Men's Hoops Hosts Southern Utah Tuesday Night

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THE SETTING
Iowa (6-6, 0-2) seeks its third straight win Tuesday evening when the Hawkeyes welcome Southern Utah (6-4, 0-0) from the Big Sky Conference to Iowa City. Tipoff is set for 8:07 p.m. (CT) inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena (15,400). Tickets are available for purchase for $15 for adults and $5 for UI students/youth.

ON THE AIR
Radio: Iowa games are broadcast on the Hawkeye Radio Network. Gary Dolphin handles the play-by-play, along with color commentator Bob Hansen. The network includes more than 40 stations that blanket the state of Iowa and include portions of Illinois, Nebraska, Minnesota, Missouri and Wisconsin. The Hawkeye Radio Network coverage includes a 60-minute pregame show.
TV: Tuesday’s game will be televised nationally on BTN (BTN2GO). Lisa Byington and Stephen Bardo will call the action.

TUESDAY PROMOTIONS AT CHA
•    Alumni Game — University of Iowa alumni receive $5 off the ticket price.
•    Four Pack Night — Purchase in advance prior to 5 p.m. CT on Tuesday: 4 tickets, 4 hot dogs, and 4 drinks for $55.

GAME #13 STORYLINES
•    Tuesday will be the first ever meeting between Iowa and Southern Utah. The Thunderbirds are members of the Big Sky Conference. The Hawkeyes are 15-1 all-time against current members of the Big Sky.
•    Iowa has won 49 of its last 53 nonconference home games, dating back to 2012.
•    The Hawkeyes are seeking their first three-game win streak since winning the first three games of the season. Iowa has won its last two contests versus Southern and Drake.
•    Iowa is shooting the basketball at a 53 percent clip in its six victories and has made 50.7 percent of its field goal attempts in its five home games.
•    Saturday’s game against Drake University was the first regular season game in which all 16 players on the roster were active and uninjured. Iowa had at least one player injured the first 11 games of the season.
•    Point guard Jordan Bohannon ranks 34th nationally in 3-point percentage (.472) and is averaging 2.8 3-pointers made per game, which ranks first in the Big Ten and 70th in the country.
•    Iowa has netted 90 points or more in five of its six wins. The Hawkeyes scored 85 points in its other victory.
•    The Hawkeyes rank 16th in the country in assists per game, averaging 18.7 per contest.
•    Iowa’s top seven scorers are underclassmen with sophomore Tyler Cook leading the pack, averaging 13.7 points. Freshmen Luka Garza leads the squad in rebounding (6.9) and blocked shots (1.16), while rookie Jack Nunge leads the team in steals (0.9). Sophomore Jordan Bohannon has dished out a team-best 56 assists.
•    Iowa is 6-0 when scoring 80 points or more and 4-0 when Iowa has fewer turnovers than its opponent this season.
•    Fran McCaffery has 394 wins in 22 seasons as a head coach; he is six victories from reaching the 400-win milestone.
•    Isaiah Moss was named to the Cayman Islands Classic All-Tournament Team after averaging 18 points, leading the team in scoring in its first two games of the tournament.
•    Iowa’s 38.3 shooting percentage from 3-point range is third-best in the Big Ten. Iowa shot 61.5 percent (8-of-13) from long distance versus UAB on Nov. 22, which is the best shooting performance of any Big Ten team this season.

HAWKEYES OVERWHELM DRAKE, WIN SECOND STRAIGHT GAME
Iowa used its size to its advantage, scoring 52 paint points, en route to a 90-64 convincing win over Drake at Wells Fargo Arena in The Hy-Vee Classic on Saturday in Des Moines.
•    The win improved the Hawkeyes’ record to 5-1 in games played at The Hy-Vee Classic.
•    Four Hawkeyes netted double figures: Tyler Cook (23), Jordan Bohannon (15), Luka Garza (13), and Nicholas Baer (11).
•    Nicholas Baer had another stellar game at The Hy-Vee Classic. Baer followed up last year’s performance (13 points, 7 rebounds, 6 blocks) with career highs in rebounds (14) and steals (5), while also collecting 11 points and five assists.
•    Iowa shot the basketball at a 55 percent clip, including making 63 percent of its two-point attempts (31-of-49).
•    In addition to the 15 points, point guard Jordan Bohannon was credited with seven assists and only one turnover while directing the Hawkeye offense.
•    Tyler Cook was an efficient 10-of-13 (.769) from the field and a perfect 3-of-3 (1.000) from the foul line.
•    Iowa dominated the glass, pulling down 17 more rebounds than the Bulldogs (41-24).
•    Three Bulldogs scored in double figures: Nick McGlynn (14), Reed Timmer (13), and De’Antae McMurray (11).
•    Drake, who entered the game ranking 13th nationally in 3-point percentage (.423), was limited to 9-of-26 (.346) shooting from long distance.

