Game Notes: Iowa at Big Ten Tournament

Hawkeye Fan Shop — A Black & Gold Store | Hawk Talk Monthly — March | 24 Hawkeyes to Watch | B1G Tournament Bracket (PDF) | Game Notes (PDF)

Iowa (21-10, 10-10) vs. Illinois (12-20)
 DATE  Thursday, March 14 | 8:30 p.m. CT
 LOCATION  Chicago, Illinois | United Center
 RADIO | LISTEN  Hawkeye Radio Network | Hawkeye All-Access 
 STREAM  BTN
 LIVE STATS  Sidearm Stats
 LIVE UPDATES  @IowaHoops

THE SETTING
Iowa (21-10, 10-10) will play either Illinois (12-20, 7-13) ) in the Big Ten Tournament on Thursday at the United Center in Chicago. Tipoff is set for approximately 8:30 p.m. (CT). Iowa is the No. 6 seed and Illinois is seeded 11th. Iowa beat Illinois in Iowa City in the only meeting with the Fighting Illini.
    Tickets are available at the United Center box office or online at ticketmaster.com.

ON THE AIR
Radio: Iowa games at the Big Ten Tournament are broadcast on the Hawkeye Radio Network, Sirius/XM, and Compass Media Networks. Jim Albracht (play-by-play) and Bob Hansen (analysis) will 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: Thursday’s first round game will be televised nationally on BTN (FOXSPORTSGO). Kevin Kugler, Jon Crispin, and Rick Pizzo will call the action.

HAWKEYE HOOPS HUDDLE
Prior to Iowa’s tournament game versus Illinois or Northwestern on Thursday, there will be a Hawkeye Hoops Huddle at Theory (9 West Hubbard, Chicago) from 3-5 p.m. (CT). Playwright Irish Pub is located approximately four miles from the United Center. 
    As Iowa progresses through the tournament, additional huddles will be held at Theory on Friday (3-5 p.m. CT), Saturday (9-11 a.m. CT), and Sunday (11 a.m.-1 p.m.).   

BIG TEN TOURNAMENT STORYLINES
•     Iowa is 5-2 as the No. 6 seed in Big Ten Tournament history. Iowa’s most recent No. 6 seed game was in 2014, when the Hawkeyes lost to Northwestern (67-62) in their first game.
•     The Hawkeyes played Illinois three times in Big Ten Tournament contests (2-1).
•    Fran McCaffery has guided Iowa to 20 wins or more in five of the last seven seasons and upper division finishes in the Big Ten six of the last seven seasons. Only Michigan State (7) has more first division finishes than Iowa (6) and Wisconsin (6) since the 2013 season.
•     Tyler Cook was a second-team All-Big Ten honoree by the media and third-team pick by the coaches. Jordan Bohannon was a third-team selection by the coaches and honorable mention by the media. Luka Garza earned honorable mention recognition by the media, while Joe Wieskamp was voted to the All-Big Ten Freshman Team by the league coaches.
•     Iowa has won 21 games, matching the highest regular season win total in 13 seasons (2015 and 2016).
•     Iowa’s women’s basketball team won the Big Ten Tournament on Sunday in Indianapolis. The last time the Iowa women won the tournament, the Iowa men’s team also won (2001). Like this year, the Hawkeyes were seeded sixth in the 2001 Big Ten Tournament.
•     Jordan Bohannon became the seventh Hawkeye to register three 100-assist seasons (Dean Oliver, Jeff Horner, B.J. Armstrong, Andre Woolridge, Mike Gesell, Devyn Marble).
•    Iowa has four Quad 1 wins and seven Quad 2 wins. Nine of Iowa’s ten setbacks have been Quad 1 losses.
•    Iowa posted back-to-back buzzer beaters for the first time since 2002. Both of Iowa’s buzzer beaters over Northwestern (Bohannon) and Rutgers (Wieskamp) were 3-pointers. Both buzzer beaters in 2002 were made by Luke Recker in the Big Ten Tournament.
•    Jordan Bohannon has led the Big Ten in free throw percentage each of the last two seasons. The junior guard missed only seven free throws in 20 games this season (64-of-71, .901). Bohannon was 37-of-39 (.949) a year ago.
•    Iowa’s last four victories have been decided by a combined 14 points.
•    Jordan Bohannon (1,183 points) has surpassed brother Matt (1,092 at UNI) and Jason (1,170 at Wisconsin) for most points scored in a career by a Bohannon.
•    Senior Nicholas Baer is the only player in program history to total 750 points, 500 rebounds, 100 blocked shots, 100 assists, 100 steals, and 100 3-pointers. 
•    The Hawkeyes more than doubled their conference win total from a year ago. Iowa won four games in 2018, and finished 2019 with a 10-10 record in the Big Ten.

