Game Notes: Iowa to Host NCCU, Southern

SEASON OPENER STORYLINES
• Iowa has won nine straight season openers dating back to the 2011-12 season.
• Half of the AP Top 25 feature Big Ten teams, led by No. 5 Iowa. Wisconsin is No. 7, followed by No. 8 Illinois, No. 13 Michigan State, No. 23 Ohio State, No. 24 Rutgers, and No. 25 Michigan.
• The No. 5 ranking is Iowa’s highest preseason position in 65 years (No. 4 in the 1955-56 preseason poll). This marks the eighth time in program history that Iowa is ranked in the AP Preseason Top 10: No. 4 in 1954-55, No. 4 in 1955-56, No. 9 in 1981-82, No. 7 in 1983-84, No. 7 in 1988-89, No. 8 in 1995-96, and No. 9 in 2001-02. Iowa last started a season ranked in the AP Poll 15 seasons ago (No. 20 in 2005-06).
• Iowa has won 64 of its last 69 nonconference home games, dating back to 2012.
• Iowa returns a large percentage of its production: scoring (81%), rebounding (76%), assists (77%), steals (83%), and blocks (67%). Iowa is one of eight schools from Power 5 conferences to have at least 65 percent production return from the previous season.
• Iowa is one of six teams from last year’s final AP Top 25 that returns their leading scorer; the other five teams include Baylor, Illinois, Houston, West Virgina, and Wisconsin.
• Luka Garza earned National Player of the Year honors by six major news outlets, was recognized as the Big Ten and USBWA District VI Player of the Year, NABC Pete Newell Big Man of the Year and Naismith Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year, as well as being honored as a unanimous consensus first-team All-American in 2020.
• Luka Garza is the Big Ten Preseason Player of the Year, preseason unanimous All-American, as well as the preseason favorite to win National Player of the Year in 2021.
• Iowa has three athletes who finished the 2019-20 season with consecutive free throws made streaks: Jordan Bohannon has made 24 straight, including all 18 attempts in 2019-20; Joe Wieskamp has made his last 22 free throw attempts, dating back to Feb. 13; Joe Toussaint has sank 17 straight from the charity stripe, dating back to Jan. 27.
• The average age of Iowa’s returning top seven players is 21 years, 9 months. Those seven players have 350 combined starts over the past four seasons.
• Iowa led the Big Ten in scoring offense (77.7) in 2019-20; the Hawkeyes have led the conference in scoring three of the last seven seasons, including the last two years.
• Luka Garza has scored 20+ points in 16 straight Big Ten games, breaking the school’s 49-year old record. The 16-game streak is the most in the Big Ten since Ohio State’s Dennis Hopson accomplished the feat in 1987. Garza scored 20+ points in 19-of-20 Big Ten games in 2019-20.
• Head Coach Fran McCaffery enters his 25th season as a head coach five wins from his 450th career victory and six wins from victory No. 200 as Iowa’s head coach.
• Fran McCaffery has guided Iowa to 20 wins or more in six of the last eight seasons. He has led Iowa to Big Ten upper division finishes seven of the last eight years. Only Michigan State (8) has more first division finishes than Iowa (7) and Wisconsin (7) since the 2013 season.
• If not for the COVID-19 global pandemic, Iowa would have competed in its 27th NCAA Tournament, including its fifth appearance in seven seasons.
• Iowa had seven victories over ranked opponents, the most by an Iowa team since 2006 (8) and the most by any team in the country in 2019-20.
• The Hawkeyes owned nine Quad 1 wins and four Quad 2 victories in 2019-20. The 13 combined wins tied Penn State and Wisconsin for third most among Big Ten teams (Maryland and Michigan State each had 14).
• Luka Garza (23.9) and Joe Wieskamp (14.0) combined to average 37.9 points per game, which was the fifth best scoring duo in the country in 2019-20. Garza and Wieskamp combined for 1,175 points, the third highest scoring duo in program history.
• Iowa had the Big Ten Athlete of the Year in five sports in 2019-20: Luka Garza (men’s basketball), Kathleen Doyle (women’s basketball), Spencer Lee (wrestling), Wayne Lawrence (indoor track & field), and Laulauga Tausaga (women’s track & field).
• Luka Garza ranked first in the Big Ten in scoring (23.9 ppg), third in double-doubles (15), and fourth in rebounding (9.8 rpg) a year ago.
• Connor McCaffery was the only player in the country with 120+ assists and less than 30 turnovers. He also led the country in assist-to-turnover ratio (4.59).

