Game Notes: Iowa vs. Northwestern

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THE SETTING
No. 20/20 Iowa (18-5, 7-5) will entertain Northwestern (12-10, 3-8) on Sunday at 5:31 p.m. (CT) on Mediacom Court at Carver-Hawkeye Arena (15,056). Tickets are available for Sunday’s contest at hawkeyesports.com/tickets.
 
SUNDAY PROMOTIONS
•  “Super Hero Game” — Fans can meet and get photos with some of their favorite super heroes on the north concourse from 4-5:30 pm. There will also be a bat car on display.
•  The 2019 Outback Bowl Trophy will be on display on the concourse at the top of section C through the second half. Fans can also register for 2019 Iowa Football season tickets.
•  Fans are encouraged to download the ‘Hawkeye Lights’ App to join the pregame light show: apple.co/2sRZDwt (Apple) & tinyurl.com/y7qe3fgg (Android).
 
ON THE AIR
Radio: Iowa games are broadcast on the Hawkeye Radio Network. Gary Dolphin (play-by-play) and Bob Hansen (analysis) call the action. 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: Sunday night’s game will be televised nationally on BTN (FOXSPORTSGO). Brandon Gaudin and Robbie Hummel will call the action.
 
HAWKEYES WIN AT INDIANA
Jordan Bohannon scored Iowa’s final 11 points over the final 90 seconds to preserve a 77-72 road win at Indiana Thursday evening inside Assembly Hall.
•   The win snapped a three-game losing streak to the Hoosiers.
•   Jordan Bohannon (25) and Tyler Cook (21) tallied 20 points for the 15th time in their careers.
•   Tyler Cook netted 13 of his 21 points in the first half. The junior moved into a tie with Val Barnes for 26th on Iowa’s all-time scoring list.
•   Jordan Bohannon tied a season best with 25 points, passing Reggie Evans, Carl Cain, and Glen Worley for 42nd on Iowa’s career scoring chart. Bohannon also dished out a team-best six assists with no turnovers.
•   Freshman Joe Wieskamp was Iowa’s third player to score in double figures, netting 12 of his 13 points in the first half on 4-of-4 shooting from 3-point range.
•   The Hawkeyes scored 46 points in the first 20 minutes, the second-highest first-half total Indiana has allowed all season.
•   Redshirt freshman Connor McCaffery was credited with a personal-best three steals.
•   Iowa has now won three of its last four road games in the Big Ten.
•   Iowa improved to 6-2 in games decided by single digits this season.
•   Freshman Romeo Langford led the Hoosiers with 22 points and five rebounds. Senior Juwan Morgan contributed 17 points and four rebounds.
 
ALL-TIME SERIES RECORDS
Iowa holds a 117-60 advantage over Northwestern in the series. The Hawkeyes have won nine of the last 12 meetings, including a 73-63 win in Evanston earlier this season on Jan. 9, 2019. This season marks the first time since 2014-15 that Iowa and Northwestern will meet twice during the regular season.
    Iowa holds a 68-18 advantage in games played in Iowa City, including a 28-4 record in Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The Hawkeyes have won the last five contests played against the Wildcats in Iowa City, dating back to 2013. Iowa’s 28 wins over Northwestern in Carver-Hawkeye Arena are the most over any other opponent. The Hawkeyes won last season’s only meeting, 77-70, in the regular season finale in Iowa City on Feb. 25, 2018.
 
