Hawkeye Fan Shop — A Black & Gold Store | Hawk Talk Monthly — December | Fight For Iowa | Game Notes (PDF)
IOWA (7-3, 1-1) vs. IOWA STATE (6-3, 0-0) |
DATE | Thursday, Dec. 12 | 7:01 p.m. CT |
LOCATION | Ames, Iowa | Hilton Coliseum |
RADIO | LISTEN | Hawkeye Radio Network | Hawkeye All-Access |
TV | ESPN2 |
LIVE STATS | StatBroadcast |
LIVE UPDATES | @IowaHoops |
THE SETTING
Iowa (7-3, 1-1) travels to Ames, Iowa, for a Thursday game at Iowa State (6-3, 0-0). Tipoff for the Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series contest is set for 7:01 p.m. (CT) at Hilton Coliseum.
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: Thursday’s game will be televised nationally on ESPN2. Jason Benetti and Dan Dakich will call the action.
IOWA CORN CY-HAWK SERIES STORYLINES
• Luka Garza made history becoming the first Hawkeye in program history to be recognized as the USBWA Oscar Robertson National Player of the Week for his efforts in road games at Syracuse and No. 4 Michigan last week. Garza averaged 33.5 points, shooting 55 percent from the field and 78 percent from the free throw line, and 8.5 rebounds. The Big Ten scorer leader was also named Big Ten Player of the Week.
• Luka Garza reached the 1,000-point threshold with a free throw in the first half of last Friday’s contest at Michigan. Garza finished the contest with 44 points, the most points scored by an Iowa big man in program history and most by a visiting player in Crisler Center history, second only to Michigan’s Rudy Tomjanovich.
• The home team has won 14 of the last 16 in the Iowa-ISU series, dating back to 2004. The Hawkeyes’ last victory in Ames came on March 21, 2003 (54-53).
• Iowa ranks second in the country in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.61), is tied for fifth in assists (17.9) and tied for 17th in fewest turnovers per game (11.1).
• Iowa’s three defeats have come to teams with a combined 27-2 record (DePaul, San Diego State, Michigan).
• Thursday will be Iowa’s fifth game away from Iowa City in six games. In fact, Iowa will only play one more home game (Dec. 29) between now and Jan. 10, 2020.
• Jordan Bohannon dished out 10 assists with zero turnovers in Iowa’s win over Minnesota on Monday. It marked the seventh time that the senior was credited with 10 or more steals in a game in his career. Bohannon is one of six Hawkeyes with 1,000 points and 500 assists (B.J. Armstrong, Jeff Horner, Dean Oliver, Andre Woolridge, Mike Gesell).
• Jordan Bohannon, Iowa’s all-time leader in 3-pointers made, is 17 points from tying former teammate Tyler Cook for 20th on Iowa’s all-time scoring chart.
• Connor McCaffery has 41 assists and only nine turnovers, tops in the Big Ten and fourth nationally in assist-to-turnover ratio (4.5).
• Iowa has led the Big Ten in scoring offense two of the last six years, including last season.
• Iowa has qualified for four NCAA tournaments over the last six years (2014, 2015, 2016, 2019) and seven postseason tournaments over the last eight seasons (4 NCAA; 3 NIT).
• 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.
HAWKEYES CRUISE TO VICTORY OVER MINNESOTA
Joe Wieskamp (23) and Luka Garza (21) combined for 44 of Iowa’s 72 points in a 72-52 convincing victory over Minnesota in the Hawkeyes’ Big Ten home opener Monday night at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
• Iowa has won six of the last seven against Minnesota in Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Iowa held the Gophers to 52 points, the fewest in the series since 2007 (49).
• Joe Wieskamp posted season bests in scoring (23) and 3-pointers made (5). It marked the fifth time in his career that the sophomore eclipsed 20 points in a game.
• Luka Garza posted his fifth double-double of the season with 21 points and 10 rebounds. Garza has topped 20 points a team-best six times this season.
