6 and March 5), has led the squad in scoring four times.
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 17 times. In 31 total games, Pemsl has scored in double digits 14 times and is averaging nine points and 4.7 rebounds, while shooting a Big Ten-best and 17th-best nationally 63 percent (106-of-168) from the field. He scored in double figures in eight of the 14 starts.
Pemsl has scored in double figures in each of Iowa’s last two games (at No. 21 Wisconsin and versus Penn State).
NOTABLES ON PETER JOK’S HISTORIC FREE THROW EFFORTS
• Peter Jok’s 22 free throw makes versus Indiana on Feb. 21, breaks Don Nelson’s 55-year old school record. Nelson’s previous record of 21 was also set against Indiana in 1962.
• Peter Jok’s 22 free throw makes ties for third most by a player in a single-game in Big Ten history. Indiana’s Greg Graham made 26 in 1993; Indiana’s Don Schlundt made 25 in 1955, and Indiana’s Luke Recker made 22 in 1999.
• Peter Jok’s 22 free throw’s made are the second most by a player nationally in a game this season (25 by Sindarius Thornwell of South Carolina). Furthermore, the 22 makes tie Xavier Silas (2014) for the third most free throws made in a single-game since 2010 nationally. Teddy Okereafor of Rider (2014) and South Carolina’s Sindarius Thornwell (2007) each made 25 in a game.
• On Feb. 21, 2001, Iowa’s Reggie Evans attempted a Carver-Hawkeye Arena record 22 free throws versus Purdue; 16 years later — also on Feb. 21 — Peter Jok breaks the record by attempting 23 foul shots against the Hoosiers.
• Not only did Jok’s 22 free throws made establish a new school record, but it shattered the previous Carver-Hawkeye Arena record of 16 by Adam Haluska (2007) and Reggie Evans (2001).
• Peter Jok currently ranks fourth nationally in free throw percentage (.920) with a minimum of 3.0 makes per game.
• Peter Jok is on pace to break Iowa’s and the Big Ten’s single-season free throw percentage record currently held by Matt Gatens (.904 in 2009) and Steve Alford (.921 in 1985), respectively. He is also on pace to break Iowa’s career percentage mark currently being held by Luke Recker (.873, 185-of-212). Jok’s career percentage is at 88.4 percent and he has taken 134 more free throws than Recker.
• Peter Jok tied a Carver-Hawkeye Arena record against Omaha on Dec. 3, 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).
A CLOSER LOOK AT IOWA’S FRESHMEN PRODUCTION
• Iowa’s six freshmen account for 47.2 percent of Iowa’s offense, besting Iowa’s 1943-44 freshmen who averaged 40.7 points.
• Iowa freshmen have scored in double figures a program-best 53 times this season, besting the 1997-98 squad (42).
• 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; 21 at Maryland); Jordan Bohannon (24 at Maryland; 23 at Notre Dame); Isaiah Moss (21 vs. Stetson); Cordell Pemsl (21 vs. 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 87 combined starts this season, which is the most in program history.
• Iowa rookies this season combine to average 15 rebounds per game, second behind the 2000-01 squad (16.3 rpg).
HAWKEYES IN OVERTIME
The Hawkeyes have played four overtime games this season (Michigan, Nebraska, Minnesota, Indiana), two of which were in double overtime (Nebraska, Minnesota); it marks the first time since the 2013-14 season (Xavier, Villanova, Michigan State, and Tennessee)
Iowa is 2-2 in overtime games, winning two in a season for the first time since the 2008-09 season.
PETER JOK ON PACE TO BECOME BIG TEN SCORING CHAMPION
Peter Jok is currently averaging 20.2 points per game, Purdue’s Caleb Swanigan is second (18.7 ppg).
Jok is on pace to become Iowa’s fifth Big Ten scoring champion and first in 10 years.
Iowa Big Ten Scoring Champions
Murray Wier (1947-48): 21.0 ppg
Chuck Darling (1951-52): 25.5 ppg
Andre Woolridge (1996-97): 20.2 ppg
Adam Haluska (2006-07): 20.5 ppg
PETER JOK SCORCHING THE NETS
Peter Jok is a first-team All-Big Ten honoree and USBWA All-District VI selection. 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 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 has had free throw streaks of 28, 27, 26, and 25 the last two seasons. His free throw percentage (.9202, 150-of-163) is closing in on the Big Ten single-season free throw percentage record held by Steve Alford of Indiana (.9206, 116-of-126) set in 1985. His 88.4 percent free throw percentage currently ranks third-best in Big Ten history behind Steve Alford (.898, 1983-87) and Joe Crispin (.885, 1997-01).
Jok ranks 35th nationally in points per game (20.2), fourth in free throw accuracy (.920), and 78th in 3-pointers made per contest (2.5). His 20.2 scoring average is fifth among players from Power 5 conferences. Jok has scored 25 points or more 10 times this year, which ties for 15th nationally.
Jok is the first Hawkeye with five 30-point games in a season since Adam Haluska (5) in 2006-07.
Jok has made 207 career 3-pointers, which are the sixth most in program history. He is six triples from surpassing Adam Haluska (2005-07) for fifth place with 212.
NOT YOUR AVERAGE BAER
Sophomore Nicholas Baer was voted the 2017 Big Ten Sixth Man of the Year by league head coaches. He is the only Division I men’s basketball player this season to amass 235+ points, 35+ blocked shots, 45+ steals, and 40+ 3-pointers. Furthermore, he is one of only two Big Ten players to accomplish the feat over last 20 years, joining Michigan State’s Draymond Green (2012).
Baer ranks first on the squad in blocks (1.3), steals (1.5), and rebounding (6.0), and is third in assists (1.9).
Baer’s 39 blocked shots ranks third best in a single-season by an Iowa sophomore, one rejection behind Erek Hansen (40) for second.
Baer is tied for fourth in the Big Ten in steals (1.5) and is tied for ninth in rejections (1.3). The native of Bettendorf, Iowa, has led the team in steals a team-best 12 times this year, being credited with three steals or more in a game a team-best seven times.
Baer has posted two double-doubles this season: versus Northern Iowa (11 points, 11 boards) and versus Penn State (20 points, 10 rebounds). The 20 points against the Nittany Lions last Sunday are a career best.
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: Fort Wayne Mad Ants), Aaron White (Russia), and Adam Woodbury (NBA D-League: Fort Wayne Mad Ants).
HAWKEYES SWEPT BIG TEN WEEKLY HONORS
Peter Jok and 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 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, 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. 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.
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.
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.