NEBRASKA UPENDS IOWA IN OVERTIME IN REGULAR SEASON FINALE
Nebraska made ten of its last 11 shots in regulation, including a stretch of nine in a row, in rallying to edge the visiting Iowa Hawkeyes, 93-91 in overtime, in the regular season finale Sunday afternoon at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, Nebraska.
•    Luka Garza (25) and Jordan Bohannon (20) each scored over 20 points. Garza led Iowa matching a career high with 25 points, marking the seventh time this season and 11th time in his career that Garza netted 20 points or more. Bohannon reached 20 points for the third time this season and 16th time in his career.
•    Iowa and Nebraska have played overtime games two of the last three meetings at Pinnacle Bank Arena. The Huskers won both meetings (93-90 in 2017 and 93-91 in 2019).
•    Nebraska senior Glynn Watson scored 20 of his 23 points in the second half and overtime periods, bolstered by 6-of-10 shooting from 3-point range over the final 25 minutes. Classmate James Palmer Jr. finished with 27 points, 21 of which came in the second half and overtime periods. Junior Isaiah Roby contributed 23 points, eight rebounds, and three blocked shots.
•    Both teams made 10+ triples; Iowa was 10-of-26 (.385), while Nebraska was 13-of-26 (.500).
•    Iowa was 21-of-32 (.656) from the free throw line, while Nebraska was 10-of-20 (.500).

DOUBLE THE EXCITEMENT
Iowa is one of eight schools from Power 5 conferences to have its men’s and women’s basketball teams with 21 wins or more. Joining Iowa are Kentucky, Auburn, and Mississippi State from the SEC; Florida State and Louisville from the ACC; Kansas State from the Big 12; and Michigan and Maryland from the Big Ten.

4 HAWKEYES GARNER POSTSEASON CONFERENCE RECOGNITION
Tyler Cook (15.0 ppg & 8.1 rpg) was a second-team All-Big Ten honoree by the media and third-team pick by the coaches. Jordan Bohannon (11.8 ppg & 2.3 rpg) was a third-team honoree by the coaches and honorable mention by the media. Luka Garza (13.0 ppg & 4.6 rpg) earned honorable mention recognition by the media, while Joe Wieskamp (11.0 ppg & 4.8 rpg) was voted to the five-player All-Big Ten Freshman Team by the league coaches. 

ALL-TIME SERIES RECORDS
Illinois holds an 85-74 advantage in the series. The Hawkeyes have won three consecutive victories over the fighting Illini, dating back to last season. Iowa won this season’s only regular season meeting (95-71) on Jan. 20, in Iowa City.
    The Hawkeyes played Illinois three times in Big Ten Tournament contests, with Iowa owning a 2-1 record.