• Jordan Bohannon dished out a season-high 10 assists (zero turnovers), marking the seventh time in his career that the senior was credited with 10 assists or more with the last time coming versus Minnesota in Iowa City in 2017. Bohannon became the sixth Hawkeye to join the 1,000-point/500-assist club. Bohannon’s 10 assists tonight pushed him over the 500-assists milestone.
• The Hawkeyes assisted on 20 of their 26 field goals. Iowa (10) made four more 3-pointers than Minnesota (6).
• Connor McCaffery had eight points, four rebounds, and two steals, while posting a staggering +32 in plus/minus in 31 minutes of action. The +32 is the best by an Iowa player in a game this season.
• The Gophers were led by Daniel Oturu, who tallied 22 points, 12 rebounds, and five blocks. Oturu was 10-of-12 from the field, including making his only 3-point attempt.
• Monday was Iowa’s first home game since Nov. 24.
GARZA NAMED NATIONAL, BIG TEN PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Junior Luka Garza made history by becoming the first Hawkeye in program history to earn the Oscar Robertson National Player of the Week accolade for his efforts in two games last week. The national honor is voted upon by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association (USBWA). Garza was also named Big Ten Player of the Week.
Garza averaged 33.5 points, shooting 55 percent from the field and 78 percent from the free throw line, and 8.5 rebounds in road games last week at Syracuse and No. 4 Michigan.
Garza scored a career-high 44 points last Friday in Ann Arbor — the most points scored in a game by an Iowa big man, third most in program history, most by an opposing player in Crisler Center history behind only Rudy Tomjanovich’s 48 points versus Indiana in 1969, and the most points scored by a Hawkeye since guard John Johnson poured in a school-record 49 points against Northwestern in 1970. Garza reached 1,000 career points in Friday’s game.
Garza’s 44 points are believed to be the most in a game by a Big Ten player since Purdue’s Glenn Robinson scored 44 against Kansas on March 24, 1994. Garza made 17 field goals versus Michigan, tying Bruce King (vs. Michigan on Jan. 31, 1976) for third most in a game in Iowa history. His 32 attempts tie three others (Fred Brown, Murray Wier and Charles Darling) for fourth most in a game in Iowa history.
Last Tuesday, Garza led Iowa to a Big Ten/ACC Challenge victory at Syracuse (68-54). The native of Washington, D.C., posted game bests in scoring (23) and rebounding (9).
Since the 1958-59 season, the USBWA has named a National Player of the Year. In 1998, the award was named in honor of the University of Cincinnati Hall of Famer and two-time USBWA Player of the Year Oscar Robertson. It is the nation’s oldest award and the only one named after a former player.
LUKA GARZA MAKES HISTORY
• Luka Garza became the 49th Hawkeye to score No. 1,000 points, reaching the 1,000-point milestone after netting a career-high 44 points against the Wolverines on Dec. 6. Garza’s 44 points are the most by an Iowa big man, third most in a single-game in program history, and are the most scored by a Hawkeye in a single-game since guard John Johnson poured in a school-record 49 points against Northwestern on Feb. 24, 1970.
• Garza’s 44 points are the most scored by a visiting player in Crisler Center history, besting Ohio State’s Dennis Hopson’s 39 points on Jan. 8, 1987. The 44-point outburst is the second highest scoring output by any player in Crisler Center history (48 by Rudy Tomjanovich vs. Indiana on Jan. 7, 1969).
• Garza’s 44 points are believed to be the most in a game by a Big Ten player since Purdue’s Glenn Robinson scored 44 against Kansas on March 24, 1994.
• Garza made 17 field goals, tying Bruce King (vs. Michigan on Jan. 31, 1976) for third most in a game in Iowa history. Garza’s 32 attempts tie three others (Fred Brown, Murray Wier and Charles Darling) for fourth most in Iowa history.
• Garza’s 27 first-half points are the most by a Hawkeye in a half since Jarrod Uthoff had 30 at Iowa State (Dec. 10, 2015).
• Garza scored all 44 of his points against the Wolverines at the free throw line and inside the 3-point arc. Garza is the first Big Ten player to score 40 points or more without making a 3-pointer since Jared Sullinger tallied 40 points without a triple against IUPUI in 2010.
