Game Notes: Iowa vs Michigan

THE SETTING
Iowa (17-7, 7-6) remains home on Thursday, hosting Michigan (13-10, 7-6). Tipoff is scheduled for 6:01 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.

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 game will be televised on ESPN. Brian Custer and Jon Crispin will call the action.

GAME #25 STORYLINES
• Iowa is one victory from notching its 500th win inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena, which opened in January, 1983. Iowa holds a 499-150 (.769) home record the past 39 years.
• The Hawkeyes boast a 13-2 record in home games this season. Iowa has won 14 home contests each of the last three years. The Hawkeyes have averaged just over 13 home victories inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena since Fran McCaffery’s arrival in Iowa City in 2011.
• Keegan Murray earned Naismith Trophy National Player of the Week and Big Ten Co-Player of the Week honors after averaging 33.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, two blocks, and 1.5 steals in a pair of wins last week over Maryland and Nebraska. Murray is the first Hawkeye to score 30+ points in back-to-back Big Ten games since Matt Gatens 10 years ago in 2012 (30 vs. Indiana and 33 vs. Wisconsin).
• Keegan Murray, who scored a combined 67 points in two games last week, is the only player nationally to average 23+ points, 8+ rebounds, and 2+ blocks this season.
• Jordan Bohannon (30) and Keegan Murray (30) became the first Hawkeye duo to score 30+ points in the same game (at Maryland) since Bruce King (36) and Scott Thompson (30) at Michigan on Jan. 31, 1976.
• The Hawkeyes are tops in the country in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.86); second in fewest turnovers per game (8.8); and fourth in turnover margin (5.8).
• Iowa ranks No. 19 in the NCAA NET, while Michigan is ranked No. 36. The Hawkeyes have five Quad 2 victories on their resume. Four of Iowa’s seven losses have come to teams ranked in the AP Top 25 this week, with another coming on in double overtime.
• Keegan Murray is fourth in the country in points per game (23.3); 23rd in field goal percentage (.570); 43rd in blocks per contest (2.04); and 67th in double-doubles (6). Murray is a four-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 fourth nationally in scoring offense (84.0). 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.
• 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).
• Jordan Bohannon (115) and Connor McCaffery (96) rank second and fifth, respectively, in most career wins among active Big Ten players.
• 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 CRUISE TO VICTORY OVER NEBRASKA
Iowa led by as many as 36 points in a 98-75 triumph over Nebraska on Sunday in Iowa City.
• Sunday’s victory was Iowa’s third straight over Nebraska in the series and ninth consecutive over the Huskers inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
• Iowa’s 98 points are the second most by either team in the 36-game series history (102 by Iowa in 2021).
• The Hawkeyes have scored 90+ points against the Huskers in five of the last six contests, dating back to 2019.
• Keegan Murray netted 24 of his game and career-high 37 points in the first half. The 37 points are the third highest total by any men’s basketball player in Carver-Hawkeye Arena history (45 by Brian Quinnett of Washington State in 1986; 41 by Iowa’s Luka Garza in 2020). The 37 points tie the highest point total by a Big Ten player this season (Kofi Cockburn and Johnny Davis).
• Sunday marked the second straight game that the Hawkeyes made 39 field goals, which tie for the fifth most in a game in the Fran McCaffery era (2011-present).
• Sophomore Keegan Murray has tallied 30+ points four times, the most by any underclassman in a single season in program history. Murray has scored 20+ points a team-best 16 times and 25+ an NCAA-best 11 times this season.
• Iowa outrebounded Nebraska, 41-35, improving to 14-0 when outrebounding its opponent this season.
• The Hawkeyes shot 51 percent from the field (39-of-76) and improved to 9-0 when shooting 50 percent or better from the field.
• Payton Sandfort netted 12 points, the most points by the true freshman in a Big Ten game. He also snagged a personal-best eight rebounds.
• The Huskers were led by Derrick Walker (14 points, 6 rebounds) and Bryce McGowens (11 points).

ALL-TIME SERIES RECORDS
Michigan holds a 97-65 edge in the series. The Wolverines won the only meeting last season, 79-57, in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Iowa owns a 40-37 edge in games played in Iowa City. The Hawkeyes hold a 19-14 advantage in games played in Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Iowa won the last time these two teams met in Iowa City: 90-83 on Jan. 17, 2020. Four of the last 10 Iowa-Michigan games played in Iowa City have gone to overtime, dating back to 2009.

