FINAL IOWA HAWKEYE NOTES 2020-21
• Iowa has won an NCAA Tournament game each of its last four tournament appearances.
• Luka Garza became the program’s first consensus National Player of the Year. Garza earned the top individual prize in college basketball by seven of the top organizations/publications: John R. Wooden, Naismith, Oscar Robertson, NABC, Associated Press, Lute Olson, and Sporting News. He was also honored with the Senior CLASS Award, recognizing excellence on the basketball court, the classroom, and in the community.
• Luka Garza, the most decorated player in program history, became a two-time Big Ten, USBWA District VI, and National Player of the Year, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year, Pete Newell Big Man of the Year, consensus unanimous first-team All-America and All-Big Ten honoree.
• Junior Joe Wieskamp was the only Division I player in the country with 400+ points, 200+ rebounds, 70+ 3-pointers, and 25+ steals in 2020-21.
• 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).
• The Hawkeyes won seven of their last eight regular season games.
• The Hawkeyes held eight of their final 13 opponents to fewer than 70 points.
• True freshman Keegan Murray was one of only five players nationally — and only bench player — to amass 200+ points, 35+ blocks, 25+ steals, and 15+ 3-pointers in 2020-21.
• The Hawkeyes went wire-to-wire inside the AP Top 15 for the first time since the 1988-89 season, including ascending as high as No. 3. Iowa 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 broke three school single season records in 2020-21: fewest turnovers per game (9.5), assist-to-turnover ratio (2.02), and 3-pointers made (301).
• Luka Garza ranked first in the NCAA in total points (747), second in points per game (24.1 ppg), and 11th in double-doubles (13). He 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 made five 3-pointers in six games in 2020-21, second 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.
• 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 is Iowa’s career leader in assists (639), free throw percentage (.887), games played (143), and 3-pointers (364).
• Luka Garza is the first and only student-athlete in Big Ten history to accumulate 2,250 points, 900 rebounds, 150 blocked shots, and 100 3-pointers.
• Iowa ranked first in the Big Ten in scoring offense for the second straight season; Iowa’s 83.7 points per game average in 2021 is its highest since the 1988-89 season (89.6).
• Iowa advanced to the semifinals of the Big Ten Tournament for the first time in 15 years.
• Iowa has won 14 home games each of the last three seasons. The Hawkeyes have averaged just over 13 home victories since Fran McCaffery’s arrival in Iowa City in 2011.
• Fran McCaffery has coached a first-team All-Big Ten honoree six of the last eight seasons. He has guided Iowa to 20+ wins seven of the last nine seasons and fifth place or better finishes in the Big Ten five of the last seven years.
• Jack Nunge announced in late-March that he will transfer after his graduates from the University of Iowa next month. Nunge averaged 7.1 points and 5.3 rebounds per game prior to suffering a season-ending knee injury on Feb. 25 at Michigan.
HAWKEYES SPLIT TWO GAMES IN NCAA TOURNAMENT
Iowa beat No. 15 seed Grand Canyon (86-74) in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in Indianapolis. The Hawkeyes then fell to seventh-seeded Oregon (95-80), who advanced to play Iowa after a no-contest versus VCU was decided (COVID-19 protocols).
• Four Hawkeyes scored in double figures against Grand Canyon: Luka Garza (24), Joe Wieskamp (16), Keegan Murray (13), and Jordan Bohannon (13).
• The 86 points Iowa scored against Grand Canyon are the most for the Hawkeyes in an NCAA Tournament game since scoring 98 versus Texas in first round in 1992.
• Keegan Murray totaled 13 points, seven rebounds, four blocked shots, three assists and one steal. No Hawkeye has posted that stat line in any NCAA Tournament game.
• Joe Wieskamp finished the contest with 16 points, eight rebounds and five assists. The only other Hawkeye to post those numbers in an NCAA Tournament game is James Moses versus Texas in the Round of 64 in 1992.
• Iowa’s bench of Keegan Murray, Patrick McCaffery, Joe Toussaint, and Tony Perkins totaled 26 points, 12 rebounds, and four blocked shots.
• Luka Garza poured in 36 points in his final game in Iowa’s 95-80 loss to Oregon. The 36 points were the most points scored by any player in the 2021 NCAA Tournament and most by a Hawkeye in an NCAA Tournament game in 65 years (36, Bill Logan vs. Temple, 3/22/56). Garza tallied double figures in scoring for the 100th time in career.
• Garza reached the 30-point plateau an NCAA-best eight times this season. Additionally, he topped 30 points 13 career times, tying John Johnson for the most in program history.
