Game Notes: Iowa vs. #16 Penn State

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#16/14 PENN STATE (21-7, 11-6) at #18/17 IOWA (19-9, 10-7)
 DATE  Saturday, Feb. 29 | 11:01 a.m. CT
 LOCATION  Iowa City, Iowa | Carver-Hawkeye Arena
 RADIO | LISTEN  Hawkeye Radio Network | Hawkeye All-Access 
 TV  BTN
 LIVE STATS  Sidearm
 LIVE UPDATES  @IowaHoops

THE SETTING
No. 18/17 Iowa (19-9, 10-7) will play its third straight game against a ranked opponent on Saturday, hosting No. 16/14 Penn State (21-7, 11-6). Tipoff is set for 11:01 a.m. (CT) on Mediacom Court at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The game is sold out. 
    Saturday will mark the third time in series history, including the second time this season, that Iowa and Penn State will meet with both teams ranked in the AP Poll (1997 in Iowa City and 2020 in Philadelphia).
    Saturday pits the Big Ten’s top two scoring offenses against each other. The Hawkeyes average 78.2 points per game, while the Nittany Lions average 75.7 points per contest.

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: Saturday’s game will be televised nationally on BTN. Kevin Kugler and Stephen Bardo will call the action.

GAME #29 STORYLINES
•    Saturday will be Penn State’s first visit to Carver-Hawkeye Arena in over two years. The Nittany Lions last played in Iowa City on Dec. 2, 2017.
•    Saturday will be Iowa’s third straight game against a ranked opponent. Iowa has six victories over ranked opponents this season, the most by the Hawkeyes since 2006 (8).
•    The Hawkeyes own seven Quad 1 wins and five Quad 2 victories. The 12 combined victories are second most in the Big Ten (Penn State and Maryland both have 13).
•    Iowa has only played on Leap Year Day six times in program history (3-3). The Hawkeyes won the last time they played on Feb. 29, posting a 62-53 victory at Nebraska in 2012.
•    Iowa is 13-1 at home this year, winning its last 12 contests inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
•    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 13 straight Big Ten games, tying Fred Brown’s school record established 49 years ago in 1971. The 13-game streak is the most by any Big Ten player over the last 20 years. Garza has scored 20+ points in 17-of-18 Big Ten games this season. His 661 points are most by an Iowa junior and fourth most in a single-season.
•    National Player of the Year 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 (23.6 ppg), third in double-doubles (13), and fourth in rebounding (9.6 rpg).
•    Luka Garza (23.6) and Joe Wieskamp (14.5) combine to average 38.1 points per game, which is the fifth best Division I scoring duo in the country.
•    The Hawkeyes have won 10 or more Big Ten games five of the last six seasons.
•    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 (4.54).
•    Iowa leads the Big Ten in scoring offense (78.2); 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 (76.6), field goal percentage (.447), and assists (16.4).
•    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 EDGED BY SPARTANS IN EAST LANSING
No. 24 Michigan State rallied from a six-point halftime deficit to upend No. 18 Iowa, 78-70, Tuesday evening at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.
•    Three Hawkeyes scored in double figures: Luka Garza (20), Ryan Kriener (18), and Connor McCaffery (11).
•    Garza reached the 20-point plateau for the 13th consecutive time to tie a school record, set by Fred Brown 49 years ago. He also pulled down a game-best nine rebounds. 
•    Kriener, who started his third straight contest, reaching double figures for the third consecutive game with 18 points, two shy of a career high.
•    In addition to his 11 points, McCaffery dished out a team-best seven assists with zero turnovers, and had a game-best three steals. The redshirt sophomore has totaled 18 assists to one turnover over the last three games (112 minutes played).
•    Iowa outrebounded the Spartans by eight (40-32), snagging 16 offensive rebounds, the most by the Hawkeyes since grabbing 19 at Nebraska on Jan. 4.
•    Iowa held Michigan State to 1-of-9 (.111) from 3-point range in the first half, but the Spartans were able to make 6-of-11 (.545) over the final 20 minutes. Iowa was 6-of-27 (.200) from long distance for the game.
•    Starting guard CJ Fredrick missed his third straight game due to injury (ankle).
•    The Hawkeyes held Cassius Winston to one point in the first half, but the senior netted 19 points in the second stanza, including scoring 11 straight over a span of 2:30 for the Spartans. Winston also was credited with a game-best nine assists. Rocket Watts led all scorers with 21 points, while Aaron Henry contributed 17 points.

ALL-TIME SERIES RECORDS
Iowa holds a 30-18 advantage in the series versus Penn State. The Hawkeyes have won 10 of the last 17 meetings. The Nittany Lions won an entertaining game against the Hawkeyes on Jan. 4, in Philadelphia (89-86).
    Iowa holds a commanding 17-4 advantage in games played at Iowa City, with all 21 meetings taking place in Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The Hawkeyes have won 12 of the last 13 meetings in Iowa City. Penn State snapped a 12-game losing streak at Carver-Hawkeye Arena on its last visit in the Big Ten opener two seasons ago on Dec. 2, 2017 (77-73). 

