Hawk Talk Monthly — January | Hawkeye Fan Shop — A Black & Gold Store | Fight For Iowa | Game Notes (PDF)
| #12/14 MARYLAND (13-2, 3-1) at IOWA (10-5, 1-3) |
| DATE | Friday, Jan. 10 | 6:01 p.m. CT |
| LOCATION | Iowa City, Iowa | Carver-Hawkeye Arena |
| RADIO | LISTEN | Hawkeye Radio Network | Hawkeye All-Access |
| TICKETS | hawkeyesports.com/tickets |
| TV | FS1 |
| LIVE STATS | Sidearm Stats |
| LIVE UPDATES | @IowaHoops |
THE SETTING
Iowa (10-5, 1-2) returns home to host No. 12/14 Maryland (13-2, 3-1) on Friday. Tipoff is set for 6:01 p.m. (CT) on Mediacom Court at Carver-Hawkeye Arena (15,056). Tickets are available for purchase at hawkeyesports.com/tickets.
The Terrapins enter Friday’s game having won three straight, while the Hawkeyes have lost their last two outings away from Iowa City.
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.
TV: Friday’s game will be televised nationally on FS1. Jeff Levering and Stephen Bardo will call the action.
GAME #16 STORYLINES
• Tuesday concluded a stretch of playing eight of 10 games away from home dating back to Nov. 28. The Hawkeyes traveled over 8,500 miles and played in three different time zones over the last six weeks. Four of Iowa’s next five games will be played at home.
• Friday is another showdown between two of the nation’s top big men. Iowa’s Luka Garza is seventh nationally in double-doubles (9), eighth in scoring (22.1) and 14th in rebounding (10.7), while Maryland’s Jalen Smith is 13th in double-doubles (8) and 31st in rebounding (9.7).
• Luka Garza, a native of Washington, D.C., is the only player nationally to average better than 20 points and 10 rebounds per game. Garza leads the Big Ten in scoring (22.1 ppg), is tied for first in double-doubles (9), and is second in rebounding (10.7 rpg).
• In Tuesday’s game at Nebraska, Luka Garza became the 27th player in program history to record 1,000 points and 500 rebounds.
• Eight of Iowa’s last 10 games were played against teams in the top 90 of the NCAA NET Rankings. Iowa posted a 5-3 record in those eight contests, recording wins over Texas Tech, Syracuse, Minnesota, Iowa State, and Cincinnati. The three setbacks came away from home to San Diego State, Michigan, and Penn State.
• Luka Garza’s 331 points are the most points through the first 15 games for a Hawkeye since Fred Brown’s 422 in 1970-71. Garza is one of five Big Ten players to have multiple 30-point/10-rebound performances in the same year since 2010-11.
• Joe Toussaint was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week for his efforts in last weekend’s contest versus No. 21 Penn State. He scored 16 of his personal-best 18 points in the second half to go along with team bests in assists (4) and steals (2).
• Connor McCaffery is second in the country in assist-to-turnover ratio (4.67).
• Iowa has scored a combined 150 paint points (50 per game) over the last three games.
• Iowa has won four games away from home the last month, beating Texas Tech (Las Vegas) and Cincinnati (Chicago) and true road wins at Syracuse and Iowa State.
• Iowa ranks seventh nationally in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.5), eighth in assists (17.9), 22nd in scoring offense (80.4), 43rd in fewest turnovers (11.9), and 46th in fewest fouls (15.3).
• Luka Garza tallied 44 points at Michigan on Dec. 6, 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.
NEBRASKA HOLDS OFF HAWKEYES IN LINCOLN
Iowa shot a season-low 12 percent (4-of-33) from 3-point range in a 76-70 loss at Nebraska Tuesday evening at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, Nebraska. Tuesday was the eighth time in 10 games that the Hawkeyes played a contest away from Iowa City, dating back to Nov. 28.
• Iowa’s only lead of the game came with 12:41 remaining in the second half (51-50).
• Luka Garza posted his team-leading ninth double-double of the year and 14th of his career, totaling 16 points and a career-high 18 rebounds. The 18 rebounds tie Adam Woodbury for the most by a Hawkeye in the Fran McCaffery era. Garza became the 27th player in program history to join the 1,000-point, 500-rebound club.
