Game Notes: Iowa at #24 Michigan State

Hawkeye Fan Shop — A Black & Gold Store | Hawk Talk Monthly – February | Fight For Iowa | Game Notes (PDF)

THE SETTING
No. 18/17 Iowa (19-8, 10-6) will travel to East Lansing for its only regular season contest against No. 24/24 Michigan State (18-9, 10-6). Tipoff is set for 6:01 p.m. (CT) at the Breslin Center. Tuesday will be the third straight ranked match-up between Iowa and Michigan State, and the first time in 14 years that Iowa (#18) is ranked higher than Michigan State  (#24) in the AP Poll when playing; the No. 20 Hawkeyes played an unranked Spartan team on March 11, 2006 in the Big Ten Tournament.
    The Hawkeyes enter Tuesday’s game having won nine of their last 12 contests, while the Spartans have lost four of their last six.

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: Tuesday’s contest will be televised nationally on ESPN2. Dave Flemming, Dan Dakich, and Molly McGrath will call the action.

GAME #28 STORYLINES
•    Tuesday will be the only regular season match-up against Michigan State. The Hawkeyes are 4-1 this year in one-plays, beating Ohio State, Rutgers, Wisconsin, and Northwestern.
•    Three of Iowa’s remaining four regular season games will be Quad 1 opportunities. The Hawkeyes own seven Quad 1 wins and five Quad 2 victories. The 12 combined victories tie Penn State and Maryland for the most in the Big Ten this season.
•    Iowa has six victories away from Iowa City (four true road wins), fifth most in the Big Ten behind Michigan State (8), Michigan (8), Penn State (7), and Maryland (7).
•    Fran McCaffery is one victory from leading Iowa to another 20-win season. 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.
•    Luka Garza has scored 20+ points in 12 straight Big Ten games, the longest streak by a Hawkeye since Fred Brown (13) in 1971 and most by any Big Ten player over the last 20 years. Garza has scored 21+ points in 16-of-17 Big Ten games this season. His 641 points are most by an Iowa junior and fifth most in a single-season.
•    Luka Garza (23.7) and Joe Wieskamp (14.9) combine to average 38.6 points per game, which is the fifth best Division I scoring duo in the country.
•    Connor McCaffery is the only player in the country with 100+ assists and less than 25 turnovers. He also leads the country in assist-to-turnover ratio (4.25).
•    All-America candidate Luka Garza is one of only two players nationally to average better than 23 points and nine rebounds per game. Garza ranks first in the Big Ten in scoring (23.7 ppg), third in double-doubles (13), and fourth in rebounding (9.6 rpg).
•    Iowa leads the Big Ten in scoring offense (78.5); the Hawkeyes led the conference in scoring two of the last six previous seasons, including last year. In Big Ten games only, Iowa leads the league in scoring (77.0), field goal percentage (.450), and assists (16.6).
•    Luka Garza tallied 38 points at Indiana (Feb. 13). The 38 points were two points shy of matching the Assembly Hall single-game record by an opponent. Garza has the two highest single-game point totals in the Big Ten this year: 44 at Michigan & 38 at Indiana.
•    Luka Garza is trying to become just the fourth Hawkeye over the last four decades to average better than 20 points per game. The other three are Adam Haluska (20.5) in 2007, Andre Woolridge (20.2) in 1997, and Roy Marble (20.5) in 1989.

