Game Notes: Iowa vs Penn State

THE SETTING
Iowa (13-5, 3-4) returns home on Saturday hosting Penn State (8-7,3-4). Tipoff is scheduled for 3:31 p.m. (CT) on Mediacom Court at Carver-Hawkeye Arena (15,056) in Iowa City, Iowa. 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 afternoon contest will be televised on Big Ten Network. Kevin Kugler, Nick Bahe, and Shane Sparks will call the action.

GAME #19 STORYLINES
• Saturday is Iowa’s annual Black & Gold Spirit Game; fans are encouraged to wear black or gold clothing depending on the section of their seat.
• Iowa and Penn State will play each other twice in 10 days. Following Saturday’s matinee, the two teams will meet in University Park on Monday, Jan. 31.
• The Hawkeyes are second in the country in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.86); third in fewest turnovers per game (8.9); and fifth in turnover margin (6.0).
• Iowa ranks No. 25 in the NCAA NET, while Penn State is ranked No. 85. The Hawkeyes have four Quad 2 victories on their resume. Four of Iowa’s five losses have come to teams ranked in the AP Top 20 (#4 Purdue, #8 Wisconsin, #15 Iowa State, and #17 Illinois).
• Keegan Murray is second in the country in points per game (23.3); 22nd in field goal percentage (.584); 41st in blocks per contest (2.1); and 47th in double-doubles (5). Murray is a three-time Big Ten Player of the Week honoree and selected to the Wooden Award Mid-Season Top 25 List and the Lute Olson National Player of the Year Watch List.
• Iowa’s 48-46 narrow defeat at Rutgers on Wednesday was just the third time in 90 games that Iowa lost a game when allowing 61 points or fewer in the Fran McCaffery era.
• Keegan and Kris Murray have all 11 of Iowa’s top individual scoring games this season. Keegan has 10, including the top four, while Kris has one.
• Iowa is second in the Big Ten and fifth nationally in scoring offense (83.9). The Hawkeyes have ranked first in the Big Ten in scoring offense the last three seasons. The Hawkeyes have led the conference in scoring four of the last eight seasons.
• Kris Murray leads the squad in 3-point accuracy, making 39.2 percent (20-of-51) of his attempts, while Jordan Bohannon is second (.357, 40-of-112). Bohannon is one of 20 players in NCAA history, and fifth player from a Power 5 Conference, to make 400 triples in a career.
• Jordan Bohannon is Iowa’s career leader in assists (665), free throw percentage (.885), games played (161), and 3-pointers (404). Bohannon is the NCAA all-time leader in games played (161).
• The Hawkeyes have had scoring runs of 10-0 or more a combined 15 times in 17 games.
• Jordan Bohannon (111) and Connor McCaffery (92) rank second and fourth, respectively, in most career wins among active Big Ten players.
• Iowa has been making the most of its trips to the foul line. The Hawkeyes are shooting 76.2 percent from the foul line. Iowa is tops in the Big Ten and 36th nationally in free throw accuracy. The 278 free throw makes are ninth most in the NCAA.
• 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.

RUTGERS EDGES IOWA IN PISCATAWAY
Ron Harper Jr. made two free throws with two seconds remaining to lift Rutgers to a 48-46 win over Iowa on Wednesday at Jersey Mike’s Arena in Piscataway, New Jersey.
• After Iowa won the last two games at Rutgers by two points (2019 and 2021), Rutgers prevailed by two points this time around.
• Wednesday (94 points) was the lowest scoring contest in the 12 games between Iowa and Rutgers, dating back to 1989. The previous low was 128 combined points in an 81-47 Hawkeye win on Feb. 19, 2015, in Iowa City.
• Keegan Murray registered his fifth double-double of the season with 13 points and 13 rebounds. He has posted double-doubles in four of the last seven games, including two straight. Murray’s 13 rebounds are the second most the sophomore has grabbed in a single game (21 versus N.C. Central on Nov. 16, 2021).
• Senior Filip Rebraca totaled eight points and 10 rebounds. The forward has reached double-digit rebounds three times this season, including the last two outings.
• Wednesday was the only regular season game between Rutgers and Iowa.
• Iowa’s starting five accounted for all 46 points. Wednesday marked the first time this season a Hawkeye reserve did not score.
• Ron Harper Jr. was the only Scarlet Knight to score in double figures (15 points).
• Iowa held Rutgers to a season-low 2-of-13 (.154) from 3-point range.

ALL-TIME SERIES RECORDS
Iowa holds a 32-18 advantage in the series versus Penn State. The Hawkeyes have won 12 of the last 19 meetings.

The Hawkeyes won last season’s only meeting, 74-68, in Iowa City on Feb. 21, 2021.

Iowa holds a commanding 19-4 advantage in games played at Iowa City, with all 23 meetings taking place in Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The Hawkeyes have won 14 of the last 15 games in Iowa City.