SCOUTING NORTHWESTERN
•   Northwestern enters Sunday’s contest having lost three straight games.
•   Sunday will be the fifth time Northwestern will be on the road in seven games. The Wildcats are 1-5 in road games during conference play, recording their lone victory at Rutgers (65-57) on Jan. 18.
•   Northwestern dropped a 59-52 decision to Penn State in its last outing on Monday at home. Dererk Pardon (18) and Vic Law (10) were the only Wildcats who netted double figures. Aaron Falzon, who was held scoreless, started his first game of the season in 23 minutes of action. Northwestern (7) made four more triples than Penn State (3), however the Nittany Lions (37.7 percent) had a better shooting percentage fromt he field than the Wildcats (31.8 percent).
•   Three Wildcats average double figures in scoring: Vic Law (15.0), Dererk Pardon (14.0), and Ryan Taylor (11.4). Taylor (52) and Law (37) are Northwestern’s two main 3-point threats, combining for 89 of the team’s 164 triples. Pardon leads the Wildcats in rebounding (7.8) and blocked shots (1.1).
•   Northwestern ranks first in the Big Ten in 3-point field goal percentage defense (.291); third in free throw percentage (.736) and blocked shots (4.5); and fourth in scoring defense (64.3). Individually, Vic Law ranks 14th in the league in scoring (15.0) and ninth in minutes played (33.0). Dererk Pardon ranks seventh in field goal percentage (.591) and eighth in rebounding (7.8).  A.J. Turner is ninth in free throw accuracy (.800), while Ryan Taylor is sixth in 3-pointers made per game (2.4).
•   Chris Collins is in his sixth season as a head coach, all at Northwestern (100-87, .535). Collins led the Wildcats to their first-ever NCAA Tournament in 2017.
 
LAST MEETING
Iowa rallied from a seven-point second half deficit to upend Northwestern, 73-62, on Jan. 9, at Welsh-Ryan Arena in Evanston, Illinois.
•   Iowa played without its leading scorer and rebounder, Tyler Cook, who did not play due to a sore knee.
•   Freshman Joe Wieskamp led the Hawkeyes in scoring, netting 15 of his game-best 19 points in the second half.
•  After starting 4-of-8 from the free throw line, Iowa finished the game making 17 of its final 18 free throw attempts.
•  Luka Garza netted ten of his 16 points from the free throw line; Isaiah Moss chipped in nine points, while Jordan Bohannon scored Iowa’s final six points.
•  Vic Law and Anthony Gaines each scored 13 points to lead the Wildcats.
 
COOK, BOHANNON JOIN 1,000-POINT CLUB
Jordan Bohannon joined classmate Tyler Cook in the 1,000-point club on Jan. 12. Bohannon is 70 assists from becoming the sixth Hawkeye to amass 1,000 points and 500 assists. Bohannon is also three 3-pointers from tying Matt Gatens for second in career triples made as a Hawkeye.
    Cook became the 20th Hawkeye to total 1,100 points and 500 rebounds with his rebounding totals in Iowa’s win over Illinois on Jan. 20. Cook is one of 21 players in Iowa history to have 10 or more double-doubles.
 
JOE WIESKAMP NAMED BIG TEN FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
Joe Wieskamp was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week on Monday by the conference office. The honor is the second in three weeks for the native of Muscatine, Iowa.
    Wieskamp helped Iowa knock off No. 5 Michigan, 74-59, in Iowa City on Feb. 1, finishing with 16 points, seven rebounds, two assists, and a personal-best five steals in the victory. He shot 60 percent (6-of-10) from the field and 75 percent (3-of-4) from the foul line.
    The five steals are the most by a Hawkeye in a Big Ten game in two years. Wieskamp became the fourth freshman nationally to register 16+ points, 7+ rebounds and 5+ steals versus a ranked opponent in the last five seasons (LSU’s Ben Simmons; NC State’s Dennis Smith, Jr.; Pitt’s Trey McGowens).
    Iowa finished with 74 points against the Wolverines — the most Michigan has allowed in Big Ten play and second most this season (78 vs. South Carolina). The win is Iowa’s fourth over a ranked opponent this season and highest victory over a ranked opponent since beating No. 4 Michigan State on Jan. 14, 2016.
    Wieskamp followed up the Michigan performance with a 13-point effort in Iowa’s win at Indiana. Wieskamp made all four of his 3-point attempts in the first half against the Hoosiers.
 