BOHANNON JOINS 1,000-POINT/500-ASSIST CLUB
Jordan Bohannon dished out 10 assists in Iowa’s 20-point win over Minnesota Monday evening. His 10 assists pushed the senior over 500 career assists to become one of six Hawkeyes in program history with 1,000 points and 500 assists. The other five Hawkeyes in the exclusive club includes B.J. Armstrong, Dean Oliver, Andre Woolridge, Jeff Horner, and Mike Gesell.
Bohannon, Iowa’s all-time leader in 3-pointers made, Hawkeye senior enters Thursday’s road game at Iowa State with 282 3-pointers; Ohio State’s Jon Diebler (2008-11) is the Big Ten all-time leader in triples made (374).
SCOUTING IOWA STATE
• Iowa State enters Thursday night’s game having won its last two contests, including a 10-point win over Seton Hall Sunday night in Ames. The Cyclones played the Pirates twice in three games (84-76 loss on Nov. 29 in the Bahamas).
• The Cyclones are a perfect 5-0 at home in Hilton Coliseum, winning by an average of 22 points in the five games.
• In their last outing on Sunday, the Cyclones outscored Seton Hall, 26-8, at the free throw line. Tyrese Haliburton, George Conditt, and Rasie Bolton each netted 17 points in the winning effort.
• Four Cyclones average in double figures in scoring: Tyrese Haliburton (16.2); Rasir Bolton (15.3); George Conditt (10.6); and Prentiss Nixon (10.2).
• Last season as a freshman at Penn State, Rasir Bolton averaged 11.6 points per game. Bolston scored 16 points (5-10 FG, 5-5 FT) and had two assists in a loss to Iowa on Jan. 16, 2019 in University Park.
• The Cyclones have been to seven NCAA Tournaments in the last eight seasons.
• Steve Prohm is in his fifth season as head coach of Iowa State. Prohm has won 89 games as the Cyclones’ head coach and 193 overall in his nine seasons as a college head coach.
ALL-TIME SERIES RECORDS
Iowa holds a 45-27 advantage in the series. Iowa State has won the four of the last six meetings. The Hawkeyes won last year’s contest, 98-84, in Iowa City. The home team has won 14 of the last 16 in the series, dating back to 2004, with the Cyclones winning in Iowa City in 2010 and 2015.
The Cyclones own a slim, 19-17, advantage in games played at Ames. Iowa State has won the last eight meetings in Hilton Coliseum. The Hawkeyes’ last victory in Ames came on March 21, 2003 (54-53) in the postseason NIT. Iowa’s last regular season victory in Hilton was Dec. 8, 2001 (78-53).
LAST MEETING
Tyler Cook (26) and Isaiah Moss (20) combined for 46 of Iowa’s 98 points in a 98-84 Iowa win over Iowa State in an Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series contest in last season in Iowa City.
• Iowa led by as many as 20 points in the second half. The Cyclones closed to within eight points with 6:05 remaining in the contest, but Iowa responded by scoring eight straight points over the next two minutes to seal the win.
• Iowa outrebounded Iowa State by 20 (44-24) and outscored the Cyclones 23-13 in second-chance opportunities.
• The last time Iowa scored 90 points or more against Iowa State was Dec. 10, 1988, in Iowa City (Iowa won 91-71).
• Tyler Cook reached the 20-point plateau for the second time this season, finishing with 26 points. Cook also grabbed a team-best 11 rebounds. Cook became the fourth player with a 20-point, 10-rebound performance in an Iowa-Iowa State game since 2002-03 (ISU’s Jared Homan in 2004; Iowa’s Aaron White in 2013; ISU’s Jameel McKay in 2015; Iowa’s Tyler Cook in 2018).
• Nicholas Baer (14) and Connor McCaffery (12) also scored in double figures for the Hawkeyes. McCaffery was a perfect 8-of-8 from the free throw line and had five assists.
• Iowa was white-hot shooting the basketball, making 57 percent of its field goal attempts (35-of-61), including 50 percent from 3-point range (9-of-18). Isaiah Moss and Nicholas Baer combined to shoot 8-of-10 from distance, each making 4-of-5 attempts.
