Hawkeyes Host Hoosiers Saturday Afternoon

Hawkeye Fan Shop — A Black & Gold Store | Fight For Iowa | Hawk Talk Monthly — February 2018 | Game Notes (PDF)

THE SETTING
Iowa (12-16, 3-12) returns home on Saturday to host Indiana (15-12, 8-7) in a return matchup from early December. Tipoff is scheduled for 1:05 p.m. (CT) on Mediacom Court at Carver-Hawkeye Arena (15,400). Tickets are available at hawkeyesports.com/tickets for $35 for adults, and $20 for youth and UI students.
    Indiana enters Saturday’s contest winners of three straight, while Iowa has lost four in a row. The Hawkeyes have not lost five consecutive games this season.

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: Saturday’s game will be televised nationally on ESPN (WATCHESPN). Jason Benetti and Dan Dakich will call the action.

BLACK & GOLD SPIRIT GAME STORYLINES
•    Iowa has one Indiana native on its roster, freshman Jack Nunge. Nunge hails from Newburgh, Indiana and he was one of four finalists for Indiana’s Mr. Basketball in 2017.
•    Iowa is 11-1 this season when leading with five minutes remaining in the second half. The lone setback came last Tuesday to No. 4 Michigan State.
•    Freshmen have led Iowa in each of Iowa’s last two games: Jack Nunge at No. 14/16 Ohio State (18 points) and Luka Garza at No. 22/21 Michigan (22 points).
•    Iowa’s reserves have scored 28 points in two of Iowa’s last three games (MSU and OSU).
•    Over the previous 25 seasons, just five Big Ten freshmen have averaged 11 points, six rebounds, one assist, and one block per game. Currently, Luka Garza averages 11.3 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.1 assists, and 1.1 blocks.
•    Jordan Bohannon (.894). Bohannon enters Saturday’s game having made 30 consecutive free throw attempts, dating back to Jan. 4 (Ohio State). Chris Street is Iowa’s record holder, making 34 straight free throws in 1993.
•    All 12 of Iowa’s wins this season have come when scoring 80 points or more. Iowa has scored 93 points or more in three Big Ten games in the same season (Illinois, Minnesota, and Michigan State) for the first time since 1994-95.
•    Fran McCaffery won his 400th career game with Iowa’s win over Minnesota on Jan. 30.
•    Luka Garza, a two-time Big Ten Freshman of the Week honoree, ranks first among Big Ten freshmen in rebounding (6.6) and third in field goal percentage (.548). Garza’s four double-doubles are the most by an Iowa freshman since Aaron White’s four in 2011-12.
•    Tyler Cook has 52 dunks this season, including a season-best six in a win over Drake.
•    Iowa has played only two games this year with a full roster (Drake and Southern Utah).
•    Jordan Bohannon is the sixth player nationally to make five or more triples in five straight road games over the last 20 years. He ranks eighth in career 3-pointers at Iowa (168).
•    Jordan Bohannon has six 10+ assists games in his career, matching Cal Wulfsberg for the most by a Hawkeye in program history. Bohannon’s six career double-doubles — all in points and assists — are the most in program history.
•    Iowa’s top four scorers are underclassmen, with all four averaging double figures.
•    The Hawkeyes registered their third largest comeback in school history, and second largest on the road, when they rallied from a 20-point deficit at Illinois on Jan. 11.

HAWKEYES FALL AT MICHIGAN, 74-59
No. 22/21 Michigan made 10 more 3-pointers than Iowa in a 74-59 victory over the Hawkeyes Wednesday evening at the Crisler Center. Wednesday was Iowa’s third straight contest (two on the road) against a nationally-ranked opponent.
•    Freshman Luka Garza led all scorers with 22 points and six rebounds. The 22 points are the highest point total for the Hawkeye freshman in a Big Ten game this season. 
•    Isaiah Moss and Tyler Cook contributed 12 points and 10 points, respectively.
•    The Wolverines turned the Hawkeyes over 16 times, collecting 13 steals and 20 points off the Hawkeye turnovers. 
•    Michigan attempted 33 triples, making 12. Senior Duncan Robinson netted a game-best six treys on eight attempts.
•    Iowa missed only two free throw attempts, making 7-of-9 (.778).
•    Three Wolverines scored 14 points or more: Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman (18), Duncan Robinson (18), and Moritz Wagner (14). 

