Game Notes: Iowa at Wisconsin

THE SETTING
Iowa (11-3, 1-2) hits the road for a Thursday contest at border-rival No. 23 Wisconsin (11-2, 2-1). Tipoff is scheduled for 8:07 p.m. (CT) at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wisconsin.

Thursday will be the only regular season meeting between the two teams. Both teams enter Thursday’s game on winning streaks; the Hawkeyes have won four straight, while the Badgers have won their last three.

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: Thursday’s contest will be televised on FS1. Kevin Kugler and Stephen Bardo will call the action.

GAME #15 STORYLINES
• Thursday will feature two of the Big Ten’s most improved players in Keegan Murray (Iowa) and Johnny Davis (Wisconsin). Murray totaled 35 points and eight rebounds, while Davis posted 37 points and 14 rebounds in wins Monday for their respective teams. Murray (24.5) and Davis (22.3) rank first and second in the NCAA, respectively, in scoring.
• Iowa ranks No. 27 in the NCAA NET, while Wisconsin is ranked No. 28.
• Thursday will be Iowa’s third game of the season against a ranked opponent, with all three contests coming on the road (#2 Purdue; #17 Iowa State; #23 Wisconsin).
• Thirteen of the last 20 meetings between Iowa and Wisconsin, dating back to 2011, have been decided by seven points or less, including two of three games last season.
• Iowa has limited its turnovers in each of the first 14 games. The Hawkeyes are second in the country in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.0); third in fewest turnovers per game (8.7); and ninth in turnover margin (6.1).
• Keegan Murray is tops in the country in points per game (24.5); 27th in field goal percentage (.592); 42nd in blocks per contest (2.0); and 48th in free throws made (54).
• Jordan Bohannon is Iowa’s career leader in assists (659), free throw percentage (.891), games played (157), and 3-pointers (396). Bohannon will become the NCAA all-time leader in games played on Thursday, surpassing Ohio State’s David Lighty (2007-11).
• 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).
• 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 44 percent (16-of-36) of his attempts, while Jordan Bohannon ranks second (.395, 32-of-81).
• Jordan Bohannon (109) and Connor McCaffery (90) 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. The Hawkeyes are shooting 78.2 percent from the foul line. Iowa is tops in the Big Ten and 12th nationally in free throw accuracy. The Hawkeyes have made (230) more free throws than their opponents have attempted (224). The 230 free throw makes are eighth most in the country.
• 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 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 BEAT MARYLAND, 80-75
Iowa earned its first Big Ten victory of the young season defending its home court Monday night against Maryland, 80-75, in Iowa City.
• The nation’s leading scorer and reigning Big Ten Player of the Week, Keegan Murray, led all scorers with 35 points, tying a personal best. Murray has tallied 20+ points 10 times and 25+ points an NCAA-best seven times this season. The native of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, also sank a personal-best five 3-point field goals.
• Junior point guard Joe Toussaint registered game bests in assists (9) and steals (3), and tallied nine points.
• Senior Filip Rebraca netted a season-high 13 points, to go along with eight rebounds.
• All five Maryland starters reached double figures, led by Eric Ayala’s 19 points.
• Iowa has won three of the last four meetings against the Terrapins.
• Iowa has won 23 of its last 26 home games, dating back to the start of last season.

ALL-TIME SERIES RECORDS
Thursday will be the 171st meeting between Iowa and Wisconsin. After a three-game sweep last season, Iowa leads the all-time series, 86-84. Last season’s three-game sweep was Iowa’s first regular season sweep over the Badgers since 2011-12.

Wisconsin holds a 53-30 advantage in games played in Madison. The Badgers have won 13 of the last 16 games contested in Madison. Iowa is 5-13 at the Kohl Center, winning there in 2011 (72-65), 2000 (61-55), 1998 (79-76), 2017 (59-57), and 2021 (77-62).