• Four Cyclones scored in double figures: Talen Horton-Tucker (21), Marial Shayok (19), Michael Jacobson (12), and Tyrese Haliburton (10).
GARZA PRODUCING BOTH INSIDE AND OUT
Luka Garza has been Iowa’s bell cow the first 10 games. The junior is producing both inside and out, ranking second on the squad in 3-point percentage (.435, 10-of-23) and is third in field goal efficiency (.550, 88-of-160).
Garza’s 225 points are the most by a Hawkeye after the first 10 games of the season since Peter Jok’s 238 in 2015-16.
Garza leads the team in 10 statistical categories: scoring (22.5), rebounding (9.8), double-doubles (5), offensive rebounding (3.7), defensive rebounding (6.1), blocked shots (1.3), field goals made (88) and attempted (160), free throws made (39) and attempted (59).
The native of Washington, D.C., leads the Big Ten in scoring (22.5 ppg), tied for second in double-doubles (5), and is fourth in rebounding (9.8 rpg).
Garza has scored 25 points or more in three games (44 at Michigan; 30 vs. Oral Roberts; 29 vs. North Florida) and has controlled eight rebounds or more in all nine contests in 2019-20.
Garza has grabbed a season-high 12 rebounds in three games this season (SIUE, North Florida, and Texas Tech).
Garza registered 30 points and 10 rebounds against Oral Roberts, becoming the first Hawkeye since Peter Jok in 2016 to total at least 30 points and 10 rebounds in a game.
ON THE ROAD AGAIN…
Over the next six weeks, Iowa will play games in three different time zones, seven different states, and travel 8,362 total miles.
Iowa is in the middle of a stretch playing eight of 10 games away from Iowa City. The Hawkeyes will play six of seven contests against teams who finished in the Top 100 of the NCAA NET Ranking a year ago from Nov. 28 to Dec. 21 (Texas Tech, Syracuse, Michigan, Minnesota, Iowa State, and Cincinnati).
McCAFFERY’S JOIN LIST OF BROTHERS ON SAME TEAM
Redshirt sophomore Connor McCaffery and freshman Patrick McCaffery are one of 16 brothers nationally who are playing on the same Division I team this season. The McCaffery’s at Iowa join brothers playing at Oklahoma State, Ohio, Northwestern State, Vermont, Pepperdine, Eastern Washington, Mount St. Mary’s, Navy, Maryland, Coppin State, Boston College, Robert Morris, Ohio State, SIUE, and The Citadel.
Iowa is one of 13 father/coach and son/player duos in Division I in 2019-20 (Cal Poly, Central Connecticut State, Davidson, Detroit Mercy, Illinois, Oregon State, Portland, Syracuse, Texas Southern, UT Martin, Utah, and Wright State. Of the 13 schools, the McCaffery’s are the only program with a father/coach and two sons on the roster.
NUNGE SUFFERS TORN ACL
University of Iowa men’s basketball sophomore Jack Nunge suffered a season-ending torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) of his right knee in Sunday’s home game versus Cal Poly. The injury occurred late in the first half as Nunge was driving to the basket.
“All of us feel for Jack,” said McCaffery. “This is an unfortunate setback for a young man who spent countless hours in the gym and weight room last year preparing for this season. Jack has the full support of his teammates and coaches during his recovery.”
Nunge (6-foot-11, 245 pounds) started Iowa’s first five games, averaging six points, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.8 assists. The native of Newburgh, Indiana, redshirted last season.
VALUING THE BASKETBALL
Iowa has three of the top players ranked in the Big Ten in assist-to-turnover ratio: Connor McCaffery (1st, 4.6); Jordan Bohannon (2nd, 3.8); CJ Fredrick (T-3rd, 2.7).
GET TO KNOW THE NAME — CJ FREDRICK
Redshirt freshman CJ Fredrick has made an impact on this team, just eight games into his collegiate career. Fredrick was named to the Las Vegas Invitational All-Tournament Team after averaging 13 points, 3.5 assists, and 3.0 rebounds. The native of Cincinnati, Ohio, did not play at Syracuse (Dec. 3) due to a sore left quad, however returned to the starting lineup in Iowa’s last two outings, scoring six points and dishing out a team-best five assists at Michigan last Friday and netting 10 points versus Minnesota on Monday.