ALL-TIME SERIES RECORDS
Indiana holds a 102-76 advantage in the series that began with an 18-12 Hoosier win in 1909. The Hoosiers have won the last two meetings: 77-64 in Bloomington on Dec. 4, 2017, and 95-75, in Washington, D.C. at the Big Ten Tournament on March 9, 2017.
    Iowa leads 45-41 in games played at Iowa City, holding a 20-11 advantage in Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Iowa has won eight of the last 11 meetings in Iowa City, including last season’s thrilling 96-90 overtime win.

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), Josh Oglesby (NAPB: Rochester RazorSharks); Adam Woodbury (NBA G League: Westchester Knicks), and Aaron White (Lithuania).

SCOUTING INDIANA
•       Indiana has won its last three games by an average of 18.67 points per game over Rutgers, Minnesota, and Illinois. All three contests were double-digit victories.
•    The Hoosiers are 2-7 in true road games this season, winning at Rutgers (65-43 on Feb. 5) and at Minnesota (75-71 on Jan. 6).
•      Indiana won its last contest, 78-68, over the Illinois on Wednesday in Bloomington. Five Hoosiers scored in double figures, with three netting 14 points each. The Hoosiers shot the basketball at a 59 percent clip, compared to 40.7 percent for the visiting Illini.
•      Two Hoosiers average double figures: Juwan Morgan (16.8) and Robert Johnson (13.4).
•      Indiana ranks fourth in the Big Ten in steals per game (6.4) and sixth in blocked shots per contest (4.6). Individually, junior Juwan Morgan is eighth in the league in scoring (16.8) and rebounding (7.4), and fifth in field goal accuracy (.590), while junior Zach McRoberts is tied for third in steals per game (1.5).
•      Nationally, the Hoosiers rank 40th in blocked shots per game (4.6) and 63rd in free throw attempts (574). Juwan Morgan ranks 65th in the country in double-doubles (8), 29th in field goal percentage (.590), and 86th in offensive rebounds (2.67).
•      Indiana, who has an RPI of 108, has had four one-day preps during Big Ten play this season, winning two of the four games on the back-end.
•    Archie Miller is in his first season as head coach at Indiana and seventh season overall as a collegiate head coach (154-74, .675). Miller coached against the Hawkeyes on March 13, 2012 while coaching Dayton. Miller’s Dayton Flyers dropped an 84-75 decision at Iowa in the first round of the NIT.

LAST MEETING
Indiana used an 18-0 run over a six minute span midway through the second half to separate from the visiting Iowa Hawkeyes on Dec. 4, 2017, inside Assembly Hall. The Hoosiers ultimately prevailed, 77-64, in the second game of the Big Ten Conference slate for both teams.
•    Brady Ellingson netted a game and season-best 16 points, while also equaling a season high with four assists. The 16 points are the most for the junior guard in a Big Ten game since scoring 17 versus Ohio State on Jan. 28, 2017.
•    Jack Nunge returned to his home state and contributed 12 points in his second start of the season. Nunge, a native of Newburgh, Indiana, shot 50 percent from the field (4-of-8) and made both free throw attempts.
•    The Hoosiers outscored Iowa, 15-4, at the free throw line.
•    Iowa shot the basketball better from 3-point range (10-of-24, .417) than from inside the 3-point arc (15-of-41, .366).
•    Four Hoosiers scored in double figures: Juwan Morgan (15), Collin Hartman (13), De’Ron Davis (13), and Devonte Green (12).