HAWKEYES CRUISE TO WIN OVER OHIO STATE
No. 20 Iowa led No. 25 Ohio State start-to-finish in an 85-76 triumph last Thursday in Carver-Hawkeye Arena in the only regular season meeting between the two teams.
•    Thursday’s win was Iowa’s sixth over a nationally-ranked opponent, its most in a single-season since 2006 (8).
•    Iowa improved to 10-6 in conference play; the Hawkeyes have won 10 or more Big Ten games five of the last six seasons.
•    Iowa and Ohio State have played 162 games all-time, the series is now tied, 81-81.
•    Big Ten leading scorer Luka Garza netted a game-best 24 points, surpassing five former players on Iowa’s single-season scoring chart for fifth place (Jarrod Uthoff, Sam Williams, Peter Jok, Adam Haluska, Greg Stokes). Garza also had six rebounds and assisted on a career-high four baskets.
•    Garza surpassed the 20-point plateau for the 12th consecutive game, the longest streak by a Hawkeye in 49 years and longest streak by a Big Ten player in over 20 seasons.
•    Iowa improved to 13-1 at home this season, winning its last 12 contests inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
•    Iowa netted 85 points against the Big Ten’s leader in scoring defense (61.4 ppg).
•    Starting guard CJ Fredrick missed his second straight game due to injury (ankle).
•    Senior Bakari Evelyn equaled a career high with 15 points, while senior Ryan Kriener had 12 points, and sophomore Joe Wieskamp netted 13.
•    Freshman E.J. Liddell led the Buckeyes with a personal-best 17 points, while Duane Washington Jr. had 15 points, CJ Walker tallied 11 and Kaleb Wesson chipped in 10.

ALL-TIME SERIES RECORDS
Michigan State holds a 75-55 advantage over Iowa in the series. The Spartans have won 13 of the last 15 meetings, dating back to 2011. Iowa snapped a nine-game losing skid in 2015, sweeping the season series. Michigan State won last season’s two contests: 90-68 in East Lansing and 82-67 in Iowa City.
    The Spartans hold a 45-18 advantage in games played in East Lansing. Iowa snapped an 18-game losing streak at East Lansing, Michigan, with an impressive 76-59 win on Jan. 14, 2016, inside the Breslin Center. Iowa is 3-22 all-time at the Breslin Center.

SCOUTING MICHIGAN STATE
•    Michigan State (13 NET Ranking) has won two of its last three contests after losing three straight in early February.
•    The Spartans are 10-3 at home at the Breslin Center. Michigan State has lost its last two home games to nationally-ranked Penn State (75-70) and Maryland (67-60).
•    Michigan State crusied to an 86-65 victory at Nebraska last Thursday evening. Cassius Winston led all scorers with 23 points, while Gabe Brown registered 17 points off the bench. The Spartans dominated the glass, pulling down 25 more rebounds than the Huskers (51-26).
•    Two starters average double figures in scoring: Cassius Winston (18.3) and Xavier Tillman (13.6). Winston is third in the conference in points per game (18.3), tied for second in steals (1.3), third in free throw accuracy (.870) and 3-pointers made (2.3), and fourth in assists per game (5.7). Tillman ranks third in rebounds per game (10.3), fourth in blocked shots (2.1), and 14th in points per game (13.6).
•    Michigan State has two players who have made 20 or more 3-pointers: Cassius Winston (59) and Gabe Brown (31). As a team, the Spartans shoot 34.8 percent fron distance.
•    The Spartans rank first in the Big Ten in four statistical categories: field goal percentage defense (.375), assists (17.7), blocked shots (5.1), and 3-point field goal percentage defense (.287). Michigan State is second in the league in rebounding margin (+8.1); field goal accuracy (.456) and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.4); and third in scoring offense (75.5) and 3-point field goal percentage (.348).
•    Nationally, Michigan State ranks third in assists per game (17.7) and defensive rebounds per game (29.93); fifth in field goal percentage defense (.375); and eight in rebounding margin (+8.1) and 3-point field goal percentage defense (.287).
•    Tom Izzo is in his 25th season as head coach at Michigan State (624-241, .721).

LAST MEETING
No. 6 Michigan State used a 24-2 run in the second half to rally from an eight-point deficit to upend No. 19 Iowa, 82-67, on Jan. 24, 2019, at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City.
•    Luka Garza (20) and Tyler Cook (17) combined for 37 of Iowa’s 67 points. Nicholas Baer came off the bench scoring 10 points, and collecting three rebounds and three assists.
•    Michigan State shot 20-of-21 (.952) from the foul line, while Iowa made all eight of its attempts.
•    The Spartans outrebounded Iowa by 16 (42-26).
•    Iowa scored 19 points after forcing 19 Michigan State turnovers.
•    After shooting 71 percent from 3-point range in its previous outing versus Illinois, the Hawkeyes were held to 21 percent (5-of-24) from long distance against the Spartans.
•    Michigan State was led by Cassius Winston (23) and Nick Ward (21), combining for more than half of its 82 points.