Fredrick is third on the team in scoring (10.4) and ranks third in the Big Ten in 3-point accuracy (.517, 15-of-29), is second in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.7), 11th in field goal percentage (.576, 34-of-59), and 13th in assists (3.3).
Fredrick led Iowa in scoring in three games (DePaul, Cal Poly, and San Diego State).
2 HAWKEYES NAMED TO PRESEASON WATCH LISTS
Junior Luka Garza and sophomore Joe Wieskamp have been named to preseason watch lists.
Garza is one of 20 players named to the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award Watch List. The honor recognizes the top center in college basketball. Garza has been a force over the first month of the 2019-20 season, leading the Big Ten in scoring (22.5), and scoring his 1,000th career point in a 44-point effort at No. 4/5 Michigan last week. The 44 points are the most by an Iowa big man in program history and ranks third most in school history (49 and 46 points by John Johnson).
Wieskamp is one of 20 players named to the Jerry West Award Watch List. The honor recognizes the top shooting guard in men’s college basketball. Wieskamp was named to the All-Big Ten Freshman Team last season. Wieskamp ranks second on the team in scoring (11.9) and rebounding (5.4).
Both lists will be narrowed down to 10 in mid-February and then five finalists will be selected in March that will be presented to Abdul-Jabbar and West and the selection committees.
GETTING TO THE FREE THROW LINE
Iowa has earned 224 free throw attempts through nine games. Iowa’s 22.4 average ranks 51st in the country. The Hawkeyes have made more free throws (163) than their opponents (153) have attempted (+10). Jordan Bohannon, who has led the Big Ten in free throw accuracy each of the last two seasons, leads the conference again so far this year (12-of-12), while Connor McCaffery ranks fifth (.885).
WIESKAMP NAMED PRESEASON ALL-BIG TEN
Sophomore shooting guard Joe Wieskamp is one of 10 men’s basketball players selected to the 2019-20 Preseason All-Big Ten team as selected by a media voting panel.
Wieskamp was named to the five-player All-Big Ten Freshman Team a season ago, leading the team the team and finishing second in the Big Ten in 3-point field goal percentage (.424, 59-of-139). He ranked third on the team in scoring (11.1) and steals (32), and second in rebounding (4.9). The Muscatine, Iowa, native joins Ayo Dosunmu of Illinois and Maryland’s Jalen Smith as the only underclassmen recognized on the 10-player team. Wieskamp is the third Hawkeye in the last five seasons to be named Preseason All-Big Ten (Peter Jok, 2016; Jarrod Uthoff, 2015).
GARZA JOINS ELITE COMPANY
Luka Garza has put up numbers that few Hawkeyes have done through their sophomore season. Garza joins Aaron White, Jess Settles, and Tyler Cook as the only Hawkeyes to total more than 800 points and 350 rebounds through their sophomore year.
Garza’s sophomore campaign started with surgery in early September to remove a benign cyst in his abdomen. The native of Washington, D.C., recovered in time to start the season opener and have another stellar season for the Hawkeyes. Garza was an honorable mention all-conference honoree and was voted the MVP of the 2K Empire Classic in New York City.
BOHANNON RECOVERS FROM HIP SURGERY
Senior guard Jordan Bohannon has been recovering from hip surgery in May. Bohannon entered the 2019-20 season with 96 consecutive starts, which tied for the eighth-longest active streak in the country. The streak was snapped in Iowa’s opener versus SIUE, playing 19 minutes off the bench.
Bohannon (6-foot-1, 185 pounds) suffered the injury early his junior season and managed the injury until the end of the season.
A third-team All-Big Ten performer last season, Bohannon was credited with a team-best 118 assists, becoming just the seventh Hawkeye to register three 100-assist seasons. The native of Marion, Iowa, is one of 10 Division I basketball players since 1992, to total at least 79 3-pointers and 118 assists in each of his first three seasons. As a junior, Bohannon ranked third on the team in scoring (11.6 ppg) and led the Big Ten in free throw accuracy during league play. Bohannon is Iowa’s all-time leader in 3-point field goals made (275). Last season, Bohannon netted 85 points over the final two minutes of regulation and two minutes of overtime to rank among the nation’s best.