BIG SECOND HALVES FOR THE HAWKEYES
Iowa has scored 50 or more second-half points six times this season, including three of its last six games (50 at Nebraska, 57 versus Minnesota, 51 versus No. 4 Michigan State). The 57 second-half points against the Gophers are the most in the second half of a Big Ten game since scoring 62 at Illinois on March 4, 1990.
    The last time Iowa scored 57 or more points in the second half of a Big Ten game, Cheers was the No. 1 rated television show, Pretty Woman was released in the movie theaters, gas was $1.06/gallon, and minimum wage was $3.80.
    Other Iowa games this season netting 50 points or more include Louisiana (54), Southern (50), and Drake (50).

GARZA SHINES IN FRESHMAN CAMPAIGN
Freshman Luka Garza leads the team in blocked shots (1.1), and is second in rebounding (6.4), double-doubles (4), free throws made (78) and attempts (117), and is third in field goal accuracy (.548) and scoring (11.3). His 6.4 rebounding average and 54.8 shooting percentage ranks first and third, respectively, among Big Ten freshmen this season.
    Garza’s numbers are much better in home games, averaging 14.4 points (.619 FG%), 7.3 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks in Carver-Hawkeye Arena compared to 8.6 points (.476 FG%), 5.6 rebounds, and 0.67 blocks on the road.
    Garza has made 62 of his last 78 free throws (.795), including a stretch of making 14 straight free throws, after starting the season 16-of-39 (.410) from the charity stripe. He posted a team-high 19 and 17 points against No. 3 Purdue and Wisconsin, respectively, on Jan. 20 and Jan. 23. He also snagged 16 boards to register his fourth double-double in the victory over Wisconsin; the 16 rebounds are the most by a Hawkeye in a single game since Adam Woodbury had 18 against the Badgers on Feb. 24, 2016.
    Garza has netted double figures in 10 of Iowa’s last 18 games. He poured in a game-best 22 points (10-of-16 FG, 2-2 FT) in Iowa’s last outing at No. 22/21 Michigan Wednesday evening. Garza netted 17 of his 19 points in the second half and overtime and snagged 11 rebounds for his third double-double in Iowa’s come-from-behind-victory at Illinois on Jan. 11. He was a perfect 9-of-9 from the foul line against the Fighting Illini. 
    Garza had a stellar performance against Northern Illinois, going 8-of-8 from the field, including making all three 3-pointers, and going 6-of-8 from the charity stripe, scoring a personal-best 25 points. He also denied a season-best five shots. His performance earned the forward Big Ten Freshman of the Week laurels.
    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 garnered the forward Big Ten Freshman of the Week accolades.

IOWA HISTORY
Iowa has played 2,768 games since beginning basketball in 1902. Iowa’s overall record is 1,624-1,144 (.587). Iowa’s 1,624 wins are 38th most among Division I programs. That includes a 1,038-365 (.740) record in home games, a 582-776 (.429) record in contests away from Iowa City, a 765-776 (.496) mark in Big Ten games and a 443-139 (.761) record in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

DIRECTING THE HAWKEYE OFFENSE
Sophomore Jordan Bohannon has had a solid sophomore campaign, dishing out a team-best 148 assists, and averaging 13.4 points. He is averaging 2.8 3-pointers made per game, which ranks second in the league and 62nd in the country. His 3-point percentage of 43.9 percent also ranks 27th nationally. He has made five 3-pointers or more in a game seven times, including five of Iowa’s last 11 contests (at Maryland; at Illinois; at Rutgers; at Nebraska, vs. No. 4 Michigan State). 
    The native of Marion, Iowa, has six 10+ assists games in his career (Indiana, South Dakota, TCU, Ohio State, and Wisconsin), which ties Cal Wulfsberg for the most by a Hawkeye in program history.  His six career double-doubles — all in points and assists — are the most in program history.
    Bohannon is one of three players from a major conference with 300+ assists and 150+ made 3-pointers through their sophomore season in the last two decades joining Duke’s Jay Williams (2000-01) and Chris Thomas of Notre Dame (2002-03).
    Bohannon, one of five players named to the All-Big Ten Freshman Team in 2017, 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 nation 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 rookie 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). 

