Game Notes: Iowa Opens NCAA Tournament Play Saturday

THE SETTING
Iowa (21-8) earned the No. 2 seed in the 2021 NCAA Tournament West Region and will face 15th-seeded Grand Canyon (17-6) on Saturday at the Indiana Farmers Coliseum in Indianapolis (5:25 p.m. CT). Seventh-seeded Oregon (20-6) will play No. 10 VCU (19-7) in the same afternoon session Saturday, with the two winners meeting on Monday (time TBD).

NCAA TOURNAMENT FIRST ROUND STORYLINES
• Iowa earned a No. 2 seed in the 2021 NCAA Tournament, matching its highest seed ever in NCAA Tournament history (No. 2 seed in the 1987 Tournament).
• Saturday will be the first-ever meeting between Iowa and Grand Canyon University. Iowa is 11-0 all-time against current members from the Western Athletic Conference.
• The Hawkeyes have won eight of their last 10 games, dating back to Feb. 10.
• Iowa amassed 13 combined Quad 1 (8) and Quad 2 (5) wins this season.
• The Hawkeyes have held eight of their last 11 opponents to fewer than 70 points.
• The Hawkeyes began the season ranked No. 5 in the AP Poll and finished the regular season ranked fifth, which is the program’s highest ranking the first week of March since being ranked fifth on March 5, 1956.
• Iowa’s 14 conference wins are its highest total in a single season since 1987 (14).
• Iowa won eight games against AP Top 25 opponents this season, tying Kansas and Illinois for second most in the country in 2020-21. The Hawkeyes have won a combined 15 contests against ranked opponents over the last two seasons, the most in the country.
• Iowa won 10 Big Ten games by double digits, the most in a season in five years (10 in 2016).
• Iowa averages 9.5 turnovers per game. The Hawkeyes are on pace to break the school record for turnovers per game in a single season, which is 10.3 set during the 2015-16 season. Iowa ranks first in the country in turnovers per offensive play (11.5%).
• Luka Garza was named National Player of the Year and a unanimous first-team All-American by Sporting News. Garza ranks first in the NCAA in total points (687), third in points per game (23.7 ppg), and 10th in double-doubles (13). He has scored 613 points against AP Top 25 teams, the most of any player since the start of the 2019-20 season.
• Jerry West Award Finalist Joe Wieskamp is the first junior in school history with 1,250+ points, 550+ rebounds, 175+ 3-pointers, 100+ assists, and 75+ steals. He has made five 3-pointers in six games in 2020-21, the most of any player from a major conference.
• It was announced on March 7, 2021, that Luka Garza’s No. 55 will be retired from the University of Iowa following the season.
• Luka Garza was named Big Ten Player of the Year and first team all-conference. Joe Wieskamp is a second-team honoree, while Keegan Murray was named to the All-Big Ten Freshman Team. Jordan Bohannon and CJ Fredrick were honorable mention All-Big Ten.
• Luka Garza became the program’s all-time leading scorer versus Penn State (Feb. 21), surpassing the late-great Roy Marble. Garza reached Marble’s 32-year old all-time benchmark 15 games faster than Marble (119 games).
• Jordan Bohannon (634 assists) became Iowa’s all-time assists leader, surpassing Jeff Horner (612 assists), in Iowa’s win at No. 4 Ohio State on Feb. 28.
• Luka Garza is the first and only student-athlete in Big Ten history to accumulate 2,000 points, 900 rebounds, 150 blocked shots, and 100 3-pointers.

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:Saturday’s first round game will be televised nationally on TBS. Brad Nessler, Steve Lavin, and Evan Washburn will call the action.

