Hawkeyes, Gophers Meet in Minneapolis Wednesday

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THE SETTING
Iowa (12-17, 3-13) will play its road finale on Wednesday at Minnesota (14-15, 3-13). Tipoff is set for 8:05 p.m. (CT) at Williams Arena in Minneapolis. Tickets are available for purchase on gophersports.com. Iowa enters Wednesday’s game having lost five in a row, while Minnesota has lost nine straight contests.
    Wednesday concludes a stretch of playing three of four games on the road for the Hawkeyes.

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: Wednesday’s game will be televised nationally on BTN (BTN2GO). Dave Revsine and Jon Crispin will call the action.

GAME #30 STORYLINES
•    Wednesday will be the 200th meeting between Iowa and Minnesota. Four of the last five meetings in Minneapolis have been decided by six points or fewer, dating back to 2012, with the fifth contest being a double-digit decision in double overtime last season.
•    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.
•    Iowa last victory came on Jan. 30 over Minnesota, earning Fran McCaffery his 400th career victory as a head coach.
•    Sophomore Tyler Cook has recorded double-doubles in five of Iowa’s last 11 games.
•    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 11.5 points, 6.3 rebounds, 1.1 assists, and 1.1 blocks.
•    Jordan Bohannon (.897). Bohannon enters Wednesday’s contest at Minnesota having made 32 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.
•    Luka Garza, a two-time Big Ten Freshman of the Week honoree, ranks first among Big Ten freshmen in rebounding (6.3) and third in field goal percentage (.556). Garza’s four double-doubles are the most by an Iowa freshman since Aaron White’s four in 2011-12.
•    Tyler Cook has 55 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 (170).
•    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.

INDIANA EDGES HAWKEYES, 84-82
The Hoosiers scored the game-winning basket with 49 seconds remaining to edge the Hawkeyes, 84-82, Saturday afternoon on Mediacom Court at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
•    Tyler Cook poured in 28 points, the most by the sophomore against a Big Ten team in his career. Cook also grabbed a game-best 10 rebounds for his team-leading sixth double-double of the season. The six double-doubles are the most by a Hawkeye since Adan Woodbury registered seven in 2015-16.
•    Jordan Bohannon scored all 10 of his points in the final nine minutes of the game. The point guard also dished out a game-best seven assists, six of which came in the first 6:30 of the contest.
•    Iowa took advantage of its free throw attempts, making 19 of its 22 attempts (.864). The 86.4 percentage was a season best for the Hawkeyes. Tyler Cook made 10-of-12 attempts from the charity stripe.
•    The Hawkeyes were credited with 20 assists on 27 field goals made (.741).
•    Iowa made 55 percent (27-of-49) of its field goal attempts, including making its first 10 attempts of the game. Indiana shot 56 percent (32-of-57) from the field, including 58 percent (14-of-24, .583) from 3-point territory.
•    Iowa outrebounded the visiting Hoosiers by 14 (33-19). The Hawkeyes scored 14 points after 10 offensive rebounds.
•    Four Hoosiers netted double figures: Robert Johnson (29), Devonte Green (18), Justin Smith (15), and Juwan Morgan (12). Johnson’s 29 points are the most by an Iowa opposing player this season and his nine triples tied a Carver-Hawkeye Arena record.

ALL-TIME SERIES RECORDS
Minnesota holds a 104-95 advantage in the series that began with a 47-10 Gopher win in 1902. The 199 meetings are the most Iowa has played against any opponent.
    Iowa has won seven of the last 11 meetings. The two teams have split the last 14 contests and have traded victories in the last seven meetings, dating back to 2014. The Hawkeyes won last month’s earlier meeting, 94-80, in Iowa City.
    The Gophers hold a 63-35 advantage in games played at Minnesota. Four of the last five meetings at Williams Arena have been decided by six points or fewer, dating back to 2012, with the fifth contest being a double-digit decision in double overtime last season.

SCOUTING MINNESOTA
•    After starting 13-4, including winning its first seven contests of the season, Minnesota has lost 11 of its last 12 games. The lone victory was a 95-84 overtime victory at Penn State on Jan. 15. The Gophers have played three overtime games this season (1-2).
•    After starting the season 10-1 at home, the Golden Gophers have lost their last five home contests. Minnesota’s last home victory came on Jan. 3 over Illinois (77-67).
•    Wednesday will be Minnesota’s second game in three days as the Golden Gophers lost in overtime at Wisconsin Monday evening (73-63). Minnesota led by seven with 5:58 left in regulation but missed its final seven field goal attempts; an Ethan Happ layup by Wisconsin with six seconds remaining sent the game to an extra session.
•    Two Gophers average double figures in scoring: Jordan Murphy (17.3) and Nate Mason (16.2).
•    It was announced on Saturday that Amir Coffey will have season-ending surgery on his right shoulder. Coffey has missed 11 of the last 13 games with the injury. He finished his sophomore year averaging 14 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 3.3 assists.
•    Minnesota ranks fourth in the Big Ten in blocked shots (5.4) and assists per game (15.1), fifth in scoring offense (76.0), and eighth in free throw accuracy (.708). Jordan Murphy is the only Big Ten player to average better than 17 points and 10 rebounds per game. His 17.3 scoring average ranks sixth best in the league, while his 11.4 rebounds per game is first. Nate Mason ia tied for third in 3-pointers per game (2.5), fourth in assist-to-turnover ratio (3.0), and tied for sixth in assists (4.25).
•    Jordan Murphy’s 35 points scored against USC Upstate (Nov. 11) and his 15 free throws made versus Western Carolina (Nov. 19), are the highest totals in a single game by a Big Ten student-athlete this season.
•    Minnesota ranks 11th nationally in blocked shots per game (5.4), 15th in fewest personal fouls per game (15.3), 24th in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.36), and 33rd in fewest turnovers per game (11.1). Individually, Jordan Murphy leads the nation with 22 double-doubles, ranks seventh in total rebounds (11.4), and third in offensive rebounds (4.2). Nate Mason ranks 14th in assist-to-turnover ratio (3.0).
•    Richard Pitino is in his fifth season as head coach at Minnesota (89-76, .539).