SCOUTING MICHIGAN
• After playing four games in eight days, Michigan (36 NET Ranking) has not played since a 68-57 setback to nationally-ranked Ohio State last Saturday in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
• The Wolverines dropped their last outing, 68-57, to rival Ohio State on Feb. 12, in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Both teams only made four 3-point field goals, but the Buckeyes (16) made 11 more free throws than Michigan (5). Eli Brooks (17 points) and Hunter Dickinson (14 points) led the Wolverines.
• Thursday’s game will feature two of the longest tenured Big Ten players — Michigan’s Eli Brooks (148 career games, Michigan record) and Iowa’s Jordan Bohannon (167 career games, NCAA record).
• Michigan is 2-1 in one-possession games this season.
• Michigan ranks 29th in the country in rebound margin (+6.2) and 44th in field goal percentage (.470). Hunter Dickinson ranks 25th in the country in field goal percentage (.567); DeVante’ Jones is 59th in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.22)
• Three starters average double figures in scoring: Hunter Dickinson (18.1), Eli Brooks (12.3), and Caleb Houstan (10.2). Dickinson also leads the squad in rebounding (8.2) and blocked shots per game (1.2).
• Two Wolverines have made 35+ 3-pointers: Caleb Houstan (40) and Eli Brooks (39).
• Former Michigan All-American Juwan Howard is in his third season as a collegiate head coach (55-27, .671). Howard previously spent the last six years with the Miami Heat. Prior to beginning his coaching career, Howard played 19 years in the NBA, including winning back-to-back NBA championships with Miami in 2012 and 2013. Howard helped lead the Wolverines to Final Four appearances in 1992 and 1993.

LAST MEETING AGAINST MICHIGAN
No. 3 Michigan remained perfect at home with a 79-57 triumph over ninth-ranked Iowa on Feb. 25, 2021, at the Crisler Center in the only meeting between the two teams last year.
• The Wolverines led the Hawkeyes by three (32-29) at halftime and outscored the Hawkeyes by 19 in the second half.
• Luka Garza netted a team-high 16 points and was credited with a season-best three steals. Jordan Bohannon tallied 13 points and Joe Wieskamp had 11.
• Forward Jack Nunge suffered a season-ending injury to his right leg in the first half and did not return. Guard Connor McCaffery pulled down a season-best eight rebounds before leaving the game in the second half with a lower leg injury and did not return.
• Franz Wagner (21), Isaiah Livers (16), and Hunter Dickinson (14) combined for 51 of Michigan’s 79 points.

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, Big Ten Player of the Week four times this season (Nov. 22; Dec. 20; Jan. 3; Feb. 14), and the Naismith Trophy Player of the Week (Feb. 14).

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 has earned the Big Ten weekly honor a program-best four times (Nov. 22; Dec. 20; Jan. 3; Feb. 14). Luka Garza previously held the school record for most Big Ten weekly accolades since the inception of the award during the 1981-82 season (three times in 2020-21).

Murray has totaled 25 points or more an NCAA-best 11 times this year. He is also the only Hawkeye underclassman (freshman or sophomore) with four 30+ performances in a single season.
Murray averaged 7.2 points per game last year and is averaging 23.3 this season (+16.1). The last Big Ten player to increase his scoring by 16 points per game from one season to the next was Illinois’ Rick Schmidt, who went from 3.8 ppg in 1972-73 to 21.4 ppg in 1973-74 (+17.6).

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 poured in a game and career-best 37 points, six rebounds, and a game bests in steals (3) and blocks (2) against the Huskers on Feb. 13. The 37 points are believed to be the third most by any men’s basketball player in Carver-Hawkeye Arena’s 39-year history (45 by Brian Quinnett of Washington State in 1986; 41 by Iowa’s Luka Garza in 2020). The 37 points tie the highest point total by a Big Ten player in a game this season (Kofi Cockburn and Johnny Davis).

Murray is the first Hawkeye to score 30+ points in back-to-back Big Ten games since Matt Gatens 10 years ago in 2012 (30 vs. Indiana and 33 vs. Wisconsin).
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 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.

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 eight games. He scored a season-high 18 points and tied a career high with seven rebounds in Iowa’s victory over Minnesota on Feb. 6. McCaffery has made at least one 3-pointer in six of the last eight contests, including sinking three in both games against Penn State last month.

TWICE AS NICE
Sophomores Keegan and Kris Murray rank first and fourth, respectively, in team scoring. Keegan averages 23.3 points, while Kris averages 10.1 points. Keegan also ranks first on the squad in rebounds per game (8.4), blocks per game (2.0), and free throws made (92), while Kris ranks third on the squad in rebounds per contest (4.5), and first in 3-point accuracy (.408, 29-of-71).

IOWA HISTORY
Iowa has played 2,896 games since beginning basketball in 1902. Iowa’s overall record is 1,709-1,187 (.590). Iowa’s 1,709 wins are 36th most among Division I programs. That includes a 1,095-376 (.744) record in home games, a 614-811 (.431) record in contests away from Iowa City, an 809-811 (.499) mark in Big Ten games and a 499-150 (.769) record in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

JORDAN BOHANNON HOLDS 5 IOWA RECORDS
Jordan Bohannon, competing in his sixth season, is the program’s career leader in four statistical categories: assists (680), 3-pointers made (423), games played (167), and free throw percentage (.887, 337-380). 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 423 triples are the most in Big Ten history and 161 more than any other Hawkeye.