HAWKEYES SPLIT TWO GAMES AT BIG TEN TOURNAMENT
No. 3 seed Iowa rallied to upend No. 6 seed Wisconsin (62-57) in the Big Ten Tournament Quarterfinals but fell to eventual champion Illinois (82-71) in the semifinals in Indianapolis.
• Iowa advanced to the semifinals of the Big Ten Tournament for the first time since 2006.
• Luka Garza is the first Hawkeye since Jeff Horner and Greg Brunner in 2006 to be voted to the Big Ten Men’s Basketball All-Tournament Team.
• Luka Garza totaled 24 points, nine rebounds, three assists, and a game-best four blocks against the Badgers. He moved into eighth in Big Ten scoring history surpassing five players (Penn State’s Lamar Stevens and Talor Battle; Wisconsin’s Alando Tucker; Michigan’s Gary Grant; Michigan’s Louis Bullock).
• Iowa rejected a season-best 10 Wisconsin shots, the most by a Hawkeye team in a Big Ten Tournament game, besting nine versus Purdue on March 9, 2007.
• Jordan Bohannon netted all 11 of his points in the second half against the Badgers, including going 4-of-4 from the foul line in the final 17 seconds (both 1-and-1’s) to seal the win.
• Iowa held Wisconsin to only one field goal over the final 9:20 of the second half.
• Luka Garza registered team bests in points (21), rebounds (12), and steals (3) in Iowa’s loss to the Illini. Garza topped 20 points an NCAA-best 20th time this season. He posted his team-leading 13th double-double of the season and 33rd of his career.
• Since last season, Luka Garza has topped 20 points an NCAA-best 19 times in 24 games against AP Top 25 opponents.
• Jordan Bohannon amassed 20 points, bolstered by a game-best five 3-pointers, to go along with a team-best six assists against Illinois. His point total moved Bohannon into 10th place in all-time scoring at Iowa. The redshirt senior netted 20+ points for the fourth time this season and 21st time in his career.
• Illinois scored 52 of their 82 points in the paint. The Hawkeyes made eight 3-pointers, while the Illini were held to just 3-of-15 (.200) from beyond the 3-point arc.

2021 LUKA GARZA AWARDS/SUPERLATIVES
• Big Ten Men’s Basketball Player of the Year
• Sporting News National Player of the Year
• USBWA District VI Player of the Year
• Unanimous First Team All-America (Associated Press, Sporting News)
• Finalist: Wooden Award, Naismith Trophy, Oscar Robertson Trophy, Kareem Abdul- Jabbar Award, Senior CLASS Award, Lute Olson Award Midseason Top 30
• Three-time Big Ten Player of the Week (Nov. 30, Dec. 14, Feb. 22)
• Ranks eighth in Big Ten history with 2,225 career points.
• Only Big Ten player in history with 2,200 points and 900 rebounds.
• Named the Naismith Trophy National Player of the Week on Feb. 22.
• Broke Iowa’s 32-year old all-time scoring record on Feb. 21 versus Penn State.
• 30-point performance at No. 21 Wisconsin, was his sixth against an AP Top 25 opponent in his career. Over the last 25 seasons, the only player to have more 30-point games against ranked opponents is Duke’s Jay Williams (7).
• Averaging 23.7 points and 8.8 rebounds per game in 2020-21 after averaging 23.9 points and 9.8 rebounds in 2019-20. Garza is seeking to become just the third Big Ten player in the last 50 years to average 23 points and eight rebounds in consecutive seasons, joining Purdue’s Glenn Robinson (1992-93 & 1993-94) and Michigan’s Henry Wilmore (1970-71 & 1971-72).
• Reached 2,000 points in 113 games, faster than any other Big Ten player over the last 25 years. The only Big Ten player to reach the milestone faster was Wisconsin’s Michael Finley, who accomplished the feat in 107 games.
• One of six players in the nation to shoot at least 54 percent on FGAs and 40 percent on 3FGAs, with at least 35 made 3-pointers; Garza has attempted more than 100 field goal attempts than the other five players.
• Iowa’s all-time scoring leader in Big Ten regular season games with 1,399 points. Garza has tallied 437 points in 20 Big Ten games this season; 496 in 20 games in 2019-20; 243 in 19 contests in 2018-19; and 223 in 18 games in 2017-18.
• Only Hawkeye in program history with two 600-point and four 400-point seasons.
• Accounts for nine of the 12 27-point/10-rebound games in the Fran McCaffery era.
• Luka Garza tallied 18 points against Northwestern (Dec. 29), halting his streak of scoring 20+ points at 18 straight Big Ten games, dating back to last season. His 18-game streak is the longest by any player against a Big Ten team in over three decades.
• Reached the 30-point plateau an NCAA-best seven times this season. Garza has topped 30 points 12 career times, second most in program history trailing only John Johnson (13). Garza has topped 20 points an NCAA-best 19 times this season.
• Shot 70 percent or better from the field in six games in 2020-21, including 80 percent or better four times (93% vs. Southern; 93% vs. Iowa State; 80% vs. Northern Illinois; 80% at Rutgers).
• Named Big Ten Player of the Week three times this season (Nov. 30, Dec. 14, Feb. 22). Garza averaged 24.3 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks in wins over No. 16 North Carolina, Iowa State, and Northern Illinois. He averaged 33.5 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 3.0 blocks in victories over N.C. Central and Southern. Garza averaged 26.5 points, 9.5 rebounds, two assists and one block in wins over No. 21 Wisconsin and Penn State.
• Scored 44 points at Michigan (Dec. 7, 2019) and 41 points versus Southern University (Nov. 27, 2020). He is one of two players in program history to score 40 points or more in two games in a career (John Johnson, 49 and 46).
• Tallied 102 points in three games; that is the most points by any Division I player over his first three games of a season since Davidson’s Stephen Curry had 106 in 2008-09.
• Garza is the only Division I player in the last 25 years to score 100+ points on 75 percent shooting over any 3-game span. The last NBA player to accomplish that over a 3-game span was Shaquille O’Neal in January, 1996.
• Torched Southern University for 41 points, nine rebounds, and three blocks. Garza netted 36 first-half points, which is believed to be the most points scored by a Hawkeye in a half in program history. In the first half, Garza made all 12 field-goal attempts and was 10-of-12 from the free throw line.
• His 41 points are the most points scored by a Hawkeye in a single-game in Carver-Hawkeye Arena history (1983), besting 36 scored by Adam Haluska (2006) and Rob Griffin (2000). The arena record is 45 points by Brian Quinnett of Washington State in a neutral site contest contested against Loyola Marymount (1986).
• Finished the Southern University contest with a .933 field goal percentage (14-of-15), including a perfect 1.000 (3-of-3) from 3-point range, which is the best single-game mark by a Big Ten player since 1984 (Minnesota’s Tommy Davis, 15-of-16, at Indiana).

