Game Notes: Iowa vs Maryland

THE SETTING
Iowa (10-3, 0-2) steps back into conference play on Monday, hosting Maryland (8-4, ,0-1). Tipoff is slated for 8:07 p.m. on Mediacom Court at Carver-Hawkeye Arena (15,056). Tickets are $25 for adults and $15 for youth and UI Students. Terrace Club tickets are also available for purchase for $61.25.

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 on the Big Ten Network. Kevin Kugler and Brian Butch will call the action.

GAME #14 STORYLINES
• Iowa has won 22 of its last 25 home games, dating back to the start of last season.
• Iowa has limited its turnovers in each of the first 13 games. The Hawkeyes are second in the country in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.97); fifth in fewest turnovers per game (8.8); and eighth in turnover margin (6.5).
• The Hawkeyes are ranked No. 25 in the NCAA NET. Iowa has two Quad 2 victories. Maryland is ranked No. 116 in the NCAA Net. The Terrapins have one Quad 1 win.
• Keegan Murray is tops in the country in points per game (23.7); 40th in field goal percentage (.584); 44th in blocks per contest (2.0); and 45th in free throws made (52).
• Jordan Bohannon is back for his sixth season. He is Iowa’s career leader in assists (658), free throw percentage (.892), games played (156), and 3-pointers (395). Bohannon (1,780) surpassed Greg Stokes (1,768) and Acie Earl (1,779) for fourth place on Iowa career scoring list in the last game versus Western Illinois. He is 79 points from Aaron White (1,859) and third place.
• The Hawkeyes have had scoring runs of 10-0 or more a combined 14 times in 13 games.
• Kris Murray leads the squad in 3-point accuracy, making 47 percent (16-of-34) of his attempts, while Jordan Bohannon ranks second (.403, 31-of-77).
• Jordan Bohannon (108) and Connor McCaffery (89) rank second and fourth, respectively, in most career wins among active Big Ten players.
• 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.
• Iowa has been making the most of its trips to the foul line through 13 games. The Hawkeyes are shooting 79.3 percent from the foul line. Iowa is tops in the Big Ten and ninth nationally in free throw accuracy. The Hawkeyes have made (218) more free throws than their opponents have attempted (207). The 218 free throw makes are eighth most in the country.
• 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 five twins on Division I rosters this season (Arizona State, San Diego State, SIUE, and Wisconsin).
• 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.
• 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 WINS 3RD STRAIGHT GAME, BEATS WESTERN ILLINOIS
Four Hawkeyes scored in double figures in a 92-71 triumph over Western Illinois in Iowa’s nonconference finale last Wednesday evening in Iowa City.
• The nation’s leading scorer, Keegan Murray, poured in game bests in points (29) and rebounds (10) posting his third double-double of the season. Murray has tallied 20+ points nine times and 25+ points six times this season.
• Senior Jordan Bohannon scored his first field goal 51 seconds into the contest to surpass Greg Stokes for fifth all-time in Iowa scoring. He later passed Acie Earl in the second half for fourth place. Bohannon finished the game with 13 points.
• Freshman Payton Sandfort came off the bench and reached double figures for the second straight game and fourth time this season, netting 10 of his 13 points in the first half. Sandfort made half of Iowa’s 3-pointers, going a perfect 3-of-3 from long distance.
• Iowa dominated the transition game, outscoring the Leathernecks 31-2 in fast break points.
• The Hawkeyes out-blocked Western Illinois, 8-0
• The Hawkeyes netted 53 first-half points, marking the fourth game this season that Iowa scored 50+ points in the first half.
• Iowa held the Leathernecks to five 3-pointers made on 30 attempts. Western Illinois entered the game ranking 14th in the nation in 3-pointers made and 15th in 3-point attempts.
• Trenton Massner led the Leathernecks with 20 points, two steals, and a pair of assists.
• Iowa improved to 11-0 all-time against Western Illinois.

ALL-TIME SERIES RECORDS
Monday will be the 13th all-time meeting between Iowa and Maryland. The Terrapins own a 7-5 advantage in the series. The teams have split the last four overall meetings, dating back to 2019.

Monday will be Maryland’s fifth visit to Iowa City. Each team has won twice in games contested in Iowa City; the Hawkeyes won in 2015 and 2020, while the Terrapins were victorious in 2017 and 2019.

LAST MEETING AGAINST MARYLAND
A 35-7 scoring run to close the first half was more than enough to lift No. 5 Iowa to an 89-67 win over Maryland at the Xfinity Center in College Park, Maryland on Jan. 7, 2021.
• Iowa’s 89 points are the most Iowa has scored in the 12-game series. The 22-point win is the largest margin of victory by either team in the series.
• All-American center Luka Garza returned for his final collegiate game near his hometown of Washington, D.C. Garza finished with 24 points, seven rebounds, and four assists.
• Jordan Bohannon tallied 18 points, sinking a game-high six triples.
• Two Hawkeyes posted career bests. Connor McCaffery dished out 10 assists (0 turnovers), while Joe Toussaint was credited with six steals.
• Iowa made 13 triples, while Maryland drained 12 3-pointers.
• Iowa scored 20 straight points spanning 8:28 in the first half. Furthermore, the Hawkeyes scored 35 of the final 42 points over the last 12:51 (35-7 run).
• This was the only meeting between Iowa and Maryland last season.

