Hawkeye Fan Shop — A Black & Gold Store | Hawk Talk Monthly – February | Fight For Iowa | Game Notes (PDF)
| NEBRASKA (7-15, 2-9) at #17 IOWA (16-7, 7-4) |
| DATE | Saturday, Feb. 8 | 5:07 p.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. 17/17 Iowa (16-7, 7-5) hosts Nebraska (7-15, 2-9) on Saturday. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:07 p.m. (CT) on Mediacom Court at Carver-Hawkeye Arena (15,056). Saturday’s game is sold out. Due to a Hancher performance, the Hancher Shuttle will not be in operation for Saturday’s game.
The Hawkeyes enter Saturday’s game having won six of their last eight games, while the Huskers have lost seven consecutive contests.
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 #24 STORYLINES
• Saturday’s game is the annual Black & Gold Spirit Game; fans are encouraged to wear black or gold clothing based on the section of their seat.
• Iowa is 11-1 at home, winning its last 10 straight at Carver-Hawkeye Arena since its only loss to DePaul (Nov. 11). Iowa has won 25 of its last 30 (.833) home games, dating back to last season.
• The Hawkeyes have six Quad 1 wins (Maryland, Texas Tech, Iowa State, Syracuse, Rutgers, Cincinnati) and four Quad 2 victories (Minnesota, Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois). The 10 Quad 1 and Quad 2 wins tie Maryland and Penn State for most in the Big Ten.
• The Hawkeyes have posted five victories over ranked opponents this season, tying Baylor for the most in the country.
• Iowa and Maryland are the only Big Ten schools to have both their men’s and women’s basketball teams ranked in the AP Top 20 this week.
• Luka Garza (23.2) and Joe Wieskamp (14.8) combine to average 38 points per game, which is the sixth best Division I scoring duo in the country.
• Luka Garza surpassed James Moses for 19th all-time in Iowa career scoring following his 26-point performance Wednesday at Purdue. Garza has scored 20+ points in eight straight Big Ten games, the longest streak by a Hawkeye since Fred Brown in 1971
• Connor McCaffery is the only player from a major conference with 85+ assists and less than 25 turnovers. After Sunday’s seven-assist/zero-turnover performance against Illinois, McCaffery now leads the country in assist-to-turnover ratio (4.0).
• All-America candidate Luka Garza is one of only two players nationally to average better than 23 points and 10 rebounds per game. Garza ranks first in the Big Ten in scoring (23.2 ppg) and double-doubles (13), and second in rebounding (10.0 rpg).
• Iowa leads the Big Ten in scoring offense (78.4); the Hawkeyes led the conference in scoring two of the last six previous seasons, including last year.
• 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, Andrew Woolridge (20.2) in 1997, and Roy Marble (20.5) in 1989.
• Luka Garza’s 533 points are the most points to start a season by a Hawkeye in 49 years.
• Iowa has five victories away from Iowa City (three true road wins), which ties for second most in the Big Ten behind Michigan State’s six.
IOWA FALLS AT PURDUE
Purdue recorded a 104-68 win over No. 17 Iowa on Wednesday at Mackey Arena in West Lafayette, Indiana. It marked just the second loss in eight games for the Hawkeyes.
• Luka Garza led all scorers with 26 points becoming the first Hawkeye since Fred Brown in 1971 to register 20+ points in eight consecutive Big Ten games. Garza tallied 25+ points for the ninth time this season and fifth time in seven games. Garza moved past James Moses for 19th on Iowa’s all-time scoring chart with 1,352 points.
• The win was Purdue’s 10th in 11 games against Iowa at Mackey Arena.
• The Boilermakers shot 63 percent (41-of-65) from the field and 56 percent from 3-point range (19-of-34).
• Five Boilermakers scored in double figures, led by senior Evan Boudreaux’s 18 points.
ALL-TIME SERIES RECORDS
Iowa holds a 20-13 advantage in the series dating back to 1907. The Hawkeyes have won eight of the 14 meetings since Nebraska joined the Big Ten in 2011. Nebraska edged Iowa in this season’s first meeting, 76-70, on Jan. 7, in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Iowa owns a 14-3 advantage in games played between the two schools in Iowa City. Saturday will be Nebraska’s eighth game played in Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The Hawkeyes have won 11 of the last 12 contests in the series played in Iowa City, dating back to 1943.