• Garza was 14-of-20 from the floor against the Ducks. His 14 field goals made equaled his second highest total in a single game in his career (17 at Michigan, Dec. 6, 2019).
• Joe Wieskamp netted 17 points, scoring 15+ points for the 18th time in 2020-21. He also was credited with five assists, tying a career high set last game versus Grand Canyon. Wieskamp made three 3-pointers, marking the 13th time this season and 31st time in his career that the junior made three or more triples.
• Joe Wieskamp, Luka Garza, and Jordan Bohannon became Iowa’s highest scoring trio on the same team in school history. The trio increased their career point total to 5,227 points, surpassing the trio of Ed Horton, B.J. Armstrong, and Roy Marble (5,193 points).
2021 LUKA GARZA AWARDS/SUPERLATIVES
• Consensus National Player of the Year (John R. Wooden, Naismith, Oscar Robertson, NABC, Associated Press, Lute Olson, Sporting News)
• Big Ten Men’s Basketball Player of the Year
• USBWA District VI Player of the Year
• Consensus unanimous First Team All-America
• Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year and Pete Newell Big Man of the Year
• Senior CLASS Award
• Three-time Big Ten Player of the Week (Nov. 30, Dec. 14, Feb. 22)
• Ranks seventh in Big Ten history with 2,306 career points
• Only Big Ten player in history with 2,250 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).
• Averaged 24.1points and 8.7 rebounds per game in 2020-21 after averaging 23.9 points and 9.8 rebounds in 2019-20. Garza is 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 only three players in the nation to shoot at least 55 percent on FGAs and 44 percent on 3FGAs, with at least 40 made 3-pointers; Garza has attempted more than 100 field goal attempts than the other two players (Corey Kispert & Matthew Hurt).
• Iowa’s all-time scoring leader in Big Ten regular season games with 1,399 points. Garza 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 700-point and four 400-point seasons.
• Accounts for nine of the 12 27-point/10-rebound games in the Fran McCaffery era.
• 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 eight times in 2020-21. Garza has topped 30 points 13 career times, tying John Johnson for the most in school history. Garza tallied 20+ points an NCAA-best 22 times in 2020-21.
• 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 in 2020-21 (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.
• He is one of two players in program history to score 40 points or more in two games.
• 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).
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 for the second straight season.
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.
HIGHEST SCORING TRIO IN SCHOOL HISTORY
Iowa had three 1,000-point scorers on its 2020-21 roster: Luka Garza (2,306), Jordan Bohannon (1,638), and Joe Wieskamp (1,283). It marked the fifth time in program history that three 1,000-point scorers were 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 (5,227 points) is the highest trio in school history, surpassing the 1988-89 trio of Marble, Armstrong, and Horton (5,193 points) in its final game of 2020-21.
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. He was the only Division I player in the country with 400+ points, 200+ rebounds, 70+ 3-pointers, and 25+ steals in 2020-21.
Wieskamp was 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, made five 3-pointers in four of the last 12 games and six contests overall in 2020-21, the second 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 game with an ankle injury.
Wieskamp ranked second on the team in scoring (14.8 ppg) and rebounding (6.6 rpg). The native of Muscatine, Iowa, ranked fourth in the league in 3-pointers made per game (2.35) and seventh in defensive rebounds per game (5.45). 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, scored in double figures in 27 of Iowa’s 31 games in 2020-21 and 72 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.
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 became 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 six of the last eight seasons, the most over an eight-year span since 1955-62. 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 23.7 in 2021) 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 2,306 points rank seventh best in Big Ten history. Garza is tops at Iowa in league scoring (1,399), field goals made (870), field goal attempts (1,594), 40-point games (2), and 30-point games (13); second in rebounds (931); fourth in double-doubles (34); fifth in blocks (154); sixth in free throw makes (446); and 16th in 3-pointers made (120).
Wieskamp ranked second on the team in points per game (14.8) and rebounds per contest (6.6). The Muscatine, Iowa, native ranked fourth in the Big Ten in 3-pointers made per game (2.35) and seventh in defensive rebounds per game (5.45). He led 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, scored in double figures 27 times in 2020-212, including netting 20 points or more five times. He made a season-high five 3-pointers six times this season, second most by a major conference player in 2020-21.
Bohannon ranked first in the Big Ten in 3-point accuracy (.390), second in assist-to-turnover ratio (3.07) and 3-pointers made per game (2.58), and fifth in assists per game (4.4). He is Iowa’s all-time leader in assists (639), 3-pointers made (364), free throw percentage (.887) and games played (143). His 364 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. The redshirt senior made three or more 3-pointers in 14 games in 2020-21, including equaling a career-high eight versus Nebraska.