CONNOR McCAFFERY VALUING THE BASKETBALL
Sophomore Connor McCaffery is one of the nation’s best in taking care of the basketball. He is the only player in the country with 100+ assists and less than 25 turnovers. McCaffery is the nation’s leader in assist-to-turnover ratio (4.26) and is only player in the country averaging at least 5.5 points, four rebounds, 3.5 assists per game, and fewer than one turnover per game.
    McCaffery, who has had to play multiple positions this season due to lack of depth (1-4), has more steals (27) than turnovers (23). 
    McCaffery, a finance major, was named to the CoSIDA Academic All-District First Team, last week, posting a 3.5 GPA.

ALL-AMERICA CANDIDATE LUKA GARZA
Luka Garza is on five late season watch lists: Wooden Award, Naismith Trophy, Oscar Robertson Trophy, Lute Olson Award, and the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Award. He was also named a first-team midseason All-American by Sporting News.
    Garza is one of only two players in the nation (only player from a Power 5 Conference) averaging 23 points and nine rebounds per game. He ranks first nationally with ten 20-point/10-rebound games this season, fourth in scoring (23.1), 13th in double-doubles (13), third in points per 40 minutes played (30.6), and 41st rebounding (9.6). His 13 double-doubles are the most by a Hawkeye in a single season since Reggie Evans’ 18 during the 2001-02 season.
    The native Washington, D.C., has totaled 641 points, the most by a Hawkeye to start a season since Fred Brown in 1971 and fifth all-time in a single-season at Iowa. Garza is the first Hawkeye in 49 years to score 20+ points in 12 straight Big Ten games and first Big Ten player to accomplish the feat in 20 seasons. He is one of two centers in the nation shooting 38 percent or better from 3-point range (min. 90 attempts) and ranks 13th among Big Ten players in 3-point accuracy.
    He has produced the two highest point totals in a single-game by a Big Ten player this season (44 at Michigan; 38 at Indiana).
    Garza was twice named Big Ten Player of the Week, Dec. 9 and Jan. 20. He averaged 33.5 points and 8.5 rebounds in road games at Syracuse and No. 4 Michigan in early December and averaged 30 points and five rebounds in wins over Northwestern and Michigan.
    He is one of eight Hawkeyes in school history with 1,400 points and 600 rebounds and 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 10 times this season. He has controlled eight rebounds or more in 21 contests, including 10 or more 12 times. He has grabbed 12 or more rebounds eight times. He snagged a career-best 18 boards twice this year (at Nebraska and versus Wisconsin).
    Garza is one of three Big Ten players to have five or more 25-point/10-rebound performances in the same season since the 2009-10 season (Purdue’s Caleb Swanigan, 2016-17; Ohio State’s Evan Turner, 2009-10).
    Garza is 17th on Iowa’s career scoring chart with 1,460 points.
    Garza amassed 77 points in two games against Michigan, the most points by any Big Ten player versus a single opponent in regular season conference play over the last 20 seasons. 

COOL HAND LUKA
Luka Garza is looking to become just the sixth Iowa men’s basketball player to average better than 22 points per game and first in 49 years since Fred Brown averaged 27.6 points per game in 1971. Furthermore, Garza is looking to become just the fourth Big Ten player since 1993 to average at least 23 points per game (Glenn Robinson, Shawn Respert, and Carsen Edwards).
    No player has averaged more than 21.6 points per game in Big Ten play since 2000. Garza currently averages 26.7 points per game through 15 league games played. His average of 26.7 points per game in Big Ten play are the highest by a true center since Indiana’s George McGinnis (29.9) in 1971.
    Garza’s 641 points through 27 games played overall is a single-season record by an Iowa junior, surpassing B.J. Armstrong’s 592 points scored in 34 games during the 1988 season.

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, 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).

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 had 40 points without a triple against IUPUI in 2010.