NEBRASKA, PENN STATE HOME GAMES SOLD OUT
Iowa home games versus Nebraska (Saturday) and Penn State (Saturday, Feb. 29) are sold out. A limited number of tickets remain for home contests versus Ohio State (Thursday, Feb. 20) and Purdue (Tuesday, March 3). Fans can purchase tickets at hawkeyesports.com.
SCOUTING NEBRASKA
• Nebraska (171 NET Ranking) enters Saturday’s game having lost its last seven games in a row. The Huskers’ last victory came on Jan. 7, over the Hawkeyes in Lincoln (76-70).
• The Huskers have been idle since a 76-64 setback to Penn State in Lincoln last Saturday. The Nittany Lions outrebounded Nebraska by 11 (49-38). Haanif Cheatham led the Huskers with 15 points and eight rebounds. Thorir Thorbjarnarson contributed 12 points, while Dachon Burke tallied 11 points in defeat.
• Nebraska’s next two games are on the road at Iowa and at Maryland.
• Three Huskers average double figures in scoring: Cam Mack (13.0); Haanif Cheatham (12.4); and Dachon Burke (11.4). Nebraska has seven players who have made 20 3-pointers or more this season, led by Cam Mack and Thorir Thorbjarnarson’s 37 each. Mack’s assists average of 6.6 per game ranks 16th best in the country. He also ranks 39th nationally in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.4) and has a triple-double to his credit (versus Purdue).
• Haanif Cheatham played against the Hawkeyes his freshman year at Marquette. Cheatham tallied 12 points, four rebounds, and three assists in an 89-61 Hawkeye win on Nov. 19, 2015, in Milwaukee.
• Nebraska ranks 20th nationally in fewest fouls per game (14.8), 24th in fewest turnovers per contest (11.2), 29th in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.3), and 32nd in turnover margin (3.0). Husker opponents average a 10.3 rebounding advantage on the glass, worst in the Big Ten.
• Fred Hoiberg is in his first season as head coach at Nebraska and his 15th season overall as a college head coach. Prior to three years as the Chicago Bulls head coach (2015-18, he was head coach at Iowa State for five seasons (2010-15).
LAST MEETING
Iowa shot a season-low 12 percent (4-of-33) from 3-point range in a 76-70 loss at Nebraska on Jan. 7, at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, Nebraska. That contest was Iowa’s eighth in 10 games away from Iowa City over a span of six weeks.
• Iowa’s only lead of the game came with 12:41 remaining in the second half (51-50).
• Luka Garza totaled 16 points and a career-high 18 rebounds. The 18 rebounds tied 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 netted 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.
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.
Fredrick is third on the team in scoring (11.5), and first in the Big Ten in 3-point accuracy (.482, 40-of-83) and 14th in field goal percentage (.517, 78-of-151). His 11.5 points per game ranks third highest among Big Ten freshmen. Fredrick is 20-of-38 (.526) from 3-point range in 10 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.
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).
ALL-AMERICA CANDIDATE LUKA GARZA
Luka Garza is a first-team midseason All-American by Sporting News, and named to the Wooden Award Late Season Top 20 List and Lute Olson National Player of the Year Award.
Garza is one of only two players in the nation (only player from a Power 5 Conference) averaging 23 points and 10 rebounds per game. He ranks first nationally with ten 20-point/10-rebound games this season, fourth in scoring (23.2), sixth in double-doubles (13), third in points per 40 minutes played (30.2), and 30th rebounding (10.0). 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 533 points, the most by a Hawkeye to start a season since Fred Brown’s 649 in 1970-71. He has scored 20+ points in eight straight Big Ten games, becoming the first Hawkeye to accomplish the feat since Fred Brown in 1971. Garza is one of three centers in the nation shooting 37 percent or better from 3-point range (min. 70 attempts).
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 12 Hawkeyes in school history with 1,300 points and 500 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 nine times this season, including five of the last seven contests. He has controlled eight rebounds or more in 18-of-23 contests, including 10 or more 12 times in 2019-20. He has grabbed 12 or more rebounds eight times this year. 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’s 26-point effort at Purdue on Wednesday moved him past James Moses for 19th on Iowa’s career scoring chart. He is 10 points from surpassing Bruce King (1975-77) for 18th on the list.
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.
