Game Notes: Iowa vs Utah State

THE SETTING
Iowa (7-3) will face Utah State (7-3) on Saturday on a neutral court. Tipoff is slated for 8:10 p.m. (CT) at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The game is sold out.

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 contest will be televised nationally on Big Ten Network. Cory Provus and Shon Morris will call the action.

HAWKEYES FALL AT NO. 17 IOWA STATE
Iowa dropped its third straight game for the first time since the final three contests of the 2019 regular season at No. 17 Iowa State (73-53) on Dec. 9, at Hilton Coliseum in Ames.
• Iowa State beat Iowa for the first time in four games. The home team has won 16 of the last 19 in the series, dating back to 2004.
• Senior Jordan Bohannon led the team in scoring for the second time this season, netting 17 points, bolstered by a team-best three 3-point field goals made.
• Iowa made a season-best 93.3 percent from the free throw line, missing only one attempt (14-of-15).
• Two of Iowa’s last three games have come against ranked opponents (No. 2 Purdue and No. 17 Iowa State), with both coming on the road.
• Iowa State leads the Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series, 10-9, after the results of last week’s events. There are three events remaining in the spring: women’s tennis (Feb. 18), women’s gymnastics (March 4), and softball (April 26).
• Senior transfer Izaiah Brockington led all scorers with 29 points to go along with a game-best 10 rebounds. Brockington made his first nine field goal attempts.

ALL-TIME SERIES RECORDS
Saturday will be the fourth all-time meeting between Iowa and Utah State. The Hawkeyes lead the series, 2-1.

Iowa recorded victories over the Aggies in 1950 in Iowa City (62-58) and in the first round of the 1983 NCAA Tournament in Louisville, Kentucky (64-59).

Utah State beat Iowa the last time the two schools played in 2007 (75-62), in a holiday tournament in South Padre Island.

SCOUTING UTAH STATE
• After starting the season 6-1, Utah State has lost two of its last three games. Two of the Aggies’ three losses have come by a combined five points (72-69 to UC Davis; 60-58 to Saint Mary’s).
• Utah State cruised to victory in its last outing, 82-50, last Saturday versus New Orleans. The Aggies will play at Weber State Wednesday evening prior to traveling to Sioux Falls.
• The Aggies finished second in the Mountain West with a 15-4 league record last season and earned their second straight trip to the NCAA Tournament. Texas Tech bounced No. 11 seed Utah State in the first round, 65-53.
• Two Aggies average double figures in scoring: redshirt senior Justin Bean (21.1) and fifth-year senior transfer Brandon Horvath (12.7). Bean also ranks fourth in the country in rebounding (11.6), second in double-doubles (7), sixth in field goal percentage (.656); first on the team in steals (19) and free throw shooting (.833, 40-of-48).
• Utah State ranks third in the nation in assists per game (19.9), 25th in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.49), and 36th in field goal percentage (.482).
• Saturday will be Utah State’s fifth game played on a neutral floor this season.
• First year head coach Ryan Odom spent the past five seasons at UMBC where he had a career record of 97-60 (.619) and one NCAA Tournament appearance. Odom and the Retrievers became the first #16 seed ever to defeat a #1 seed in the first round with a 74–54 victory over Virginia in 2018.

VALUING THE BASKETBALL
The Hawkeyes rank second in the country in fewest turnovers per game (8.3), and third in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.05) and turnover margin (7.8) through 10 games.
McCaffery has continued his mastery of limiting turnovers in 2021-22 with 23 assists and only three turnovers, boasting a staggering 7.7 assist-to-turnover ratio. Joe Toussaint’s 3.36 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).

At Virginia and versus Illinois, 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 against the Cavaliers are the fourth lowest in any Big Ten/ACC Challenge game.

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 (650), 3-pointers made (388), games played (153), and free throw percentage (.892, 305-342). His 388 triples are the most in Big Ten history and 126 more than any other Hawkeye.

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

He ranks sixth in career scoring (1,738) and is 31 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.

TWICE AS NICE
Sophomores Keegan and Kris Murray rank first and fourth, respectively, in team scoring. Keegan averages 22.2 points, while Kris averages 10.4 points. Keegan also ranks first on the squad in rebounds per game (7.9), blocks per game (2.2), and free throws made (40), while Kris ranks third on the squad in rebounds per contest (5.7), and first in 3-point accuracy (.464, 13-of-28).

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 on Nov. 29.

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 11th in the Big Ten in assists per game (3.7) and first in assist-to-turnover ratio (3.36). He has already surpassed his 3-point field goals made mark from a year ago through 10 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 0-2 against ranked opponents this season, losing both games on the road at No. 2 Purdue (77-70) and at No. 17 Iowa State (73-53).

Iowa’s eight victories versus ranked opponents 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.

IOWA HISTORY
Iowa has played 2,882 games since beginning basketball in 1902. Iowa’s overall record is 1,699-1,183 (.589). Iowa’s 1,699 wins are 36th most among Division I programs. That includes a 1,088-375 (.744) record in home games, a 611-808 (.430) record in contests away from Iowa City, a 802-807 (.498) mark in Big Ten games and a 492-149 (.768) record in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

McCAFFERY CLIMBING WINS CHART
Fran McCaffery and the Hawkeyes have reached 20 wins seven of the last nine seasons. McCaffery and Tom Davis (10) are the only Iowa coaches to win 20 or more games in at least seven seasons.

Among Iowa’s head basketball coaches, McCaffery ranks second in tournament appearances behind Davis (9). Davis is Iowa’s all-time winningest coach, while McCaffery is second.

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 115-27 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).
• 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).
• 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.

COACHING EXPERIENCE
Fran McCaffery has the most experienced coaching staffs in the country. The Iowa men’s basketball staff has 75 years of combined collegiate head coaching experience and more than 125 years of collegiate coaching under their belts.