BIG TEN SIXTH MAN OF THE YEAR CANDIDATE
Ryan Kriener has been playing at a high level in his final season as a Hawkeye. Kriener is making a case for Big Ten Sixth Man of the Year, ranking fifth on the team in scoring (7.5) and fourth in rebounding (4.1). He is second on the team in field goal accuracy, making 78 of his 140 attempts (.557).
    Kriener has posted double figures in scoring in Iowa’s last two games as a starter, both wins. Last Thursday versus No. 25 Ohio State, he totaled 12 points and four rebounds, while he recorded 10 points, seven rebounds, and rejected a game and personal-best four shots at Minnesota. The Hawkeyes are 4-1 this season in games that Kriener starts.
    He made 16 straight field goals over a span of three home games (Kennesaw State; Maryland; Michigan). He has had four 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; 2-of-2 vs. Maryland). 
    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 eight straight points in the first half, while also rejecting a personal-best three shots versus Penn State (Jan. 4).

CJ FREDRICK MAKING IMMEDIATE IMPACT
Redshirt freshman CJ Fredrick has made an impact on this team. Fredrick suffered an ankle injury midway through the first half at Indiana (Feb. 13) and did not return. He missed Iowa’s last two games (at Minnesota, Feb. 16; vs. Ohio State, Feb. 20). 
    Fredrick is third on the team in scoring (10.7), and first in the Big Ten in 3-point accuracy (.467, 42-of-90) and 14th in field goal percentage (.497, 80-of-161). His 10.7 points per game ranks third highest among Big Ten freshmen. Fredrick is 22-of-44 (.500) from 3-point range in 11 home games this season.
    Fredrick was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week on Jan. 20, after averaging 16 points, four assists, and three rebounds in wins over Northwestern and Michigan. 
    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 two and a half games (second half vs. Penn State; entire games vs. Nebraska and Maryland) due to a stress reaction in his left foot. 
    Fredrick has led Iowa in scoring four times (DePaul, Cal Poly, San Diego State, and Cincinnati).

IOWA HISTORY
Iowa has played 2,834 games since beginning basketball in 1902. Iowa’s overall record is 1,667-1,165 (.588). Iowa’s 1,667 wins are 38th most among Division I programs. That includes a 1,065-371 (.742) record in home games, a 596-793 (.429) record in contests away from Iowa City, a 785-794 (.497) mark in Big Ten games and a 470-145 (.764) record in Carver-Hawkeye Arena. 

FRESHMAN GAINING CONFIDENCE
Freshman Joe Toussaint has started Iowa’s last 16 games after coming off the bench in Iowa’s first 11 contests. 
    The New York native was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week (Jan. 6) for his efforts versus No. 21 Penn State (Jan. 4). 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 is fifth among active players in scoring (6.5). 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 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).

WIESKAMP NAMED PRESEASON ALL-BIG TEN
Sophomore Joe Wieskamp is one of 10 players selected to the 2019-20 Preseason All-Big Ten team as selected by the media. 
    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).

IOWA VS. RANKED TEAMS
The Hawkeyes are 6-3 against ranked opponents, recording wins over No. 12 Texas Tech, No. 12 Maryland, No. 19 Michigan, No. 24 Rutgers, No. 19 Illinois, and No. 25 Ohio State.

2 HAWKEYES NAMED FINALISTS FOR POSITION AWARDS
Luka Garza and Joe Wieskamp are finalists for national position awards. 
    Garza is one of 10 finalists for the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Award, which recognizes the top center in college basketball. Garza has been a force, leading the Big Ten in scoring (23.7) and ranking fourth in rebounding (9.6). He has scored 30+ points in five games this season, tying for eighth most in the country.
    Wieskamp is one of 10 finalists for the Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year Award. The honor recognizes the top shooting guard in college basketball. Wieskamp, who was an All-Big Ten Freshman Team last season, ranks second on the team in scoring (14.9) and rebounding (6.1) as a sophomore. 
    Fans can vote for Garza and Wieskamp at hoophallawards.com/men/vote.php.

FRAN McCAFFERY SIGNS FIRST GRAD TRANSFER
Fran McCaffery, who is in his 10th season as Iowa’s head coach, signed his first graduate transfer last July. Bakari Evelyn, a native of Detroit, played the previous two seasons at Valparaiso (2017-18) and his freshman year at Nebraska (2016). 
    Last year at Valparaiso, Evelyn tied for first on the team in 3-pointers (48), ranked second in assists (68) and fifth in scoring (8.4 ppg).
     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.