NCAA TOURNAMENT NOTEABLES
• Fran McCaffery, who signed a four-year contract extension earlier this week through the 2027-28 competitive season, is taking his fifth Iowa team to the NCAA Tournament. The Hawkeyes likely would have qualified for the 2020 NCAA Tournament if not canceled due to the pandemic.
• Iowa won 10 games against NCAA Tournament teams this season: Wisconsin (3), Michigan State (2), Rutgers (2), North Carolina, Ohio State, and Maryland.
• The Big Ten leads all conferences with a record-setting nine teams in the NCAA Tournament. For the first time in tournament history teams from the same conference earned four of the top eight seeds (Illinois, Michigan, Iowa, and Ohio State).
• Iowa is making its 27th NCAA Tournament appearance, only 18 schools playing in this tournament have competed in more. The Hawkeyes are the overall seventh seed.
• Five of Iowa’s eight losses came to teams ranked in the top eight of the NCAA NET Rankings.

SCOUTING GRAND CANYON
• Grand Canyon (17-6) won the Western Athletic Conference Tournament with double digits wins over Seattle (81-47) and New Mexico State (74-56). The Antelopes starting lineup includes four seniors (two redshirt) and one sophomore.
• Grand Canyon (107 NET Ranking; 59 overall seed) averages 75.6 points per game, while allowing 61.1 points, and boasts a +9.8 rebounding advantage. The Antelopes shoot 49 percent from the field, 33 percent from 3-point range and 69 percent from the foul line.
• Asbjorn Midtgaard, a 7-foot center from Denmark, averages team bests in points (14.0) and rebounds (9.9) per game. He ranks first in the country in field goal percentage, making 70 percent of his attempts. He also ranks 20th nationally in rebounds per outing (9.9). Jovan Blacksher Jr. ranks 33th in the country in assists per game (5.3).
• The Antelopes rank second in the country in field goal percentage defense (.376); fifth in rebound margin (+9.8); eighth in defensive rebounds (29.26); ninth in scoring defense (61.1); 12th in 3-point field goal percentage defense (.288); and 25th in assists per game (16.1).
• Grand Canyon, who is making its first NCAA Tournament appearance, is coached by Bryce Drew. Prior to Grand Canyon, Drew was the head coach at his alma mater, Valparaiso, for five seasons (2012-16) and Vanderbilt for three years (2017-20).