COOK ELEVATING HIS GAME
Tyler Cook has led the Hawkeyes in scoring seven of the last 15 games played and has led the squad in rebounding in ten of the 15. Cook recorded career point No. 1,000, in Iowa’s win over Northern Iowa on Dec. 15. He netted 15+ points and 5+ rebounds in ten straight contests played, dating back to the Michigan State road game on Dec. 3. He is the first Hawkeye to accomplish the feat since James Winters 25 years ago (1993-94).
    Cook is one of two Big Ten student-athletes to average better than 16 points and eight rebounds per game (Wisconsin’s Ethan Happ). Cook ranks in the top ten in the league in scoring (seventh), rebounding (fifth), and ninth in field goal percentage (.561). The St. Louis native totaled 21 points, seven rebounds, four assists, and a pair of steals in Thursday’s road triumph at Indiana.
 
MOSS FILLIN’ IT UP
Redshirt junior Isaiah Moss has been on fire shooting the basketball the last six games. Moss is 15-of-25 (.600) from 3-point range during that span. The Chicago native made all four 3-point attempts at Penn State — all in the first half — was 5-of-6 from long distance versus Illinois and 6-of-10 at Minnesota on Jan. 27.
    Moss is tied for third in the Big Ten in 3-point accuracy (.444).
 
RYAN KRIENER TAKING THE NEXT STEP
Junior Ryan Kriener posted his first career double-double in Iowa’s 15-point win over No. 5 Michigan on Feb. 1. Kriener was 6-of-9 shooting from the field, including making his only 3-point attempt, and was 2-of-4 from the foul line.
    Kriener has registered single-season bests in nearly every statistical category as a junior. His scoring (5.7) and rebounding (3.1) averages have improved, along with his shooting percentages. His 3-point accuracy (.364) has nearly doubled from his freshman (.200) and sophomore (.200) seasons.
    The native of Spirit Lake, Iowa, has tallied double figures in scoring in five of Iowa’s last ten contests.
 
MAKING THE FREEBIES
Iowa has made 45 more free throws than any other Big Ten team. The Hawkeyes have made 445 fouls shots, while Minnesota is second behind Iowa with 400 makes.
    The Hawkeyes are the only team with three players ranked in the top 11 in the league free throw percentage. Jordan Bohannon ranks second (.865, 64-of-74), Luka Garza is fourth (.853, 64-of-75), and Connor McCaffery is 11th (.789, 60-of-76).
 
RECENT TRENDS
Iowa has been shooting the basketball at a good clip over the last five contests. During the five-game stretch spanning games played Jan. 20-Feb. 1, Iowa is shooting 49.3 percent (146-of-296) and 45 percent (46-of-102) from 3-point range. The Hawkeyes are also averaging 17.8 assists and 10.8 turnovers (1.6 assist-to-turnover ratio).
 
FAST START FOR WIESKAMP
Joe Wieskamp is off to a fast start for the Hawkeyes as a freshman. The shooting guard ranks third on the team in scoring (11.5 ppg), and second in rebounding (4.9 rpg) and steals (23). Wieskamp is shooting at a 44.4 percent clip from 3-point range (40-of-90) — tied for first on the team — and 50.6 percent overall from the field (87-of-172).
    Wieskamp led the team in scoring for the fifth time this season in Iowa’s win over Illinois (Jan. 20), matching a personal-best with 24 points. His efforts in Iowa’s two victories three weeks ago earned the native of Muscatine, Iowa, Big Ten Freshman of the Week accolades on Jan. 21. Wieskamp helped Iowa set a Carver-Hawkeye Arena team record for field goal percentage, making 68 percent of its attempts (34-of-50) versus the Fighting Illini. He also helped the Hawkeyes total 89 points at Penn State, its highest point total ever at State College, dating back to 1955.
    Wieskamp earned Big Ten Freshman of the Week accolades for the second time in three weeks after totaling 16 points, seven rebounds, five steals, and two assists in Iowa’s 15-point win over No. 5 Michigan.
    Wieskamp posted his first career double-double versus Pittsburgh on Nov. 27, totaling a team-best in points (18) and rebounds (11).
 
