Game Notes: Iowa vs Nebraska

Game Notes: Iowa vs Nebraska

OPPONENT Nebraska (7-17, 1-12) vs. Iowa (16-7, 6-6)
LOCATION Iowa City, Iowa (Carver-Hawkeye Arena)
DATE Sunday, Feb. 13 (GOLD OUT GAME)
TIP-OFF 1:01 p.m. (CT)
TICKETS $30 (Adults); $15 (Youth)
TV FS1
RADIO HAWKEYE RADIO NETWORK
LIVE STATS Live Stats

THE SETTING
Iowa (16-7, 6-6) is scheduled to host Nebraska (7-17, 1-12) on Sunday. Tipoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. (CT) on Mediacom Court at Carver-Hawkeye Arena (15,056) in Iowa City, Iowa. Tickets are available for purchase at hawkeyesports.com/tickets. Fans are encouraged to wear gold clothing on Saturday for the annual “Gold Out Game.”

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: Sunday’s game will be televised on FS1. Matt Schumacker and Nick Bahe will call the action.

GAME #24 STORYLINES
• Sunday is Iowa’s annual “Gold Out.” Fans attending are encouraged to wear gold clothing.
• Jordan Bohannon (30) and Keegan Murray (30) became the first Hawkeye duo to score 30+ points in the same game (Thursday night at Maryland) since Bruce King (36) and Scott Thompson (30) at Michigan on Jan. 31, 1976.
• Jordan Bohannon’s 30-point effort on Thursday moved the sixth-year senior past Aaron White (2012-15) and into third place in Iowa career scoring with 1,884 points.
• Iowa’s next three games are scheduled to be at home (Nebraska, Michigan, Michigan State).
• The Hawkeyes are tops in the country in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.85); second in fewest turnovers per game (8.8); and fourth in turnover margin (5.8).
• Iowa ranks No. 19 in the NCAA NET, while Nebraska is ranked No. 177. The Hawkeyes have one Quad 1 (Utah State) and four Quad 2 (Indiana, Minnesota, Virginia, Maryland) victories on their resume. Five of Iowa’s seven losses have come to teams ranked in the AP Top 25 this week, with another coming on in double overtime at Penn State.
• Keegan Murray is fourth in the country in points per game (22.7); 28th in field goal percentage (.561); 44th in blocks per contest (2.0); and 61st in double-doubles (6). Murray is a three-time Big Ten Player of the Week honoree and selected to the Wooden Award Late-Season Top 20 List, Naismith Trophy Midseason Team, Lute Olson National Player of the Year Watch List, and Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year Semifinalist.
• Iowa is second in the Big Ten and sixth nationally in scoring offense (83.4). 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 40.6 percent (28-of-69) of his attempts, while Jordan Bohannon is second (.375, 57-of-152). Bohannon is 12th in the NCAA with 421 career 3-point field goals made.
• Jordan Bohannon is Iowa’s career leader in assists (677), free throw percentage (.886) and 3-pointers (421). He is the NCAA all-time leader in games played (166).
• The Hawkeyes have had scoring runs of 10-0 or more a combined 17 times in 23 games.
• Jordan Bohannon (114) and Connor McCaffery (95) rank second and fifth, 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 75.6 percent from the foul line, which ranks second in the Big Ten and 44th nationally. The 347 free throw makes are 39th 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.

HAWKEYES COMPLETE SEASON SWEEP OVER TERRAPINS
Keegan Murray and Jordan Bohannon combined for 60 points in a 110-87 win over Maryland on Thursday at the Xfinity Center in College Park, Maryland, to complete the season sweep.
• Iowa’s 110 points are a season high, the most by either team in the 14-game series history and most by the Hawkeyes in a Big Ten game since 116 against Northwestern on Feb. 9, 1995.
• Jordan Bohannon drained a school-record 10 3-pointers, surpassing the school’s 28-year record previously set twice by Chris Kingsbury (9) in 1994. His 16 3-point attempts tied a personal high (16 versus North Carolina in 2020).
• Bohannon’s 10 triples are an Xfinity Center record and ties for second most by a Big Ten player. Bohannon’s previous high was eight 3-pointers (at Maryland in 2017 and vs Nebraska in 2021). Bohannon moved into 12th place in career treys in NCAA history.
• Iowa is the first team in Big Ten history to have one player make 10 3’s (Jordan Bohannon) and another player score 30 points (Keegan Murray) in a single game.
• The Hawkeyes poured it on in the second half by virtue of an 18-0 scoring run.
• Jordan Bohannon equaled his career high (versus UAB on Nov. 22, 2017), while Murray netted 30+ points for the third time this season. Murray has tallied 20+ points a team-best 15 times and 25+ an NCAA-best 10 times this season.
• Iowa made 19 3-pointers, which are the most by the Hawkeyes in a Big Ten game in program history, surpassing 16 made triples against the Terrapins on Feb. 25, 2017. The 19 triples were one shy of the school record and Big Ten record in a league game.
• Jordan Bohannon’s second 3-pointer of the first half moved him past Aaron White (2012-15) for third place in Iowa career scoring. Bohannon now has 1,884 points.
• Iowa has won four of the last five contests against Maryland, dating back to 2020.
• Iowa outrebounded Maryland, 37-28, improving to 13-0 when outrebounding its opponents.
• Iowa’s 57 first-half points were the most by the Hawkeyes in a Big Ten game this season.
• The Terrapins lost by 23 points despite shooting 53.8 percent from 3-point range (14-of-26). Fatts Russell led the Terrapins with 20 points and six assists.

