Hawkeye Fan Shop — A Black & Gold Store | Fight For Iowa | Hawk Talk Monthly — February | Game Notes (PDF)
| #4/4 MICHIGAN STATE (22-3, 10-2) vs. IOWA (12-13, 3-9) |
| DATE | Tuesday, Feb. 6 | 8:05 p.m. (CT) |
| LOCATION | Iowa City, Iowa | Carver-Hawkeye Arena (15,400) |
| RADIO | LISTEN | Hawkeye Radio Network | Hawkeye All-Access |
| TICKETS | hawkeyesports.com/tickets |
| TV | ESPN |
| LIVE STATS | StatBroadcast |
| LIVE UPDATES | @IowaHoops |
THE SETTING
Iowa (12-13, 3-9) returns home to host No. 4/4 Michigan State (22-3, 10-2) on Tuesday. Tipoff is scheduled for 8:05 p.m. (CT) on Mediacom Court in Carver-Hawkeye Arena (15,400). Tickets are available for $25 for adults, and $10 for youth and UI students.
PROMOTIONS
• Fran McCaffery Bobble Head Give-Away; one bobble head per person while supplies last. The bobble heads will be distributed near section A and NN.
• Kinnick Stadium Brick Information; limited edition authentic Kinnick Stadium bricks. These bricks were salvaged from 2017 summer renovations to the east grandstands, part of the original stadium structure. Only 1,200 limited edition Kinnick Stadium bricks are available. Each comes with a numbered letter of authenticity.
• Iowa’s Pinstripe Bowl trophy will be on display.
• Iowa Baseball’s Big Ten Tournament Championship trophy will be on display.
GAME #26 STORYLINES
• The last time Michigan State played at Iowa, the Hawkeyes beat the top-ranked Spartans (83-70) on Dec. 29, 2015, marking the program’s third win over a No. 1 ranked team.
• Iowa’s next three games are against ranked opponents (MSU, OSU, and Michigan).
• The top three free throw shooters in the league will take the floor Tuesday in Iowa City: Michigan State’s Miles Bridges (.901) and Cassius Winston (.900), and Iowa’s Jordan Bohannon (.894). Bohannon enters Tuesday’s game aving 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 94 points or more in multiple Big Ten games in the same season (Illinois and Minnesota) for the first time since 1994-95.
• Michigan State (20.2) and Iowa (18.4) rank one-two, respectively in the Big Ten in assists.
• Fran McCaffery won his 400th career game in 22 seasons as a head coach with last Tuesday’s 94-80 triumph over Minnesota.
• 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 (.549). Garza’s four double-doubles are the most by an Iowa freshman since Aaron White’s four in 2011-12.
• Tyler Cook has 48 dunks this season, including a season-best six in a win over Drake.
• Jordan Bohannon is the sixth player — and the only from a major conference — to make five or more triples in five straight road games over the last 20 years. He ranks ninth in career 3-pointers made at Iowa, making 159 triples in his first 59 games.
• Iowa made 12 3-pointers versus Minnesota. The 12 triples are the most by the Hawkeyes in a Big Ten game this season and second highest total of the year (13 versus Southern).
• Jordan Bohannon has six 10+ assists games in his career, which ties 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 has played only two games this year with a full roster (Drake and Southern Utah).
• 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.
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 ESPN (WATCHESPN). Dave Flemming, Dan Dakich, and Molly McGrath will call the action.
IOWA FALLS AT PENN STATE SATURDAY NIGHT
Penn State scored 50 of its 82 points in the paint in an 82-58 triumph over Iowa Saturday evening at the Bryce Jordan Center in University Park, Pennsylvania.
• Forwards Tyler Cook and Luka Garza led the Hawkeyes, scoring 19 points and 13 points, respectively.
• Point guard Jordan Bohannon played only 24 minutes; his minutes were shortened due to the sophomore battling an illness.