SCOUTING ILLINOIS
•    Illinois enters the Big Ten Tournament having lost five of its last six games. The lone victory during that stretch came over Northwestern on March 3, in Champaign, Illinois.
•    Ayo Dosunmu earned honorable mention All-Big Ten accolades by the media and coaches, while Trent Frazier was an honorable mention honoree by the media voting panel. Dosunmu was also voted to the five-player All-Big Ten Freshman Team.
•    The Fighting Illini lost their last outing, 72-56, at Penn State. A pair of freshmen led Illinois, as Ayo Dosunmu and Girogi Bezhanishvili each netted 16 points in defeat.
•    Illinois is 2-14 in games away from home (1-5 mark in neutral site contests).
•    Three Illini starters average in double figures: Ayo Dosunmu (14.1), Trent Frazier (13.6), and Giorgi Bezhanishvili (12.1). Illinois has three players who have drained 45 or more 3-pointers this season: Trent Frazier (76), Aaron Jordan (56), and Ayo Dosunmu (49).
•    Illinois played one regular season conference game earlier this season at the United Center, falling to Ohio State (77-67) on Dec. 5, 2018.
•    Illinois ranks second in the Big Ten in steals (7.5); third in turnover margin (+3.0); fourth in scoring (72.7); and fifth in 3-pointers made (8.2). Individually, Trent Frazier is third in the league in 3-pointers made (2.5) and tied for fifth in steals (1.4).
•    Brad Underwood is in his second season as head coach at Illinois. Underwood arrived at Illinois from Oklahoma State, where he led OSU to the 2017 NCAA Tournament. Prior to his one year at Oklahoma State, he led Stephen F. Austin to the Southland Conference regular season and tournament titles in each of his three seasons. 

LAST MEETING VERSUS ILLINOIS
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 Iowa City.
•    Joe Wieskamp (24), Isaiah Moss (21), and Luka Garza (20) led the Iowa offensive attack.
•    Freshman Joe Wieskamp made all of his shot attempts (8-of-8 FG, 6-of-6 3pt FG, 2-of-2 FT). Wieskamp’s 24 points equaled a personal best.
•    Iowa assisted on 29 of its 34 made field goals (85 percent).
•    Iowa sank a triple on five straight possessions over a two-minute span in the second half.
•    Isaiah Moss drained a career-high five 3-pointers, making his first five attempts. The Illinois native finished the contest with a season-best 21 points.
•    The Hawkeyes recorded the second-best shooting from the field of any team in a major-conference game since 2006: 83.0 efficiency field goal percentage.
•    Iowa made 12 of its first 14 3-point attempts. Isaiah Moss, Joe Wieskamp, Jordan Bohannon, and Nicholas Baer combined to shoot 15-of-17 (.882) from long distance.
•    Sunday was the only regular season meeting between Iowa and Illinois.

IOWA IN THE BIG TEN TOURNAMENT  
Iowa has posted a 16-19 record in Big Ten Tournament games. The Hawkeyes earned tournament titles in 2001 and 2006 and lost in the title game in 2002. Only Michigan State (29), Illinois (27), Ohio State (26), Wisconsin (24), and Michigan (21) have more wins and a higher winning percentage than the Hawkeyes. Michigan State has won five tournament titles, Ohio State has won four, Wisconsin has won three, while Iowa, Illinois, Michigan have two tournament titles (Ohio State was forced to vacate its 2002 title). 
    Iowa has played 10 different teams in the event, having met each team except Nebraska, Rutgers, and Maryland at least once (Rutgers and Maryland played in their first Big Ten Tournament in 2015). Iowa (2001 as a No. 6 seed) and Michigan (2017 as a No. 8 seed) are the only teams to claim the tournament title by winning four games in four days.
    Iowa has been eliminated by the tournament champion five times, including Michigan in the 1998 quarterfinals and 2018 first round, Michigan State in the 2000 quarterfinals and 2012 quarterfinals, and Ohio State in the 2002 title game. 
    Iowa was the 12 seed in the 2018 tournament in New York. The Hawkeyes opened the tournament with a 96-87 win over Illinois, before dropping a 77-71 overtime decision to Michigan, the eventual tournament champion. This year marks the first time since 2015 that the United Center will host the tournament.