ALL-TIME SERIES RECORDS
Iowa holds a 22-13 edge in the series. The Hawkeyes have won 10 of the 16 meetings since Nebraska joined the Big Ten in 2011, including last season’s only meeting, 102-64 in Iowa City on March 4, 2021.

Iowa owns a commanding 16-3 advantage in games in Iowa City. Sunday will be Nebraska’s 10th contest played in Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The Hawkeyes have won 13 of the last 14 contests in the series played in Iowa City, dating back to 1943.

SCOUTING NEBRASKA
• Nebraska posted its first Big Ten win of the season on Wednesday over Minnesota, 78-65. The Huskers shot 48 percent from the field and dominated the Gophers in the post, scoring 40 paint points. Alonzo Verge Jr. led all scorers with 22 points. C.J. Wilcher provided a spark off the bench draining three 3-pointers in 20+ minutes. The victory was Nebraska’s first since an 88-74 triumph over Kennesaw State on Dec. 22.
• The Huskers just completed a stretch of playing five of six games at home, dating back to Jan. 17. Five of Nebraska’s final seven contests will be contested on the road, beginning Sunday in Iowa City.
• Nebraska is winless away from Lincoln this season, dropping all seven games, including an 0-6 mark in true road contests.
• Two Huskers average double figures in scoring: Bryce McGowens (16.7 ppg) and Alonzo Verge Jr. (14.0 ppg). Derrick Walker leads the squad in rebounding (5.7) and blocks (1.0).
• The Huskers are 1-4 in games decided by six points or less, losing its last three.
• Nebraska ranks second in the Big Ten in steals per game (7.5); third in free throw attempts (473); and fourth in 3-point attempts (541) and turnover margin (1.8). Individually, Alonzo Verge Jr. ranks second in the league in assists per game (5.2). Bryce McGowens leads the Big Ten in free throws made (118) and attempted (143), and is third in percentage (.825).
• Fred Hoiberg is in his third season as head coach at Nebraska and his 16th season overall as a college head coach. Prior to three years as the Chicago Bulls head coach (2015-18), he was head coach at Iowa State for five seasons (2010-15).

LAST MEETING AGAINST NEBRASKA
Fifth-ranked Iowa cruised to a 102-64 victory over Nebraska on March 4, 201, at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City in the only regular season meeting between the two teams.
• The 102 points and 38-point margin of victory are the largest points total and margin of victory in the 35-game series history.
• Iowa’s 102 points were the most Iowa has scored in a Big Ten game since a 116-77 win against Northwestern on Feb. 8, 1995.
• The 38-point victory was Iowa’s largest margin in a conference game since a 39-point win over Northwestern (116-77) on Feb. 8, 1995.
• Jordan Bohannon finished the contest with a season-best 26 points. He tied a career high with eight 3-pointers (at Maryland, 2017).
• Luka Garza tallied 14 points, eight rebounds, and a game-best four blocks in only 24 minutes of action.
• Iowa sank 16 triples, its second highest total in a game last season (17 vs. North Carolina).
• Redshirt freshman Patrick McCaffery posted career bests in scoring (19), rebounds (6), and 3-pointers made (3).
• Redshirt junior Connor McCaffery dished out a game-best eight assists.
• The Huskers were led by Kobe Webster (17 points), Lat Mayen (14 points), and Dalano Banton (14 points). Webster (5) and Mayen (4) combined for nine of Nebraska’s 12 triples.

PATRICK McCAFFERY PLAYING HIS BEST BASKETBALL
Redshirt sophomore Patrick McCaffery has been playing his best basketball the past month. McCaffery has netted double figures in scoring six of the last seven games. He scored a season-high 18 points and tied a career high with seven rebounds in Iowa’s victory over Minnesota last Sunday afternoon. McCaffery has made at least one 3-pointer during the seven-game stretch, including sinking three in both games against Penn State last month.