Bohannon became the seventh Hawkeye to register three 100-assist seasons (Dean Oliver, Jeff Horner, B.J. Armstrong, Andre Woolridge, Mike Gesell, Devyn Marble).
FRESHMAN GAINING CONFIDENCE
Freshman Joe Toussaint is gaining confidence with each game played. The native of New York is Iowa’s leading scorer off the bench (6.8) and is fourth in assists (2.1).
Against North Florida, Toussaint shined, scoring seven of his 10 points and dishing out three of his four assists in highlight fashion over the final 20 minutes. The native of Bronx, New York, equaled a personal best with 13 points, including sinking all nine free throw attempts, against San Diego State in Las Vegas on Nov. 29.
RYAN KRIENER TAKES THE NEXT STEP
Ryan Kriener registered single-season bests in nearly every statistical category as a junior last year. His scoring (5.7) and rebounding (3.0) averages improved, along with his shooting percentages. Kriener tallied double figures seven times in 2018-19.
The native of Spirit Lake, Iowa, is off to a good start in 2019-20 ranking second off the bench in scoring (6.1) and fourth overall in rebounding (4.2). He is second on the team in field goal accuracy, making 23 of his 40 attempts (.575) and is 14-of-20 (.700) from the charity stripe.
McCAFFERY’S JOIN LIST OF BROTHERS ON SAME TEAM
Redshirt sophomore Connor McCaffery and freshman Patrick McCaffery are one of 16 brothers nationally who are playing on the same Division I team this season. The McCaffery’s at Iowa join brothers playing at Oklahoma State, Ohio, Northwestern State, Vermont, Pepperdine, Eastern Washington, Mount St. Mary’s, Navy, Maryland, Coppin State, Boston College, Robert Morris, Ohio State, SIUE, and The Citadel.
Iowa is one of 13 father/coach and son/player duos in Division I in 2019-20 (Cal Poly, Central Connecticut State, Davidson, Detroit Mercy, Illinois, Oregon State, Portland, Syracuse, Texas Southern, UT Martin, Utah, and Wright State. Of the 13 schools, the McCaffery’s are the only program with a father/coach and two sons on the roster.
3 HAWKEYES RETURN AFTER REDSHIRT YEAR
Forwards Jack Nunge and Cordell Pemsl, along with guard CJ Fredrick are on this season’s roster after redshirting a year ago.
Nunge saw action in all 33 games as a freshman, ranking second on the team in blocked shots (25), fourth in steals (21), and fifth in scoring (5.7). However, Nunge will miss the remainder of the 2019-20 season after suffering a torn ACL in his right knee in Iowa’s fifth contest of the season. Pemsl played in two nonconference games before undergoing a procedure to remove hardware near his knee last December. He has played in 68 career games, averaging 7.2 points and 4.7 rebounds per game.
Fredrick was the 2018 Kentucky Gatorade Player of the Year his senior year at Covington Catholic High School.
Joining the three redshirts on the roster this season will be newcomers: Bakari Evelyn, Joe Toussaint, Patrick McCaffery, and Aidan Vanderloo. Evelyn is a graduate transfer from Valparaiso, while Toussaint, McCaffery and Vanderloo (walk-on) are true freshmen.
2019-20 SCHEDULE NOTES
• Iowa will play 14 games against teams who finished in the Top 50 of the NCAA NET Rankings last season. Furthermore, the Hawkeyes will play six of seven games against teams who finished in the Top 100 of the NCAA NET Ranking a year ago from Nov. 28 to Dec. 21 (Texas Tech, Syracuse, Michigan, Minnesota, Iowa State, Cincinnati).
• Iowa will play games in three different time zones and ten states, including games in Las Vegas, Chicago, Indianapolis, Philadelphia, and New York.