IOWA BY SEEDING
Iowa holds a 5-2 record as the No. 6 seed in the tournament (2001 tournament champions). Iowa’s most recent game as the sixth seed was in 2014; Iowa lost to Northwestern (67-62) in their first outing.

IOWA UNBEATEN IN NEUTRAL SITE GAMES THIS SEASON
Iowa is 3-0 in games contested on a neutral court this season. The Hawkeyes won two games at Madison Square Garden in November, beating Oregon (77-69) and Connecticut (91-71) in the 2K Empire Classic. Iowa also downed Northern Iowa (77-54) at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, Iowa in December, which is one of the eight first/second round NCAA Tournament sites next week.

COOK, BOHANNON JOIN 1,000-POINT CLUB
Jordan Bohannon joined classmate Tyler Cook in the 1,000-point club on Jan. 12. Bohannon is 42 assists from becoming the sixth Hawkeye to amass 1,000 points and 500 assists. Bohannon also surpassed Matt Gatens for second in career triples made as a Hawkeye with his three treys in Iowa’s road victory at Rutgers.
    Cook became the ninth Hawkeye to total 1,200 points and 600 rebounds with his rebounding totals in Iowa’s regular season finale at Nebraska last Sunday afternoon. Cook is one of 15 players in Iowa history to have 15 or more double-doubles.

MR. CLUTCH
Jordan Bohannon, who was tabbed third-team All-Big Ten by the coaches and an honorable mention selection by the media this season, has scored when it matters most down the stretch. The junior guard is averaging 4.1 points in the first half and 7.6 points in the second half this season.
    There have been four games (Green Bay, Wisconsin, Northwestern, and Indiana) where he has been held scoreless in the first half but finished in double figures. In 18-of-31 games, Bohannon has scored more points in the second half than the first. He has scored 10 or more points in the second half 11 times this season. 
    Bohannon is five triples from surpassing Jeff Horner (2003-06) to become Iowa’s all-time leader in 3-pointers made. Additionally, Bohannon has 105 assists this year, becoming just the seventh Hawkeye to register three 100-assist seasons, joining Dean Oliver, Mike Gesell, Andre Woolridge, Devyn Marble, B.J. Armstrong, and Jeff Horner.
    Bohannon ranks among the nation’s best in most points in the final two minutes of regulation and final two minutes of overtime this season with 81 points. In the final two minutes of games, Bohannon is shooting 53.3 percent (16-of-30) from the field, 47.6 percent (10-of-21) from 3-point range, and 88.6 percent from the foul line (39-of-44).

McCAFFERY RECORDS WIN NO. 20
Fran McCaffery and the Iowa Hawkeyes reached the 20-win plateau for the fifth time in seven seasons with its win at Rutgers. McCaffery joins Lute Olson (6) and Tom Davis (10) as the only Iowa head coaches to win 20 or more games in at least five seasons. Both Olson and Davis had 20+ wins over a span of six of seven seasons.

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. 
    The native of Spirit Lake, Iowa, has registered single-season bests in nearly every statistical category as a junior. His scoring (5.6) and rebounding (3.1) averages have improved, along with his shooting percentages.
    Kriener has tallied double figures six times this season.

SHOOTING FOR PERFECTION
Iowa had a player make all his 3-point attempts in the first half (min. four attempts) four times this season. 
    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).

COOK ELEVATING HIS GAME
Tyler Cook, who was tabbed second-team All-Big Ten by the media and third-team by the coaches this season, has led the Hawkeyes in rebounding in 13 of Iowa’s last 23 games. 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 nine Hawkeyes in program history to total 1,200 points and 600 rebounds.
    Cook is one of two Big Ten student-athletes to average better than 15 points and eight rebounds per game (Wisconsin’s Ethan Happ). Cook ranks in the top ten in the league in scoring (11th), rebounding (sixth), and field goal percentage (ninth). The St. Louis native registered his team-leading sixth double-double of the season at Ohio State on Feb. 26.