GARZA’S #55 TO BE RETIRED
Luka Garza’s number 55 will never be worn again by an Iowa men’s basketball player. The announcement was made by Henry B. and Patricia B. Tippie Director of Athletics Chair Gary Barta at the conclusion of Iowa’s win over No. 25 Wisconsin on March 7.

Garza joins eight other former Hawkeyes to have their number retired: Carl Cain (21), Ronnie Lester (12), Bill Logan (31), Sharm Scheuerman (46), Bill Seaberg (22)*, Bill Schoof (33), Greg Stokes (41), and Chris Street (40). B.J. Armstrong’s (10) jersey is also retired.

“Luka Garza epitomizes everything that you want in your program,” says Iowa head coach Fran McCaffery. “I can think of no one else that is more deserving of having his number retired than Luka Garza.”

GARZA BECOMES TWO-TIME NATIONAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Senior Luka Garza was named National Player of the Year and a unanimous first-team All-American by Sporting News.

Garza is the sixth men’s basketball player to be named National Player of the Year by Sporting News in consecutive seasons (2020-21) and first since Michael Jordan (1983-84). Other consecutive winners include Bill Walton (1969-70), Bill Bradley (1964-65), Jerry Lucas (1961-62), and Oscar Robertson (1958-60). Kareem Abdul-Jabbar won it twice, in 1967 and 1969, but his reign was interrupted by Elvin Hayes’ tremendous 1968 season.

5 HAWKEYES EARN POSTSEASON ALL-BIG TEN RECOGNITION
Five University of Iowa men’s basketball players earned postseason recognition by the Big Ten: Luka Garza, Joe Wieskamp, Jordan Bohannon, CJ Fredrick, and Keegan Murray.

Garza was named Player of the Year and a unanimous first team honoree for the second year in a row. Wieskamp was a second-team all-conference honoree, Murray was selected to the five-player All-Freshman Team, while Bohannon and Fredrick earned honorable mention recognition.

Garza becomes the first Hawkeye to earn the prestigious honor twice, since the award was introduced by the Big Ten Conference in 1985, and the third player in the history of the league to win the award in consecutive seasons (Ohio State’s Jim Jackson, 1991-92; Michigan State’s Mateen Cleaves, 1998-99).

Head coach Fran McCaffery has coached a first-team All-Big Ten honoree in five of the last seven seasons, the most over a seven-year span since 1956-62. Garza (2020 and 2021) joins Devyn Marble (2014), Aaron White (2015), Jarrod Uthoff (2016), and Peter Jok (2017) as first team selections.

Garza averaged 21.9 points per game during the 20-game conference schedule, becoming the third player since 1990 to lead the league in scoring in consecutive seasons (Michigan State’s Steve Smith and Evan Turner of Ohio State). He is the first Hawkeye to average 20+ points per game in consecutive seasons (23.9 in 2020 and 23.8) since Sam Williams in 1967 (22.6) and 1968 (25.3).

Garza broke the school’s 32-year old scoring record held by Roy Marble on Feb. 21, 2021. His 2,201 points rank 13th best in Big Ten history. Garza is tops at Iowa in league scoring (1,399), field goals made (829), field goal attempts (1,522), and 40-point games (2); second in 30-point games (12); fourth in double-doubles (33); fifth in rebounds (895); fifth in blocks (148); eighth in free throw makes (430); and 13th in 3-pointers made (113).

Wieskamp ranks second on the team in points per game (15.0) and rebounds per contest (6.6). The Muscatine, Iowa, native ranks third in the Big Ten in 3-pointers made per game (2.44) and eighth in defensive rebounds per game (5.44). He leads all players in 3-point accuracy, making 49.5 percent of his attempts (51-of-103) in Big Ten play. Wieskamp, who was a third-team all-conference honoree a year ago, has scored in double figures 23 times this season, including netting 20 points or more five times. He has made a season-high five 3-pointers six times this season, the most by a major conference player in 2020-21.

Bohannon ranks first in the Big Ten in 3-point accuracy (.397), second in assist-to-turnover ratio (3.27) and 3-pointers made per game (2.63), and fourth in assists per game (4.5). He is Iowa’s all-time leader in assists (625) and 3-pointers made (355). His 355 triples are second most in Big Ten history. The native of Marion, Iowa, is one of only four Division I players since the 1992-93 season to amass more than 600 assists and 350 3-pointers. Bohannon has played in 139 career games, including 129 starts, which ranks second most in school history (Aaron White, 140). The redshirt senior has made three or more 3-pointers in 12 games this season, including equaling a career-high eight versus Nebraska on March 4.