BOHANNON RECEIVED MUSIAL AWARD
Jordan Bohannon was one of the honorees at the 2018 Musial Awards, which celebrated the greatest moments of sportsmanship and those in sports who embody class and character.
    Last February, Bohannon, an Iowa sophomore, was approaching the Hawkeyes’ consecutive free throws made record. The record was held by the late Chris Street, an Iowa basketball legend who died in a car accident in 1993 at age 20. With a chance to break the record, Bohannon intentionally — and selflessly — missed a free throw to honor Street and keep the record in his name.
    The awards ceremony took place in St. Louis on Nov. 17. Bohannon traveled with the Street family from New York to St. Louis after Iowa’s two games in New York City.
    Other honorees included recently-inducted Baseball Hall of Famer Jim Thome, Loyola men’s basketball team chaplain Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt, Florida State softball head coach Lonni Alameda, Minnesota high school pitcher Ty Koehn, and Hall of Fame shortstop Ozzie Smith.
    The event is named for Stan Musial, the late St. Louis Cardinals legend who was beloved for his approach on and off the field. The mission of the Musial Awards is to encourage selflessness, integrity and civility in sports and society — and to inspire people across the country to be good sports.
 
IOWA HISTORY
Iowa has played 2,796 games since beginning basketball in 1902. Iowa’s overall record is 1,644-1,151 (.588). Iowa’s 1,644 wins are 41st most among Division I programs. That includes a 1,051-368 (.740) record in home games, a 587-781 (.429) record in contests away from Iowa City, a 773-783 (.497) mark in Big Ten games and a 456-142 (.762) record in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
 
HAWKEYES RETURN EXPERIENCE
Iowa returns 90.5 percent of minutes played a year ago, a percentage that is fourth most in the country: Washington (95.2 percent), Wisconsin (93.9 percent), and Syracuse (90.8 percent). Returning Iowa players scored 94.9 percent (2,496 of 2,630) of its offense a year ago and a combined 4,246 career points entering the 2018-19 season.
    Iowa is one of four schools nationally to have all five starters return with all five being its top five scorers in 2017-18 (Syracuse, Brown, Harvard).
 
SHOOTING FOR PERFECTION
Iowa had a player make all his 3-point attempts in the first half (min. four attempts) four times this season.
    Freshman Joe Wieskamp made all four of his 3-point attempts at Indiana (Feb. 7) and was 4-of-4 vs. Illinois (Jan. 20). Junior Isaiah Moss was 4-of-4 at Penn State (Jan. 16) and was 5-of-5 vs. Illinois (Jan. 20).
 
FAMILY AFFAIR
In addition to brothers Nicholas and Michael Baer on the Iowa men’s basketball team, the Baers have two cousins competing on other sports at the University of Iowa. Molly Kelly is a senior on the volleyball team, while Joe Kelly is a freshman on the Iowa wrestling team. Additionally, cousin Kristin Baer is a senior on the Notre Dame volleyball team.
 
MEASURING THE HAWKEYES
Iowa has four players with wingspans over seven feet: Ryan Kriener (7-3), Jack Nunge (7-2), Luka Garza (7-1.5), and Tyler Cook (7-1). Guards Maishe Dailey (6-11) and Joe Wieskamp (6-11) have longest wingspans among backcourt players.
 
McCAFFERY REACHES MILESTONES
Iowa’s regular season opener against UMKC was Fran McCaffery’s 700th career game as a head coach. The 2018-19 season is McCaffery’s ninth as Iowa’s head coach and 23rd overall as a collegiate head coach. McCaffery has 420 overall wins and 169 victories while on the Iowa sidelines. He recently surpassed Lute Olson for second on Iowa’s coaching win chart with Iowa’s win at Indiana last Thursday. Tom Davis is Iowa’s all-time winningest coach with 269 wins.
 
COACHING EXPERIENCE
Fran McCaffery has the most experienced coaching staffs in the country. The Iowa men’s basketball staff has 58 years of combined collegiate head coaching experience and more than 125 years of collegiate coaching under their belts.
 