RELIVING BACK-TO-BACK BUZZER BEATERS
Iowa won consecutive games in thrilling fashion, upending Northwestern and Rutgers in mid-February on last-second 3-pointers. The last time the Hawkeyes won back-to-back games at the buzzer was 2002. Luke Recker sank game-winning baskets over Wisconsin (58-56) and Indiana (62-60) at the Big Ten Tournament in Indianapolis.
•     Junior Jordan Bohannon scored the game-winning 3-pointer with 0.6 seconds remaining to lift the Hawkeyes to an 80-79 win over Northwestern on Feb. 10. Bohannon scored all 15 of his points in the second half, including 13 points in the final 3:20. Northwestern led Iowa by 15 points (72-57) with 4:30 left in the game and 11 points (76-65) with 2:09 remaining. Iowa out-scored Northwestern 23-7 to rally for the victory.
•     Freshman Joe Wieskamp made his first 3-pointer of the game on a banked 3-pointer with 0.2 seconds left to propel the visiting Hawkeyes to a 71-69 win at Rutgers on Feb. 16. Iowa led the Scarlet Knights by two points in the closing seconds before Geo Baker rattled home a 3-pointer with 3.3 seconds remaining to give Rutgers a one-point advantage before Wieskamp’s heroics. 

BOHANNON’S WEEK
Bohannon led Iowa to a pair of victories over Indiana (Feb. 7) and Northwestern (Feb. 10), averaging 20 points, 4.5 assists and one steal, while shooting 66.7 percent (8-12) from 3-point range and 54.5 percent (12-22) from the field. 
    The native of Marion, Iowa, tied a season best with 25 points and also dished out a team-best six assists with no turnovers in a 77-72 win at Indiana. Bohannon scored Iowa’s final 11 points, including going 5-of-6 from the free throw line, over the final 90 seconds to preserve the win at Assembly Hall. 
    Bohannon netted all 15 of his points over the final 5:28 of Sunday’s win over Northwestern to cap a 15-point Iowa comeback over the final 4:30, including sinking the game-winning 3-pointer with 0.6 seconds remaining. The last second win was Iowa’s first since Adam Woodbury’s last second game-winner over Temple on March 18, 2016, in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Bohannon made two treys in the final 25 seconds against the Wildcats.

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 423 overall wins and 172 victories while on the Iowa sidelines. He surpassed Lute Olson for second on Iowa’s coaching win chart with Iowa’s win at Indiana on Feb. 7. Tom Davis is Iowa’s all-time winningest coach with 269 wins.

MAKING THE FREEBIES
Iowa has made 68 more free throws than any other Big Ten team. The Hawkeyes have made 574 fouls shots, while Minnesota is second behind Iowa with 506 makes. Iowa has made more free throws than six Big Ten teams have attempted. The Hawkeyes rank second in the country in free throw makes (574) and eighth nationally in free throw attempts (772).
    Individually, Jordan Bohannon ranks first in the conference and is 19th nationally in free throw accuracy (.877, 93-of-106), while Luka Garza is sixth in the Big Ten (.819, 77-of-94). Bohannon enters the Big Ten Tournament having made 22 consecutive free throws, dating back to the Maryland home game on Feb. 19.
    Bohannon led the Big Ten in free throw percentage each of the last two seasons. The native of Marion, Iowa, missed only seven free throws in 20 games this season (64-of-71, .901). Bohannon was 37-of-39 (.949) a year ago.