Fredrick ranks fourth on the team in scoring (10.5 ppg.) and 3-pointers made (35), shooting at a 50 percent clip (35-of-70) from 3-point range in 2020-21. He owns a staggering 8.0 assist-to-turnover ratio, totaling 48 assists and only six turnovers. The Cincinnati native has committed only two turnovers since Dec. 22, 2020 (16 games played). Fredrick’s numbers would have been higher if not for injuries sidelining the redshirt sophomore four full games and the second half of three other contests. Along with being voted honorable mention all-league, Fredrick is the recipient of the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award for Iowa men’s basketball.

Murray is the 10th Hawkeye to be voted to the five-player All-Freshman Team since the honor was first introduced in 2003. Murray, a Cedar Rapids, Iowa, native is the eighth rookie to be recognized on the All-Freshman Team under Fran McCaffery and the fifth in five years (Jordan Bohannon and Tyler Cook in 2017; Joe Wieskamp in 2019; CJ Fredrick in 2020).

Murray has played all 27 games, including starting four contests. He is team team’s leading scorer (7.8 ppg.) and rebounder (5.5) off the bench in conference play. Murray is second on the team in total steals (24) and ranks 11th overall in the Big Ten in blocked shots per game (1.1). He has netted double figures six times, including three of the last nine outings. Murray is shooting 53.8 percent (71-of-132) from the field, currently seventh best in a single season by a Hawkeye rookie. He was instrumental in Iowa’s victory over No. 25 Wisconsin in the regular season finale, accumulating 13 points, three blocks, and six rebounds, including two critical offensive rebounds down the stretch.

GARZA EARNS 2 WEEKLY AWARDS
Luka Garza was named the Naismith Trophy Player of the Week and Big Ten Co-Player of the Week on Feb. 22, leading Iowa to victories over No. 21 Wisconsin and Penn State.

Garza averaged 26.5 points, 9.5 rebounds, two assists, and one block in the two contests. He totaled 30 points and eight boards against the Badgers, and 23 points and 11 rebounds versus the Nittany Lions. The native of Washington, D.C., became Iowa’s all-time leading scorer against Penn State. Garza broke the school’s 32-year old record held by Roy Marble. Garza’s layup with 8:18 remaining in the second half was the record-breaking basket.

NUMBER OF THE WEEK — 5
Iowa has three 1,000-point scorers on its 2020-21 roster: Luka Garza (2,246), Jordan Bohannon (1,625), and Joe Wieskamp (1,250). It marks the fifth time in program history that three 1,000-point scorers are on the same team: 1987-88 (Roy Marble, B.J. Armstrong, Jeff Moe); 1988-89 (Roy Marble, B.J. Armstrong, Ed Horton); 1995-96 (Jess Settles, Kenyon Murray, Chris Kingsbury); 2004-05 (Jeff Horner, Greg Brunner, Pierre Pierce).

Iowa’s 2020-21 trio (5,121 points and counting) is the second highest trio in school history behind the 1988-89 trio of Marble, Armstrong, and Horton (5,193 points).

VALUING THE BASKETBALL
Iowa ranks first in the nation in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.01). The Hawkeyes have two players ranked high nationally in assist-to-turnover ratio. CJ Fredrick has a blistering 5.67 ratio (51 assists; 9 turnovers), but does not meet the minimum assists per game requirements to be ranked. Connor McCaffery is second in the country with a 3.93 ratio (110 assists; 28 turnovers), while Jordan Bohannon is 11th with a 3.17 ratio (130 assists; 41 turnovers).

Iowa has teammates who recorded 10-assist/0-turover games in consecutive games. Connor McCaffery and Jordan Bohannon are the first Division I duo from the same team to accomplish the feat in the last 10 years. McCaffery had 10 assists and zero turnovers at Maryland (Jan. 7), while Jordan Bohannon was credited with 14 assists and zero turnovers versus Minnesota (Jan. 10).