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.

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 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.

GARZA, DOYLE NAMED TO NAISMITH TROPHY WATCH LISTS
Iowa is one of eight schools nationally that has both a male (Luka Garza) and a female (Kathleen Doyle) on the Naismith Trophy Midseason team.

HAWKEYE FASTBREAKS
•     Iowa is 4-1 in Big Ten one-plays. The Hawkeyes beat Ohio State, Northwestern, Rutgers, and Wisconsin. Iowa lost at Indiana.
•    The Hawkeyes have posted five victories over ranked opponents this season.
•     Iowa is 13-0 this season when holding opponents to 69 points or fewer. The Hawkeyes are 13-2 when outrebounding their opponents this season.
•    Iowa is 13-1 at home, winning its last 12 straight at Carver-Hawkeye Arena since its only loss to DePaul (Nov. 11).
•    Iowa and Maryland are the only Big Ten schools to have both men’s and women’s basketball teams ranked in the AP Poll this week.
•     Iowa has been nationally ranked in the AP Poll each of the last six weeks and in the Coaches Poll seven straight weeks.
•     Iowa is 15-5 this season when Luka Garza nets 20 points or more and 18-4 when Joe Wieskamp scores in double figures.
•     Iowa won five straight Big Ten games during the month of January, marking the fourth time in the last six seasons that the Hawkeyes have won at least five consecutive Big Ten games (2019-20; 2018-19; 2015-16; 2014-15).
•     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.
•     Iowa recorded an 84-68 win over Iowa State in Ames 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.
•     Luka Garza and CJ Fredrick were named to the 2019 Las Vegas Invitational All-Tournament Team.
•    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.
•    Iowa’s 85 points are the most Rutgers has allowed this season (Jan. 22). The Hawkeyes were also the first Rutgers opponent to shoot better than 50 percent from the field this season.
•     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 held Maryland to 49 points on Jan. 10 in Iowa City, its fewest point total against the Hawkeyes in the 10-game series and the fewest the Terrapins have scored in a league game since joining the Big Ten in 2014-15.
•    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’s 96 points against Nebraska on Feb. 8 (96-72) in Iowa City is a season high and most points scored against Nebraska in the 34-game series history. The 24-point win is Iowa’s third largest margin of victory over Nebraska in the series.
•     Iowa registered its first season sweep over Minnesota in eight seasons and posted its first win at Williams Arena in five years.
•     Iowa held the Minnesota to 52 points on Dec. 9, the fewest in the series since 2007 (49). The Hawkeyes held Maryland to 49 points on Jan. 10, its lowest point total in a league game since joining the Big Ten in 2014-15.
•    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 is 96-23 when scoring 80 points or more, the last 10 seasons. The Hawkeyes are 78-2 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.

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 year, Bohannon was credited with a team-best 118 assists, becoming just the seventh Hawkeye to register three 100-assist seasons. He 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). 
    Bohannon became the seventh Hawkeye to register three 100-assist seasons (Dean Oliver, Jeff Horner, B.J. Armstrong, Andre Woolridge, Mike Gesell, Devyn Marble).

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. 

“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 (Feb. 26) at Twelve01 Kitchen and Tap in Coralville, from 7-8:30 p.m. (CT). Fans can submit their questions for Coach McCaffery via Twitter by using the hashtag #HawkTalk.

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 last November. 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. Olson went on to coach at the University of Arizona for 25 years.

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 (Italy), Tyler Cook (NBA G League; Canton Charge), Adam Woodbury (NBA G League: Grand Rapids Drive), Anthony Clemmons (Monaco), Gabriel Olaseni (Turkey), Melsahn Basabe (Slovakia), Peter Jok (France), and Aaron White (Spain).

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. 
    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 is second.

ON THE HORIZON
Iowa returns home for its final two home games of the 2019-20 season, hosting Penn State on Saturday (11 a.m. CT) and Purdue on March 3 (8 p.m. CT). Saturday’s contest is sold out, while tickets remain for the home finale versus the Boilermakers at hawkeyesports.com/tickets.