Game Notes: Iowa vs. Kennesaw State

Game Notes: Iowa vs. Kennesaw State

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KENNESAW STATE (1-11, 0-0) vs. #25/RV IOWA (9-3, 1-1)
 DATE  Sunday, Dec. 29 | 3:05 p.m. CT
 LOCATION  Iowa City, Iowa | Carver-Hawkeye Arena
 TICKETS  hawkeyesports.com/tickets
 RADIO | LISTEN  Hawkeye Radio Network | Hawkeye All-Access 
 TV  ESPNU
 LIVE STATS  Sidearm Stats
 LIVE UPDATES  @IowaHoops

THE SETTING
Iowa (9-3, 1-1) returns home after playing six of its last seven games away from Iowa City, hosting Kennesaw State (1-11, 0-0) on Sunday in its nonconference finale. Tipoff is slated for 3:05 p.m. (CT) on Mediacom Court at Carver-Hawkeye Arena (15,056). Tickets are $15 for adults, and $5 for youth and UI students. 

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: Sunday’s game will be televised nationally on ESPNU. Jordan Bernfield and Robbie Hummel will call the action.

STAR WARS DAY AT CARVER-HAWKEYE ARENA
•    Fans are encouraged to wear their Star Wars themed apparel items to the game.
•    A number of movie characters will be in costume on the concourse prior to the game. The characters will interact with and take photos with fans between 1:30-3 p.m.
•    A limited number of special posters will be available at the game.
•    Star Wars trivia questions at different points during media timeouts.
•    Special cross themed videos will be featured.

NONCONFERENCE FINALE STORYLINES
•    Iowa beat the Kennesaw State (91-74) in the only previous meeting between the two schools on Nov. 11, 2016. The Hawkeyes are 4-1 all-time against current members of the Atlantic Sun Conference.
•    Sunday is “Lettermen’s Day” with over 25 former Hawkeyes planning on attending.
•    Iowa has won 63 of its last 68 nonconference home games, dating back to 2012. 
•    Sunday is only Iowa’s second home game during the month of December. The Hawkeyes played six of its last seven contests away from Iowa City. Iowa posted a 5-2 record during that stretch, recording wins over Texas Tech, Syracuse, Minnesota, Iowa State, and Cincinnati. The two setbacks came to nationally-ranked San Diego State and Michigan.
•    Luka Garza is the only player nationally to average better than 20 points and 10 rebounds per game. Garza leads the Big Ten in scoring (21.5 ppg), is tied for first in double-doubles (7), and is second in rebounding (10.2 rpg). 
•    Garza reached the 1,000-point threshold at Michigan (Dec. 6). Against the Wolverines, he tallied 44 points, the most points scored by an Iowa big man in school history and most by a visiting player in Crisler Center history, second only to Michigan’s Rudy Tomjanovich. Garza is 23 rebounds from becoming the 27th player in program history to record 1,000 points and 500 rebounds.
•    Jordan Bohannon had season-ending hip surgery on Dec. 19. Bohannon played in 10 games, averaging 8.8 points and 3.3 assists per game.
•    Iowa ranks 11th in the country in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.42), is 13th in assists (17.3).
•    Iowa’s three defeats have come to teams with a combined 33-4 record (DePaul, San Diego State, Michigan).
•    Iowa has won four games away from home the last month, beating Texas Tech (Las Vegas) and Cincinnati (Chicago) on neutral courts and true road wins at Syracuse and Iowa State.
•    Connor McCaffery has 46 assists and only 12 turnovers, tops in the Big Ten and fifth nationally in assist-to-turnover ratio (3.83).
•    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 BEAT CINCINNATI FOR ITS THIRD STRAIGHT WIN
Iowa led by as many as 15 points in a 77-70 win over Cincinnati at the Chicago Legends event contested at the United Center in Chicago.
•    Four Hawkeyes netted double figures: CJ Fredrick (21); Joe Wieskamp (16); Bakari Evelyn (15); and Luka Garza (12).
•    Cincinnati native CJ Fredrick led Iowa in scoring for the fourth game this year, equaling a personal-best in scoring with 21 points (Cal Poly). Fredrick was 2-2 from long distance in the second half, draining triples on back-to-back possessions to end a 7:00 field goal drought.
•    Luka Garza rejected a career-high five shots to go along with his team-leading seventh double-double of the year. Garza grabbed a season-high 13 rebounds and scored 12 points.
•    Bakari Evelyn posted season highs in points (15), rebounds (7), and 3-pointers made (3). Evelyn entered the game with three triples made the first 11 games of the season.
•    Iowa dominated the glass, outrebounding the Bearcats by 17 (48-31). The +17 rebounding margin is the largest for the season for the Hawkeyes.
•    The Hawkeyes made 11 triples, marking the fifth time this season and third straight game that Iowa sank 10 or more 3-pointers. CJ Fredrick, Joe Wieskamp, and Bakari Evelyn made three 3-pointers each.