SCOUTING MARYLAND
• Monday will be Maryland’s first true road contest of the season. The Terrapins are 6-3 at home and 2-1 in neutral-site contests.
• Maryland overcame a four-point halftime deficit to upend Brown University in its last outing, 81-67, last Thursday night in College Park, Maryland. The Terrapins outscored the Bears by 18 over the final 20 minutes. Eric Ayala registered a team-best 22 points. The Terrapins outscored Brown by 20 in the paint, shot 49 percent from the field and 81.5 percent from the foul line.
• Three Terrapins average double figures in scoring: Eric Ayala (14.9), Fatts Russell (12.3), and Donte Scott (11.3). Scott and Qudus Wahab lead the squad in rebounding (7.4).
• Maryland ranks fourth in the Big Ten in blocked shots per game (4.7), free throws made (192), free throw percentage (.762); and fifth in steals per contest (6.2).
• The Terrapins are 3-4 in games decided by nine points or less this season.
• Hakim Hart ranks second in the league and 59th nationally in steals per game (2.0).
• Mark Turgeon stepped down as Maryland’s head coach on Dec. 3, 2021, after 10+ seasons in College Park. Danny Manning has served as interim head coach its last four games, dating back to a 67-61 loss to Northwestern on Dec. 5. Manning was hired as an assistant coach by Turgeon on April 26, 2021. Manning and Turgeon played three seasons together at Kansas (1984-87).
• Iowa assistant coach Sherman Dillard began his coaching career at Maryland, spending six seasons (1979-85) as an assistant coach. Dillard helped coach the Terrapins to four 20-win seasons and five NCAA Tournaments. The 1980, 1984 and 1985 squads reached the Sweet 16, while the 1984 team won the ACC Tournament

TWICE AS NICE
Sophomores Keegan and Kris Murray rank first and fourth, respectively, in team scoring. Keegan averages 23.7 points, while Kris averages 9.8 points. Keegan also ranks first on the squad in rebounds per game (8.2), blocks per game (2.0), and free throws made (52), while Kris ranks third on the squad in rebounds per contest (5.0), and first in 3-point accuracy (.471, 16-of-34).

The Murray’s combined for 52 of Iowa’s 94 points versus Utah State. Keegan amassed a career-high 35 points, while Kris matched a personal best with 17 points against the Aggies. The duo also combined for 11 rebounds, four steals, and two blocked shots.

KEEGAN MURRAY 2X BIG TEN PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Sophomore Keegan Murray has been named Big Ten Player of the Week twice this season (Dec. 20 and Nov. 22).

Murray powered the Hawkeyes to a convincing 94-75 victory over Utah State on Dec. 18, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Murray exploded for a career-best 35 points. He scored 18 straight Hawkeye points spanning 6:08 in the first half. Murray was six points from the arena record. The native of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, also totaled a game-best seven rebounds and had two steals, one block, and an assist. Iowa was +22 when Murray was on the court against the Aggies.

Murray averaged 26.5 points, 13.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.5 blocks in a pair of wins over N.C. Central and Alabama State. He had a historic stat line against N.C. Central, totaling 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, Murray amassed 26 points, six rebounds, and a career-high four assists. He sank two of Iowa’s school-record 20 3-pointers in a 26-point win.

VALUING THE BASKETBALL
The Hawkeyes rank second in the country in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.97); fifth in fewest turnovers per game (8.8); and eighth in turnover margin (6.5).
McCaffery has continued his mastery of limiting turnovers in 2021-22 with 27 assists and only four turnovers, boasting a robust 6.75 assist-to-turnover ratio. Ahron Ulis’ 2.87 ratio is third best in the league and 28th 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 (658), 3-pointers made (395), games played (156), and free throw percentage (.892, 313-351). His 395 triples are the most in Big Ten history and 133 more than any other Hawkeye.

He is two games played from becoming the NCAA all-time leader (157 by Ohio State’s David Lighty, 2007-11). Bohannon ranks fourth in career scoring (1,780) and is 80 points from surpassing Aaron White (1,859) for third.

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 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 14th in the Big Ten in assists per game (3.5) and fifth in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.65). He has already surpassed his 3-point field goals made mark from a year ago through 13 games this season (4).

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.

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. He is one of three Big Ten players since the 2002-03 season with six consecutive 20-point games to start the season.
• 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 118-27 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).
• Iowa has won 77 of its last 82 nonconference home games, dating back to 2012.
• 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 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.

IOWA HISTORY
Iowa has played 2,885 games since beginning basketball in 1902. Iowa’s overall record is 1,702-1,183 (.590). Iowa’s 1,702 wins are 36th most among Division I programs. That includes a 1,090-375 (.744) record in home games, a 612-808 (.430) record in contests away from Iowa City, a 802-807 (.498) mark in Big Ten games and a 494-149 (.768) record in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

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).

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.