Game Notes: Iowa vs Illinois

THE SETTING
Iowa (7-1, 0-1) returns home after back-to-back road games hosting border-rival Illinois (6-2, 1-0) on Monday. Tipoff is slated for 6 p.m. (CT) on Mediacom Court at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa.

Tickets are $35 for adults, $20 for youth and UI Students, and $61.25 for Terrace Club at hawkeyesports.com/tickets.

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: Monday’s game will be televised nationally on FS1. Kevin Kugler and Stephen Bardo will call the action.

BIG TEN HOME OPENER STORYLINES
• Monday is Illinois’ first visit to Carver-Hawkeye Arena since Feb. 2, 2020. The Hawkeyes have won three of the last four over the Fighting Illini in Iowa City, including two straight.
• Iowa has won 34 of its last 38 home contests, dating back to the 2019-20 season.
• The Hawkeyes have had scoring runs of 10-0 or more a combined 11 times in eight games.
• Iowa has limited its turnovers in each of the first eight games. The Hawkeyes rank fourth in the country in turnovers per game (8.4), second in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.15), and fifth in turnover margin (7.5).
• Keegan Murray ranks second in the country in points per game (24.6) and 47th in rebounds per game (8.9). Murray missed Iowa’s last game at No. 2 Purdue on Friday after sustaining a right ankle injury in the closing minutes at Virginia (Nov. 29).
• Kris Murray is leading the team in 3-point accuracy, making 59 percent of his attempts, (13-of-22). Kris was 2-of-4 from long distance Friday night at Purdue.
• Jordan Bohannon sank his 375th career 3-pointer on Nov. 18, to surpass Ohio State’s Jon Diebler (2008-11) to become the Big Ten’s all-time 3-point leader.
• Sophomore forward Keegan Murray is one of three Big Ten players since the 2002-03 season with six consecutive 20-point games to start the season.
• Iowa has been making the most of its trips to the foul line through eight games. The Hawkeyes are shooting 79.4 percent from the foul line. Iowa is second in the Big Ten and 14th nationally in free throw accuracy. The Hawkeyes have made (139) more free throws than their opponents have attempted (115).
• 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 years. 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.
• Iowa is the only Division I program with two sets of brothers on the 2021-22 roster, with one being identical twins. Connor and Patrick McCaffery are two years apart, while Keegan and Kris Murray are identical twins. The Murray twins are one of four twins on Division I rosters this season (Arizona State, San Diego State, and SIUE).
• Jordan Bohannon is back for his sixth season. He is Iowa’s career leader in assists (648), free throw percentage (.890), games played (150), and 3-pointers (385). He ranks sixth in career scoring (1,713), surpassing B.J. Armstrong last game.
• 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.

HAWKEYES FALL AT SECOND-RANKED PURDUE
No. 2 Purdue made 12 more free throws than Iowa in a 77-70 Boilermaker victory in both team’s Big Ten opener at Mackey Arena in West Lafayette on Friday.
• Iowa was without the nation’s second-leading scorer, Keegan Murray (24.6 ppg). The sophomore suffered a right ankle injury in the final minutes of Monday’s win at Virginia.
• Indianapolis native Tony Perkins scored 12 of his 14 points in the first half. The sophomore guard has reached double figures in scoring four of the last six contests.
• Patrick McCaffery netted 12 of his team-high 15 points in the second half. The redshirt sophomore has scored in double figures in all but one game played this season.
• Sophomore Josh Ogundele played a season-high 16 minutes, posting career-bests in scoring (7) and rebounding (5).
• Kris Murray started his first collegiate game in place of his brother, Keegan. Kris finished the contest with 12 points.
• Iowa’s defense forced 17 turnovers, scoring 20 points off the Boilermaker miscues.
• A game that featured the top two offenses in the country, both teams were held to season lows in scoring.
• Jaden Ivey and Trevion Williams led Purdue. Ivey netted a game-best 19 points, while Williams totaled 13 points and a game-best 18 rebounds. Williams’ 17 defensive rebounds set a school record.