THE SETTING
Iowa (0-0) will host North Carolina Central (0-0) on Wednesday, in the Hawkeyes’ season opener. Tipoff is set for 3 p.m. (CT) on Mediacom Court at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Iowa will entertain Southern University on Friday at 4 p.m. (CT). Due to the pandemic, there will be no general admission admittance for this game.

Iowa has played North Carolina Central and Southern each once before, winning both. The Hawkeyes beat NCCU (73-63) in 2009 and Southern (91-60) in 2017.

ON THE AIR
Radio: Iowa games are broadcast on the Hawkeye Radio Network. Gary Dolphin handles the play-by-play, along with color commentator Bob Hansen. The network includes more than 40 stations that blanket the state of Iowa and include portions of Illinois, Nebraska, Minnesota, Missouri and Wisconsin. The Hawkeye Radio Network coverage includes a 60-minute pregame show.
TV: Wednesday’s contest will be televised nationally on BTN. Chris Vosters and Brian Butch will call the action remotely.

FIGHT WITH US FAN CUTOUTS AVAILABLE FOR CARVER-HAWKEYE ARENA
Four options of fan cutouts are available for purchase for its basketball and wrestling arena. Prices are $35 for students, $50 for season ticket holders and $70 for fans who are not season ticket holders. For $250, fans may purchase a cutout that will be signed by head coaches Tom Brands, Lisa Bluder or Fran McCaffery after the season and returned via mail.

Twenty percent of revenue from the cutouts will go toward University of Iowa Dance Marathon, the remainder of the profits will support the I-Club General Scholarship Fund for all student-athletes.

To purchase a fan cutout, go to hawkeyesports.com/fancutouts. You will upload your photograph during the purchase process.

IOWA HAD 4 BIG TEN STAT CHAMPIONS IN 2019-20
The Hawkeyes had four different players lead the conference in four major statistical categories. Luka Garza was first in points per game (23.9), Joe Wieskamp led all players in free throw accuracy (.856), CJ Fredrick was tops in 3-point field goal percentage (.461), while Connor McCaffery led the league and nation in assist-to-turnover ratio (4.6).
All four return in 2020-21, along with redshirt senior Jordan Bohannon, who is Iowa’s all-time 3-point leader.

HAWKEYE TRIFECTA
Iowa has had a student-athlete lead the Big Ten in free throw percentage (league games only) each of the past three seasons. Jordan Bohannon led the conference in 2018 (.949) and 2019 (.901), while Joe Wieskamp was first in 2020 (.874).

SCOUTING NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL
• North Carolina Central is located in Durham, North Carolina, and compete in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC). Last season, the Eagles went 18-13 overall and 13-3 in league play. The Eagles were undefeated at home (12-0) but went 5-13 on the road. NCCU finished last year on a six-game win streak and were set to play in the MEAC conference tournament semifinal as the No. 1 seed before the season was canceled.
• The MEAC will be split in two divisions to reduce travel for the 2020-21 season. NCCU was voted to win the Southern division for the first time in the Division I era as it received 11 of 22 first-place votes.
• NCCU loses two of its starters and two of its top three scorers from last season, including last year’s MEAC Player of the Year, Jibri Blount. The Eagles’ top returner is guard C.J. Keyser, who scored 11.6 points per game and 15.8 per game in conference play, while shooting 41.5 percent behind the 3-point arc. Keyser (first team) and teammate Jordan Perkins (second team) earned preseason MEAC honors. Perkins is second all-time in career assists at NCCU (469).
• The Eagles are coached by Levelle Moton, who is in his 12th year at NCCU. He owns a 181-148 career record and has led NCCU to four MEAC tournament titles and NCAA Tournament appearances (2018-19, 2017-18, 2016-17, 2013-14). Moton was in his first season as a collegiate head coach the last time NCCU visited Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Moton played for the Eagles from 1992-96, becoming the school’s third all-time leading scorer (1,714 points).