MARGARET McCAFFERY TO RECEIVE DISTINGUISHED AWARD
Margaret McCaffery, wife of head coach Fran McCaffery, will receive the American Cancer Society’s distinguished St. George Award during Sunday’s game versus Nebraska in Iowa City.

The St. George Award is one of the highest volunteer honors of the American Cancer Society and is presented to outstanding volunteers nationwide who have made significant contributions to the American Cancer Society’s strategic goals.

Margaret has served on the ACS National Board of Directors since 2018. Margaret, along with Fran, have been a champion for the Coaches vs. Cancer program and have raised significant funds to support American Cancer Society efforts, including more than $4.5 million the past 20 years. In addition to their work with the American Cancer Society and Coaches vs. Cancer, the McCaffery’s helped spearhead the launch of the new Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) Cancer Program in Iowa City. The American Cancer Society awarded the McCafferys with the Fighting Spirit Award in 2015.

First conceived in 1949, the St. George National Award has been presented to more than 1,400 Society volunteers nationwide.

TWICE AS NICE
Sophomores Keegan and Kris Murray rank first and fourth, respectively, in team scoring. Keegan averages 22.7 points, while Kris averages 10 points. Keegan also ranks first on the squad in rebounds per game (8.5), blocks per game (2.0), and free throws made (88), while Kris ranks third on the squad in rebounds per contest (4.4), and first in 3-point accuracy (.406, 28-of-69).

KEEGAN MURRAY GARNERS NATIONAL ATTENTION
Keegan Murray has been selected to the Wooden Award Late-Season Top 20, Naismith Trophy Midseason Team, Lute Olson National Player of the Year Award Midseason List, Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year Award semifinalist, Sporting News and The Athletic Second Team All-America, and 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 Late-Season Top 20 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 has totaled 25 points or more an NCAA-best 10 times this year. He is also the only Hawkeye underclassman (freshman or sophomore) with three 30+ performances in a single season.

Murray exploded for a career-best 35 points versus Utah State. He scored 18 straight Iowa points spanning 6:08 in the first half. Murray was six points from the Sanford Pentagon scoring record.

Murray combined for 65 points in two games against Maryland. He amassed 35 points and eight rebounds on Jan. 3 and tallied 30 points on 12-of-14 shooting from the field and 4-of-7 from the foul line and grabbed seven rebounds at Maryland on Feb. 10.

Murray had a historic stat line against N.C. Central, registering 27 points, 21 rebounds, and four blocks. He became the fourth Hawkeye over the last five decades, and first since 1977, to score 20+ points and grab 20+ rebounds.

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

JORDAN BOHANNON HOLDS 5 IOWA RECORDS
Jordan Bohannon, competing in his sixth season, is the program’s career leader in four statistical categories: assists (677), 3-pointers made (421), games played (166), and free throw percentage (.886, 335-378). He sank a school and Xfinity Center record 10 3-pointers at Maryland on Feb. 10, 2022. The 10 triples were one shy of tying the Big Ten record. His 421 triples are the most in Big Ten history and 159 more than any other Hawkeye.

Bohannon (166) 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 third in career scoring (1,884) and is tied with Devyn Marble for 10th in career field goals made (564).

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.

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.

HAWKEYE FASTBREAKS
• The Hawkeyes are 13-0 this season when outrebounding their opponents and 8-0 when Iowa shoot 50 percent or better from the field.
• Sophomore Keegan Murray has totaled 25 points or more an NCAA-best 10 times this season. Murray is also the only Hawkeye underclassman (freshman or sophomore) with three 30+ performances in a single season.
• Iowa is 122-28 when scoring 80 points or more, the last 12 seasons. The Hawkeyes are 89-3 when holding opponents to fewer than 61 points, the last 12 years.
• 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 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).
• 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.
• 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.

STEALING THE ROCK
Iowa ranks first in the Big Ten and 58th nationally in steals per game (8.0). The last time a Hawkeye team led the conference in steals was during the 2016-17 season (8.1 per game).

VALUING THE BASKETBALL
The Hawkeyes are tops in the country in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.85); second in fewest turnovers per game (8.8); and fourth in turnover margin (5.8).

McCaffery has continued his mastery of limiting turnovers in 2021-22 with 35 assists and only seven turnovers, boasting a robust 5.0 assist-to-turnover ratio. Joe Toussaint’s 2.53 ratio is fourth best in the league and 29th 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).

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).

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.

IOWA HISTORY
Iowa has played 2,895 games since beginning basketball in 1902. Iowa’s overall record is 1,708-1,187 (.590). Iowa’s 1,708 wins are 36th most among Division I programs. That includes a 1,094-376 (.744) record in home games, a 614-811 (.431) record in contests away from Iowa City, an 808-811 (.498) mark in Big Ten games and a 498-150 (.768) record in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

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.