ALL-TIME SERIES RECORDS
Illinois holds an 88-76 advantage in the series. The Fighting Illini have won three straight, including both meetings last year, after the Hawkeyes won five in a row.

Iowa holds a 56-22 advantage in games played in Iowa City, including a 21-12 margin in Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The Hawkeyes have won the last two meetings in Iowa City, dating back to 2019. Illinois’ last victory in Carver-Hawkeye Arena was a 70-66 triumph on Feb. 18, 2017.

SCOUTING ILLINOIS
• Illinois enters Monday’s contest having won four consecutive contests. Most recently, the Fighting Illini bounced Notre Dame (82-72) and Rutgers (86-51) in Champaign last week.
• Monday is Illinois’ only road game over a 23-day stretch (Nov. 26-Dec. 18).
• The Fighting Illini cruised to an 86-51 triumph over Rutgers in its Big Ten opener Friday night in Champaign. Illinois made 48.5 percent of its field goals, while the Scarlet Knights were held to 31 percent. Alfonso Plummer led all scorers with 24 points, while Kofi Cockburn totaled 13 points and 15 rebounds.
• Three Illini average double figures in scoring: Kofi Cockburn (24.0), Alfonso Plummer (15.1), and Jacob Grandison (11.3). Cockburn’s 10.6 rebounding average is second in the league. Plummer (24), Grandison (11), and Trent Frazier (11) combine for 46 of the team’s 69 3-pointers made.
• Andre Curbelo (9.3 ppg) has played in four of Illinois’ eight games. His last game played was versus Kansas State on Nov. 23.
• Illinois ranks eighth in the country in rebounding margin (+12.4). Individually, Alfonso Plummer is tied for first in the nation in free throw percentage (23-of-23, 1.000) and 41st in 3-point field goals made per game (3.0).
• Brad Underwood is in his fifth year as head coach at Illinois (77-58, .570). Underwood arrived at Illinois from Oklahoma State, where he led the Cowboys to the 2017 NCAA Tournament. Prior to his one-year at Oklahoma State, he led Stephen F. Austin to the Southland Conference regular season and tournament titles in each of his three seasons.

LAST MEETING VERSUS ILLINOIS
Illinois beat Iowa, 82-71, in the semifinals of the 2021 Big Ten Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. The Illini ultimately went on to win the conference tournament.
• Luka Garza registered team bests in points (21), rebounds (12), and steals (3).
• Jordan Bohannon amassed 20 points, bolstered by a game-best five 3-pointers, to go along with a team-best six assists.
• 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.
• Kofi Cockburn totaled 26 points and eight rebounds, while Andre Curbelo contributed 12 points and seven rebounds for the Illini.

VALUING THE BASKETBALL
The Hawkeyes rank second in the country in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.15), fourth in fewest turnovers per game (8.4) and fifth in turnover margin (7.5) through eight games.

McCaffery has continued his mastery of limiting turnovers in 2021-22 with 21 assists and only two turnovers through eight games, boasting a staggering 10.5 assist-to-turnover ratio. Joe Toussaint’s 3.8 ratio is tops in the league and 19th nationally.

Iowa ranked first in the nation in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.02) last season. The Hawkeyes had two players ranked high nationally in assist-to-turnover ratio. 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).

In Iowa’s outing at Virginia last Monday, the Hawkeyes committed a season-low four turnovers, tying the third fewest total in a single-game in the Fran McCaffery era. The four turnovers are the fewest by a Hawkeye team since three versus Temple on March 18, 2016, in the NCAA Tournament.

TWICE AS NICE
Sophomores Keegan and Kris Murray rank 1-2 in team scoring. Keegan averages 24.6 points, while Kris averages 11.7 points. Keegan also ranks first on the squad in rebounds per game (8.9), blocks per game (2.3), and free throws made (36), while Kris ranks third on the squad in rebounds per contest (5.7), and first in 3-point accuracy (.591, 13-of-21).

The Murray’s combined for a season-high 43 points, eight rebounds, six assists, and one block against Alabama State on Nov. 18.