He has made 59 treys this season, fourth most among Big Ten student-athletes.

Bohannon (167) 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 is 12th in the NCAA with 421 career 3-point field goals made. He ranks third in career scoring at Iowa (1,894) and 10th in field goals made (567).

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 previous 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 a perfect 14-0 this season when outrebounding their opponents and 9-0 when Iowa shoots 50 percent or better from the field.
• The Hawkeyes have scored 50+ points in the first half each of the last two games (57 at Maryland; 53 vs. Nebraska).
• The Hawkeyes have had scoring runs of 10-0 or more a combined 19 times in 24 games.
• Sophomore Keegan Murray has totaled 25 points or more an NCAA-best 11 times this season. Murray is also the only Hawkeye underclassman (freshman or sophomore) with four 30+ performances in a single season.
• Iowa is 123-28 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.
• 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).
• Iowa has been making the most of its trips to the foul line. The Hawkeyes are shooting 75.8 percent from the foul line, which ranks second in the Big Ten and 40th nationally. The 357 free throw makes are 50th most in the NCAA.
• 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).
• 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.
• The Hawkeyes have won 10 or more Big Ten games six of the last seven previous seasons.
• The Hawkeyes have won seven of their last nine, including four straight, Big Ten/ACC Challenge games.
• 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).
• 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 53rd nationally in steals per game (8.1). 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 (1.86); 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 38 assists and only eight turnovers, boasting a robust 4.75 assist-to-turnover ratio. Joe Toussaint’s 2.5 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).

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.

SPOTLIGHTING JORDAN BOHANON’S RECORD PERFORMANCE
Jordan Bohannon added another school record to his collegiate resume on Feb. 10, 2022, at Maryland.

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).

The 10 triples are an Xfinity Center record and ties for second most by a Big Ten player ever. 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.

Bohannon finished the contest with 30 points in 30 minutes, tying his career high (versus UAB on Nov. 22, 2017).

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.

LUKA GARZA’S NO. 55 TO BE FORMALLY RETIRED ON FEB 22
The University of Iowa Athletics Department will formally retire two-time National Player of the Year Luka Garza’s No. 55 at halftime of the Iowa-Michigan State men’s basketball game on Tuesday, Feb. 22. Garza will be in attendance for the recognition.

The athletics department will also be retiring the jerseys of former Hawkeye greats Charles “Chuck” Darling, Roy Marble and Murray Wier. Family member(s) of Wier and Marble will be in attendance for recognition, which will take place prior to the game.

Additionally, all other retired numbers and jerseys for the Iowa men’s and women’s basketball programs will be hanging from the Carver-Hawkeye Arena rafters beginning next week.

• Men’s Basketball: B.J. Armstrong (#10) Ronnie Lester (#12), Carl Cain (#21), Bill Seaberg (#22), Bill Logan (#31), Bill Schoof (#33), Chris Street (#40), Greg Stokes (#41), Sharm Scheuerman (#46)

• Women’s Basketball: Michelle Edwards (#30), Megan Gustafson (#10)

Garza swept all major postseason men’s basketball awards in 2021 (Wooden, Naismith, Associated Press, Oscar Robertson, NABC, Lute Olson, Sporting News) to become the program’s first consensus National Player of the Year. Garza is Iowa’s only two-time unanimous consensus first-team All-American and only recipient in program history of the Big Ten Jesse Owens Male Athlete of the Year.

He was also named national player of the year by six national outlets in 2020, as well being a two-time honoree of the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year and Pete Newell Big Man of the Year awards.

“Congratulations to Luka, Murray, Chuck and Roy. Their accomplishments are well documented, and this recognition is well deserved,” said Gary Barta, Henry B. and Patricia B. Tippie Director of Athletics Chair. “This conversation reemerged with the incredible success of Megan and Luka. I’m pleased we took the opportunity to look back at our history, and moving forward all of men’s and women’s honorees will be recognized in the rafters of Carver-Hawkeye Arena.”

“We look forward to honoring Luka Garza and his family,” said Iowa head coach Fran McCaffery. “Luka epitomizes everything that you want in your program. Not just Hawkeye fans, but college basketball fans across the country appreciated his achievements on and off the court for four years, and the way he pursued his dreams.

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).

MARGARET McCAFFERY RECEIVES DISTINGUISHED AWARD
Margaret McCaffery, wife of head coach Fran McCaffery, received the American Cancer Society’s distinguished St. George Award during last 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.

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.

ON THE HORIZON
Iowa will head to Columbus, Ohio, for a rescheduled game against No. 18 Ohio State on Saturday, Feb. 19. Tipoff is slated for 1:30 p.m. (CT) at Value City Arena with the game being televised on FOX.