• From Nov. 28-Jan. 4, the Hawkeyes will travel 8,362 total miles (Las Vegas, Syracuse, Ann Arbor, Ames, Chicago, Philadelphia).
• Iowa will visit the Palestra in Philadelphia on Jan. 4, for a Big Ten game against Penn State. It will mark the Hawkeyes’ first visit to the historic building since 1961. Fran McCaffery played inside the Palestra for three years while a guard at Penn (1980-82).
• Iowa will play three straight Big Ten home games for the first time since 2003. The Hawkeyes will host Michigan on Jan. 17; Rutgers on Jan. 22; Wisconsin on Jan. 27.
• The Hawkeyes will play Cincinnati for the second straight season on Dec. 21 (Chicago), after beating the Bearcats in the first round of the NCAA Tournament last March in Columbus. Four of the previous nine meetings against Cincinnati have come on a neutral floor.
• Iowa will host nine weekend home games in Carver-Hawkeye Arena, including five Big Ten games on Friday, Saturday or Sunday.
PATRICK McCAFFERY GRANTED #22
Patrick McCaffery has been granted uniform No. 22 to wear by All-American Bill Seaberg (1954-56) in honor of his friend Austin “Flash” Schroeder, who passed away in 2015.
McCaffery started wearing No. 22 when his father was the coach at Siena and it was the number of his favorite Siena player, Ryan Rossiter. McCaffery has worn that number for each team he has played for at every level. It also was the number that Schroeder wore in baseball.
Cancer touched both of their lives. McCaffery had surgery on March 19, 2014, to remove a tumor on his thyroid. On that same day, while on a family spring break trip to Mexico, Austin discovered a large lump in his groin. Two days after Patrick’s surgery, doctors informed his family that the tumor was malignant. A second surgery was scheduled in April. That month, Schroeder started chemotherapy for T-Cell lymphoma. Schroeder was 15 when he passed away on April 28, 2015.
Seaberg’s No. 22 hasn’t appeared for 63 seasons and 1,845 games. McCaffery wrote Seaberg a letter, explaining what No. 22 means to him. Seaberg agreed to let McCaffery wear it, with the stipulation that it return to retired status after McCaffery’s playing career ends at Iowa.
McCaffery played in Iowa’s first two games, however has missed the last six contests.
FRAN McCAFFERY SIGNS FIRST GRAD TRANSFER
Fran McCaffery enters his 10th season as head coach of the Hawkeyes and signed his first graduate transfer this past July. Bakari Evelyn, a native of Detroit, played the previous two seasons at Valparaiso (2017-18) and his freshman year at Nebraska (2016).
Last season at Valparaiso, Evelyn tied for first on the team in 3-pointers made (48), ranked second in assists (68) and fifth in scoring (8.4 ppg). He led the team in steals and assists in six games, and scoring three times.
As a sophomore, Evelyn was a Missouri Valley Conference All-Newcomer Team selection and was named co-MVP of the Savannah Invitational. He was the only Crusader to start all 32 games, ranking second on the team in scoring (12.6 ppg) and first in assists (93).
Evelyn saw limited action in 18 games as a freshman at Nebraska.
HAWKEYE FASTBREAKS
• Iowa ranks second nationally in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.5), tied for fifth in assists per game (17.7), tied for 17th in fewest turnovers per game (11.1), 50th in scoring offense (80.4), and 51st in free throw attempts per game (23.3).
• Luka Garza and CJ Fredrick were named to the 2019 Las Vegas Invitational All-Tournament Team.
• Iowa played in front of its fourth largest crowd for a regular season game on Dec. 3, at Syracuse (20,844).
• Iowa finished runners-up at the Las Vegas Invitational, beating No. 12 Texas Tech in the semifinals and falling to undefeated San Diego State in the championship game.
• Luka Garza netted a career-high 30 points, bolstered by sinking 12 field goals against Oral Roberts (Nov. 15). The 12 field goals made ties four former Hawkeyes for most in a single-game in the Fran McCaffery era (Peter Jok, Jarrod Uthoff, Matt Gatens, and Isaiah Moss). Garza is the seventh Hawkeye to score 30 or more points in a single game in the McCaffery era. Garza is the first Hawkeye to total 29 or more points in back-to-back games (Oral Roberts, North Florida) since Matt Gatens in 2011-12.