SCOUTING SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY
• Southern University is located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and the Jaguars are in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC).
• Last season, Southern improved its win total by 10 games from the previous season, going 17-15 overall. The Jaguars won 14 of their last 16 games before the season was cut short and finished second in the SWAC during the regular season.
• Southern’s first six scheduled games will be away from home, including a contest at top-ranked Gonzaga on Dec. 10.
• The Jaguars were picked to finish second in their conference with 117 votes and behind Texas Southern (124 votes).
• Two Jaguars — redshirt senior guard Ashante Shivers and graduate senior guard Micah Bradford — were both named to the preseason All-SWAC second team. Shivers led the team in scoring last season (9.5 PPG), while Bradford average 8.8 points per game.
• The Jaguars return three of their five primary starters and nine of their 15 letterwinners.
• Southern is coached by Sean Woods, who is in his third year as head coach of the Jaguars. He owns a 63-43 record in six seasons at Southern and a 151-190 career record in 11 seasons. Woods has been associated at seven Division I men’s basketball programs and played collegiately at Kentucky from 1989-92.

GARZA RETURNS FOR SENIOR SEASON
Luka Garza announced in early August that he was going to return for his senior season.

“My heart is in Iowa City,” said Garza. “I love this place too much to leave it. I love my teammates, coaches, community, fans, and university. I don’t care how many games we are able to play, I want to be here and wear IOWA across my chest one more time. It would have been too hard to close the book without the last chapter.”

Garza headlined the Associated Press Preseason All-America Team. Garza, who becomes the first Iowa men’s basketball player named to a preseason AP All-American, was the lone unanimous selection, receiving all 64 votes. A complete list of Garza’s preseason recognition is listed below:

• Associated Press Unanimous Preseason All-American
• Blue Ribbon First Team Preseason All-American
• CBS Sports First Team Preseason All-American
• Dick Vitale Preseason Player of the Year
• Big Ten Preseason Player of the Year
• Naismith Trophy Player of the Year Watch List
• Unanimous All-Big Ten Preseason Team
• Kareem Abdul Jabbar Center of the Year Watch List

OVERCOMING ADVERSITY
Last season, Iowa had six players miss time due to injuries or illness: Patrick McCaffery (29), Jack Nunge (26), Jordan Bohannon (21), CJ Fredrick (5), Cordell Pemsl (3), and Riley Till (1). Collectively the group missed 86 games, which ranked fourth highest amongst Division I teams.

1. Louisiana 105
2. North Carolina 104
3. George Mason 91
4. IOWA 86

COACHING EXPERIENCE
Fran McCaffery has the most experienced coaching staffs in the country. The Iowa men’s basketball staff has 73 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).

IOWA HISTORY
Iowa has played 2,838 games since beginning basketball in 1902. Iowa’s overall record is 1,668-1,168 (.588). Iowa’s 1,668 wins are 38th most among Division I programs. That includes a 1,066-372 (.741) record in home games, a 596-795 (.428) record in contests away from Iowa City, a 786-797 (.496) mark in Big Ten games and a 471-146 (.763) record in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

3 HAWKEYES GRANTED MEDICAL HARDSHIP WAIVERS
Forwards Jack Nunge and Patrick McCaffery, and guard Jordan Bohannon were each granted medical hardship waivers in 2019-20.

Nunge suffered a season-ending torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) of his right knee in November. Bohannon had season-ending hip surgery in December, while McCaffery was dealing with residual health and wellness issues related to his thyroid.

ALL EYES ON IOWA
The 2019-20 men’s basketball regular season on BTN was the most-watched in network history. Five of BTN’s top 10 regular season games included Iowa. Hawkeye games against Illinois, Purdue, Maryland, Penn State, and Indiana were all in the network’s top 10 in viewership.

CJ FREDRICK MADE IMMEDIATE IMPACT
CJ Fredrick made an impact in 2019-20 as a freshman. He was third on the team in scoring (10.2), and first in the Big Ten in 3-point accuracy (.461, 47-of-102) and 14th in field goal accuracy (.483, 87-of-180). His 10.2 points per game ranked third among Big Ten freshmen.

Fredrick was one of only three players nationally — and only player from a major conference dating back to 1993 — with 65+ assists, 32 or fewer turnovers, and shoot 46%+ from 3-point range.