SCOUTING SOUTHERN UTAH
•    Southern Utah has won four of its last five games, with the lone setback during that stretch coming at nationally-ranked Michigan State (88-63) on Dec. 9.
•    The Thunderbirds are a perfect 5-0 in home contests, but are 1-4 in true road games. In addition to losing at Michigan State, Southern Utah lost at Oregon State, Boise State, and UNLV. The Thunderbirds won at Pepperdine.
•    In Southern Utah’s last outing, an 86-80 win over Central Michigan on Dec. 16, the Thunderbirds were outrebounded by 13 but made 52 percent of their field goal attempts.
•    Three Thunderbird players average in double figures in scoring: Jadon Cohee (16.8), Brandon Better (13.8), and Jamal Aytes (12.0).
•    Southern Utah ranks 21st nationally in fewest turnovers per game (11.1), 43rd in turnover margin (3.6), and 58th in scoring offense (81.7). Individually, Jadon Cohee ranks 32nd in the country in free throws made (59) and 35th in free throws attempted (73).
•    Eight of Southern Utah’s 16-player roster are transfers. Junior Taelin Webb will 
•    Southern Utah’s starting five consists of players from California, Congo, Arizona, British Columbia, and Alaska.
•    Todd Simon is in his second year at the helm of the Southern Utah’s basketball team. Simon led the Thunderbirds to a first round win at the 2017 Big Sky Conference Tournament with a triple overtime victory over Montana State. The Thunderbirds concluded last season with a 6-27 overall record and a 3-15 conference record.

FRAN McCAFFERY TO BE INDUCTED INTO SIENA HALL OF FAME
The Siena Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2017 includes former men’s basketball head coach Fran McCaffery. McCaffery and three others, including former player Ronald Moore (2009-12), will be enshrined in a special ceremony on Feb. 18 at the Times Union Center, prior to the men’s basketball game versus Monmouth.
    McCaffery led Siena to the most decorated five-year run in program history, which culminated with the Saints being the only Division I program to win both their regular season and tournament championships for three consecutive years from 2008-10. The Philadelphia native amassed a 112-51 (.687) overall record from 2005-10, including a 68-22 (.756) mark in the MAAC. McCaffery guided Siena to four straight 20-win seasons and MAAC Tournament Championship Game appearances. Named the 2009-10 NABC District I Coach of the Year and 2008-09 MAAC Coach of the Year, he led Siena to school record-tying 27-win seasons in each of his last two years at the helm, which included a program record 15-game winning streak in his final campaign. McCaffery both recruited and coached four fellow Siena Athletics Hall of Famers, and three of the top-five scorers in program history. 

GARZA SHINES IN EARLY SEASON GAMES
Freshman Luka Garza ranks first on the team in rebounding (6.9) and blocked shots (1.16), second in free throw attempts (55), and is fourth in scoring (9.3).
    Garza has netted double figures in each of the last two games (23 points versus Southern and 13 against Drake). He had his best game as a collegiate player against Southern University on Dec. 10, registering personal bests in scoring (23) and rebounding (13). Garza was credited with a personal-best three steals in Saturday’s win over Drake. Garza has made 12 of his last 16 free throws after starting the season 16-of-39 (.410) from the charity stripe.
    Against Chicago State on Nov. 10, Garza became the second Hawkeye in the last 20 years to register 16 points and five rebounds in their debut (Aaron White in 2011).
    Garza followed up that performance against Chicago State (16 points, 5 rebounds) with a double-double against Alabama State. The native of Washington, D.C. had 11 points and a game-best 13 rebounds. Garza is the fifth Hawkeye to post a double-double in either his first or second game over the last 20 years, joining Dean Oliver, Reggie Evans, Devon Archie, and Aaron White. Garza’s efforts in those first two wins garnered the forward Big Ten Freshman of the Week accolades.

