MBB Game Notes: at Purdue

GAME #24 STORYLINES

• The Boilermakers have won nine of its last 10 contests, while the Hawkeyes have won seven of their last nine, dating back to Jan. 5, 2023.
• Thursday will be the only meeting between the two teams this season.
• Iowa won three games last week against teams who were in second place in the Big Ten standings at the time: Rutgers (Sunday), Northwestern (Tuesday), and Illinois (Saturday).
• Iowa has seven Quad 1 wins on its resume, which ties Xavier, Baylor and Iowa State for fourth most in the nation. Purdue and Kansas are tied for first with nine, while Texas is third with eight.
• Only two teams nationally have made more than 75 free throws than their opponents have attempted: Purdue (121) and Iowa (80).
• For the first time in history, Iowa men’s basketball (at No. 1 Purdue) and Iowa women’s basketball (at No. 2 Indiana) will be playing top-five opponents on the same day.
• Entering this week’s schedule, Iowa is tied with Michigan with the fourth most Big Ten regular season wins over the last three seasons (32); Purdue and Illinois are tied for first (38).
• Filip Rebraca has reached double digits in scoring 15 of 17 games, including netting 15+ points in eight of Iowa’s last 13. Rebraca and Purdue’s Zach Edey are two of 10 players nationally to average 13+ points, 8+ rebounds, 1+ blocks, while shooting 56 percent or better from the field.
• Fran McCaffery (122) is four wins from tying Tom Davis (126) for the most regular season Big Ten victories in program history.
• Iowa is tops in the Big Ten and 17th nationally in scoring offense (81.5). The Hawkeyes have led the league in scoring five of the last nine seasons, including the last four.
• Forward Kris Murray’s 21.3 scoring average in conference play (11 games) is third in the league. Murray was tabbed midseason third team All-America by Sporting News and is on the Wooden Award Late Season Top 20 List. In home games that Murray has played this season, Iowa is 10-0, averaging 23.2 points in those 10 home contests.
• The Hawkeyes are 9-1 this season when making nine or more 3-pointers in a game.
• Kris Murray has scored 30+ points four times this season (30 vs. Indiana; 32 at Penn State; 31 vs. Georgia Tech; 30 vs. Omaha). Murray is one of 14 players nationally with four or more 30-point performances, including one of three from the Big Ten (Purdue’s Edey; Indiana’s Jackson-Davis). He is one of four Hawkeyes to score 30+ at least four times in the Fran McCaffery era joining Luka Garza (13), Keegan Murray (5), and Peter Jok (5).
• Iowa is ninth in the country in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.56), 13th in fewest turnovers per game (10.4), 19th in assists per game (16.3), and 28th in fewest fouls per game (14.5) and
• Kris Murray was named the ESPN Men’s Basketball National Player of the Week and Big Ten Co-Player of the Week on Dec. 5. He amassed 31 points, 20 rebounds, four assists, four 3-pointers, and two blocks in Iowa’s win over Georgia Tech. He is the first Hawkeye to amass 30 points and 20 rebounds in the same game since Bruce King in 1977. Murray 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.

SCOUTING PURDUE

• Purdue (4 NET Ranking) enters Thursday’s game 22-2 overall and 11-2 in league play. The Boilermakers’ most recent contest was a road loss against then-No. 21 Indiana, 79-74.
• Purdue is 5-1 at home in Big Ten play; its home wins came to Minnesota, Nebraska, Maryland, Michigan State, and Penn State, with their lone sertback coming to Rutgers.
• Seven of Purdue’s Big Ten contests have been decided by one or two possessions (5-2).
• The Boilermakers are first in the conference and in the country in rebound margin (11.7) and win percentage (91.7, tied with FAU and Houston). Purdue is first in the league in fouls per game (4th nationally, 13.4), offensive rebounds per game (34th nationally, 12.33), rebounds per game (20th nationally, 39.33), and scoring margin (13th nationally, 13.0).
• Junior center Zach Edey is ranked first in the Big Ten and nationally in double-doubles (19), rebounds (303), and offensive rebounds per game (5.65). Edey is also first in the conference in field goals (4th nationally, 202), points (7th nationally, 516), points per game (4th nationally, 22.4), and rebounds per game (2nd nationally, 13.2). He leads the team in blocks (50).
• Freshman guard Braden Smith is ranked second in the conference in free throw percentage (29th nationally, 87.5). He is fourth in the Big Ten in assists (105) and assist/turnover ratio (2.44). He leads the squad in steals (28).
• The Boilermakers are shooting 43.6 percent from the field, 33.9 percent from 3-point range, and 75 percent from the free-throw line.
• Matt Painter is in his 18th season as head coach of the Boilermakers. Painter was previously at Southern Illinois as an assistant coach. Since starting at Purdue Painter has been named Big Ten Coach of the Year four times, and averages almost 23 wins a year.