Fredrick ranked fourth on the team in scoring (7.5 ppg) and 3-pointers (36), shooting at a 47 percent clip (36-of-76) from 3-point range in 2020-21. He owned a 5.2 assist-to-turnover ratio, totaling 52 assists and only 10 turnovers. 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, he was 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 played all 31 games, including starting four contests. He was the team’s leading scorer (7.8 ppg.) and rebounder (5.5) off the bench in conference play. Murray was second on the team in total steals (26) and ranked 11th overall in the Big Ten in blocked shots per game (1.3). He netted double figures eight times. He was instrumental in Iowa’s victory over No. 25 Wisconsin in the regular season finale, accumulating 13 points, three blocks, and six rebounds. Murray became the first Hawkeye to stuff the stat sheet with the following in an NCAA Tournament game: 13 points, seven rebounds, four blocked shots, three assists, and one steal versus Grand Canyon.
VALUING THE BASKETBALL
Iowa ranked first in the nation in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.02). The Hawkeyes had two players ranked high nationally in assist-to-turnover ratio. CJ Fredrick had a blistering 5.2 ratio (52 assists; 10 turnovers) but did not meet the minimum assists per game requirements to be ranked. Connor McCaffery was fourth in the country with a 3.73 ratio (112 assists; 30 turnovers), while Jordan Bohannon was 13th with a 3.07 ratio (135 assists; 44 turnovers).
Iowa had teammates who recorded 10-assist/0-turover games in consecutive games in 2020-21. Connor McCaffery and Jordan Bohannon were 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, while Jordan Bohannon was credited with 14 assists and zero turnovers versus Minnesota.
IN THE RANKINGS
• Iowa was ranked No. 5 in the final AP Poll of the regular season, 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 went wire-to-wire inside the AP Top 15 for the first time since the 1988-89 season.
• 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 was its highest preseason position in 65 years (No. 4 in the 1955-56 preseason poll). It marked the eighth time in program history that Iowa was 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 a contest pitting No. 1 against No. 3.
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.
JORDAN BOHANNON HOLDS 3 IOWA ALL-TIME RECORDS
Jordan Bohannon completed his fifth season as the program’s career leader in four statistical categories: assists (639), 3-pointers made (364), games played (143), and free throw percentage (.887, 290-327). His 364 triples are second most in Big Ten history behind Ohio State’s Jon Diebler (374) and 102 more than any other Hawkeye.
Bohannon is one of 30 Division I players over the last 25 years to make 75+ 3-pointers in four seasons.
Bohannon made five or more triples in a team-best seven games in 2020-21. He made multiple treys in seven of the last nine contests.
The honorable mention all-conference honoree 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 ranked first in the league in 3-point accuracy (.394) and second in 3-pointers made per game (2.58). He is was second in the conference in assist-to-turnover ratio (3.07) and fourth in assists per contest (4.4).
Bohannon’s 80 3-pointers in 2020-21 are fourth most and his 135 assists are ninth most by a senior in program history.
Eighty percent of his made field goals were 3-pointers (80-of-100). He is one of only 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).
He accumulated seven points-assists double-doubles, the most in school history. Bohannon registered a school-record eight games with 10 or more assists.
GIVE ME THREE OF THESE, PLEASE
Iowa established a new single-season 3-point field goals made record, sinking 301 to best the previous benchmark of 300 set four seasons ago in 2017. Iowa made 38.6 percent of its attempts (301-of-780), its highest percentage since the 1996-97 season (218-of-543). Iowa’s 38.6 percentage from long distance in 2020-21 is impressive considering the Hawkeyes attempted 237 more attempts than the 1997 squad. The school record for 3-point percentage in a single-season is 41.5 percent (188-of-453) in 1987-88; that team attempted 327 fewer 3-point shots.
IOWA VS. RANKED TEAMS
Iowa was 8-5 versus ranked teams in 2020-21. The eight victories tied Illinois and Kansas for third most by any team in the country during the 2020-21 season (Baylor, 11; Oklahoma State, 9). Additionally, the eight wins are the most by a Hawkeye team since 2006 (8).
The Hawkeyes have won 12 of its last 13 home games against AP ranked foes, with the line loss coming to No. 4 Ohio State on Feb. 4. That loss snapped Iowa’s nine-game win streak, the longest such streak in program history during the AP Poll era (since 1948-49).