Fredrick missed six full games and two second halves due to different injuries (quad, ankle, stress reaction in foot).
Fredrick was named to the All-Big Ten Freshman Team, Big Ten Freshman of the Week (Jan. 20, 2020), and earned all-tournament honors at the Las Vegas Invitational.

CONNOR McCAFFERY VALUED THE BASKETBALL
Connor McCaffery was the nation’s best in taking care of the basketball in 2019-20 as a redshirt sophomore. He was the only player in the country with 120+ assists and less than 30 turnovers. He finished the 2019-20 campaign as the national leader in assist-to-turnover ratio (4.6) and was only player in the country averaging at least six points, four rebounds, four assists, and fewer than one turnover per game.

He was the only player nationally, dating back to 1993, with 120+ assists, 120+ rebounds, 175+ points, 25+ steals, and 27 or fewer turnovers in a season.

McCaffery registered 33 assists and only four turnovers over the final six games (197 minutes). Over the last 10 games a year ago, he had three seven-assist/0-turnover efforts, boasting a 6.85 assist-to-turnover ratio (48 assists; seven turnovers in a combined 322 minutes).

McCaffery, who had to play multiple positions in 2019-20 due to lack of depth (1-4), had more steals (35) than turnovers (27).

In addition to his accolades on the court, the two-sport student-athlete is a role model off the court. McCaffery (finance major) was named UI’s Male Big Ten Sportsmanship Award honoree, and earned NABC Honors Court, Big Ten Distinguished Scholar, Academic All-District First Team, and Academic All-Big Ten recognition in 2020.

FAMILY AFFAIR
Redshirt junior Connor McCaffery and redshirt freshman Patrick McCaffery are one of 16 father/coach and son/player duos in Division I in 2020-21 (Boise State, Connecticut, Detroit Mercy, Illinois, Liberty, Memphis, Michigan State, USC Upstate, Southern, Syracuse, Texas Southern, Utah, Western Illinois, Western Kentucky, and Wright State). Of the 16 schools, the McCaffery’s are the only program with a father/coach and two sons on the roster.

5 NEWCOMERS TO JOIN ROSTER IN 2020-21
The Iowa basketball program welcome five freshmen to the 2020-21 roster: Keegan Murray, Kris Murray, Josh Ogundele, Tony Perkins, and Ahron Ulis.

Perkins was one of 13 seniors named to the 2020 Indiana All-Star Team. As a senior, Perkins averaged 18.6 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.8 steals leading Lawrence North to a 25-2 record. He shot 58 percent from the field and 35 percent from 3-point range.

Ulis was the ESCC Player of the Year and named to the AP All-State Class 4A First Team. The three-year starter finished with over 1,500 points, trailing only his brother, Tyler, in the school’s record book.

LUKA GARZA HAD HISTORIC SEASON
Luka Garza had a historic season in 2019-20, earning National Player of the Year honors by six major news outlets, recognized as the Big Ten and USBWA District VI Player of the Year, Pete Newell Big Man of the Year and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year, as well as being honored as a unanimous consensus first-team All-American.

The six news outlets to name Garza National Player of the Year include: Sporting News, Basketball Times, Stadium, Bleacher Report, FOX, and ESPN. He is the first Iowa men’s basketball player to earn national player of the year distinction. Garza was also a unanimous consensus first-team All-America selection. He joins former Hawkeyes Murray Wier (1948) and Charles Darling (1952) as the program’s only consensus first team All-Americans. Garza is also the first Hawkeye to win the Abdul-Jabbar and Newell national awards.

Garza (740 points and 305 rebounds) is one of three Big Ten players to ever total 740+ points and 300+ rebounds in a single-season (Purdue’s Glenn Robinson in 1994 and Purdue’s Joe Barry Carroll in 1979). He ranked second nationally with 12 20-point/10-rebound performances, 20-point games (25); third in total field goals made (287) and points per 40 minutes played (29.8), fifth in scoring (23.9), 10th in 30-point games (5), 19th in double-doubles (15) and offensive rebounds per game (3.58), and 34th in rebounding (9.8). His 15 double-doubles are third most in a single-season by a Hawkeye in three decades. Garza averaged 26.7 points, 11.1 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks in 12 games against AP ranked opponents in 2019-20, including recording 11 straight 20-point performances, the longest streak by any player since UConn’s Kemba Walker in 2011.

