MBB Preview -- at Minnesota

The University of Iowa men’s basketball team returns to action Monday, traveling to Minneapolis for a Big Ten Conference road game at Minnesota. The game will tipoff at 5 p.m. (CT) from Williams Arena.

FOLLOW LIVE

Radio: Monday’s game will be broadcast on the Hawkeye Radio Network with Gary Dolphin (play-by-play) and Bobby Hansen (color) on the call. 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 includes a 60-minute pregame show.
TV: Monday’s game will be televised on BTN with Jason Ross, Jr., (play-by-play) and Stephen Bardo (color) on the call.

OPENING TIP

• The Hawkeyes hit the road, heading to Minneapolis to face the Golden Gophers on Monday at 5 p.m. (CT) at Williams Arena. Iowa is looking for its first true road win of the season. The team is looking for its third straight win in Minneapolis for the first time since 1954-56.
• Head coach Fran McCaffery won his 271st career game Friday in Iowa’s win over Nebraska, tying Dr. Tom Davis for the most victories in program history. McCaffery won his 127th career Big Ten game on Jan. 6, giving him the most league victories in the record books.
• Iowa had three players — Tony Perkins, Owen Freeman and Payton Sandfort — post double-doubles against Nebraska. It is the second time this season the team has had three double-doubles in the same game (UMBC).
• BALANCE… the Hawkeyes have had five different players post 20-point games and five different players record a double-double this season.
• Senior Tony Perkins finished with 11 points and a career-high 15 assists in Iowa’s win over the Huskers. The 15 assists are tied with B.J. Armstrong for the second-most in a single game in program history.
• Junior Payton Sandfort has made five 3-pointers in consecutive games for the second time in his career.
• Sophomore Josh Dix scored a career-high 16 points, making a career-best five 3-pointers against Nebraska on Jan. 12.
• Freeman earned his fifth Big Ten Freshman of the Week honor on Jan. 8 after averaging 14.5 points, 8.5 rebounds and 2.5 blocks, while shooting 75 percent from the field in games against No. 21 Wisconsin and Rutgers. The five honors are tied for the ninth most in a single season in league history.
• Freeman has three double-doubles this season — the most by a Hawkeye freshman since Luka Garza.
• Ahoy 100. Iowa has reached the century mark in four games this season. The Hawkeyes have scored 100+ points 13 times since the start of the 2021-22 season.
• Iowa is one the nation’s top offensive teams, averaging 87.1 points in 16 games. The Hawkeyes are leading the Big Ten and rank eighth nationally. The team has scored at least 84 points in 11 games, averaging 95.8 points in wins and 72.7 points in losses.
• The Hawkeyes are leading the Big Ten and are fifth nationally, averaging 19.8 assists per game. Iowa is leading the league and is second nationally with a 1.98 assist-to-turnover ratio.
• Iowa is one of 10 teams in the country to make the last four NCAA Tournaments and one of only three Big Ten teams to accomplish the feat (Purdue, Michigan State).

LAST GAME | IOWA 94, NEBRASKA 76

The Hawkeyes made a season-high 15 3-point field goals and shot 52.2 percent from the field to win its second straight Big Ten game, downing Nebraska, 94-76, on Friday in Iowa City. Iowa had three players record double-doubles and six players land in double figures. Freshman Owen Freeman scored a career-high 22 points and had 10 rebounds, junior Payton Sandfort finished with 16 points, 10 rebounds and five assists and senior Tony Perkins had 11 points and a career-high 15 assists, tied for the second most in a single game in program history.

MORE NOTABLES…

• The Hawkeyes are 17th nationally in pace of play in 2023-24, averaging 76.9 possessions per 40 minutes.
• Iowa has had five players hit the 20-point mark this season (Ben Krikke, Tony Perkins, Payton Sandfort, Patrick McCaffery, Owen Freeman).
• Iowa is 6-1 when attempting at least 20 free throws, 7-1 when shooting 50+ percent from the field and 6-1 when making eight or more 3-pointers.
• Iowa has had at least four players reach double digits in 11 games this season.
• Iowa is 8-1 inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena this season and 22-4 in its last 26 home games.
• Iowa has won 89 of its last 95 nonconference home games, dating back to 2012.
• The Hawkeyes are 6-1 this season when shooting 50 percent or better from the floor.
• Iowa had a season-high 15 steals and nine blocks in the win over NIU on Dec. 29. The Hawkeyes turned the 15 thefts into a season-best 38 fastbreak points.
• Iowa has held four opponents under 40 percent shooting this season. The team is undefeated in the four contests.
• Since joining the starting lineup on Dec. 10 against Michigan, freshman Owen Freeman is averaging 12.6 points, 8.3 rebounds and 1.6 blocks, while shooting 69.1 percent from the field.
• The Hawkeyes held Florida A&M to 52 points on Dec. 16 in Des Moines — the fewest points allowed since giving up 51 points to Portland State in 2021.
• Senior Tony Perkins has 41 assists to 10 turnovers over Iowa’s last six games. Perkins has four games with seven or more assists. He is leading the team with 67 assists this season.
• Junior Payton Sandfort has attempted 112 3-point field goals — the most in the Big Ten. He has 45 makes — second-most in the conference.
• The Hawkeyes are third in the Big Ten in free throw percentage, making 75.1 percent of their attempts this season.
• Sandfort has been Iowa’s leading rebounder (or tied for the team lead) in seven games this season. The forward is averaging a career-best 7.1 rebounds per game, which ranks 13th in the Big Ten.
• The Hawkeyes have earned six Big Ten weekly honors this season — Ben Krikke (Player of the Week – 11/20) and Owen Freeman (Freshman of Week (11/13, 11/20, 12/4, 12/18, 1/8). Freeman is the first Hawkeye freshman to earn the award in consecutive weeks and the five honors are a single season school record.
• The Hawkeyes have placed fifth or better in the Big Ten standings in five straight and 10 of the last 11 years, and the program has won 10 or more Big Ten games in eight of the last nine seasons.
• Iowa led the Big Ten and was 18th nationally in scoring offense (80.1). The Hawkeyes have led the league in scoring in seven of the last 11 seasons, including six straight years.

MCCAFFERY TIES SCHOOL RECORD

• Head coach Fran McCaffery, who is in his 28th season as a head coach and 14th at Iowa, won his 271 game as a Hawkeye on Jan. 12 against Nebraska, tying Dr. Tom Davis for the most victories in program history.
• Iowa defeated Rutgers, 86-77, on Jan. 3, giving McCaffery his 127th career Big Ten victory. The victory moved McCaffery past Davis for the most Big Ten wins in the record books.

THE B1G’S BEST FROSH

Owen Freeman has been the best freshman in the Big Ten through the first 16 games of the 2023-24 season. The Illinois native leads the conference in points (177), rebounds (95) and blocks (30), while ranking second in steals (18) and field goal percentage (.658).
• Freeman’s 30 blocks are tied for the most by a freshman in the NCAA this season.
• Brock Harding’s 50 assists are the most by a freshman in the Big Ten.

DIX STEPPING UP

Sophomore Josh Dix is taking advantage extended playing time during Iowa’s two-game Big Ten winning streak. The guard is averaging 11.5 points, three rebounds, three steals and one assist in 26 minutes of court time.
• Dix had a breakout game in Iowa’s win over Nebraska, making 5-of-8 field goals, including a career-high five 3-pointers, en route to a career-best 16 points. It was the first time Dix has made multiple 3-pointers.