IN THE RANKINGS
• Iowa is ranked No. 5 in this week’s AP Poll, its highest ranking the first week of March since being ranked fifth on March 5, 1956.
• Iowa was ranked in the AP Top 10 the first 11 weeks. The last time the Hawkeyes were ranked in the Top 10 11 consecutive weeks was the 1986-87 season. Iowa has been ranked inside the Top 15 every week this season, including No. 5 this week.
• Iowa started the season ranked fifth nationally and concluded regular season play ranked fifth.
• The Hawkeyes were ranked No. 3 in the AP Poll three of the first four weeks of the season. The last time Iowa was ranked as high as third nationally was Jan. 25, 2016.
• Iowa’s No. 5 preseason ranking is its 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’s game against Gonzaga on Dec. 19, was just the second time in program history that Iowa played in a contest pitting No. 1 against No. 3.

IT AIN’T EASY BEING WIESY
Joe Wieskamp is the first Hawkeye junior in school history to amass 1,250+ points, 550+ rebounds, 175+ 3-pointers, 100+ assists, and 75+ steals.

Wieskamp is one of five finalists for the 2021 Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year Award. Wieskamp, who ranks ninth in career 3-pointers at Iowa, has made five 3-pointers in four of the last 10 games and six contests overall this season, the most of any player from a major conference. Wieskamp was on his way to having another stellar outing in the regular season finale against No. 25 Wisconsin (12 points, making all five field goal attempts) before leaving the contest 12 minutes into the contest with an ankle injury.

Wieskamp ranks second on the team in scoring (14.7 ppg) and rebounding (6.6 rpg). The native of Muscatine, Iowa, ranks fourth in the league in 3-pointers made per game (2.38) and eighth in defensive rebounds per game (5.38). He led all players in 3-point accuracy, making 49.5 percent of his attempts (51-of-103) in Big Ten play.

The native of Muscatine, Iowa, has scored in double figures in 25 of Iowa’s 29 games this season and 70 career times. He became the 50th player in program history to score 1,000 career points on Jan. 20, 2021.

He was the Big Ten Player of the Week on Feb. 15, after averaging 23.5 points, 8.5 rebounds, two assists, and one steal in a pair of double-digit wins over No. 25 Rutgers (79-66) and Michigan State (88-58). Wieskamp shot a combined 59 percent from the field (16-of-27), including a blistering 71 percent from 3-point range (10-of-14) in the two wins.

In Iowa’s 13-point triumph over the Scarlet Knights, Wieskamp led all scorers with 26 points and controlled 10 defensive rebounds. Wieskamp made 64 percent of his total field goal attempts (9-of-14), including 5-of-7 from 3-point territory.

Wieskamp eclipsed 20 points for the second consecutive game in Iowa’s 30-point victory at Michigan State on Feb. 13, netting a game-best 21 points and grabbing seven defensive rebounds. The 30-point win was Iowa’s largest margin of victory ever in East Lansing and the Spartans’ worst home defeat in 46 years. Once again, Wieskamp was dialed in from distance, sinking five of his seven 3-point attempts.

NUNGE SUFFERS SEASON-ENDING INJURY
Redshirt sophomore Jack Nunge suffered a season-ending torn meniscus of his right knee in the first half of Iowa’s road game at No. 3 Michigan on Feb. 25.

It is the second time Nunge has suffered a season-ending knee injury the last 16 months. He sustained a torn ACL on the same knee on Nov. 24, 2019, versus Cal Poly.

The 6-foot-11 forward is expected to undergo surgery this week to repair the meniscus and is expected to be sidelined four to six months.

Nunge was the team’s leading scorer (7.1) and rebounder (5.3) off the bench.

QUIET CONFIDENCE
Small forward Keegan Murray, who was named to the All-Big Ten Freshman Team, is playing with a quiet confidence when his name is called coming off the bench. All-American center Luka Garza has tabbed him “Nicholas Baer 2.0.”

He ranks fourth on the team in rebounding (5.1), second in blocked shots per game (1.17), and sixth in 3-pointers made (14). Murray started four Big Ten games, replacing CJ Fredrick (lower leg injury).

Murray was instrumental in Iowa’s four-point victory over No. 25 Wisconsin in the regular season finale; he accumulated 13 points, three blocked shots, and six rebounds, including three critical offensive rebounds.

The native of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, scored a personal-best 14 points and led the team in rebounding (9), steals (3), and blocks (3) against the Scarlet Knights. Murray was a staggering +30, totaling 12 points, five rebounds, and a game-best two blocks versus the Terrapins. Murray’s plus-minus is the fourth highest of any Hawkeye this season (Patrick McCaffery +39 and Fredrick +33 vs. Northern Illinois, and Jordan Bohannon +32 vs. Nebraska).