Iowa’s Male Athlete of the Year, Garza finished the 20-game league schedule averaging 26.2 points per game, becoming the first player to average at least 26 points in Big Ten play since Purdue’s Glenn Robinson in 1994 (31.1 ppg). Garza scored a school-record 740 points, breaking the program’s 50-year old record previously set by John Johnson in 1970. He scored 20 points or more in a school-record 16 straight Big Ten games, the longest streak by any player in the Big Ten since Ohio State’s Dennis Hopson 16 in 1987.

Garza is the only Big Ten player to register seven 25-point/10-rebound performances in the same season in more than 17 years. He produced the two highest point totals in a game by a Big Ten player last season (44 at Michigan; 38 at Indiana).

LUKA GARZA HONORS (2019-20)
•  National POY (Sporting News, Basketball Times, ESPN, Stadium, Bleacher Report, FOX)
•  Unanimous Consensus First-Team All-America
•  NABC Pete Newell Big Man of the Year
•  Naismith Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year
•  Big Ten Men’s Basketball Player of the Year
•  USBWA District VI Player of the Year
•  Naismith, Wooden, Oscar Robertson, and Lute Olson award finalist
•  Iowa Male Athlete of the Year

COOL HAND LUKA
Last season, Luka Garza became 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 became the fourth Big Ten player since 1993 to average at least 23 points per game (Glenn Robinson, Shawn Respert, and Carsen Edwards).

Garza finished the 20-game conference schedule averaging 26.2 points per game to become Iowa’s first scoring leader in Big Ten games only since Adam Haluska (21.3 ppg) in 2007. Garza’s 26.2 Big Ten scoring average is the highest by a true center since Minnesota’s Tom Kondla (28.3 ppg) in 1967.

Garza tallied 38 points at Indiana (Feb. 13, 2020). The 38 points were two points shy of matching the Assembly Hall single-game record by an opponent. Garza had the two highest single-game point totals in the Big Ten in 2019-20: 44 at Michigan & 38 at Indiana. He 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.

Garza, who is 12th on Iowa’s career scoring chart with 1,559 points, is the fourth Hawkeye over the last four decades to average better than 20 points per game. He totaled 287 field goals and 530 field goal attempts; two field goals from John Johnson’s record of 289 in 1970 and five attempts from tying Fred Brown’s record of 535 in 1971.

He is one of six Hawkeyes in school history with 1,550 points and 650 rebounds and is the only Iowa player to post those numbers through his junior season. Garza joined Jarrod Uthoff (2015 & 2016) as the only players in program history to total 50+ blocks and 35+ 3-pointers in a season.

Garza is also one of only five Big Ten players since the 2010-11 season to register multiple 30-point/10-rebounds games in the same season.

Garza scored 25 points or more 13 times in 2019-20 (fifth nationally). He controlled 10 rebounds or more in 14 games. He snagged a career-best 18 boards twice in 2019-20. He is the first Hawkeye in program history to score 700 points in a season.

JORDAN BOHANNON RETURNS FOR REDSHIRT SENIOR SEASON
Jordan Bohannon had surgery on his left hip last December after playing in 10 games in 2019-20. The native of Marion, Iowa, had the same procedure successfully performed on his right hip May, 2019. He played in 10 games prior to his latest procedure, averaging 8.8 points and 3.3 assists per game.

Bohannon enters the 2020-21 season tied with Wisconsin’s D’Mitrik Trice for most games played among active Division I players with 112.

Bohannon has made a school-record 284 3-pointers and enters his final season as a Hawkeye 90 triples from tying the all-time Big Ten record (374, Jon Diebler). His 284 triples are the most of any active player from a Power 5 conference entering the 2020-21 season.

A third-team All-Big Ten performer in 2019, 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 became the seventh Hawkeye to register three 100-assist seasons (Dean Oliver, Jeff Horner, B.J. Armstrong, Andre Woolridge, Mike Gesell, Devyn Marble).

He has dished out 10 assists or more seven times in his career.

TOUSSAINT SHINED AS POINT GUARD IN FRESHMAN SEASON
Joe Toussaint started Iowa’s last 20 games after coming off the bench the first 11 contests as a freshman in 2019-20. He was first on the squad in steals per game (1.15), second in assists (2.9) and fifth among active players in scoring (6.5).