The Hawkeyes have won 15 games over ranked foes the last two seasons, the most in the country, and 20 games over ranked opponents over the last three seasons, second most in the nation (Michigan State).
HAWKEYE FASTBREAKS
• The Hawkeyes posted 28 runs of 10-0 or better in 2020-21.
• Iowa’s Luka Garza (24.1) and Joe Wieskamp (14.8) combined to average 38.9 points per game, the fifth highest scoring duo in the country and second highest from a major conference: Oral Roberts (43.2), South Dakota (40.6), Detroit Mercy (39.6), LSU (39.3).
• Iowa amassed 12 combined Quad 1 (7) and Quad 2 (5) wins.
• 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 ranked second in the country in adjusted offensive efficiency (points scored per 100 possessions).
• Iowa ranked first in the Big Ten and fifth in the country in scoring offense in 2020-21, averaging 83.7 points per game. The Hawkeyes have led the Big Ten in scoring offense each of the last three seasons. Its 83.7 scoring average is the highest by a Hawkeye team since the 1988-89 season (89.6).
• Iowa’s 41.1 scoring average in the first half ranked third nationally, while its 42.2 second half average ranked 13th.
• Iowa is 109-26 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 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.
• 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.
• The Hawkeyes have won 70 of its last 75 nonconference home games, dating back to 2012.
• Iowa earned the No. 3 seed at the 2021 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 2020-21. 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 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’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 was 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 five NCAA tournaments over the last seven completed seasons (2014-16, 2019, 2021) and eight postseason tournaments over the last nine completed seasons (5 NCAA; 3 NIT).
QUIET CONFIDENCE
Small forward Keegan Murray, who was named to the five-player All-Big Ten Freshman Team, played with a quiet confidence when his name was called coming off the bench. National Player of the Year Luka Garza tabbed him “Nicholas Baer 2.0.”
He ranked fourth on the team in rebounding (5.1), second in blocks (39), and sixth in 3-pointers made (16). He was the team’s leading scorer (7.8) and rebounder (5.5) off the bench in league play.
Murray played in all 31 games, including four starts. He was one of only five players nationally — and only bench player — to amass 200+ points, 35+ blocks, 25+ steals, and 15+ 3-pointers. Murray scored in double figures seven times as a true freshman.
His 39 blocks tie for fourth most by a freshman in program history. Murray led the team in blocks 12 times and steals five times.
Murray totaled 13 points, seven rebounds, four blocked shots, three assists and one steal in Iowa’s first round win over Grand Canyon. No Hawkeye has posted that stat line in any NCAA Tournament game, and the four blocked shots were a career high.
Murray was instrumental in Iowa’s victory over No. 25 Wisconsin in the regular season finale; he accumulated 13 points, three blocks, and six rebounds, including three critical offensive boards.
The native of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, scored a personal-best 14 points and led the team in rebounding (9), steals (3), and blocks (3) in a win at Rutgers. Murray was a staggering +30, totaling 12 points, five rebounds, and a game-best two blocks in a triumph at Maryland. Murray’s plus-minus was the fourth highest of any Hawkeye in 2020-21 (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).
NUNGE SUFFERED 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 was the second time Nunge has suffered a season-ending knee injury in the last 16 months. He sustained a torn ACL on the same knee on Nov. 24, 2019, versus Cal Poly.
Nunge was the team’s leading scorer (7.1) and rebounder (5.3) off the bench.
IOWA HISTORY
Iowa has played 2,872 games since beginning basketball in 1902. Iowa’s overall record is 1,692-1,180 (.589). Iowa’s 1,692 wins are 36th most among Division I programs. That includes a 1,082-374 (.743) record in home games, a 610-806 (.431) record in contests away from Iowa City, a 802-805 (.499) mark in Big Ten games and a 486-148 (.766) record in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
PRECISION ATTACK
Iowa made 52 percent (13-of-25) of its 3-point attempts at Michigan State and 63 percent (12-of-19) at Wisconsin; the last time Iowa sank 52 percent of its 3-point attempts in consecutive games was 2004 against UNC Greensboro and Northern Iowa.
RAINING THREES
Three Hawkeyes sank five or more 3-pointers in Iowa’s victory over No. 16 North Carolina: Jordan Bohannon (7), CJ Fredrick (5), and Joe Wieskamp (5). It was the first time in UNC history that three opponent players made five or more triples in a game. It is also the only time in the last 25 years that three teammates (on any team) have made 5+ threes apiece — in regulation — against an AP Top 25 opponent.
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).
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.