BUILT GARZA TOUGH
Luka Garza’s toughness has been on display in every game this season, but none more so than in the second half of both the Texas Tech and Iowa State games. Garza got popped in the mouth versus Texas Tech, went back to the locker room to receive four stitches, and returned to the court down the stretch to lead the Hawkeyes to victory. Against Iowa State, he got hit by an elbow fighting for a rebound, which jarred one of his front teeth loose.
    Garza leads the Big Ten in scoring (21.5 ppg) and is eighth nationally in points per 40 minutes played (28.4). He is 23 rebounds from becoming the 27th player in program history to record 1,000 points and 500 rebounds.

BOHANNON UNDERGOES SEASON-ENDING SURGERY
Senior Jordan Bohannon underwent season-ending hip surgery (left) on Dec. 19, at the University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics. Recovery from this procedure is typically 6-9 months.
    The Hawkeye guard had the same procedure successfully performed on his right hip this past May and played in 10 games this season (8.8 ppg and 3.3 apg). During the course of the last couple months, pain developed in his left hip that ultimately resulted in the decision for additional surgery. 
    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 (284). 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).

SCOUTING KENNESAW STATE
•    Sunday will be the eighth true road game and 10th contest away from home for Kennesaw State this season. The Owls are 1-11 overall, with their only victory coming against Gardner-Webb (85-61) on Dec. 13. 
•    The Owls average 16.6 turnovers per game to only 8.3 assists per contest. Kennesaw State has been outscored by an average of 19.3 points per contest.
•    Senior Tyler Hooker leads the squad in scoring, averaging 12.5 points per game, while Terrell Burden also averages in double figures, averaging 10.3 points per contest. Hooker’s free throw percentage of 84.8 percent ranks 87th nationally.
•    The Owls have just one player who has made more than 10 3-pointers this season: Ugo Obineke (12). As a team, Kennesaw State is shooting 25 percent from long distance.
•    Kennesaw State lost its last outing, 83-70, versus Wofford on Dec. 22. Terrell Burden recorded a career-high 21 points to lead four Owls in double-figures, including 17 from Bryson Lockley to tie his career high, 11 from Jamie Lewis in his first appearance as an Owl, while Ugo Obineke chipped in 14 points.
•    Sunday will be Kennesaw State’s second trip to the state of Iowa this season. The Owls lost at Drake (86-55) in Des Moines on Nov. 7, 2019.
•    Amir Abdur-Rahim is in his first season as a collegiate head coach. Abdur-Rahim comes to Kennesaw State after a year-long stint at Georgia under head coach Tom Crean. Prior to UGA, he spent four years as an assistant at Texas A&M (2014-18), helping lead the Aggies to three NCAA Tournament bids, including two Sweet 16 appearances in 2016 and 2018.

2 HAWKEYES PLAYED FIRST COLLEGIATE GAME VERSUS KENNESAW STATE
Cordell Pemsl and Ryan Kriener played their first collegiate game against Kennesaw State in the 2016-17 season opener on Nov. 11, 2016. Pemsl tallied 10 points, six rebounds, two blocks and a steal, while Kriener had six points, three rebounds, and one steal. 
    Kennesaw State’s Tyler Hooker also played his first collegiate game in Carver-Hawkeye Arena, registering five points, four assists, and three rebounds.

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 played 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).

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 (Dec. 10) accolade for his efforts in road games at Syracuse and Michigan. 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 and 8.5 rebounds in road games at Syracuse and No. 4 Michigan. He reached 1,000 career points in the process of amassing a career-high 44 points 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’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. 
    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).

GETTING TO THE FREE THROW LINE
Iowa has earned 274 free throw attempts through 12 games. Iowa’s 22.8 average ranks 33rd in the country. The Hawkeyes have made more free throws (201) than their opponents (178) have attempted (+23). Connor McCaffery ranks eighth in the conference individually, making 83.8 percent of his attempts (31-of-37).

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.

GET TO KNOW THE NAME — CJ FREDRICK
Redshirt freshman CJ Fredrick has made an impact on this team, just 11 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 four outings, equaling a personal-best 21 points in Iowa’s win over Cincinnati last Saturday in Chicago.
    Fredrick is third on the team in scoring (11.5) and ranks second in the Big Ten in 3-point accuracy (.512, 21-of-41) and 10th in field goal percentage (.564, 44-of-78). He is 11-of-19 (.579) from 3-point range in Iowa’s six home games this season.
    Fredrick led Iowa in scoring in four games (DePaul, Cal Poly, San Diego State, and Cincinnati).

GARZA PRODUCING BOTH INSIDE AND OUT
Luka Garza has been Iowa’s bell cow the first 12 games. The junior is producing both inside and out, ranking second on the squad in 3-point percentage (.400, 12-of-30) and is third in field goal efficiency (.543, 102-of-188). 
    Garza’s 258 points are the most by a Hawkeye after the first 12 games of the season since Peter Jok’s 277 in 2016-17.
    Garza leads the team in 10 statistical categories: scoring (21.5), rebounding (10.2), double-doubles (7), offensive rebounding (3.5), defensive rebounding (5.5), blocked shots (1.6), field goals made (102) and attempted (188), free throws made (42) and attempted (66).
    The native of Washington, D.C., leads the Big Ten in scoring (21.5 ppg), tied for first in double-doubles (7), and is second in rebounding (10.2 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 11 contests in 2019-20.
    Garza has grabbed 12 or more rebounds in four games this season (SIUE, North Florida, Texas Tech, and Cincinnati). He snagged a season-best 13 boards against the Bearcats in the Hawkeyes’ last outing. 
    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.