• Sophomore Joe Wieskamp netted 15 of his game-high 21 points in the second half.
• Freshman Joe Toussaint, this week’s Big Ten Freshman of the Week, scored in double figures for the second straight game (14 points).
• The Huskers (26) attempted 21 more free throws than the Hawkeyes (5).
• Five Huskers scored in double figures: Thorir Thorbjarnarson (17), Cam Mack (15), Haanif Cheatam (14), Dachon Burke (13), and Kevin Cross (11). Mack also was credited with a game-high 10 assists.
BUILT GARZA TOUGH
Luka Garza’s toughness has been on display in every game this season, but none more so than the Texas Tech and Iowa State games. Garza got hit in the mouth versus Texas Tech, received four stitches, then returned down the stretch to lead the Hawkeyes to victory. Against Iowa State, he got hit by an elbow near the basket, which jarred one of his front teeth loose.
Garza leads the Big Ten and is eighth nationally in scoring (22.1 ppg). He is tied for second in the country with six 20-point/10-rebound games this season. Garza also is tied for seventh nationally in double-doubles (9) and fifth in points per 40 minutes played (29.0).
ALL-TIME SERIES RECORDS
Friday will be the 10th all-time meeting between Iowa and Maryland. The Terrapins own a 6-3 advantage in the series. Maryland won last year’s only meeting, 66-65, in Iowa City.
Friday will be Maryland’s fourth visit to Iowa City. Iowa won the first meeting inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Feb. 8, 2015 (71-55), while the Terrapins were victorious on their last two trips to Iowa City on Jan. 19, 2017 (84-76) and Feb. 19, 2019 (66-65).
The first three meetings between Iowa and Maryland were played on neutral floors: Honolulu (1984), Baltimore (1999), and New York City (2013).
SCOUTING MARYLAND
• The Terrapins enter Friday’s game with a 13-2 overall record, with their two losses coming in their only two road games so far this year at Penn State (76-69) and Seton Hall (52-48).
• Maryland won its last game, 67-55, over No. 11 Ohio State Tuesday in College Park, Maryland. Anthony Cowan led all scorers with 20 points, scoring half his points at the free throw line (10-of-12). The Terrapins (17) made nine more free throws than the Buckeyes (8). Maryland’s defense held Ohio State to 31 percent shooting from the field and 18 percent from 3-point territory.
• Three Terrapins average double figures in scoring: Anthony Cowan (16.7), Jalen Smith (13.3), and Aaron Wiggins (10.9). Smith ranks 13th in the country in double-doubles (8), 31st in rebounds per game (9.7), 32nd in blocked shots (2.27), and 33rd in offensive rebounds per game (3.47). Cowan ranks 13th nationally in free throw attempts (100) and fifth in the Big Ten in assists per game (4.1).
• Maryland ranks 10th nationally in free throws made (264), 15th in field goal percentage defense (.373), 16th in rebounding margin (+8.2), 18th in free throw attempts (361), and 31st in scoring defense (61.3) and blocked shots (5.1).
• Mark Turgeon is in his ninth season as head coach at Maryland (193-94, .672) and 22nd year overall as a head coach (442-253, .636).
• Iowa assistant coach Sherman Dillard began his coaching career at Maryland, spending six seasons (1979-85) as an assistant coach. Dillard helped coach the Terrapins to four 20-win seasons and five NCAA Tournaments. The 1980, 1984 and 1985 squads reached the Sweet 16, while the 1984 team won the ACC Tournament.
LAST MEETING
No. 24 Maryland’s Bruno Fernando tipped in the game-winning basket with 7.8 seconds remaining to lift the visiting Terrapins to a 66-65 win over No. 21 Iowa in Iowa City in the only regular season meeting between the two teams.
• Guards Jordan Bohannon (14) and Isaiah Moss (12) led the Hawkeyes in scoring.
• Maryland entered the game boasting a +9.9 rebounding margin. Iowa outrebounded the Terrapins by six (40-34), including grabbing 18 offensive rebounds.
• After missing their first five 3-points attempts, the Terrapins made 12 of its final 23 3-point attempts (.521). Iowa was 8-of-26 (.308) from long distance.