ALL-TIME SERIES RESULTS

Purdue holds a 94-78 advantage in the series. The Boilermakers have won six of the last eight in the series. The Boilermakers won both regular season meetings last season, but the Hawkeyes topped Purdue in the Big Ten Tournament championship game in March.

The Boilermakers hold a 62-22 advantage in games played in West Lafayette. Purdue has won 11 of the last 12 contests over the Hawkeyes inside Mackey Arena. Iowa’s last victory at Mackey Arena came on Jan. 2, 2016 (70-63).

LAST MEETING AGAINST PURDUE

Iowa outscored ninth-ranked Purdue 12-4 over the final 2:45 to post a 75-66 triumph and capture the program’s third Big Ten Tournament championship on March 13, 2022, in Indianapolis.

• The Hawkeyes (2001, 2022) joined Michigan (2017, 2018) as the only schools to win multiple Big Ten Tournament titles by winning four games in four days.
• All-American Keegan Murray was named the Big Ten Tournament Most Outstanding Player, while Murray and Jordan Bohannon were named to the all-tournament team.
• Murray broke the record for most points (103) and field goals made (38) in a single Big Ten Tournament, surpassing the previous mark of 92 points and 34 field goals made by Ohio State’s Duane Washington Jr. in 2021.
• Murray posted a double-double (19 points, 11 rebounds).
• Indianapolis native, Tony Perkins, netted 11 points.
• Iowa boasted a +11 turnover margin, forcing 17 turnovers while committing only six.
• Jaden Ivey tallied a game-best 20 points, while Trevion Williams contributed 13 points and 11 rebounds, and Zach Edey added 12 points and a game-high 14 rebounds.

HAWKEYES WIN BACK-AND-FORTH GAME WITH ILLINOIS

Junior Tony Perkins netted a career-high 32 points to led Iowa to an 81-79 triumph over border-rival Illinois last Saturday afternoon in Iowa City in the two teams’ only regular season meeting.

• Iowa junior Payton Sandfort sank his third triple of the game with 1:23 left in the second half to put the Hawkeyes in front to stay. Sandfort led all players with a +21. Iowa improved to 8-2 this season when Sandfort has made multiple 3-pointers.
• Iowa snapped a five-game losing streak to Illinois with the two-point win.
• Five of last six meetings between Iowa and Illinois have been decided by five points or fewer.
• Tony Perkins reached 15+ points for the eighth time this season. He made 15 straight free throws to start the game, before missing his final attempt (15-of-16). He tied the school record for consecutive free throws made in a single game (Andre Woolridge made 15 straight on March 8, 1997 versus Northwestern). Perkins made 20 straight free throws spanning Iowa’s last two games; he made his final five attempts against Northwestern last Tuesday.
• Perkins became the 12th different Hawkeye in the Fran McCaffery era (2011-present) to score 30 points or more in a game.
• All-America candidate Kris Murray totaled 19 points and collected team bests in rebounds (7) and assists (3).
• Iowa (7) had seven fewer turnovers than Illinois (14). The Hawkeyes only committed two turnovers in the second half
• Baylor transfers Matthew Mayer and Dainja Dain led the Fighting Illinois. Mayer tallied a team-best 21 points, while Dain totaled 17 points and grabbed a team-best nine rebounds.

