Game Notes: No. 25 Iowa vs. Michigan State

THE SETTING
Iowa (18-8, 8-7) will host Michigan State (18-8, 9-6) in the ony regular season meeting between the two teams on Tuesday. 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: Tuesday’s contest will be televised on ESPN. Jason Benetti and Rob Hummel will call the action.

GAME #27 STORYLINES
• Tuesday is the only regular season meeting between Iowa and Michigan State.
• Two-time National Player of the Year Luka Garza will be attendance on Tuesday as Iowa will retire the No. 55 at halftime of Tuesday’s game versus Michigan State. The UI athletics department will also be retiring the jerseys of former Hawkeye greats Charles “Chuck” Darling, Roy Marble and Murray Wier prior to the game.
• Fran McCaffery is one of four coaches to have recorded multiple regular season sweeps of Michigan State during Tom Izzo’s tenure (Steve Fisher, John Beilein, and Matt Painter).
• Iowa is one victory from notching its 500th win inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena, which opened in January, 1983. Iowa holds a 499-151 (.768) home record the past 39 years.
• Iowa is 4-1 since shifting Jordan Bohannon from off guard to point guard.
• The Hawkeyes boast a 13-3 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, who is averaging 27.6 points over the last five games, is the only player nationally to average 23+ points, 8+ rebounds, and 2+ blocks this season.
• The Hawkeyes are tops in the country in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.83); second in fewest turnovers per game (8.8); and fourth in turnover margin (5.6).
• Iowa ranks No. 19 in the NCAA NET, while Michigan State i ranked No. 28. The Hawkeyes have one Quad 1 and five Quad 2 wins on their resume. Four of Iowa’s eight losses are by a five point margin or less, all in conference play.
• Keegan Murray is third in the country in points per game (23.4); 27th in field goal percentage (.561); 41st in blocks per contest (2.08); and 80th in double-doubles (6). Murray is a four-time Big Ten Player of the Week honoree and is 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 leads the Big Ten and is fourth nationally in scoring offense (83.5). The Hawkeyes have ranked first in the Big Ten in scoring offense the last three seasons and have led the conference in scoring four of the last eight seasons.
• Jordan Bohannon is Iowa’s career leader in assists (681), free throw percentage (.887) and 3-pointers (427). He is the NCAA all-time leader in games played (169).
• Jordan Bohannon (116) and Connor McCaffery (97) 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 WIN AT NO. 18 OHIO STATE
– A 17-4 run early in the second half helped propel Iowa to an impressive 75-62 victory over No. 18 Ohio State Saturday afternoon at Value City Arena in Columbus, Ohio.
– Iowa notched its fifth victory on the road, including its fourth true road win.
– Saturday was Iowa’s first victory over a ranked opponent this season (1-4).
– The Hawkeyes handed the Buckeyes their first home defeat of the season (11-1).
– The reigning Naismith Trophy National Player of the Week, Keegan Murray, netted 20 of his game-high 24 points in the first half. Murray also totaled five rebounds, two assists, one block, and zero turnovers in 36 minutes of action. He has scored 20+ points a Big Ten-best 18 times.
Kris Murray (11) and Jordan Bohannon (10) also scored in double figures for the Hawkeyes, with Kris Murray scoring all 11 points in the final 12:15 of the game.
– Ahron Ulis gave the Hawkeyes a boost off the bench, with seven points, four rebounds and two assists.
– Saturday was the only regular season meeting between the two teams.
– Iowa has won its last two contests played against the Buckeyes in Columbus, Ohio (2021 & 2022).
– Iowa outrebounded Ohio State, 40-31, improving to 15-0 when outrebounding its foes this season. The Hawkeyes pulled down a season-high 20 offensive rebounds.
– Iowa’s defense held Ohio State to just 2-of-11 shooting from 3-point range. The 11 attempts are a season low by an Iowa opponent this season, while the two 3-point field goal makes matches a low by an opponent in 2022 (Rutgers).
– The Hawkeyes forced 14 Buckeye turnovers while committing eight (+6).
– Three Buckeyes netted double figures in points: Malaki Branham (22), E.J. Lidell (15), and Kyle Young (10).

ALL-TIME SERIES RECORDS
– Michigan State holds a 76-57 edge over Iowa in the series. The Hawkeyes swept the Spartans last season, winning in Iowa City (84-78) and East Lansing (88-58). It was just their second regular season sweep over Michigan State since the 1993-94 season (2015-16).
– The Spartans have won 14 of the last 19 overall meetings, dating back to 2011.
– Iowa holds a 36-26 advantage in games played against Michigan State in Iowa City. The teams have split the last six meetings in Carver-Hawkeye Arena, with the Hawkeyes winning the last two (2020 and 2021).
– Michigan State, in 1983, won the first basketball game ever played in Carver-Hawkeye Arena (61-59). The Hawkeyes returned the favor in East Lansing, 75-57.