• Anthony Cowan led all scorers with 17 points, while Bruno Fernando and Eric Ayala each contributed 11 points. Fernando also pulled down a game-best 11 rebounds.
FRESHMAN GAINING CONFIDENCE
Freshman Joe Toussaint is gaining confidence with each game. The native of New York has started Iowa’s last four games after coming off the bench in Iowa’s first 11 contests.
Toussaint was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week for his efforts in last weekend’s contest versus No. 21 Penn State. He scored a personal-best 18 points to go along with team bests in assists (4) and steals (2). Toussaint netted 16 of his 18 points in the second half and tied a personal best sinking two 3-pointers.
Toussaint is second on the squad in assists (2.7) and fifth in scoring (7.5). He started his first collegiate game on Dec. 21, versus Cincinnati. He posted personal bests in assists (7) and steals (5) against Kennesaw State (Dec. 29), while netting 18 points in the second half versus Penn State last Saturday in Philadelphia.
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, had 13 points, including sinking all nine free throw attempts, against San Diego State in Las Vegas (Nov. 29).
ALL-AMERICA CANDIDATE LUKA GARZA
Luka Garza is one of 30 men’s basketball players named to the Lute Olson National Player of of the Year Award mid-season Watch List.
Garza is the only player in the country averaging better than 20 points and 10 rebounds per game. He is eighth nationally in scoring (22.1), seventh in double-doubles (9), and 14th rebounding (10.7). The native Washington, D.C., has totaled 331 so far this season, the most by a Hawkeye after the first 15 games of a season since Fred Brown’s 422 in 1970-71.
Garza, who leads the Hawkeyes in 10 statistical categories this season, became the 27th player in program history with 1,000 points and 500 rebounds. He is one of only five Big Ten student-athletes since the 2010-11 season to register multiple 30-point/10-rebounds games in the same season.
Garza has scored 25 points or more in four games (44 at Michigan; 34 vs. Penn State; 30 vs. Oral Roberts; 29 vs. North Florida) and has controlled eight rebounds or more in all 15 contests, including 10 or more nine times in 2019-20. He has grabbed 12 or more rebounds six times this year (SIUE, North Florida, Texas Tech, Cincinnati, Penn State, Nebraska). He snagged a career-best 18 boards at Nebraska in Iowa’s last game Tuesday night.
Garza registered 30 points and 10 rebounds against Oral Roberts, and 34 points and 12 boards versus Penn State. He is one of five Big Ten players to have multiple 30-point/10-rebound performances in the same season since the 2010-11 season (Wisconsin’s Ethan Happ, 2018-19; Illinois’ Malcolm Hill, 2015-16; Iowa’s Peter Jok, 2016-17; Ohio State’s Jared Sullinger, 2010-11).
Garza moved up two spots to No. 32 on Iowa’s all-time scoring chart last Tuesday at Nebraska, surpassing Bob Hansen (1980-83) and Kevin Kunnert (1971-73). He is 18 points from tying Chad Calabria (1968-70) for 31st place.
ROAD WARRIORS
Iowa played games in three different time zones, seven different states, and traveled over 8,500 miles between Nov. 28-Jan. 7.
Tuesday’s game at Nebraska concluded a stretch playing eight of 10 games away from Iowa City. The Hawkeyes played seven straight contests against teams in the Top 90 of the NCAA NET Ranking from Nov. 28 to Dec. 21 (Texas Tech, San Diego State, Syracuse, Michigan, Minnesota, Iowa State, and Cincinnati).
GARZA NAMED NATIONAL, B1G PLAYER OF THE WEEK – DEC. 10
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).
GET TO KNOW THE NAME — CJ FREDRICK
Redshirt freshman CJ Fredrick has made an impact on this team. Fredrick was named to the Las Vegas Invitational All-Tournament Team after averaging 13 points, 3.5 assists, and 3.0 rebounds. He equaled a personal-best 21 points in Iowa’s win over Cincinnati.
The native of Cincinnati, Ohio, did not play at Syracuse due to a sore left quad and missed the last game and a half (second half vs. Penn State and entire game vs. Nebraska) due to a stress reaction in his left foot. He is questionable for Friday’s game versus Maryland.