JORDAN BOHANNON HOLDS 4 IOWA ALL-TIME RECORDS
Jordan Bohannon, competing in his sixth season, is the program’s career leader in four statistical categories: assists (649), 3-pointers made (385), games played (151), and free throw percentage (.890, 299-336). His 385 triples are the most in Big Ten history and 123 more than any other Hawkeye.

He is seven games played from becoming the NCAA all-time leader (157 by Ohio State’s David Lighty, 2007-11).

He ranks sixth in career scoring (1,717) and is 52 points from surpassing Greg Stokes (1,768) for fifth.

Bohannon, an honorable mention all-conference honoree in 2021, is one of 30 Division I players over the last 25 years to make 75+ 3-pointers in four seasons. Bohannon ranked first in the league in 3-point accuracy (.394) and second in 3-pointers made per game (2.58) in 2021. He 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 2021 are fourth most and his 135 assists are ninth most by a senior in program history.

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 has accumulated seven points-assists double-doubles, the most in school history. Bohannon registered a school-record eight games with 10 or more assists.

TOUSSAINT RETURNS TO STARTING LINEUP
Junior Joe Toussaint has been a good floor general so far this season. After starting 20 games in 2019, his role changed to coming off the bench last year with a roster filled with upperclassmen.

The native of Bronx, New York, scored the game-winning bucket with eight seconds remaining at Virginia last Monday night.
He was all over the floor in the opener versus Longwood tallying nine points, four assists, and four of Iowa’s six steals. Against Alabama State, he totaled a career-high 11 assists and a season-high 11 points.

Toussaint ranks eighth in the Big Ten in assists per game (4.2) and first in assist-to-turnover ratio (3.8). He has already surpassed his 3-point field goals made mark from a year ago through eight games this season (4).

KEEGAN MURRAY TABBED BIG TEN CO-PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Sophomore Keegan Murray was named the Big Ten Co-Player of the Week on Nov. 22.

Murray averaged 26.5 points, 13.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.5 blocks in a pair of convincing victories. The native of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, was a combined 19-of-35 (.543) from the field and 13-of-15 (.867) from the foul line.

Murray had a historic stat line against N.C. Central on Nov. 16. The forward totaled 27 points, 21 rebounds, and four blocks against the Eagles. He became the fourth Hawkeye over the last five decades, and first since 1977, to score 20+ points and grab 20+ rebounds in a game.

Against Alabama State on Nov. 18, Murray amassed 26 points, six rebounds, and a career-high four assists. Murray sank two of Iowa’s school-record 20 3-pointers in a 26-point win.

SPOTLIGHTING KEEGAN MURRAY’S DOMINATING EFFORT
Keegan Murray posted 27 points, 21 rebounds, four blocks, and two assists in Iowa’s win over North Carolina Central on Nov. 16. He accomplished something that has not been done in over four decades by a Hawkeye.

Murray is the first Hawkeye to total 25+ points and 20+ rebounds in a game since Bruce King in 1977. King had 31 points and 21 rebounds vs. Ohio State in 1977.

Murray is one four players over the last five decades to post a 20-20 game: Kevin Kunnert (24-23) vs. Illinois in 1972; Fred Haberecht (29-20) vs. Wisconsin in 1975; Bruce King (42-20) vs. Pittsburgh in 1976; Bruce King (31-21) vs. Ohio State in 1977.

The last Big Ten player to have a 20-20 performance was Purdue’s Trevion Williams at Michigan on Jan. 9, 2020 (36-20).

Murray is the first Hawkeye since Greg Brunner in 2006 to grab 20+ rebounds in a game; Brunner had 23 against Minnesota on Jan. 18, 2006. Murray is the first major conference player with 27+ points, 21+ rebounds, and 4+ blocks since Kansas State’s Michael Beasley versus Sacramento State on Nov. 9, 2007.

IOWA VS. RANKED TEAMS
Iowa is 0-1 against ranked opponents this season, dropping its last outing at No. 2 Purdue (77-70).

