| OPPONENT | Duke (8-2) vs. Iowa (6-1) — Jimmy V Classic |
| LOCATION | New York, N.Y. (Madison Square Garden) |
| DATE | Tuesday, Dec. 6 |
| TIP-OFF | 8:30 p.m. (CT) |
| RADIO | Hawkeye Sports Network |
| TV | ESPN |
The Setting
Iowa (6-1) will challenge No. 17 Duke (8-2) on Tuesday in the Jimmy V Classic. Tipoff will be approximately 8:30 p.m. (CT) at Madison Square Garden in New York.
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 nationally on ESPN. Dan Shulman, Dick Vitale, and Holly Rowe will call the action.
JIMMY V CLASSIC STORYLINES
- Iowa will be making its first-ever appearance in the Jimmy V Classic, while this will be Duke’s fourth appearance in the event (1998, 2001, 2016).
- Duke leads the all-time series over Iowa, 7-1. The last time the two teams met was in the 2001 ACC/Big Ten Challenge in Chicago (Duke won 80-62). Iowa’s only win over Duke came on Dec. 27, 1994 in the rainbow Classic in Honolulu (81-71).
- Kris Murray amassed 31 points, 20 rebounds, four assists, four 3-pointers, and two blocks in Iowa’s last game against Georgia Tech. He is the first Hawkeye to amass 30 points and 20 rebounds in the same game since Bruce King in 1977. He is also the only NBA, WNBA, or Division I men’s or women’s player in the last 20 years to total 30+ points, 20+ rebounds, 4+ assists, 4+ 3-pointers, and 2+ blocks in the same game.
- Fran McCaffery is in his 27th season as a head coach and is one victory from 500. He has amassed 248 wins at Iowa; 112 at Siena; 90 at UNC Greensboro; and 49 at Lehigh.
- Kris and his brother, Keegan, are the only brothers in Division I in the last 20 years to each have a 20-point/20-rebounds performance at the same school.
- Tuesday is the third of three contests against ACC opponents over a span of 12 days. Iowa beat Clemson on Nov. 25 (74-71) and Georgia Tech on Nov. 29 (81-65).
- Iowa is tops in the country in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.97).
- Iowa boasts an 18-4 record since moving Tony Perkins to the starting lineup last year (Feb. 6).
- Iowa ranks second in the Big Ten and 12th nationally in scoring offense (86.4). The Hawkeyes have led the league in scoring five of the last nine seasons, including the last four.
- Kris Murray and Patrick McCaffery were voted to the Emerald Coast Classic All-Tournament Team. Murray averaged a double-double (10.5 points, 11 rebounds), while McCaffery led the team with a career-high 21 points in Iowa’s three-point victory over Clemson.
- Iowa is the middle of six straight games against teams from Power 5 conferences.
- Kris Murray is the only Division I player over the last 25 years to have scored 95+ points, grabbed 30+ rebounds, had five or fewer turnovers, shot 60 percent from the field, and 100 percent from the foul line over any four-game span during a season. Murray accomplished the feat in the first four games earlier this month.
- Four Hawkeyes are shooting 50 percent or better from the field: Connor McCaffery (.571), Filip Rebraca (.533), Dasonte Bowen (.520), and Kris Murray (.514).
- Iowa won four games in four days to capture the 2022 Big Ten Tournament Championship, its third tournament title in program history and first since 2006.
- The Hawkeyes have won 42 games over Big Ten teams — including conference tournament contests — over the past three seasons, second most in the league (Illinois, 47).
- Fran McCaffery has coached a first-team All-Big Ten honoree seven of the last nine years. He has guided Iowa to 20+ wins eight of the last 10 seasons, including four-straight.
SCOUTING DUKE
- The Blue Devils are 8-2 overall with their two losses coming to ranked opponents on neutral floors: No. 6 Kansas, 69-64, and No. 24 Purdue, 75-56.
- Tuesday will be Duke’s fifth contest on a neutral floor this season (2-2).
- Duke’s roster consists of seven freshmen, two sophomores, two juniors, and four graduate students.
- The Blue Devils have been one of the nation’s best in rebounding margin, averaging 9.9 more rebounds than their opponents.
- Duke is currently shooting at 43 percent from the field, 30.5 percent from 3-point range, and 77 percent from the free throw line.
- Freshman center Kyle Filipowski ranks first in the ACC in double-doubles and sixth nationally (5). He recorded the first three double-doubles in the first three games of his college career. Filipowski is second in the conference and 10th nationally in rebounds (93).
- Junior guard captain Jeremy Roach returns for his junior season after being the starting point guard on the 2022 Final Four squad. Roach was named preseason first-team All-ACC. He averages 12.2 points per game and 2.4 boards.
- Head Coach Jon Scheyer is in his first year at the helm of the Blue Devils. A former Duke All-American himself, Scheyer replaces Hall of Fame head coach Mike Krzyzewski. Scheyer has been on the team’s staff since the 2013-14 season.