PLAYING BIG

Fifth-year senior Filip Rebraca has taken his game to another level this season. Rebraca is one of nine players nationally on a college men’s basketball roster over the age of 25. He ranks first on the squad in blocks (30) and field goal percentage (.567), and second in rebounds (8.2) and points per game (13.9). He is pulling down 2.96 offensive boards per outing, fifth best in the Big Ten and 53rd nationally. His field goal percentage (.567) ranks 40th in the country.

Rebraca netted career point No. 1,500 against Eastern Illinois (Dec. 21). He has scored 528 points the last two seasons as a Hawkeye (59 games) and 1,129 points in three seasons at North Dakota. He grabbed career rebound No. 1,000 in Iowa’s win over Michigan.

The 6-foot-9 center has netted double figures a team-best 18 times this year and posted a team-best nine double-doubles, tying for third in the league. Rebraca has scored in double digits 14 of the last 16 games and netted 15+ points in seven of the last 12. He has denied multiple shots seven times this season and his 1.3 blocks per game ranks sixth in the conference.

Rebraca earned Big Ten Player of the Week accolades after his career night against Southeast Missouri State (Dec. 17). The fifth-year senior posted career bests in points (30) and assists (6), while also snagging a game-best nine rebounds. He only missed one field goal attempt (12-of-13).

Rebraca had another stellar outing versus Eastern Illinois. He tallied a game-best 24 points, collected a career-high five steals, and snagged eight rebounds. He totaled 16 points and grabbed a season-high 13 rebounds at Nebraska, and amassed 19 points and 10 rebounds in Iowa’s triumph over then-No. 15 Indiana. Rebraca posted double-double No. 7 in the overtime win over Michigan (13 points, 12 rebounds).

MIDSEASON RALLY

Payton Sandfort had a sluggish start to the 2022-23 Big Ten season. The sophomore guard was 0-for-19 from the field, including 0-for-10 from 3-point range, over Iowa’s first three Big Ten games (Wisconsin, Nebraska, Penn State).

Over the last eight games, Sandfort is averaging 13.6 points and 5.1 rebounds, shooting 51 percent (35-of-69) from the field and 49 percent (20-of-41) from long distance. He made a Over the last nine games, Sandfort is averaging 13.1 points and 5.2 rebounds, shooting 50 percent (38-of-76) from the field and 49 percent (23-of-47) from long distance. He sank four 3-pointers in two games: Rutgers (4-of-5) and Michigan (4-of-9). He made a personal-best five 3-pointers against Northwestern (5-of-7). Sandfort has netted double figures in seven of the last 13 games. Iowa is 8-2 when Sandfort makes multiple triples in a game.

Sandfort makes a positive impact on the game when he is on the floor. The sophomore guard has been double digits in +/- over the last five home games: +21 (Illinois); +18 (Northwestern); +14 (Rutgers); +12 Maryland; +16 (Michigan).

Sandfort was instrumental in Iowa’s overtime victory over the Wolverines on Jan. 12. He scored Iowa’s final seven points of regulation (63 seconds), including a four-point play with 20 seconds remaining to force overtime. Sandfort tallied 24 of his career-high 26 points in the second half and overtime. He totaled seven points and matched a personal best with eight rebounds in Iowa’s home win over Rutgers. Sandfort was a team-best +18 in Iowa’s victory over the Wildcats, scoring 20 points, bolstered by making 5-of-7 from long distance. He led all players with a +21, scoring nine points and grabbing six rebounds, in Iowa’s two-point triumph over Illinois Saturday afternoon.

Off the court, Sandfort excels in the classroom earning Fall Semester Dean’s List distinction in 2022.

MURRAY NAMED TO WATCH LISTS

Junior Kris Murray has been named to the Wooden Award Late Season Top 20, Oscar Robertson Midseason Watch List, the Karl Malone Award Watch List, midseason third team All-America by Sporting News, and the Big Ten Preseason All-Big Ten Team.

It marks the fourth straight season that one or more Hawkeyes have been selected to the preseason all-conference squad. 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 20.5 points and 8.5 rebounds per outing. Murray has increased his scoring average by 11.8 points per game this season compared to last year. His 20.5 points per contest ranks 20th nationally. Murray did not play in four contests in December (Iowa State; Wisconsin; Southeast Missouri State; Eastern Illinois) due to a lower body injury.