CONNOR McCAFFERY VALUING THE BASKETBALL
Redshirt sophomore Connor McCaffery is one of the nation’s best in taking care of the basketball. McCaffery is the only player from a Power 5 conference with 85+ assists and less than 25 turnovers. In fact, he is one of two players since the 2007-08 season to do it, joining Jalen Avery of Kent State last season.
In addition to his nine points and three steals, McCaffery totaled seven assists and zero turnovers against Illinois. He now is the nation’s leader in assist-to-turnover ratio (4.0).
McCaffery, who has had to play multiple positions this season due to lack of depth (1-4), has more steals (22) than turnovers (21).
McCaffery is one of three players in the Big Ten averaging at least six points, 4.5 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game (Cam Mack, Marcus Carr).
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 (7.4) and fourth in rebounding (3.9). He is tops on the team in field goal accuracy, making 66 of his 115 attempts (.574).
Kriener 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).
Kriener netted double digits in three of Iowa’s last six games: 10 points at Northwestern; 14 points in Iowa’s home win over Michigan, including draining a crucial 3-pointer with three minutes remaining; and 11 points in the win over Rutgers.
FRESHMAN GAINING CONFIDENCE
Freshman Joe Toussaint is gaining confidence with each game. The native of New York has started Iowa’s last 12 games after coming off the bench in Iowa’s first 11 contests.
Toussaint 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 (6.7). 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 vs. 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 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).
IOWA VS. RANKED TEAMS
The Hawkeyes are 5-3 against ranked opponents, recording wins over No. 12 Texas Tech, No. 12 Maryland, No. 19 Michigan, No. 24 Rutgers, and No. 19 Illinois. The five victories over ranked opponents ties Baylor for the most in the country.
2 HAWKEYES NAMED TO WATCH LISTS
Luka Garza and Joe Wieskamp are on position award watch lists.
Garza is one of 20 players on the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award Watch List. The honor recognizes the top center in college basketball. Garza has been a force this season, leading the Big Ten in scoring (23.0) and ranking second in rebounding (10.4). He has scored 30+ points in four games this season, tying for eighth most in the country.
Wieskamp is one of 10 finalists for the Jerry West Award Watch List. 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 (15.1) and rebounding (6.2) as a sophomore. Beginning Feb. 7, fans can vote for Wieskamp at hoophallawards.com.
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 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.
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.
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.
HAWKEYE FASTBREAKS
• The Hawkeyes are 3-0 against one-plays this season (Northwestern, Rutgers, Wisconsin).
• Iowa is 12-0 this season when holding opponents to 69 points or fewer. The Hawkeyes are 12-2 when outrebounding their opponents this season.
• Iowa is 13-4 this season when Luka Garza nets 20 points or more.
• 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 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 94-23 when scoring 80 points or more, the last 10 seasons. The Hawkeyes are 77-2 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 HISTORY
Iowa has played 2,830 games since beginning basketball in 1902. Iowa’s overall record is 1,664-1,164 (.588). Iowa’s 1,664 wins are 36th most among Division I programs. That includes a 1,063-371 (.741) record in home games, a 595-792 (.429) record in contests away from Iowa City, a 782-793 (.496) mark in Big Ten games and a 468-145 (.763) record in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
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.
“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 Monday (Feb. 10) 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 on Nov. 24. Olson coached Iowa for nine seasons (1974-83), taking the Hawkeyes to five straight NCAA Tournaments, including the 1980 Final Four. He left as the Hawkeyes’ winningest coach — his 165 wins now rank third most in school history. Olson was instrumental in the vision and construction of Carver-Hawkeye Arena, which opened on Jan. 5, 1983. Olson went on to coach at the University of Arizona for 25 years (1983-2008).
COACHING EXPERIENCE
Fran McCaffery has the most experienced coaching staffs in the country. The Iowa men’s basketball staff has 72 years of combined collegiate head coaching experience and more than 125 years of collegiate coaching under their belts.
Iowa is one of two programs nationwide who have four current/former Division I head coaches on their active coaching staffs (Pitt).
RECENT GRADUATES PLAYING PROFESSIONAL BASKETBALL
A number of recent Iowa basketball graduates are playing professionally: Jarrod Uthoff (NBA G League: Memphis Hustle), Nicholas Baer (NBA G League; Raptors 905), 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 hits the road for back-to-back games at Indiana (Feb. 13) and Minnesota (Feb. 16). The Hawkeyes return to Carver-Hawkeye Arena to host Ohio State on Feb. 20.