HAWKEYES BEAT GEORGIA TECH IN FINAL ACC/BIG TEN CHALLENGE GAME
Four Hawkeyes scored in double figures, led by Kris Murray’s 31 points, in an 81-65 victory over Georgia Tech Tuesday evening in Iowa City.
- Iowa won eight of the final 10 ACC/Big Ten Challenge games, including five straight at home.
- Kris Murray recorded his fourth double-double in five games, reaching double-digit rebounds and points in the first 13:15 of the game. Murray finished the contest with 31 points and career bests in rebounds (20) and assists (4). Murray has netted 20+ points four of the last six contests.
- The last Hawkeye to total 30+ points and 20+ rebounds in a game was Bruce King versus Ohio State on Jan. 27, 1977 (31 points; 21 rebounds).
- The last time a Hawkeye pulled down 20 or more rebounds in a game was Kris’ brother Keegan versus N.C. Central on Nov. 16, 2021. Tuesday’s 20-rebounding performance marks the 25th time in program history that the feat was accomplished.
- Murray’s 31 points and 20 rebounds are both the most by a Hawkeye in an ACC Challenge game. The 20 rebounds tie Justin Champagnie (Pitt in 2020) for the most by any player in a Challenge game and are the most by any Big Ten player.
- Connor McCaffery posted his first career double-double (10 points; 10 rebounds). The 10 rebounds are a season best for the Hawkeye senior.
- Iowa improved to 2-1 all-time against the Yellow Jackets.
IOWA IN THE GARDEN
Tuesday will be Iowa’s 11th game at Madison Square Garden and first appearance since winning the 2018 2K Empire Classic with victories over Oregon and Connecticut.
Iowa’s first appearance in the Garden was when the Hawkeyes competed in the 1999 Coaches vs. Cancer Classic, beating top-ranked Connecticut before falling to Stanford.
Other appearances include two games in the 2018 Big Ten Tournament (beat Illinois and lost to Michigan); two contests in the 2014 2K Empire Classic (lost to Texas and Syracuse); two games in the 2013 Postseason NIT (beat Maryland and lost to Baylor in the championship).
LEADER OF THE PACK
Connor McCaffery is Iowa’s career leader in assist-to-turnover ratio, amassing a 3.42 ratio in 140 career games (424 assists; 124 turnovers), nearly 1.0 above second-place Andre Banks (2.53). His assist-to-turnover ratio last year was 5.0, while he ranked fourth nationally in 2021 with a 3.73 ratio. In 202, he led the country with a 4.6 ratio.
CLEANING THE GLASS
Through seven games, Iowa is averaging 40.3 rebounds per game, an average that ranks 36th nationally. Iowa’s top rebounders are Kris Murray (10.6) and Filip Rebraca (8.0). The Hawkeyes have averaged 40+ rebounds per game just once over the last 25 seasons; Iowa’s 2013-14 squad finished the season averaging 40.3 rebounds per contest.
MURRAY NAMED TO PRESEASON LISTS
Junior Kris Murray has been named to the Big Ten Preseason All-Big Ten Team, the Wooden Award Top 50, and the Karl Malone Award.
It marks the fourth straight season that one or more Hawkeyes have been selected to the preseason all-conference squad, voted upon by a selected panel of media. Joe Wieskamp was selected in 2019 and 2020, Luka Garza was tabbed the Big Ten Preseason Player of the Year in 2020, while Kris’ twin brother Keegan was recognized in 2021. Keegan was also the recipient of the 2022 Karl Malone Award.
Murray is averaging a team-best 21 points per game this season, he has made 22-of-26 from the free throw line, and ranks tops on the squad averaging 10.6 rebounds per outing. Murray has increased his scoring average by 11.3 points per game this season compared to last year. His scoring average of 21 points per contest is second best in the Big Ten and 14th nationally.
He was Iowa’s leading scorer (9.7) and rebounder (4.3) off the bench last season. He improved his scoring average by 9.1 points and rebounding average by 3.7 per outing. The native of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, was second on the team in 3-point percentage (.397), blocks per game (0.9) and field goals made (124), third in offensive (1.6) and defensive (2.7) rebounds per contest, and fourth in steals (0.8) per game. Murray made at least one 3-pointer in a team-best 17 consecutive games (Jan. 22-March 13). His 31 blocks and 43 triples rank seventh and eighth, respectively, by a Hawkeye sophomore.
IOWA SCHEDULE NOTES
- The Hawkeyes will play back-to-back conference road games four times.
- Iowa has a stretch of four straight home contests in December (ISU, Wisconsin, SE Missouri State and Eastern Illinois).
- Iowa has seven weekend home contests (three on Saturdays and four on Sundays), including six against Big Ten opponents. The Hawkeyes have home games inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena on a Saturday or Sunday four of the final six weekends of the regular season.