COOK ATTENDS NIKE BASKETBALL ACADEMY
Tyler Cook attended the prestigious Nike Basketball Academy last summer in California. The camp provided Cook the opportunity to train alongside some of the best NBA players and coaches. The prestigious skills development camp was limited to 25 of the nation’s top collegiate players, which included a combine experience, drills, off-court workouts, film sessions, and competition.
    Cook is the fourth Hawkeye in five years to be invited to this elite basketball camp, joining Aaron White (2014), Jarrod Uthoff (2015), and Peter Jok (2016).
 
RECENT GRADUATES PLAYING PROFESSIONAL BASKETBALL
A number of recent Iowa basketball graduates are playing professionally: Devyn Marble (Italy), Anthony Clemmons (Kazakhstan), Gabriel Olaseni (Germany), Jarrod Uthoff (Russia), Melsahn Basabe (Israel), Peter Jok (NBA G League: Northern Arizona Suns), Adam Woodbury (NBA G League: Stockton Kings), and Aaron White (Lithuania).
 
IOWA VS. RANKED TEAMS
    The Hawkeyes are 4-3 against nationally-ranked teams, beating No. 13 Oregon in New York City, No. 24 Nebraska, No. 16 Ohio State, and No. 5 Michigan in Iowa City. Iowa lost to No. 22 Wisconsin in Iowa City, No. 10 Michigan State in East Lansing, and No. 6 Michigan State in Iowa City.
    Iowa’s 15-point win over No. 5 Michigan is its highest win over a ranked opponent since beating No. 4 Michigan State on Jan. 14, 2016. Additionally, it marked the first time an unranked Iowa team (AP Poll) beat an AP Top 5 team by 15+ points since beating then-No. 5 Purdue, 88-69, on Feb. 18, 1998.
 
CONNOR MCCAFFERY RETURNS HEALTHY
Guard Connor McCaffery received a medical redshirt following last season. McCaffery (6-foot-5, 205 pounds) has four years of men’s basketball eligibility remaining after averaging 13.3 minutes in only four games last December as a true freshman. The native of Iowa City missed two games due to a sprained ankle, eight contests due to mononucleosis, and 19 games after undergoing a tonsillectomy in December.
    McCaffery is the son of head coach Fran McCaffery. Iowa is one of 12 Division I teams in which the head coach has a son on the 2018-19 roster (Alabama, Cal State Bakersfield, Central Connecticut State, Central Florida, Detroit Mercy, Kentucky, Oregon State, Portland, Syracuse, Southern Illinois, Tennessee Martin).
    McCaffery is believed to be one of three Division I men’s basketball student-athletes who are dual-sport athletes in 2018-19. McCaffery (basketball and baseball), joins South Carolina junior Evan Hinson (football and basketball) and Buffalo sophomore Dominic Johnson (football and basketball).
    Iowa is 21-5 in games in which Connor McCaffery has played, dating back to last season. McCaffery is second on the team in assists (66) and eighth in scoring (5.0 ppg).
 
PEMSL HAS SEASON ENDING SURGERY
Junior Cordell Pemsl underwent season-ending surgery on Dec. 18.
    “Cordell’s procedure removed hardware near his knee from a previous surgery when he was in high school,” said McCaffery.
    Pemsl saw action in only two games this season, playing 13 minutes against UMKC (Nov. 8) and 18 minutes versus Iowa State (Dec. 6).
    “I tried to give playing this season another shot in the Iowa State game, but after a week of rest and recovery, the chronic irritation caused by the hardware has remained resulting in my inability to play in Saturday’s game versus UNI. After further discussions with the medical staff, we determined that the best course of action is to correct the problem at this time.”
    The native of Dubuque, Iowa, has played in 68 career games, averaging 7.2 points and 4.7 rebounds per game.
 