SCOUTING MICHIGAN STATE
– Michigan State was ranked 19th nationally on Feb. 14, one spot below Iowa’s most recent opponent, Ohio State. The Spartans are No. 28 in the NET rankings and No. 27 in KenPom.
– Michigan State dropped its second straight game on Saturday, falling to league-leader and 12th-ranked Illinois by a 79-74 margin in East Lansing. The Spartans trailed 34-22 at halftime before a second half rally came up short.
– Reserve Tyson Walker led Michigan State with 26 points against Illinois. Walker made 10-12 field goal attempts, including all three 3-point attempts and all three free throws. Walker added five assists in his productive 26 minutes.
– Michigan State is led by a solid defense, as the Spartans rank first in the Big Ten in 3-point field goal percentage defense (30.2%) and blocked shots (5.5), second in field goal percentage defense (40.4%), and fourth in rebound margin (+5.65).
– Gabe Brown leads MSU’s balanced scoring attack with an 11.8 average, as he is the only Spartan to average in double figures. Malik Hall (9.8), Max Christie (9.7) and Marcus Bingham, Jr. (9.2) all average over nine points, while Bingham, Jr. leads MSU in rebounding at 6.1 per game, and blocked shots (2.4). Four additional Spartans average between 6.3 and eight points per game.
– While Iowa sophomore Keegan Murray has been named Big Ten Player of the Week on four occasions, Michigan State freshman Max Christie has been named Big Ten Freshman of the Week on five occasions.
– Tom Izzo is in his 27th season as head coach at Michigan State (661-262, .716).

LAST MEETING AGAINST MICHIGAN STATE
No. 15 Iowa cruised to an 88-58 victory over Michigan State on Feb. 13, 2021, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing, Michigan, to post a rare regular season sweep over the Spartans.
• Iowa’s 30-point win marks its largest margin of victory ever in games played in East Lansing and the Spartans’ worst home defeat in 46 years (1975).
• Iowa’s 88 points are the most points scored at Michigan State since 1993 (96-90 OT).
• The win was just Iowa’s second in its last 23 games in East Lansing (2016).
• Joe Wieskamp netted a game-best 21 points. Jack Nunge tied a career best with 18 points and posted game and career bests in rebounds (11) and assists (6).
• Iowa made 13 3-pointers, including eight in the first half. Wieskamp sank five treys, while Connor McCaffery drained a personal best four triples (season-high 16 points).
• Iowa led by as many as 34 points in the second half.
• Michigan State was led by Gabe Brown (15 points) and Aaron Henry (13 points).

NUMBER OF THE WEEK — 3
Iowa is seeking to become the first school to have a men’s basketball player lead the Big Ten in scoring three straight seasons since Purdue from 1968-70.

Iowa’s Luka Garza led the conference in scoring average in 2020 (26.2 ppg) and 2021 (21.9 ppg). Keegan Murray leads the league this season, averaging 23.4 points per game.

Purdue legend Rick Mount led the Big Ten in scoring in 1968 (29.7 ppg), 1969 (35.2 ppg), and 1970 (39.4 ppg).

IOWA HISTORY
Iowa has played 2,898 games since beginning basketball in 1902. Iowa’s overall record is 1,710-1,188 (.590). Iowa’s 1,710 wins are 36th most among Division I programs. That includes a 1,095-377 (.744) record in home games, a 615-811 (.431) record in contests away from Iowa City, an 810-812 (.499) mark in Big Ten games and a 499-151 (.768) record in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

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). 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 23.4 this season (+16.2). 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 Nebraska 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 then 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.

TWICE AS NICE
Sophomores Keegan and Kris Murray rank first and fourth, respectively, in team scoring. Keegan averages 23.4 points, while Kris averages 10 points. Keegan also ranks first on the squad in rebounds per game (8.2), blocks per game (2.08), and free throws made (98), while Kris ranks third on the squad in rebounds per contest (4.5), and first in 3-point accuracy (.392, 31-of-79).

JORDAN BOHANNON HOLDS 5 IOWA RECORDS
Jordan Bohannon, competing in his sixth season, is the program’s career leader in four statistical categories: assists (681), 3-pointers made (427), games played (169), and free throw percentage (.887, 344-388). 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 427 triples are the most in Big Ten history and 165 more than any other Hawkeye.
He has made 63 treys this season, fourth most among Big Ten student-athletes.

Bohannon (169) 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 427 career 3-point field goals made. He ranks third in career scoring at Iowa (1,915) and 10th in field goals made (572).

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 15-0 this season when outrebounding their opponents and 9-0 when Iowa shoots 50 percent or better from the field.
• The Hawkeyes have had scoring runs of 10-0 or more a combined 20 times in 26 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 39.2 percent (31-of-79) of his attempts, while Jordan Bohannon is second (.373, 63-of-169).
• Iowa has been making the most of its trips to the foul line. The Hawkeyes are shooting 75.2 percent from the foul line, which ranks third in the Big Ten and 53rd nationally. The 385 free throw makes are 55th most in the NCAA.
• 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.
• 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.

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 seven of the last 10 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 10 contests, including sinking three in both games against Penn State last month.

He added 13 points and five rebounds in the most recent loss to Michigan, including a basket to pull the Hawkeyes within three points with 1:20 remaining. He added seven points and five rebounds in Iowa’s win at No. 18 Ohio State.

STEALING THE ROCK
Iowa ranks first in the Big Ten and 75th nationally in steals per game (7.7). 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 (1.83); fifth in fewest turnovers per game (8.8); and fourth in turnover margin (5.6).

Connor McCaffery has continued his mastery of limiting turnovers in 2021-22 with 44 assists and only eight turnovers, boasting a robust 5.5 assist-to-turnover ratio. Joe Toussaint’s 2.49 ratio is third best in the league and 31st 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).

GUARD COMBINATION CONTRIBUTES
In addition to senior Jordan Bohannon scoring 10 points in the win at Ohio State, Iowa’s guard combination of Tony Perkins, Joe Toussaint and Ahron Ulis played well against the Buckeyes. That trio contributed 15 points, nine rebounds and three assists against Ohio State, with just two turnovers in a just under a combined 49 minutes of action.

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 Tuesday’s game.

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 this 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.

“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.

ON THE HORIZON
Iowa hits the road for a return game against Nebraska, Friday, Feb. 25. Tipoff is slated for 8:07 p.m. from Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, Nebraska.