Murray returned to the lineup on Dec. 29 at Nebraska, registering game bests in points (17) and blocks (3), while also clearing eight rebounds. He scored 22 of his game and career-best 32 points in the second half at Penn State on Jan. 1. Murray reached 30 points for a second straight game, totaling 30 points and 10 rebounds in Iowa’s victory over No. 15 Indiana on Jan. 5. He amassed 17 points and seven rebounds in Iowa’s road triumph at Rutgers. Murray played all 45 minutes in Iowa’s overtime triumph over Michigan, amassing 27 points, eight rebounds, three blocks, three assists, and a steal. He netted 17 of his 19 points in the second half in the victory over Maryland and netted a game-best 24 points in Iowa’s home win over Rutgers.

He was Iowa’s leading scorer (9.7) and rebounder (4.3) off the bench last season. 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.

MISSING HAWKEYES

Iowa has had a number of players miss games this season due health reasons. Below is the list of players and games missed.

Tony Perkins: Omaha (thigh)
Riley Mulvey: Georgia Tech, Duke (illness)
Kris Murray: Iowa State, Wisconsin, SEMO, Eastern Illinois (lower body)
Ahron Ulis: Wisconsin (hip contusion)
Connor McCaffery: Eastern Illinois (wrist)
Josh Ogundele: PSU, IND, RUT, MICH, UMD, OSU, MSU, RUT, NW, ILL (knee)
Patrick McCaffery: Indiana, Rutgers, Michigan, Maryland, Ohio State, Michigan State (anxiety)

COMEBACK HAWKEYES

Iowa posted its third-largest comeback in school history when it rallied to beat No. 15 Indiana (91-89) on Jan. 5, in Iowa City. The Hawkeyes trailed by 21 points (28-7) early in the first half. Iowa caught the Hoosiers and took their first lead with 11:35 remaining in the second half.

Iowa’s two largest comebacks were 23 points against Gardner-Webb on Nov. 17, 2022, and 22 points at Illinois on Jan. 14, 1987.

The Hawkeyes rallied from a 10-point second half deficit, including trailing by seven with under two minutes left in regulation, to upend Michigan in overtime on Jan. 12 in Iowa City.

IOWA VERSUS RANKED OPPONENTS

Iowa is 2-1 against ranked foes this season. The Hawkeyes beat No. 15 Indiana and No. 20 Iowa State at home, while losing to No. 15 Duke on a neutral floor at Madison Square Garden.

The Hawkeyes are 3-21 all-time against No. 1 ranked opponents, including 0-9 when playing on the road. Iowa won its last game against a top-ranked team, beating Michigan State (83-70) on Dec. 29, 2015 in Iowa City. Iowa’s other wins include a 70-68 win over Connecticut at Madison Square Garden on Nov. 11, 1999 and an 87-82 triumph over UCLA in Chicago on Jan. 29, 1965.

ANOTHER SIXTH-YEAR PLAYER

Connor McCaffery returned for his COVID bonus year and sixth season. He has played in 156 career games, second to only Jordan Bohannon (179) in program history.

McCaffery is averaging 7.5 points and 3.4 rebounds per game, and has made 30-of-82 (.366) from 3-point range this season. He posted 14 points, bolstered by shooting a perfect 8-of-8 from the foul line, in his first start of the season against the Cyclones. He registered his first career double-double versus Georgia Tech (10 points; 10 rebounds) and notched his second double-double versus Wisconsin (17 points, 10 rebounds). He did not play in Iowa’s nonconference finale on Dec. 21 (Eastern Illinois) due to a wrist sprain. McCaffery dished out a season-best eight assists (only one turnover) in Iowa’s win at Rutgers. He was a +10 in Iowa’s overtime victory against Michigan and +14 in the win over Maryland.

McCaffery has only missed two free throws this season (29-of-31). He made 19 consecutive free throws from Nov. 29 to Dec. 29, before missing his first and only attempt at Penn State on Jan. 1, 2023.

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.

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 (NBA Toronto Raptors), 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).