Fredrick is third on the team in scoring (10.3), and first in the Big Ten in 3-point accuracy (.500, 23-of-46) and 14th in field goal percentage (.540, 47-of-87). He is 13-of-22 (.591) from 3-point range in Iowa’s seven home games this season.
Fredrick led Iowa in scoring in four games (DePaul, Cal Poly, San Diego State, and Cincinnati).
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.
RYAN KRIENER TAKES THE NEXT STEP
Ryan Kriener is off to a good start in 2019-20 ranking sixth on the team in scoring (7.3) and fourth in rebounding (4.3). He is tops on the team in field goal accuracy, making 43 of his 72 attempts (.597) and is 18-of-24 (.750) from the charity stripe.
Kriener had a career night against Kennesaw State (Dec. 29). The senior was a perfect 9-of-9 from the field, including sinking his only 3-point attempt, and making his only free throw attempt for a career-best 20 points. Kriener scored eighth straight points in the first half, while also rejecting a personal-best three shots versus Penn State in Philadelphia (Jan. 4).
He has had three games this year where he did not miss a field goal attempt (5-of-5 vs. DePaul; 3-of-3 vs. Cal Poly; 9-of-9 vs. Kennesaw State).
The native of Spirit Lake, Iowa, registered single-season bests in nearly every statistical category as a junior last year.
2010-19 IS THIRD HIGHEST DECADE WIN TOTAL IN PROGRAM HISTORY
The Hawkeyes registered 189 wins over the last decade, the third highest winning decade in program history. Iowa won 207 games in the 1980’s and 194 in the 1990’s.
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.
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 (22.1) and ranking second in rebounding (10.7). He scored 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). He has scored 30+ points in three games this season (Oral Roberts, Michigan, Penn State).
Wieskamp is one of 20 players named to the Jerry West Award Watch List. The honor recognizes the top shooting guard in college basketball. Wieskamp was named to the All-Big Ten Freshman Team last season. He ranks second on the team in scoring (14.0) and rebounding (5.9).
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.
GARZA JOINS ELITE COMPANY
Luka Garza put up numbers that few Hawkeyes have done through their sophomore season. Garza joined 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.
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).
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.
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.
NUNGE SUFFERS TORN ACL
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 (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.
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).
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 visited The Palestra in Philadelphia on Jan. 4, for a Big Ten game against Penn State. It marked the Hawkeyes’ first visit to the historic building since 1961. Fran McCaffery played in The Palestra for three years while a guard at Penn (1980-82).
• 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 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).
• 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 64 of its last 69 nonconference home games, dating back to 2012.
• Iowa has led the Big Ten in scoring offense two of the last six years, including last season.
• Iowa is 92-23 when scoring 80 points or more, the last 10 seasons. The Hawkeyes are 76-2 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.
• 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.
IOWA VS. RANKED TEAMS
Friday will be Iowa’s fourth contest against a ranked opponent this season. The Hawkeyes are 1-2 against ranked opponents this season. Iowa beat No. 12/12 Texas Tech in Las Vegas (72-61), and lost to No. 4/5 Michigan (103-91) in Ann Arbor and to No. 21 Penn State in Philadelphia (89-86).
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).
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.
IOWA HISTORY
Iowa has played 2,823 games since beginning basketball in 1902. Iowa’s overall record is 1,659-1,162 (.588). Iowa’s 1,659 wins are 36th most among Division I programs. That includes a 1,059-371 (.740) record in home games, a 594-790 (.429) record in contests away from Iowa City, a 777-791 (.496) mark in Big Ten games and a 464-145 (.762) record in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
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), 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”
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 using the hashtag #HawkTalk.
ON THE HORIZON
Iowa will travel to Evanston, Illinois, for its only regular season meeting of the season against Northwestern on Tuesday. Tipoff is slated for 7 p.m. (CT) at Welsh-Ryan Arena.
The Hawkeyes will then return to home court for a three-game homestand against Michigan (Jan. 17), Rutgers (Jan. 22), and Wisconsin (Jan. 27). Tickets are available for all remaining home games at hawkeyesports.com/tickets.