BACK IN ACTION
Sophomore forward Cordell Pemsl had successful sports hernia surgery in May. Pemsl did not participate in the Prime Time League nor Iowa’s exhibition games overseas.
    Pemsl is averaging 5.8 points and 5.9 rebounds in 11 contests. The native of Dubuque, Iowa, reached double figures for the third time this season, scoring 10 points and snagging eight rebounds before leaving Iowa’s game at Iowa State on Dec. 7, due to injury. Pemsl did not play against Southern University on Dec. 10, however returned to action in Iowa’s last game versus Drake last Saturday posting eight rebounds and six points in 12 minutes of action.
    Pemsl netted a game-high 15 points in Iowa’s win over Alabama State on Nov. 12. He had a personal-best 14 rebounds and a career-best six assists at Virginia Tech. The 14 boards against the Hokies are the third most by a Big Ten player this season. 
    Pemsl started 14 of 34 games a year ago, averaging 8.9 points and five rebounds per contest. The forward shot a single-season school record 61.7 percent (116-of-188) from the field his during freshman campaign.

COOKIN’ WITH TYLER
Tyler Cook is having a solid start to his sophomore campaign. Cook ranks first in scoring (13.7) and is second in rebounding (6.6). Cook has made a team-best 58 percent of his field goal attempts (minimum 50 attempts). The native of St. Louis has grabbed six or more rebounds in nine of 12 games, including a career-best 12 against Penn State. He had the best game of his collegiate career against UAB on Nov. 22 (29 points on 8-of-11 shooting from the field and 13-of-16 from the free throw line).
    Cook ranks 11th in the league in field goal percentage (.582) and 15th in rebounding (6.9). He has one double-double to his credit this season (Penn State).
    Not only has Cook done a good job getting to the free throw line, but making his foul shots. Cook ranks 65th nationally in free throw attempts (67) and 75th in free throw makes (49).

CONNOR McCAFFERY TO PLAY FRESHMAN SEASON
Freshman guard Connor McCaffery announced his decision earlier this month to play his freshman season on the basketball court. McCaffery will join the baseball team upon conclusion of the basketball season. A decision as to whether or not McCaffery will redshirt baseball this spring will be determined at that time.
    However, the guard’s start to his freshman year started slow. After playing in Iowa’s two exhibition games, McCaffery missed Iowa’s first 10 regular season games. McCaffery sat out the first two games due to a sprained ankle, while missing the following eight outings due to illness (mono).
    McCaffery played his first game of the season on Dec. 10, against Southern University. The guard had five points, three rebounds, four assists, and a steal in 17 minutes of action.

MISSING IN ACTION
Saturday’s game against Drake University was the first regular season game this season where Iowa had all 16 players active. 

• Connor McCaffery: first 10 games (2 games, ankle; 8 games mono)
• Nicholas Baer: first six games (finger)
• Ahmad Wagner: UAB (shoulder)
• Ryan Kriener: Indiana (concussion)
• Cordell Pemsl: Southern University (leg laceration)

IOWA HISTORY
Iowa has played 2,752 games since beginning basketball in 1902. Iowa’s overall record is 1,618-1,134 (.588). Iowa’s 1,618 wins are 39th most among Division I programs. That includes a 1,034-361 (.741) record in home games, a 580-770 (.429) record in contests away from Iowa City, a 762-766 (.499) mark in Big Ten games and a 439-135 (.765) record in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

BOHANNON NAMED CANDIDATE FOR BOB COUSY AWARD
Sophomore Jordan Bohannon is on the 20-player watch list for the 2018 Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year Award. The annual honor recognizes the top point guards in Division I men’s college basketball. A national committee comprised of top college basketball personnel determined the watch list of 20 candidates.
    Bohannon joins Minnesota’s Nate Mason and Bryant McIntosh of Northwestern as the only Big Ten student-athletes on the national list. 
    The native of Marion, Iowa, has had a great start to the 2017-18 campaign, dishing out a team-best 56 assists, and averaging 12.7 points. He is shooting a Big Ten-best 47 percent (minimum 70 attempts) from 3-point range and 82.8 percent (24-of-29) from the free throw line. He is averaging 2.8 3-pointers made per game, which ranks first in the league and 70th in the country. His 47 percent shooting from 3-point range ranks 34th nationally.
    Bohannon, one of five players named to the All-Big Ten Freshman Team, led the Hawkeyes in assists (175) and 3-pointers made (89), and was third in scoring (10.9 ppg). He was one of only two freshmen in the country over the last 25 seasons to register 175+ assists and 85+ 3-pointers. His 89 triples shattered Iowa’s single-season freshman record, besting Matt Gatens’ previous mark of 52 set in 2009. Bohannon’s 175 assists are the most by an Iowa freshman and rank eighth-best by any Hawkeye player in a single season. He finished the season by posting a school-record three straight double-doubles in points and assists (Indiana, South Dakota, and TCU). Bohannon helped lead Iowa to a win at nationally-ranked Maryland, draining eight 3-pointers (8-of-10) — the most by a Hawkeye rookie and one shy of Chris Kingsbury’s school record.