Although technically a true freshman, Murray and his twin, Kris, gained a year of experience following high school graduation playing at DME Academy in Florida in 2019-20 prior to arriving in Iowa City. The Murray twins are legacy Hawkeyes; their father Kenyon played for head coach Tom Davis for four seasons (1993-96).

JORDAN BOHANNON HOLDS 3 IOWA ALL-TIME RECORDS
Jordan Bohannon has been credited with 634 assists, becoming Iowa’s all-time assists leader on Feb. 28, 2021, in Iowa’s win over No. 4 Ohio State. He is also the school record holder in 3-pointers (361), which are the second most in Big Ten history (374, Ohio State’s Jon Diebler). Bohannon has made five or more triples in a team-best seven games this season. He has made multiple triples in six of Iowa’s last seven contests.

Bohannon is tied with Wisconsin’s D’Mitrik Trice for the most games played among active Division I players with 141. Furthermore, his 141 games played are the most in school history.

He netted a season-high 26 points, tying a personal best with eight 3-pointers, while posting a staggering +32 in Iowa’s triumph over Nebraska (March 4).

Bohannon ranks first in the league in 3-point accuracy (.397) and second in 3-pointers made per game (2.63). He is also second in the conference in assist-to-turnover ratio (3.27) and fourth in assists per contest (4.5).

Eighty percent of his made field goals have been 3-pointers (77-of-96). He is one of three Division I players since the 1992-93 season to amass more than 625 assists and 360 3-pointers.

Bohannon is one of only three Hawkeyes to post four 100-assist seasons (Jeff Horner, Dean Oliver).