HAWKEYE FASTBREAKS
•   Iowa’s 74 points versus No. 5 Michigan are the most the Wolverines have allowed in Big Ten play this year and the second most this season (78 vs. South Carolina). The Hawkeyes also limited the Wolverines to a season-low 32.3 percent (21-of-65) shooting from the field on Feb. 1.
•   Iowa started the year 16-3, matching its best start in the Fran McCaffery era (2015-16).
•   Iowa established a Carver-Hawkeye Arena field goal percentage record, making 68 percent of its attempts (34-of-50) in a 95-71 convincing victory over Illinois on Jan. 20.
•   In both Iowa home Big Ten losses (Wisconsin and Michigan State), the Hawkeyes had eight point leads in the second half, but were unable to extend their advantage to double digits before the visitors came back to win.
•   Iowa’s 89 points in a seven-point win at Penn State on Jan. 16, are the most scored by the Hawkeyes in State College, dating back to 1955. The previous high was 86 on Jan. 6, 2001.
•   Iowa has scored 94 points or more in the last three games versus Illinois (104 at Illinois on Jan. 11, 2018; 96 in New York on Feb. 28, 2018; 95 in Iowa City on Jan. 20, 2019).
•   Iowa is one of 20 schools nationally to have five or more redshirts on their roster. Iowa’s five redshirts are tied for second most in the B1G with Michigan State (Wisconsin, 8).
•  Two Hawkeyes were named to the 2K Empire Classic All-Tournament Team: Luka Garza (MVP) and Tyler Cook. Cook averaged 16.5 points and nine rebounds, while Garza averaged 16 points and 6.5 rebounds in the two victories. Iowa trailed for only two minutes in the two victories over No. 13 Oregon and Connecticut.
•   Iowa is 84-20 when scoring 80 points or more, the last nine seasons. The Hawkeyes are 70-2 when holding opponents to fewer than 61 points, the last eight years.
•   Iowa has won 59 of its last 63 nonconference home games, dating back to 2012.
•   Iowa made a school record with 19 3-pointers made versus Savannah State on Dec. 22, besting the previous mark of 18 previously set in 2016 against Savannah State.
•  Iowa posted 98 points in its 14-point win over Iowa State. The last time Iowa scored 90 points or more against Iowa State was Dec. 10, 1988, in Iowa City (Iowa won 91-71).
•  Iowa improved to 6-1 all-time in The Hy-Vee Classic with its 77-54 win over Northern Iowa on Dec. 15 in Des Moines. In the seven-year history of four-team Hy-Vee Classic, Nicholas Baer is the only player to win four games in four years. Baer averaged 10 points, nine rebounds, 2.75 assists, 2.5 blocked shots, and two steals in four games played.
•   Iowa’s 105 points versus Alabama State, equaled the fourth highest point total by the Hawkeyes in a single-game in the Fran McCaffery era.
•  Iowa torched Alabama State for 68 first-half points, the most points scored by Iowa in a half in the Fran McCaffery era besting a 63-point outburst in the second half at Minnesota a year ago.
•   Fran McCaffery and his coaching staff are the first in program history to win 18 games or more in six straight seasons (2013-18).
•   Fran McCaffery has guided Iowa to upper division finishes in the Big Ten in five of the last six seasons. McCaffery has accumulated 17 first division finishes in 22 years as a head coach.
 
NUNGE, FREDRICK TO REDSHIRT
Sophomore forward Jack Nunge and freshman guard CJ Fredrick plan to redshirt the 2018-19 season. Nunge, one of seven forwards on this season’s roster, saw action in all 33 games a year ago, ranking second on the team in blocked shots (25), fourth in steals (21), and fifth in scoring (5.7). Fredrick was the 2018 Kentucky Gatorade Player of the Year his senior year at Covington Catholic High School.
 
ON THE HORIZON
The Hawkeyes will have five days between games, returning to action Saturday, Feb. 16 at Rutgers. Tipoff is set for 5 p.m. (CT) in Piscataway, New Jersey.
    Tickets are available for Iowa’s remaining home contests versus Maryland (Tuesday, Feb. 19); Indiana (Friday, Feb. 22); and Rutgers (Saturday, March, 2) at hawkeyesports.com/tickets.