TRIPLE PLAY
Jordan Bohannon finished his rookie season with a flurry, posting a school-record three straight double-doubles in points and assists.
    Bohannon tallied 24 points and 10 assists against Indiana at the Big Ten Tournament on March 9. The native of Marion, Iowa, then registered 19 points and 11 assists against South Dakota on March 15 in the first round of the NIT. Bohannon bested that performance again on March 19, posting personal bests in scoring (25) and assists (13). The 13 helpers are the most by a Hawkeye in a postseason game.

STANDING TALL
Iowa has a nine players on its 16-play roster who stand 6-foot-7 or taller. The Hawkeyes own a +6.2 rebounding margin, which ranks sixth in the Big Ten. Iowa averages 41.2 rebounds per game, which ranks fourth in the league. Iowa has only averaged 40 rebounds or more per game once since the 1996-97 season (40.3 in 2013-14).

HAWKEYE FASTBREAKS
•    Iowa scored 90 points or more nine times in 2016-17. The Hawkeyes netted 90-plus points in five of their six victories.
•    Iowa is one of only three teams to have posted a Big Ten record of .500 or better each of the last five seasons (Michigan State and Wisconsin).
•    Iowa is 71-15 when scoring 80 points or more, the last eight seasons. The Hawkeyes are 67-2 when holding opponents to fewer than 61 points, the last eight years.
•    Fran McCaffery and his coaching staff are the first in program history to win 18 games or more in six straight seasons. McCaffery’s 137 victories rank second behind Tom Davis (152) for most in the first seven seasons as Iowa’s head coach. 
•    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.

HAWKEYES GO UNDEFEATED IN EUROPE
Iowa finished its European Tour with a perfect record in August notching wins in Germany, Switzerland, and Italy. 
    Four Hawkeyes averaged in double figures in the four games. Freshman Luka Garza averaged a double-double (22.5 points, 10.3 rebounds), sophomore Isaiah Moss averaged 12.5 points, Cook averaged 12.3 points, while Ryan Kriener averaged 11.3 points. As a team, the Hawkeyes shot 48.6 percent from the field, out-rebounded their opponents by 18, and had a +5.8 turnover margin.
    Iowa played its first game in Germany, the home of Hawkeye senior Dom Uhl. The native of Frankfurt, Germany, had seven points, seven rebounds, three assists, two steals, and a block in his homecoming. 
    Garza led the team in scoring in all four games.

RECENT GRADUATES PLAYING PROFESSIONAL BASKETBALL
A number of recent Iowa basketball graduates are playing professionally: Melsahn Basabe (Poland), Anthony Clemmons (Kazakhstan), Gabriel Olaseni (Spain), Jarrod Uthoff (NBA G League: Fort Wayne Mad Ants), Peter Jok (NBA G League: Northern Arizona Suns), Adam Woodbury (NBA G League: Westchester Knicks), and Aaron White (Lithuania).

A CLOSER LOOK AT IOWA’S FRESHMEN PRODUCTION IN 2016-17
•    Iowa’s six freshmen accounted for 48.8 percent of Iowa’s offense, besting Iowa’s 1943-44 freshmen class who averaged 40.7 points.
•    Iowa freshmen scored in double figures a program-best 62 times, besting the 1997-98 squad (42).
•    For the first time in program history, Iowa had four freshmen score at least 20 points in a single game: Tyler Cook (24 vs. Seton Hall; 21 at Maryland); Jordan Bohannon (24 at Maryland; 23 at Notre Dame; 24 vs. Indiana; 25 vs. TCU); Isaiah Moss (21 vs. Stetson); Cordell Pemsl (21 vs. Stetson). 
•    For the first time in school history, Iowa had five freshmen reach double digits in scoring in a game throughout the season: Tyler Cook, Jordan Bohannon, Cordell Pemsl, Ryan Kriener, and Isaiah Moss.
•    Iowa freshmen accumulated 96 combined starts, which is the most in program history.
•    Iowa rookies combined to average 15.4 rebounds per game, second behind the 2000-01 squad (16.3 rpg).

ON THE HORIZON
Iowa will travel to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, for its fifh neutral site contest of the nonconference. The Hawkeyes wil face Colorado of the Pac-12 Conference on Friday. Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. (CT) at the Sanford Pentagon. The game is sold out.