Toussaint made his last 17 free throw attempts, dating back to Jan. 27, 2020, and was six of his last 10 from 3-point range (.600) over the last six contests.

The New York native was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week (Jan. 6, 2020) for his efforts versus No. 21 Penn State. He scored a personal-best 18 points to go along with team bests in assists (4) and steals (2). Toussaint netted 16 of his 18 points in the second half and tied a personal best sinking two 3-pointers.

20-YEAR ANNIVERSARY
This season is the 20-year anniversary of Iowa’s first Big Ten Tournament championship. The Hawkeyes won four games in four days, knocking off Northwestern (72-55), Ohio State (75-66), Penn State (94-74), and Indiana (63-61). Reggie Evans was voted the Most Oustanding Player of the tournament.

HAWKEYES EARN POSTSEASON HONORS
In addition to Luka Garza being named Big Ten Men’s Basketball Player of the Year, Garza was also a unanimous first-team all-conference selection by both the media and coaches in 2019-20. Sophomore Joe Wieskamp was a third-team all-conference honoree, while CJ Fredrick was selected to the five-player All-Freshman Team. Redshirt sophomore Connor McCaffery was the recipient of Iowa’s Big Ten Men’s Basketball Sportsmanship Award.

Head Coach Fran McCaffery has coached a first-team All-Big Ten honoree five of the last seven seasons, the most over a seven-year span since 1956-62. Garza joins Devyn Marble (2014), Aaron White (2015), Jarrod Uthoff (2016), and Peter Jok (2017) as first team selections.

Fredrick is the ninth Hawkeye to be voted to the five-player All-Freshman Team since the honor was first introduced in 2003. Fredrick is the seventh rookie to be recognized on the All-Freshman Team under Fran McCaffery and the fourth in four years (Jordan Bohannon and Tyler Cook in 2017; Joe Wieskamp in 2019).

Garza was also voted the United States Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) District VI Player of the Year on Tuesday, as well as the all-district team. Joining Garza on the 10-player all-district squad was teammate Joe Wieskamp.

Garza and Wieskamp’s honor marks the sixth time in seven seasons that a Hawkeye has garnered all-district recognition (Devyn Marble in 2014; Aaron White in 2015; Jarrod Uthoff and Peter Jok in 2016; Jok in 2017; Cook in 2019; Luka Garza and Joe Wieskamp in 2020).

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, 2020. 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.

McCAFFERY RECORDS WIN NO. 20
Fran McCaffery and the Iowa Hawkeyes have reached the 20-win plateau six of the last eight 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, and likely a fifth time last March if not for the postseason cancellation due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 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.

HAWKEYE FASTBREAKS
• Iowa’s second conference game will be played on Christmas Day at Minnesota. It marks just the third time in program history that the Hawkeyes will play on Christmas; the previous two times were in holiday tournaments in Hawaii in 1984 and 1988.
• The Hawkeyes have won 10 or more Big Ten games five of the last six seasons.
• Iowa posted a 14-2 record at home in 2019-20, winning 13 straight contests between Nov. 15 and Feb. 29. The 13-game home winning streak was the second longest in a single-season in Carver-Hawkeye Arena history (17 in 2006). Iowa was the last team to win a loose a Big Ten home game in 2019-20.
• Iowa was nationally ranked in the AP Poll each of the last eight weeks and in the Coaches Poll nine straight weeks last year. The Hawkeyes were ranked No. 25 in the final AP Poll.
• 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).
• Iowa has qualified for four NCAA tournaments over the last six completed seasons (2014, 2015, 2016, 2019) and seven postseason tournaments over the last eight completed seasons (4 NCAA; 3 NIT).
• 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.

MEN’S BASKETBALL REPRESENTED ON BIG TEN COALITION
In June 2020, the Big Ten Conference formed the Anti-Hate and Anti-Racism Coalition, which includes student-athletes, coaches, athletic directors, chancellors, presidents and other members of the Big Ten family representing all 14 member institutions.

The University of Iowa has 10 representatives on the Coalition, including head coach Fran McCaffery, assistant coach Billy Taylor, and redshirt junior Connor McCaffery.

The Coalition will leverage, support, and complement the extraordinary efforts already taking place across the Big Ten through initiatives on our campuses, as well as through existing conference-wide organizations like the Big Ten Advisory Commission.