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 on Nov. 24, against Cal Poly. The injury occurred late in the first half as Nunge was driving to the basket. Nunge is scheduled for surgery in mid-December.
    “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.

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 six weeks of the 2019-20 season, leading the Big Ten in scoring (22.4), and scoring his 1,000th career point in a 44-point effort at No. 4/5 Michigan (Dec. 6). 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 (12.0) and rebounding (5.6).
    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.

FRESHMAN GAINING CONFIDENCE
Freshman Joe Toussaint is gaining confidence with each game played. The native of New York is Iowa’s second-leading scorer off the bench (6.2) and is fourth overall in assists (2.1). He started his first collegiate game on Dec. 21, versus Cincinnati.
    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.

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).

RYAN KRIENER TAKES THE NEXT STEP
Ryan Kriener registered single-season bests in nearly every statistical category as a junior last year. 
    The native of Spirit Lake, Iowa, is off to a good start in 2019-20 ranking second off the bench in scoring (6.3) and fifth overall in rebounding (4.2). He is second on the team in field goal accuracy, making 28 of his 50 attempts (.560) and is 17-of-23 (.739) from the charity stripe. 

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.

SAMPLING OF IOWA WINS BY COACH McCAFFERY ON THE ROAD
In 10 seasons as Iowa’s head coach, Fran McCaffery has led the Hawkeyes to wins at a number of visiting arenas. Below is a sample of some of the arenas Iowa has posted wins under coach McCaffery.
•    All 13 visiting arenas in the Big Ten
•    Carrier Dome (Syracuse)
•    Hilton Coliseum (Iowa State) 
•    United Center (Big Ten Tournament)
•    Madison Square Garden (multiple times)
•    Bankers Life Fieldhouse (Big Ten Tournament)
•    Barclays Center (NCAA Tournament)
•    KeyArena (NCAA Tournament)
•    Dean Dome (North Carolina)
•    John Paul Jones Arena (Virginia)

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.

BOHANNON JOINS 1,000-POINT/500-ASSIST CLUB
Jordan Bohannon dished out 10 assists in Iowa’s 20-point win over Minnesota (Dec. 9). 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 is Iowa’s all-time leader in 3-pointers made with 284 3-pointers; Ohio State’s Jon Diebler (2008-11) is the Big Ten all-time leader in triples made (374).

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.

IOWA HISTORY
Iowa has played 2,820 games since beginning basketball in 1902. Iowa’s overall record is 1,658-1,160 (.588). Iowa’s 1,658 wins are 36th most among Division I programs. That includes a 1,058-371 (.740) record in home games, a 594-788 (.430) 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. 

HAWKEYE FASTBREAKS
•     Luka Garza and CJ Fredrick were named to the 2019 Las Vegas Invitational All-Tournament Team.
•     Iowa led by as many as 25 points in an 84-68 win over Iowa State at Ames, Iowa, on Dec. 12. The win snapped Iowa State’s eight-game win streak over the Hawkeyes in Hilton Coliseum. The Hawkeye victory is Iowa’s first over the Cyclones in Ames since March 21, 2003.
•     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.
•    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.
•    Jordan Bohannon dished out a season-high 10 assists (zero turnovers) against Minnesota (Dec. 9), marking the seventh time in his career that the senior was credited with 10 assists or more. 
•    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.
•     Iowa held the Minnesota to 52 points on Dec. 9, the fewest in the series since 2007 (49).
•    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 led the Big Ten in scoring offense two of the last six years, including last season.
•    Iowa is 91-22 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).

FRAN McCAFFERY SIGNS FIRST GRAD TRANSFER
Fran McCaffery is in 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.

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).

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.

“HAWK TALK WITH FRAN MCCAFFERY”
University of Iowa basketball fans may join Iowa Coach Fran McCaffery, and radio announcers Gary Dolphin and Bob Hansen for the “Hawk Talk with Fran McCaffery” radio show.  The next show will take place Wednesday (Jan. 8) at Cedar Ridge Distillery in Swisher, Iowa, from 7-8:30 p.m. (CT). Fans can submit their questions for Coach McCaffery via Twitter by utilizing the hashtag #HawkTalk.

ON THE HORIZON
Iowa will resume Big Ten Conference play with a pair of road games to start 2020, first traveling to Philadelphia on Saturday, Jan. 4, for a neutral site contest against Penn State (1 p.m. CT), followed by a contest at Nebraska in Lincoln on Tuesday, Jan. 7 (8 p.m. CT).
 

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