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 won 15 games over ranked foes the previous two seasons, the most in the country.

Iowa won seven contests against ranked opponents in 2019-20, the most by any team nationally.

RECENT GRADUATES PLAYING PROFESSIONAL BASKETBALL
A number of recent Iowa basketball graduates are playing professionally: Joe Wieskamp (NBA San Antonio Spurs), Luka Garza (NBA Detroit Pistons), Jarrod Uthoff (Japan), Devyn Marble (Israel), Tyler Cook (NBA Chicago Bulls), Anthony Clemmons (Italy), Gabriel Olaseni (Turkey), Ryan Kriener (Matsuyama), Bakari Evelyn (Germany), Peter Jok (France), Melsahn Basabe (Puerto Rico), and Aaron White (Serbia).

KEEGAN MURRAY TABBED PRESEASON ALL-BIG TEN
Sophomore forward Keegan Murray was named to the 2021-22 Big Ten Preseason Player of the Year.

It marks the third straight season that one or more Hawkeyes have been selected to the preseason list, voted upon by a selected panel of media. Joe Wieskamp was selected in 2019 and 2020, while Luka Garza was tabbed the Big Ten Preseason Player of the Year in November 2020.

Murray is one of the league’s top emerging players after being named to the five-player All-Big Ten Freshman Team a year ago. The Cedar Rapids, Iowa, native was one of only five players nationally — and only bench player — to amass 200 points, 35 blocks, 25 steals, and 15 3-pointers. He was the team’s leading scorer (7.8) and rebounder (5.5) off the bench in conference play. Murray led team in blocks 12 times and steals five times. The 6-foot-8 forward was second on the team in steals (26) and ranked 11th in the Big Ten in blocked shots per game (1.26). His 39 blocks tie for fourth most by a freshman in program history.

Murray totaled 13 points, seven rebounds, four blocks, three assists, and a steal in Iowa’s first-round victory over Grand Canyon to become the first Hawkeye ever to stuff the stat sheet with those numbers in an NCAA Tournament contest.

HAWKEYE FASTBREAKS
• Keegan Murray and Kansas State’s Michael Beasley (2007-08) are the only two players from a major conference to score 24+ points in each of their first five games of the season over the last 15 years.
• Iowa posted school single-game records in 3-pointers made (20) and attempted (44) against Alabama State on Nov. 18, besting the previous records of 19-of-43 against Savannah State on Dec. 22, 2018. Iowa’s 20 3-pointers made equals the Carver-Hawkeye Arena record (20 by Purdue on Jan. 20, 2018).
• The Hawkeyes topped the century mark in three of its first five games (Longwood, Alabama State, Western Michigan). The last time an Iowa team scored 100+ points in three of its first five games was the start of the 1997-98 season.
• Iowa is 115-26 when scoring 80 points or more, the last 12 seasons. The Hawkeyes are 87-2 when holding opponents to fewer than 61 points, the last 12 years.
• Iowa ranked first in the Big Ten in scoring offense for the third straight season; Iowa’s 83.7 points per game average in 2021 is its highest since the 1988-89 season (89.6). The Hawkeyes have led the conference in scoring four of the last eight seasons.
• The Hawkeyes have won seven of their last nine, including four straight, Big Ten/ACC Challenge games.
• Virginia has allowed 75+ points at home only six times under head coach Tony Bennett. Iowa has accounted for two of those six (75 in 2021 and 75 in 2013).
• Iowa committed a season-low four turnovers, tying the third fewest total in a single-game in the Fran McCaffery era and fourth lowest total in any Big Ten/ACC Challenge game. The four turnovers are the fewest by a Hawkeye team since three turnovers versus Temple on March 18, 2016, in the NCAA Tournament.
• The Hawkeyes have won 10 or more Big Ten games six of the last seven seasons.
• Iowa has won an NCAA Tournament game each of its last four tournament appearances.
• 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).
• 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).
• Jordan Bohannon, Bob Hansen, Kevin Boyle, and Mark Gannon are the only Hawkeyes to win four games over the Cyclones.