- The Hawkeyes have a stretch of four of five league home games in early January. Iowa will host Indiana (Jan. 5), Michigan (Jan. 12), Maryland (Jan. 15) and Northwestern (Jan. 18).
- Iowa is scheduled to play at Penn State on New Year’s Day. The Hawkeyes have played on New Year’s Day 10 previous times, most recently in 2017, versus Michigan in Iowa City. Prior to 2017, Iowa’s last New Year’s Day contest was in 1946 versus Saint Louis. The last time the Hawkeyes played a road game on New Year’s Day was at Toledo in 1940.
- Iowa has three trips to the Tri-State Area, traveling to New Jersey twice (Nov. 16 at Seton Hall and Jan. 8 at Rutgers) and New York once (Dec. 6 versus Duke at Madison Square Garden).
- Iowa will play on Super Bowl Sunday for the fourth straight season and sixth time in eight years, playing its only regular season game against Minnesota in Minneapolis on Feb. 12.
- Five of Iowa’s final eight league games will be on the road.
HAWKEYES WELCOME NEWCOMERS
Iowa welcomes four new faces to the 2022-23 roster: Dasonte Bowen, Josh Dix, Dante Eldridge, and Amarion Nimmers.
Bowen and Dix are true freshman, hailing from Boston and Council Bluffs, respectively. Eldridge and Nimmers are non-scholarship student-athletes. Eldridge, a junior, is the son of assistant coach Courtney Eldridge.
ANOTHER SIXTH-YEAR PLAYER
After six seasons and multiple broken records, Jordan Bohannon has exhausted his collegiate eligibility. Bohannon is the program’s career leader in four statistical categories: assists (704), 3-pointers made (455), games played (179), and free throw percentage (.887, 370-417). He sank a school and Xfinity Center record 10 3-pointers at Maryland on Feb. 10, 2022. His 455 triples are the most in Big Ten history and 192 more than any other Hawkeye.
Connor McCaffery decided to utilize his COVID bonus year and return for his sixth season with the Hawkeyes.
McCaffery is averaging 5.4 points and 3.6 rebounds per game, and has made 9-of-15 (.600) from 3-point range this season. He posted his first career double-double in Iowa’s last outing versus Georgia Tech (10 points; 10 rebounds).
FRAN MCCAFFERY CONTINUES TO WIN
- With Iowa’s Big Ten Tournament win last March, McCaffery joined Hall of Fame coaches Rick Pitino, Bob Huggins, Eddie Sutton and Lefty Driesell as the only Division I coaches to lead teams to conference tournament titles in four or more different leagues.
- Fran McCaffery has guided Iowa to 20 wins or more in eight of the last 10 seasons. He has led Iowa to Big Ten upper division finishes nine of the last 10 years. Iowa, Michigan State, and Wisconsin have each recorded a Big Ten-best nine first division finishes since 2013.
- Fran McCaffery has coached a first-team All-Big Ten honoree seven of the last nine seasons. He has guided Iowa to 20+ wins seven of the last nine seasons and fifth place or better finishes in the Big Ten six of the last eight years.
STAFF CHANGES
Fran McCaffery has a couple changes to his staff following last season. Assistant Coach Kirk Speraw retired and Assistant Coach Billy Taylor left for a head coaching position at Elon. Replacing Speraw and Taylor are Courtney Eldridge and Matt Gatens. Eldridge was on staff the previous six seasons, most recently as director of player development and recruiting director. Gatens is a former Hawkeye and most recently was an assistant coach at Drake.
Tristan Spurlock, who played basketball at UCF, is the new Director of Player Development. Al Seibert’s title changed to Chief of Staff, while Kyle Denning is now the team’s Director of Operations.
STRONG START FOR PATRICK MCCAFFERY
Patrick McCaffery netted double figures in scoring 11 of the last 18 games played last season. He made at least one trey in 12 of the last 18 games, including sinking multiple triples in six contests during that stretch. McCaffery has carried that momentum over to his junior season, netting double figures and making at least one triple in five of Iowa’s first six games of the season. McCaffery scored a personal-best 21 points in back-to-back games last week (North Carolina A&T on Monday and Clemson on Friday).
PROFESSIONAL HAWKEYES
A number of recent Iowa basketball graduates are playing professionally: Keegan Murray (NBA Sacramento Kings), Luka Garza (G League Iowa Wolves), Jordan Bohannon (G League Iowa Wolves), Joe Wieskamp (G League Wisconsin Herd), Jarrod Uthoff (Japan), Devyn Marble (Poland), Tyler Cook (G League Salt Lake City Stars), Anthony Clemmons (Turkey), Gabriel Olaseni (Turkey), Ryan Kriener (Matsuyama), Melsahn Basabe (Nicaragua), and Aaron White (Serbia).