LAST MEETING AGAINST WISCONSIN
Fifth-ranked Iowa rallied to upend No. 6 seed Wisconsin, 62-57, in the Big Ten Tournament Quarterfinals on March 12, 2021, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
• Iowa advanced to the semifinals of the Big Ten Tournament for the first time since 2006.
• Luka Garza totaled 24 points, nine rebounds, three assists, and a game-best four blocks.
• Iowa rejected a season-best 10 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, including going 4-of-4 from the foul line in the final 17 seconds (both 1-and-1’s) to seal the victory.
• Iowa held Wisconsin to only one field goal over the final 9:20 of the second half.
• D’Mitrik Trice led the Badgers scoring 15 of his team-best 19 points in the second half. Trice made Wisconsin’s last six field goals of the game over the last 13:47.

SCOUTING WISCONSIN
• Wisconsin is 6-1 at home this season, with the one setback coming on Nov. 15 against Providence (63-58) in the Gavitt Games.
• The Badgers have had six games decided by five points or fewer, including their last three. Wisconsin is 4-1 in those contests, winning the last four.
• The Badgers upset third-ranked Purdue Monday evening in West Lafayette, Indiana, 74-69. Johnny Davis scored a career-high 37 points, including 27 in the second half, and added 14 rebounds. Davis is the fourth player over the last 25 seasons with 35+ points and 10+ rebounds in a win over a top-five opponent — and the first since Greivis Vasquez in 2009. Brad Davison netted eight of his 15 points over the final five minutes.
• Davis and Davison led the team in scoring, averaging 22.3 and 14.5 points per game, respectively. Davis also leads the Badgers in rebounding (7.2).
• The Badgers have two players who have made over 15 3-pointers this season: Davison (33) and Davis (16).
• Wisconsin ranks second in the NCAA in fewest turnovers per game (8.2) and 32nd in free throw percentage (.766). Individually, Davis ranks second in the country in points per game (22.3).
• Wisconsin assistant coach Dean Oliver was a three-time third-team All-Big Ten performer (1999-01) as a Hawkeye. Oliver’s 561 assists are fourth most in Iowa program history.
• Greg Gard is in his seventh season as collegiate head coach (130-72, .643). Gard has led the Badgers to the NCAA Tournament five of the last six seasons and a Big Ten regular season title in 2020.

KEEGAN MURRAY 3X BIG TEN PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Sophomore Keegan Murray has been named Big Ten Player of the Week three times this season (Dec. 20; Nov. 22; Jan. 3).

Murray and former Hawkeye and All-American Luka Garza are the only Hawkeyes to earn three Big Ten Player of the Week accolades in the same season since the award was started in 1981-82.

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.

Murray posted game bests in points (29), rebounds (10), and blocks (3), while also dishing out three assists in Iowa’s 92-71 win over Western Illinois on Dec. 29. He registered his third double-double of the season and shot a blistering 65 percent from the field, making 13-of-20 attempts.

VALUING THE BASKETBALL
The Hawkeyes rank second in the country in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.0); third in fewest turnovers per game (8.7); and ninth in turnover margin (6.1).

McCaffery has continued his mastery of limiting turnovers in 2021-22 with 28 assists and only five turnovers, boasting a robust 5.6 assist-to-turnover ratio. Ahron Ulis’ 2.93 ratio is second best in the league and 22nd 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 (659), 3-pointers made (396), games played (157), and free throw percentage (.891, 318-357). His 396 triples are the most in Big Ten history and 134 more than any other Hawkeye.

Bohannon (157) will become the NCAA all-time leader in career games played Thursday at Wisconsin, surpassing Ohio State’s David Lighty (157 games played between 2007-11). Bohannon ranks fourth in career scoring (1,788) and is 72 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, nearly registered his second points-assists double-double of the season on Monday against Maryland, totaling nine points and posting game bests in assists (9) and steals (3).

Toussaint 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 (3.85) and fourth in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.7). He has already surpassed his 3-point field goals made mark from a year ago through 14 games this season (5).

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.

TWICE AS NICE
Sophomores Keegan and Kris Murray rank first and fourth, respectively, in team scoring. Keegan averages 24.5 points, while Kris averages 9.2 points. Keegan also ranks first on the squad in rebounds per game (8.2), blocks per game (2.0), and free throws made (54), while Kris ranks third on the squad in rebounds per contest (4.7), and first in 3-point accuracy (.444, 16-of-36).

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.

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 119-27 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.

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.