SCOUTING PENN STATE
•    Penn State (26 NET Ranking), winners of nine of its last 11, finishes the regular season with two of its final three games on the road, beginning Saturday at Iowa. The Nittany Lions are 5-4 in road games, winning four of those in conference tying Michigan State, Illinois, and Michigan for second most in Big Ten play this season (Maryland, 5).
•    Penn State snapped a two-game losing streak Wednesday night with a thrilling 65-64 home victory over Rutgers. The Nittany Lions led by as many as 21 points in the first half, but the Scarlet Knights rallied and took the lead (64-62) with 42 seconds remaining in the second half. Myles Dread drained a game-winning 3-pointer with 28 seconds left. Izaiah Brockington led all scorers with 16 points, while Myles Dread contributed 11 points, two steals, and a game-best seven assists.
•    Penn State is 16-0 this year when scoring 75 points or more. The Nittany Lions average 63 points in their seven losses, scoring fewer than 70 points in five of the seven defeats.
•    Two Nittany Lions average double figures in scoring: Lamar Stevens (17.6); Myreon Jones (14.1). Jones has missed the last six games due to illness. Penn State has three players who have made 30+ 3-pointers this season: Myles Dread (55), Myreon Jones (52), and Curtis Jones (33).
•    Penn State ranks first in the league in steals (7.8), and second in scoring offense (78.2), blocks (5.0) and turnover margin (+2.8). Senior Lamar Stevens ranks fourth in the Big Ten in scoring (17.6 ppg); Jamari Wheeler is first in steals per game (1.6); Myreon Jones is tied for first in 3-pointers made per game (2.4) and sixth in 3-point accuracy (.413); Mike Watkins is tied for second in blocks (2.3) and sixth in field goal accuracy (.550).
•    Patrick Chambers is in his ninth season as head coach at Penn State (148-147, .502).

LAST MEETING
Penn State made its last five field goal attempts and last six free throw tries in an 89-86 win over visiting Iowa in a game contested at The Palestra in Philadelphia on Jan. 4. 
•    The game featured 24 lead changes and 10 ties.
•    Luka Garza (34 points & 12 rebounds) and Joe Wieskamp (23 points & 10 rebounds) combined for 57 points and 22 rebounds. 
•    Joe Wieskamp tied a season high in 3-pointers, making five of Iowa’s season-high 11 triples. 
•    Freshman Joe Toussaint netted 16 of his season-high 18 points in the second half.
•    The game was a Homecoming for Iowa Head Coach Fran McCaffery, who was raised in Philadelphia and played three seasons at Penn (1980-82). It was also Iowa’s first game played at The Palestra since 1961.
•    Four Nittany Lions scored in double figures: Izaiah Brockington (23); Curtis Jones (16); Lamar Stevens (16); and Myles Dread (14).

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. He is the national leader in assist-to-turnover ratio (4.54) and is only player in the country averaging at least six points, four rebounds, 3.5 assists per game, and fewer than one turnover per game.
    McCaffery has registered 18 assists and only one turnover over the last three games (112 minutes). Over the last seven games, he has had three seven-assist/0-turnover performances, boasting a 8.25 assist-to-turnover ratio during the span (33 assists; four turnovers in a combined 237 minutes).
    McCaffery, who has had to play multiple positions this season due to lack of depth (1-4), has more steals (32) than turnovers (24). 
    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 (23.6), 13th in double-doubles (13), third in points per 40 minutes played (30.1), 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 661 points, the most by a Hawkeye to start a season since Fred Brown in 1971 and fourth most in a single-season at Iowa. Garza has netted 20+ points in 13 straight Big Ten games, tying the school record established by Fred Brown in 1971. Furthermore, he is the first Big Ten player to accomplish the feat in 20 seasons. Garza has scored 20+ points in nine straight games against AP Top-25 competition, the longest streak by any player in the country in the last 15 seasons.
    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 year. He has controlled 10 rebounds or more in 12 games. 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 1,480 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 Hawkeye to average 22+ points per game and first in 49 years since Fred Brown averaged 27.6 points per game in 1971. He is seeking to become 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 26.2 points per game through 17 league games played. His average of 26.2 points per game in Big Ten play are the highest by a true center since Minnesota’s Tom Kondla (28.3 ppg) in 1967.
    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.
    Garza’s 661 points through 28 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
Luka Garza made history by becoming the first Hawkeye in program history to be named Oscar Robertson National Player of the Week (Dec. 10) for his efforts in road games at Syracuse and Michigan. The national honor is voted upon by the USBWA. Garza was also named Big Ten Player of the Week.
    Garza averaged 33.5 points and 8.5 rebounds in the two road games. 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 three games (Minnesota, Feb. 16; Ohio State, Feb. 20; Michigan State, Feb. 25). 
    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 2,835 games since beginning basketball in 1902. Iowa’s overall record is 1,667-1,166 (.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 596-794 (.429) record in contests away from Iowa City, a 785-795 (.497) mark in Big Ten games and a 470-145 (.764) record in Carver-Hawkeye Arena. 

TOUSSAINT SHINING AS POINT GUARD IN FRESHMAN SEASON
Freshman Joe Toussaint has started Iowa’s last 17 games after coming off the bench in Iowa’s first 11 contests. He is first on the squad in steals per game (1.2), second in assists (2.7) and is fifth among active players in scoring (6.5). 
    Toussaint has made four of his last five 3-point attempts (.800) over the last three games.
    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.

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 6-4 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. Iowa’s six wins over ranked opponents are the most in a single-season since 2006 (8).

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 (23.6) 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 (14.5) 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, he 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 posted a 4-2 record in Big Ten one-plays this season. The Hawkeyes beat Ohio State, Northwestern, Rutgers, and Wisconsin. Iowa lost at Indiana and at No. 24 Michigan State.
•    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).
•     Iowa is 13-0 this season when holding opponents to 69 points or fewer. The Hawkeyes are 13-3 when outrebounding their opponents this season.
•    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 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 (March 4) 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).

ON THE HORIZON
Iowa will host Purdue in its 2019-20 home finale on Tuesday at 8 p.m. (CT). A number of tickets are available for purchase at hawkeyesports.com/tickets.

 

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