LAST MEETING
Six Hawkeyes scored in double figures in a 94-80 win over Minnesota on Jan. 30, in Iowa City.
•    For the second time this year, six Hawkeyes netted double digits: Jordan Bohannon (20), Tyler Cook (17), Isaiah Moss (16), Nicholas Baer (10), Luka Garza (10), and Cordell Pemsl (10).
•    Cook posted a double-double, scoring 17 points and corralling 10 rebounds. 
•    In addition to his team-best 20 points, Bohannon was credited with a game-high 10 assists for his sixth career double-double — all in points and assists. His six career double-doubles in points and assists are the most in program history.
•    Iowa shot a blistering 55 percent from the field (33-of-60) and 48 percent from 3-point range (12-of-25), while Minnesota shot 44.8 percent from the field (30-of-67) and 28 percent from 3-point range (7-of-25). The Hawkeyes’ 12 triples are the most they have sank in a Big Ten game this season and second highest total overall (13 vs. Southern).
•    Iowa scored 57 second-half points, the most points scored in the second half of a Big Ten game since scoring 62 at Illinois on March 4, 1990.
•    Redshirt junior Brady Ellingson (concussion) and sophomore forward Ryan Kriener (concussion) did not play. 
•    Three Gophers scored double figures: Jordan Murphy (21), Davonte Fitzgerald (16), and Isaiah Washington (15). Murphy also pulled down a game-best 17 rebounds. Minnesota only played eight players. Amir Coffey and Gaston Diedhiou did not play due to injury.

BIG SECOND HALVES FOR THE HAWKEYES
Iowa has scored 50 or more second-half points six times this season, including three of its last seven 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 (6.3), double-doubles (4), free throws made (82) and attempts (121), and is third in field goal accuracy (.556) and scoring (11.5). His 6.3 rebounding average and 55.6 shooting percentage ranks first and third, respectively, among Big Ten freshmen this season.
    Garza’s numbers are much better in home games, averaging 14.6 points (.628 FG%), seven rebounds, and 1.5 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 66 of his last 82 free throws (.805), 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. 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 11 of Iowa’s last 19 games. He poured in a game-best 22 points (10-of-16 FG, 2-2 FT) at No. 22/21 Michigan last Wednesday. 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.

DIRECTING THE HAWKEYE OFFENSE
Sophomore Jordan Bohannon has had a solid sophomore campaign, dishing out a team-best 155 assists, and averaging 13.2 points. He is averaging 2.8 3-pointers made per game, which ranks second in the league and 65th in the country. His 3-point percentage of 42.6 percent also ranks 39th nationally. He has made five 3-pointers or more in a game seven times, with six of the seven times coming in games played away from home.
    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 (15.7), rebounding (6.7), and free throws made (107) and attempted (159).
    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’s 28-point performance on Saturday against Indiana was the most points scored by the forward against a Big Ten team in his two years as a Hawkeye.
    Cook has registered 55 dunks this season (1.9 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 (.567) and 12th in rebounding (6.6). The native of St. Louis has a team-best six double-doubles to his credit this season (Penn State, Illinois, Rutgers, Nebraska, Minnesota, and Indiana). Cook has registered five double-doubles in the last 11 contests.

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

• Connor McCaffery: 25 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 Wednesday’s contest aty Minnesota having made 32 straight, dating back to the first Ohio State game on Jan. 4. Bohannon’s season percentage (.897) is tops in the Big Ten. Bohannon is 33-of-34 from the charity stripe in Big Ten play, missing his only free throw on Dec. 4 at Indiana.
    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 76-18 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. 

IOWA HISTORY
Iowa has played 2,769 games since beginning basketball in 1902. Iowa’s overall record is 1,624-1,145 (.586). Iowa’s 1,624 wins are 38th most among Division I programs. That includes a 1,038-366 (.739) record in home games, a 582-776 (.429) record in contests away from Iowa City, a 765-777 (.496) mark in Big Ten games and a 443-140 (.760) record in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

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).

ON THE HORIZON
Iowa will close out the regular season with its final home game on Sunday against Northwestern. Tipoff in the only regular season meeting between the Wildcats and Hawkeyes is set for 6:30 p.m. (CT) on Mediacom Court at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Tickets are available for purchase at hawkeyesports.com/tickets.