CONSISTENT PLAY OUT OF FRESHMAN WIESKAMP
Joe Wieskamp has been a consistent contributor for the Hawkeyes as a freshman, earning recognition on the five-player All-Big Ten Freshman Team. The shooting guard ranks fourth on the team in scoring (11.0 ppg); second in rebounding (4.8 rpg); third in steals (27). Wieskamp is shooting 43.1 percent clip from 3-point range (53-of-123) and 48.9 percent overall from the field (112-of-229). His 43.1 percentage from 3-point range ranks third in the Big Ten and currently ranks second all-time among Iowa freshmen behind Jake Kelly (.435, 30-of-69). Additionally, his 53 triples is second among Iowa rookies behind Jordan Bohannon’s 89 in 2017.
    Wieskamp has twice earned Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors. The native of Muscatine, Iowa, sank his first 3-pointer of the game with 0.2 seconds left and Iowa trailing by one point to propel the Hawkeyes to a 71-69 thrilling win at Rutgers on Feb. 16.
    Wieskamp matched a personal-best with 24 points in Iowa’s win over Illinois. His efforts in Iowa’s victories over Illinois and at Penn State in mid-January earned Wieskamp, Big Ten Freshman of the Week accolades on Jan. 21. The rookie 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 laurels for the second time after totaling 16 points, seven rebounds, five steals, and two assists in Iowa’s 15-point win over No. 5 Michigan. 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).
    Wieskamp had a 13-point effort in Iowa’s win at Indiana — making all four of his 3-point attempts in the first half — and scored a team-best 21 points in the comeback victory over Northwestern.
    Wieskamp posted his first career double-double versus Pittsburgh on Nov. 27, totaling a team-best in points (18) and rebounds (11).

IMPROVING HAWKEYES
Last season, Iowa was 14-19 overall, including a 4-14 mark in conference play. The Hawkeyes more than doubled its Big Ten win total from a year ago and have seven more overall victories than last season.
    Iowa’s overall win total improvement and conference improvement from a year ago both rank among the best in the country among schools in Power 5 conferences.
    Iowa’s all-time winning coach, Tom Davis (1987-1999), had his lowest win total as a Iowa’s coach in his eighth season (11 wins) and rebounded in his ninth year with 21 victories. Fran McCaffery also had his lowest win total as Iowa’s coach in his eighth year (14 wins) and has rebounded this season with 21 wins. 

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.

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).

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. 

CONNOR MCCAFFERY RETURNS HEALTHY
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.
    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).

HAWKEYE FASTBREAKS
•    Iowa was nationally ranked for 16 straight weeks in either the Associated Press or Coaches Poll (Nov. 19-Feb. 25).
•    Iowa won all of its non-conference games for the first time since the 1986-87 season.
•    Iowa recorded its first regular season sweep over Indiana since the 2010-11 season.
•    Riley Till and Michael Baer earned Dean’s List recognition for their academic achievements in the Fall of 2018.
•    Iowa started the year 16-3, matching its best start in the Fran McCaffery era (2015-16).
•    Iowa posted back-to-back wins over Michigan and Indiana for the first time since 2007.
•    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.
•    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 won the 2K Empire Classic in New York City with wins over Oregon and Connecticut. The last time Iowa won an in-season tournament outside of the state of Iowa was the 1998 San Juan Christmas Shootout.
•    Iowa is 85-21 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.
•      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 UNI 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 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 has guided Iowa to upper division finishes in the Big Ten in six of the last seven seasons. McCaffery has accumulated 18 first division finishes in 23 years as a head coach.

IOWA HISTORY
Iowa has played 2,804 games since beginning basketball in 1902. Iowa’s overall record is 1,647-1,156 (.587). Iowa’s 1,647 wins are 41st most among Division I programs. That includes a 1,053-370 (.740) record in home games, a 588-784 (.428) record in contests away from Iowa City, a 776-788 (.496) mark in Big Ten games and a 458-144 (.761) record in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

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).

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.

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.

IOWA VS. RANKED TEAMS
The Hawkeyes are 4-5 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, No. 6 Michigan State in Iowa City, No. 24 Maryland in Iowa City, and No. 21 Wisconsin in Madison.
    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.

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.
 

FFI footer