• Jordan Bohannon is the 10th player in all of Division I basketball since 1992, to post at least 79 triples and 118 assists per season in each of his first three seasons.
• Luka Garza netted a career-high 30 points, making 12 field goals, including two 3-pointers, and four free throws. The 12 field goals made ties four former Hawkeyes for most in a single-game in the Fran McCaffery era (Peter Jok, Jarrod Uthoff, Matt Gatens, and Isaiah Moss). Garza is the seventh Hawkeye to score 30 or more points in a single game in the McCaffery era.
• Iowa won 21 games in the 2018-19 regular season, matching the highest total in 13 seasons (2015 and 2016).
• Iowa posted five victories over nationally-ranked opponents in 2018-19, equaling Iowa’s highest total in the Fran McCaffery era and the most since 2006 (8).
• Iowa has won its last three NCAA Tournament first round games (2015 vs. Davidson; 2016 vs. Temple; and 2019 vs. Cincinnati).
• Riley Till and Michael Baer earned Dean’s List recognition for their academic achievements in the Fall of 2018.
• Iowa has won 63 of its last 68 nonconference home games, dating back to 2012.
• Iowa is 90-22 when scoring 80 points or more, the last 10 seasons. The Hawkeyes are 75-2 when holding opponents to fewer than 61 points, the last 10 years.
• 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.
LUTE OLSON ENSHRINED IN HALL OF FAME
Former Iowa head men’s basketball coach Lute Olson was enshrined in the College Basketball Hall of Fame in Kansas City on Nov. 24. Olson coached Iowa for nine seasons (1974-83), taking the Hawkeyes to five straight NCAA Tournaments, including the 1980 Final Four. He left as the Hawkeyes’ winningest coach — his 165 wins now rank third most in school history. Olson was instrumental in the vision and construction of Carver-Hawkeye Arena, which opened on Jan. 5, 1983. Olson went on to coach at the University of Arizona for 25 years (1983-2008).
COACHING EXPERIENCE
Fran McCaffery has the most experienced coaching staffs in the country. The Iowa men’s basketball staff has 72 years of combined collegiate head coaching experience and more than 125 years of collegiate coaching under their belts.
Iowa is one of two programs nationwide who have four current/former Division I head coaches on their active coaching staffs (Pitt).
RECENT GRADUATES PLAYING PROFESSIONAL BASKETBALL
A number of recent Iowa basketball graduates are playing professionally: Jarrod Uthoff (NBA G League: Memphis Hustle), Nicholas Baer (NBA G League; Raptors 905), Tyler Cook (NBA; Cleveland Cavaliers), Devyn Marble (NBA G League; Santa Cruz Warriors), Adam Woodbury (NBA G League: Grand Rapids Drive), Anthony Clemmons (Monaco), Gabriel Olaseni (Turkey), Melsahn Basabe (Slovakia), Peter Jok (France), and Aaron White (Italy).
IOWA HISTORY
Iowa has played 2,818 games since beginning basketball in 1902. Iowa’s overall record is 1,656-1,160 (.588). Iowa’s 1,656 wins are 36th most among Division I programs. That includes a 1,058-371 (.740) record in home games, a 592-788 (.429) record in contests away from Iowa City, a 777-789 (.496) mark in Big Ten games and a 463-145 (.762) record in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
McCAFFERY RECORDS WIN NO. 20
Last season, Fran McCaffery and the Iowa Hawkeyes reached the 20-win plateau for the fifth time in seven seasons. 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 or more victories over a span of six of seven seasons.
McCaffery has taken Iowa to the NCAA Tournament four times. Among Iowa’s head basketball coaches, McCaffery ranks third in tournament appearances behind Davis (9) and Olson (5). Davis is Iowa’s all-time winningest coach, while McCaffery moved past Olson into second place earlier this season.
ON THE HORIZON
Iowa will travel to Chicago for a nonconference game against Cincinnati in the Chicago Legends event. Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. (CT) from the United Center. The game will be televised nationally on BTN.