• Iowa outscored Penn State, 15-7, at the free throw line. Luka Garza led the Hawkeyes at the foul line, sinking 7-of-9 from the charity stripe.
• Jordan Bohannon made the squad’s first 3-point attempt, but Iowa misfired on its final nine 3-point attempts. The one triple was a season low for the Hawkeyes.
• Redshirt junior Brady Ellingson (concussion) and sophomore forward Ryan Kriener (concussion) did not play. Kriener has missed the last four games, while Ellingson has missed the last three.
• Four starters scored double figures for the Nittany Lions: Mike Watkins (19), Lamar Stephens (17), Tony Carr (16), and Josh Reaves (11).
ALL-TIME SERIES RECORDS
Michigan State holds a 72-55 advantage over Iowa in the series that began with a Spartan victory in 1938. The Spartans have won 10 of the last 12 meetings, dating back to 2011. Iowa snapped a nine-game losing skid in 2015, sweeping the season series. Michigan State won last season’s only meeting, 77-66, in East Lansing.
Iowa holds a 35-24 advantage in games played in Iowa City. The two teams have split the last six games contested in Iowa City. Iowa won the last contest played between the two teams in Carver-Hawkeye, 83-70, on Dec. 29, 2015, when Michigan State was the top-ranked team in the country. That Hawkeye victory was the program’s third win over a No. 1 ranked team.
Michigan State, in 1983, won the first basketball game ever played in Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Michigan State’s 15 wins are the most by any Iowa opponent in the facility.
SCOUTING MICHIGAN STATE
• Michigan State enters Tuesday’s game winners of six straight. Tuesday will be the Spartans’ second straight road game; Michigan State closes out its regular season with five of seven away from home.
• The Spartans won its Saturday road game against Indiana, 63-60 in Bloomington. The Spartans were outrebounded by 24 (53-29) and were outscored 14-0 in second chance points, but limited the Hoosiers to 29 percent (19-of-66) shooting from the field. Jaren Jackson and Joshua Langford each netted 10 points. Jackson, who already broke the school’s single-season blocks record, rejected a game-best seven shots.
• Michigan State is 8-2 in games away from East Lansing, Michigan, including 4-1 in true road contests. The Spartans’ last two road games have been decided by a combined nine points (W, 74-68 at Maryland; W, 63-60 at Indiana).
• All five Spartan starters average double figures: Miles Bridges (17.4), Nick Ward (13.2), Joshua Langford (12.9), Cassius Winston (12.3), and Jaren Jackson Jr. (11.4).
• The Spartans rank first or second in nine statistical categories in the Big Ten. Michigan State is first in rebounding margin (+10.6), assists (20.2), blocked shots (8.2), field goal percentage (.515), and field goal percentage defense (.354). Miles Bridges (.901) and Cassius Winston (.900) own the top two free throw percentage marks in the league ahead of Iowa’s Jordan Bohannon (.894). Jaren Jackson is first in blocked shots (3.6), while Winston is first in assists per game (7.0).
• Tom Izzo is in his 23rd season as head coach at Michigan State (566-223, .717).
LAST MEETING
Michigan State outscored Iowa, 46-34, in the second half in a 77-66 win over the Hawkeyes on Feb. 11, 2017, in East Lansing, Michigan, in the only meeting of the season.
• Three Hawkeyes netted double figures: Peter Jok (13), Tyler Cook (13), and Cordell Pemsl (10).
• The Hawkeye defense forced 21 turnovers, scoring 21 points off the Spartan miscues.
• Michigan State outrebounded Iowa, 46-32, and scored 18 points after grabbing 14 offensive boards.
• Iowa outscored Michigan State 20-10 at the foul line, while the Spartans outscored the Hawkeyes, 27-12, via the 3-point shot.
• Miles Bridges scored 14 of his game-high 16 points in the first half for the Spartans. Nick Ward netted 12 of his 14 points in the second half, while Cassius Winston tallied all 12 of his points in the second stanza.