HAWKEYE FASTBREAKS
• The Hawkeyes have posted 28 runs of 10-0 or better this season.
• Iowa’s Luka Garza (23.7) and Joe Wieskamp (14.7) combine to average 38.4 points per game, the fifth highest scoring duo in the country and second highest from a major conference: Oral Roberts (42.4), South Dakota (40.6), Detroit Mercy (39.6), LSU (39.3).
• Fran McCaffery is one of four coaches to record multiple regular season sweeps of Michigan State during Tom Izzo’s tenure (Steve Fisher, John Beilein, and Matt Painter).
• The Hawkeyes have won 10 or more Big Ten games six of the last seven seasons.
• The Hawkeyes rank second in the country in adjusted offensive efficiency (points scored per 100 possessions).
• Iowa, who has led the Big Ten in scoring each of the last two seasons, ranks first in the Big Ten and sixth in the country this season, averaging 83.8 points per game.
• Iowa’s 40.9 scoring average in the first half ranks fourth nationally, while its 42.4 second half average ranks 10th.
• Iowa is 108-25 when scoring 80 points or more, the last 11 seasons. The Hawkeyes are 84-2 when holding opponents to fewer than 61 points, the last 11 years.
• Iowa has two of the top four active scorers in the Big Ten: Luka Garza is first with 2,246 points, while Jordan Bohannon is fourth with 1,625 points.
• Iowa played back-to-back road games against top-5 opponents (No. 3 Michigan and No. 4 Ohio State) for the first time since the 1964-65 season.
• Iowa earned the No. 3 seed at last week’s Big Ten Tournament, its second highest seed in the 23-year history of the tournament (No. 2 seed in 2006).
• The Hawkeyes registered their first win at Ohio State (73-57) since 2014. Iowa held the Buckeyes to their lowest scoring output of the season. The 57 points are the fewest Iowa has allowed versus a top-5 team away from home since a 58-57 win at No. 2 Indiana on Feb. 16, 1983.
• No. 9 Iowa’s win at No. 4 Ohio State on Feb. 28, was the program’s first victory on the road with both teams ranked in the AP Top 10 since No. 9 Iowa won at No. 6 North Carolina on Jan. 7, 1989.
• The Hawkeyes’ 102-64 win over Nebraska on March 4 was their largest margin of victory (38 points) in a Big Ten game since a 39-point win over Northwestern in 1995. Iowa’s 102-64 triumph over the Huskers are the most points scored and largest margin of victory in the series history.
• The Hawkeyes have won 70 of its last 75 nonconference home games, dating back to 2012.
• The Hawkeyes opened their season with 93+ points in each of their first six games for the first time in program history.
• Iowa’s 15-point victory (77-62) is its largest in Madison since a 15-point win over the Badgers in 1988. Iowa’s 77 points are the most scored at the Kohl Center since a 79-76 win in 1998.
• Iowa swept the Badgers this season, winning all three meetings.
• Iowa’s 88-58 win over Michigan State on Feb. 13, is its largest margin of victory (30 points) ever in East Lansing and the Spartans’ worst home defeat in 46 years (1975). Iowa’s 88 points are the most scored at Michigan State since 1993 (96-90 OT). The Hawkeyes posted just their second regular season sweep over Michigan State since the 1993-94 season (2015-16). The win was just Iowa’s second in its last 23 games in East Lansing (2016).
• Iowa recorded wins at Wisconsin and Michigan State for the first time since 1988.
• Iowa scorched Northwestern for 96 points in its 23-point win on Jan. 17, which are the most points scored by the Hawkeyes in Evanston in 34 years (103 points on March 5, 1987).
• Iowa’s 22-point win (89-67) at Maryland on Jan. 7, is the largest margin of victory for either team in the series. The 89 points are the most points Iowa has scored in the 12-game series.
• Iowa’s 53-point win over Northern Illinois (106-53) tied the 18th largest margin of victory in program history.
• Iowa beat Northern Illinois by 53 points, tying the 18th largest margin of victory in program history.
• Iowa’s 105 points and 28-point victory on Dec. 11, are the most points scored and the largest margin of victory, respectively, in the 74-game series history with Iowa State.
• The Hawkeyes sank 17 3-pointers against the Tar Heels. The 17 triples were two shy of a school record (19 against Savannah State on Dec. 22, 2018). Additionally, the 17 3-pointers tie for the third most ever against North Carolina.
• Assistant Coach Billy Taylor has been named to the class of 2021 for the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
• Luka Garza scored 20+ points in 19 straight games (Jan. 10-Dec. 3, 2020), including 16 straight against Big Ten opponents, breaking the school’s 49-year old record. The 16-game streak against Big Ten opponents is the longest streak 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.
• Jordan Bohannon joined Bob Hansen, Kevin Boyle, and Mark Gannon as the only Hawkeyes to register four victories over the Cyclones in their career.
• Coach Fran McCaffery has coached a first-team All-Big Ten honoree six of the last eight seasons, the most over a eight-year span since 1955-62; Devyn Marble (2014), Aaron White (2015), Jarrod Uthoff (2016), and Peter Jok (2017), and Luka Garza (2020 and 2021).
• As a result of Iowa’s win over No. 16 North Carolina, the Hawkeyes have won six of their last eight ACC/Big Ten Challenge games and four straight Challenge home games.
• Fran McCaffery has guided Iowa to 20 wins or more in seven of the last nine seasons. He has led Iowa to Big Ten upper division finishes eight of the last nine years. Iowa, Michigan State, and Wisconsin have each recorded a Big Ten-best eight first division finishes since 2013.
• 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).

RECENT GRADUATES PLAYING PROFESSIONAL BASKETBALL
A number of recent Iowa basketball graduates are playing professionally: Jarrod Uthoff (NBA G League: Erie BayHawks), Devyn Marble (Kazakhstan), Tyler Cook (NBA Brooklyn Nets), Adam Woodbury (NBA G League: Grand Rapids Drive), Anthony Clemmons (Bosnia), Gabriel Olaseni (Turkey), Ryan Kriener (Belgium), Peter Jok (Spain), and Aaron White (Greece).

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).

IN THE RANKINGS
• Iowa was ranked No. 5 in last week’s AP Poll, its highest ranking the first week of March since being ranked fifth on March 5, 1956.
• Iowa was ranked in the AP Top 10 the first 11 weeks. The last time the Hawkeyes were ranked in the Top 10 11 consecutive weeks was the 1986-87 season. Iowa has been ranked inside the Top 15 every week this season, including No. 8 this week.
• Iowa started the season ranked fifth nationally and concluded regular season play ranked fifth.
• The Hawkeyes were ranked No. 3 in the AP Poll three of the first four weeks of the season. The last time Iowa was ranked as high as third nationally was Jan. 25, 2016.
• Iowa’s No. 5 preseason ranking is its 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’s game against Gonzaga on Dec. 19, was just the second time in program history that Iowa played in a contest pitting No. 1 against No. 3.

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.