MBB Notes -- USC

 

OPPONENT	USC at RV/#25 Iowa
DATE	Wednesday, Jan. 28
LOCATION	Iowa City, Iowa | Carver-Hawkeye Arena
KICKOFF	6:01 p.m. (CT)
TV	BTN
RADIO	Hawkeye Radio Network

 

ON THE AIR
Radio: Games are broadcast on the Hawkeye Radio Network with Gary Dolphin (play-by-play) and Bobby Hansen (color) on the call.  The network includes1 more than 40 stations that blanket the state of Iowa and includes portions of Illinois, Nebraska, Minnesota, Missouri and Wisconsin.  The Hawkeye Radio Network includes a 60-minute pregame show.
TV: Wednesday’s game will be televised on BTN with Kevin Kugler (play-by-play), Jordan Taylor (color) and Andy Katz (sideline) on the call.

OPENING TIP
• After an eight-day break, Iowa returns to Carver-Hawkeye Arena to host USC on Wednesday.  It is the Trojans’ third ever game in Iowa City and the first since 1982.
• Iowa and USC will honor George Raveling during the contest.  Raveling, who coached at both schools, passed away on Sept. 2.
• Seniors Bennett Stirtz (27) and Tavion Banks (26) combined for 53 of Iowa’s 74 points, nearly outscoring Indiana by themselves in Iowa’s road win in Bloomington on Jan. 17.  They were 15-of-25 from the field and 19-of-20 from the free throw stripe.
• Banks, whose 26 points at Indiana were a Division I career high, has made 22 consecutive free throws dating back to Dec. 20.
• Four of Iowa’s five losses have come against top 20 opponents and four of the five defeats have come on the road.
• Freshman Tate Sage scored a career-high 17 points with a career-best four 3-point field goals in Iowa’s win over Rutgers on Jan. 20.  He is the first Hawkeye freshman with 15+ points and 4+ 3s since Joe Wieskamp in 2019.
• Over his last 10 games, Banks is averaging 12.5 points and 4.6 rebounds with .564/.643/.933 shooting splits.  He has been in double figures in seven of the 10 contests.
• Stirtz is averaging 20.6 points, 4.1 assists, 2.4 rebounds and one steal in Big Ten play, while shooting 45.8 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from 3-point range. He has a team-high 20 3-pointers.
• Iowa ranks 14th nationally in field goal percentage, shooting 50.9 percent.  The team also is 11th in effective field goal percentage (.585).
• The Hawkeyes are allowing 62.4 points per game -- the fewest in the Big Ten and fourth-fewest nationally. Iowa has held six opponents under 60 points this season.
• Iowa is 16th in KenPom’s defensive ratings, the program’s highest rating since 2005-06 when it was No. 1 in the nation.
• Iowa has held every opponent below its team season scoring average on the year.
• Amongst active players, Stirtz is the only player nationally ranked in the top 10 in points (1,966) and assists (527) and he is one of six to have 1,500 points and 350 assists.

SCOUTING USC
• The Trojans are 3-4 overall since the start of January with two of their three wins coming on the road.  USC is 15-5 overall and 4-5 in Big Ten play heading into Wednesday’s game in Iowa City.
• USC picked up its third conference road victory of the season, downing Wisconsin, 73-71, on Sunday in Madison. Chad Baker-Mazara made five 3-pointers and scored a game-high 29 points in the win.
• The Trojans are 1-3 at home and 3-2 on the road in Big Ten play with road victories at Oregon, Minnesota and Wisconsin.
• Baker-Mazara, an Auburn transfer, leads USC in scoring (19.2 points), assists (63) and 3-point field goals (45).  He is shooting 44.7 percent from the floor, 36.9 percent from 3-point range and a Big Ten-leading 91.2 percent (104-114) from the free throw line.  He is sixth in the Big Ten in scoring.
• Ezra Ausar averages 16.2 points on a team-best 60.5 shooting, while pulling in six rebounds per game, while Jacob Cofie averages 9.9 points and a team-high 7.3 rebounds, while also leading the team with 20 steals. Cofie has a team-high four double-doubles, while Ausar has attempted 173 free throws on the year -- tops in the Big Ten and third-most nationally.
• The Trojans average 82.1 points on 46.7 percent shooting, but the team shoots just 31.8 percent from 3-point range.  USC averages a Big Ten-best 20.3 free throws and 28.4 free throw attempts per game.  USC leads the nation in free throw attempts.
• USC is +4.1 on the glass, averaging 37.9 rebounds per game.  The Trojans are also second in the Big Ten in blocks (5.7), ranking ninth nationally.

SERIES HISTORY
• Wednesday’s game is the ninth all-time meeting between Iowa and USC, dating back to 1953.  The Hawkeyes lead the all-time series, 5-3.
• Iowa is 2-0 all-time against the Trojans in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.  USC is making its first trip to Iowa City since 1982 -- a 66-55 Hawkeye victory.
• USC won the most recent meeting, claiming a 99-89 victory last season in Los Angeles.

 

LAST GAME: IOWA 74, INDIANA 57
The Hawkeyes evened their Big Ten record at 4-4 with a hard fought 68-62 win over Rutgers on Jan. 20 inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena.  Iowa trailed 43-39 with 10:47 to play before rallying for the six-point win.
• Senior Bennett Stirtz led the team with 20 points, five assists, four rebounds and two steals with 13 points coming in the second half.  Freshman Tate Sage scored a career-high 17 points with four 3-pointers and senior Tavion Banks finished with 12 points.
• Iowa forced 19 turnovers, but Rutgers was +7 on the glass and +6 at the free throw line.

IOWA'S BENNETT STIRTZ IS...
• 34 points shy of reaching the 2,000 career point mark.
• one of six players nationally with 340+ points, 95+ assists, 40+ 3s, 45+ rebounds and 25+ steals.
• the only Big Ten player with 340+ points and 95+ assists (one of 19 nationally).
• one of13 players in the nation with 340+ points, 95+ assists, 25+ steals and 45+ rebounds.
• looking to become the first Hawkeye in 26 years to lead the team in scoring, assists and steals.  Dean Oliver led the team in all three categories during the 1999-00 season. (The last player to lead the team in points and assists was Devyn Marble during the 2012-13 season).

IOWA IS... 
• 12-1 when scoring 70+ points this season.  The lone loss was at No. 5 Purdue.
• 13-1 when allowing fewer than 69 points this season.
• 11-0 when shooting more free throws than its opponents.
• 12-1 when having a higher field goal percentage.
• 11-2 when out-rebounding its opponent.
• 13-2 when leading at halftime.
• 8-0 when junior Alvaro Folgueiras scores in double figures.

MOST WINS BY A FIRST-YEAR HAWKEYE
Through 19 games, Iowa’ Ben McCollum is tied for the third-most wins by a first-year head coach in program history with 14 victories.

Dr. Tom Davis (1986-87) - 30
Bucky O’Connor (1951-52) - 19
Ralph Miller (1964-65) - 14
Steve Alford (1999-00) - 14
Ben McCollum (2025-26) - 14