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).
GARZA SHINES IN FRESHMAN CAMPAIGN
Freshman Luka Garza leads the team in blocked shots (1.1), and is second in rebounding (6.6), double-doubles (4), free throws made (75) and attempts (1114), and is third in field goal accuracy (.549) and scoring (11.1). His 6.6 rebounding average and 54.9 shooting percentage ranks first and third, respectively, among Big Ten freshmen this season.
Garza has made 59 of his last 75 free throws (.787), 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 nine of Iowa’s last 15 games. 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. He was a perfect 9-of-9 from the foul line against the Fighting Illini.
Garza had his best game as a collegiate player against Northern Illinois, going 8-of-8 from the field, including making all three 3-pointers, and 6-of-8 from the charity stripe, scoring a personal-best 25 points. He also denied a season-best five shots. His efforts garnered the forward Big Ten Freshman of the Week accolades for the second time this season (Nov. 13 and Jan. 2).
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.
COOKIN’ WITH TYLER
Tyler Cook ranks first on the team in scoring (15.3), rebounding (6.8), and free throws made (91) and attempted (135).
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 48 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 (.580) and 12th in rebounding (6.8). 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 seven contests.
Not only has Cook done a good job getting to the free throw line, but making his foul shots. Cook ranks 85th nationally in free throw attempts (135) and 135th in free throw makes (91). He also ranks 36th in field goal percentage (.580).
BIG SECOND HALVES FOR THE HAWKEYES
Iowa has scored 50 or more second-half points five times this season, including two of its last three games (50 at Nebraska and 57 versus Minnesota). 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.
Iowa shot 60 percent from the field in the second half versus the Gophers and 56 percent in the final 20 minutes against the Huskers.
Other Iowa games this season netting 50 points or more include Louisiana (54), Southern (50), and Drake (50).
MAKING THE FREEBIES
Jordan Bohannon has boosted his overall season free throw percentages the last couple weeks by sinking all of his free throws.
Bohannon enters Tuesday’s contest versus Michigan State having made 30 straight, dating back to the Ohio State game on Jan. 4. Bohannon’s season percentage (.894) ranks third in the Big Ten behind Michigan State’s Miles Bridges (.901) and Cassius Winston (.900).
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.
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 college basketball.
Bohannon 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.
The native of Marion, Iowa, has had a solid sophomore campaign, dishing out a team-best 132 assists, and averaging 13.6 points. He is averaging 2.8 3-pointers made per game, which ranks second in the league and 64th in the country. He has made five 3-pointers or more in a game six times, including four of Iowa’s last eight contests (at Maryland; at Illinois; at Rutgers; at Nebraska).
Bohannon played limited minutes in Iowa’s last outing at Penn State on Saturday due to an illness.
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).
MISSING IN ACTION
Iowa has played two games this season with a full active roster of 16 (Drake and Southern Utah).
• Connor McCaffery: 21 games (combination of ankle, mono, tonsils)
• Nicholas Baer: first six games (finger)
• Ahmad Wagner: UAB (shoulder) and Colorado (ankle)
• Ryan Kriener: six games (concussions)
• Cordell Pemsl: Southern University (leg laceration)
• Brady Ellingson: four games (concussion)
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.
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.
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 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.
IOWA HISTORY
Iowa has played 2,765 games since beginning basketball in 1902. Iowa’s overall record is 1,624-1,141 (.587). Iowa’s 1,624 wins are 38th most among Division I programs. That includes a 1,038-364 (.740) record in home games, a 582-774 (.429) record in contests away from Iowa City, a 765-773 (.497) mark in Big Ten games and a 443-138 (.762) record in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
ON THE HORIZON
Iowa hits the road again for a contest at No. 14/16 Ohio State on Saturday. Tipoff is slated for 5:07 p.m. (CT) at Value City Arena. After Saturday’s contest, the Hawkeyes will visit Michigan on Feb. 14.