SCOUTING PENN STATE
• Penn State (85 NET Ranking) has alternated wins and losses the last four games. The Nittany Lions’ last outing was a 61-56 loss at Ohio State on Jan. 16. Penn State’s Wednesday game versus Minnesota was postponed due to positive COVID-19 results within the Minnesota program.
• Penn State dropped a 61-56 decision at Ohio State last Sunday. Sam Sessoms led the Nittany Lions in scoring with 15 points, while Jalen Pickett added 11 with a game-high five assists. Big men Greg Lee and John Harrar each pulled down eight boards and finished with nine and seven points, respectively. Penn State played without its leading scorer, Seth Lundy, who was unavailable and is “day-to-day.”
• Penn State has had four games either canceled or postponed due to COVID-19 safety protocols. Three nonconference games were canceled (VCU, Quinnipiac, Delaware State). This week’s game versus Minnesota was postponed.
• Three Nittany Lions average double figures in scoring: Seth Lundy (14.1), Jalen Pickett (13.3), and Sam Sessoms (12.1). John Harrar leads the squad in rebounds per game (9.9). Penn State’s top three 3-point weapons are Lundy (32-of-91, .352), Myles Dread (25-of-64, .391), Pickett (23-of-74, .311), Sessoms (19-of-41, .463).
• The Nittany Lions rank third in the conference in fewest fouls per game (15.1). Individually, John Harrar ranks 17th in the country in rebounds per game (9.9) and 47th in double-doubles (5). Jalen Pickett is 22nd nationally in minutes per game (36.2), 59th in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.3), and 87th in assists per contest (4.4).
• Micah Shrewsberry is in his first season as head coach at Penn State. Shrewsberry previously served as an assistant coach (2011-13) and associate coach (2019-21) at Purdue. He was also an assistant coach with the Boston Celtics for six seasons (2013-19).

LAST MEETING AGAINST PENN STATE
No. 11 Iowa erased a five-point halftime deficit to rally and win, 74-68, over Penn State on Feb. 21, 2021, in the only regular season meeting between the two teams.
• Luka Garza broke the program’s 32-year old all-time scoring record previously held by Roy Marble (2,116 in 134 games) with a second-half layup at the 8:18 mark. The All-American posted a double-double (23 points and 11 rebounds).
• Joe Wieskamp was Iowa’s second player to register a double-double (11 points and 11 rebounds). Wieskamp was limited to two first-half points but scored nine straight Iowa points to start the second half.
• Iowa held Penn State to only two field goals over the final 12:16 of the second half.
• Three Nittany Lions scored in double figures: Myreon Jones (11), Izaiah Brockington (11), and Myles Dread (10).

VALUING THE BASKETBALL
The Hawkeyes rank second in the country in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.86); third in fewest turnovers per game (8.9); and fifth in turnover margin (6.0).

McCaffery has continued his mastery of limiting turnovers in 2021-22 with 31 assists and only six turnovers, boasting a robust 5.17 assist-to-turnover ratio. Joe Toussaint’s 2.37 ratio is fifth best in the league and 44th 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.

KEEGAN MURRAY GARNERS HONORS
Keegan Murray has been selected to the Wooden Award Midseason Top 25, the Lute Olson National Player of the Year Award Midseason List, Sporting News Second Team All-American, and has been named Big Ten Player of the Week three times this season (Nov. 22; Dec. 20; Jan. 3).

The Hawkeyes have had a student-athlete named to the Wooden Award Mid-Season Top 25 three straight years and four of the last seven seasons. Former Hawkeye Luka Garza was the recipient of the 2021 John R. Wooden Award and was a finalist in 2020 award, while Jarrod Uthoff was a semifinalist in 2016. Garza was also the recipient of the 2021 Lute Olson Award.
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 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.

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 (665), 3-pointers made (404), games played (161), and free throw percentage (.885, 331-374). His 404 triples are the most in Big Ten history and 142 more than any other Hawkeye.

Bohannon (161) became the NCAA all-time leader in career games played at Wisconsin on Jan. 6, surpassing Ohio State’s David Lighty (157 games played between 2007-11). Bohannon ranks fourth in career scoring (1,829) and is 31 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).

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 23.3 points, while Kris averages 9.7 points. Keegan also ranks first on the squad in rebounds per game (8.4), blocks per game (2.1), and free throws made (63), while Kris ranks third on the squad in rebounds per contest (4.5), and first in 3-point accuracy (.392, 20-of-51).

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.

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.

Toussaint ranks 10th in the Big Ten in assists per game (3.9) and fifth in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.37). He has already surpassed his 3-point field goals made mark from a year ago at the midway point of this season (7).

The native of Bronx, New York, nearly registered his second points-assists double-double of the season on Jan. 3, 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.

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.

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).

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 121-27 when scoring 80 points or more, the last 12 seasons. The Hawkeyes are 87-3 when holding opponents to fewer than 61 points, the last 12 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 five twins on Division I rosters this season (Arizona State, San Diego State, SIUE, and Wisconsin).
• 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.
• Florida State has won an NCAA-record 13 straight overtime games, dating back to January, 2018. The last team to beat the Seminoles in overtime was Iowa (78-75) on Dec. 2, 2015, in Iowa City. That game featured 21 lead changes.

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.

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.