COOKIN’ WITH TYLER
Tyler Cook ranks first on the team in scoring (15.2), rebounding (6.6), and free throws made (97) and attempted (147).
    He had the best game of his career versus UAB (29 points on 8-of-11 shooting from the field and 13-of-16 from the free throw line).
    Cook has registered 52 dunks this season (1.85 per game), including a season-best six in Iowa’s win over Drake on Dec. 16. 
    Cook is seventh in the league in field goal accuracy (.566) and 12th in rebounding (6.6). The native of St. Louis has a team-best five double-doubles to his credit this season (Penn State, Illinois, Rutgers, Nebraska, and Minnesota). Cook has registered four double-doubles in the last nine contests.

MISSING IN ACTION
Iowa has played two games this season with a full active roster of 16 (Drake and Southern Utah).

• Connor McCaffery: 24 games (combination of ankle, mono, tonsils)
• Nicholas Baer: first six games (finger)
• Ahmad Wagner: three games (shoulder, ankle, and illness)
• Ryan Kriener: six games (concussions)
• Cordell Pemsl: one game (leg laceration)
• Brady Ellingson: four games (concussion)

MAKING THE FREEBIES
Jordan Bohannon has boosted his overall season free throw percentages the last month by sinking all of his free throws.
    Bohannon enters Saturday’s contest versus Indiana having made 30 straight, dating back to the first Ohio State game on Jan. 4. Bohannon’s season percentage (.894) is tops in the Big Ten.
    The legendary Chris Street owns the consecutive free throws made school record, making 34 straight over a span of six games (Jan. 2-16, 1993). Street’s streak ended when he was killed in an auto accident on Jan. 19, 1993.

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.

HAWKEYE FASTBREAKS
•    Iowa is 76-17 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.
•    Iowa trailed Illinois, 49-29, with 3:53 left in the first half and ultimately prevailed in overtime. The 20-point comeback is its third largest in school history and second largest on the road. Iowa had a 22-point comeback, also at Illinois, in 1987. The largest comeback in program history is 23 points against Gardner-Webb in 2012 in Iowa City.
•    Iowa and Michigan State combined for 189 points in the Spartans’ 96-93 win in Iowa City on Feb. 6. It was the highest scoring game played between the two teams since 1988 (103-87 Iowa win in East Lansing).
•    Iowa had six players score in double figures in two games: Chicago State (Nov. 11) and Minnesota (Jan. 30).
•    Iowa scored 57 second-half points in its home game against Minnesota on Jan. 30, the most points scored in the second half of a Big Ten game since scoring 62 at Illinois on March 4, 1990.
•    Iowa’s 104 points are the most it has ever scored against Illinois in the 109-year series history. Iowa’s 104 points are the most it has scored in a Big Ten game since 1995 against Northwestern (W, 116-77). Iowa topped 100 points in a Big Ten road game for the first time since beating Michigan State, 103-87, on March 3, 1998.
•    Iowa’s 18-point victory is over Wisconsin on Jan. 23 (85-67), is its largest margin of victory since beating the Badgers by 25 points (78-53) on Jan. 11, 1997.
•    Iowa was credited with 34 assists on 36 field goals in its nonconference finale against Northern Illinois. The 34 assists tie the school single-game record previously set on Dec. 1, 1984 against George Mason and are the most by a Big Ten team this season.
•    Iowa is one of only three teams (Michigan State and Wisconsin) to have posted a Big Ten record of .500 or better each of the last five seasons (2013-17).
•    Iowa has won 51 of its last 55 nonconference home games, dating back to 2012.
•    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.

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 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. 

ON THE HORIZON
Iowa will play its final road game of the regular season nest Wednesday at Minnesota. Tipoff is set for 8:05 p.m. (CT) at Williams Arena in Minneapolis. The game will be televised nationally on BTN (BTN2GO).