University of Iowa Athletics
Matt Gatens - Men's Basketball - University of Iowa Athletics

#5 Matt Gatens

Position G
Height 6-5
Weight 215 lbs.
Class Jr.
Hometown Iowa City, Iowa
High School Iowa City

2009 Big Ten All-Freshman Team | 2010 All-Big Ten Honorable Mention | 2010 Academic All-Big Ten | 2011 Team Captain | 2012 Second Team All-Big Ten | 2012 Academic All-Big Ten

Hawk-Items – – Finished his career ranked sixth in Iowa scoring (1,635), and second in 3-pointers made (239) and attempted (652)… became only the second Hawkeye to ever amass 1,600 points, 450 rebounds, 250 assists and 125 steals (Roy Marble)… two-time team co-captain (2010-12) and Academic All-Big Ten honoree (2010 and 2012)… played in 128 games, which ties Brody Boyd (2001-04) for fifth in Iowa history… scored in double figures 89 career times, including posting 20+ points 18 times… only missed two games in his career due to injury (2010 vs. South Dakota State and ULM)… finished his career ranked eighth in Big Ten free throw percentage (.863, 346-401)… made a school record 12 consecutive 3-pointers, spanning the Indiana and Wisconsin home games his senior season… became the first Big Ten player to score 30 points in back-to-back games versus two ranked teams since 1996-97 when he dropped 30 against #18 Indiana and 33 versus #15 Wisconsin his senior year… represented the United States on the East Coast All-Star Team that competed in Tallinn, Estonia in August 2011… averaged 8.8 points and 3.8 rebounds with the East Coast All-Stars… set the Iowa single-season record for free throw percentage (.904) in 2009… ranks among Iowa freshman leaders in free throw percentage (first), 3-point percentage (second) and points (seventh)… among Big Ten freshmen, ranked first in free throw percentage (.904), 3-point percentage (.403) and minutes (34.0), second in 3-point field goals (1.6) and third in scoring (10.8).

2011-12 Honors – – Voted second team All-Big Ten by the league[apos]s media and third team by the coaches… Academic All-Big Ten selection… Big Ten Sportsmanship Award honoree…. Dale Howard Classic All-Tournament team selection.

2011-12 – – Team co-captain… started all 35 games… ranked first on the team in scoring (15.2), 3-pointers (75-of-183, .410) and free throws (111-of-130, .854), second in steals (48), and third in assists (69)… voted ‘Capital One Impact Performer of the Week’ for week eight on ESPN.com… posted double figures 27 times, including netting 20+ nine times… led Iowa in scoring in seven-straight games from Feb. 16 to March 8, which is the longest streak by a Hawkeye since Andre Woolridge led his squad seven straight games in 1997… earned first career Big Ten Player of the Week award on Feb. 27… named NetScouts Basketball[apos]s Big Ten Player of the Week (Feb. 21 and Feb. 29)… averaged 21.6 points in February, which ranked third best in the Big Ten… his 17.0 scoring average in Big Ten play ranked fifth overall and second among conference seniors… made 41 percent (75-of-183) of his 3-point attempts, which is the best percentage by a Hawkeye (min. of 125 attempts) since Kent McCausland made 52 percent (70-of-134) during the 1996-97 season… made 40-of-106 (.377) from 3-point range the first 25 games, while sinking 45.4 percent (35-of-77) from long distance the last nine outings… scored 85 points vs. Indiana, Wisconsin and Illinois marking the first time a Hawkeye netted 85 points or more in three straight games against conference competition since Roy Marble (86) in 1989… surpassed the 20-point plateau in four consecutive games (Penn State, Indiana, Wisconsin, Illinois) marking the first time a Hawkeye netted 20+ points in four straight games against Big Ten competition since Andre Woolridge in 1997… posted back-to-back career highs against Indiana (30) and then #15 Wisconsin (33)… became only the fourth Big Ten player in the last 10 seasons to score 30+ points in back-to-back games versus conference opponents… made his last seven triples in Iowa[apos]s win over #18 Indiana (2/19) and first five 3-pointers in win vs. #15 Wisconsin (2/23), draining a school-record 12 consecutive 3-pointers… missed only five free throws in final five minutes of a contest (37-of-42), including 21-of-23 in the final minute… ranked third in Big Ten and 43rd in the country in free throw percentage this season (.854, 111-130)… ranked eighth in the Big Ten in scoring (15.2) and fourth in 3-pointers made (2.1)… poured in 27 points and also had six rebounds, four assists and two steals in win over NC A&T… notched a team-high 17 points against Campbell, adding five rebounds, two assists and two steals… posted a team-high 22 points and dished out five assists in win over IPFW… led team with 20 points in win over Drake, adding six rebounds and a game-high three steals… grabbed a personal-best 12 rebounds and matched a career high with two blocks in win at #11 Wisconsin… snagged six rebounds and led all scorers with 19 points in win at Minnesota… tallied a team-high 19 points in win over #13 Michigan… had 20 points and a season-high four steals at #16 Indiana… led team with a game-high 18 points in home win over Minnesota… registered a team-high 18 points in home win over Penn State, to along with three steals and two assists; made 10-of-11 from the line… scored game-high 21 points, bolstered by 5-7 shooting from 3-point range in the second half, at Penn State… netted 22 of his 30 points, bolstered by making seven consecutive 3-pointers, and collected three steals in home win over #18 Indiana… made his first five 3-pointers at Illinois, finishing with a game-high 22 points… recorded a team-high 16 points, including a game-best three 3-pointers (3-of-8), to go along with five rebounds in win at Nebraska… scored a team-high 17 points, while grabbing four rebounds vs. Northwestern… scored a team-high 20 points in Big Ten Tournament win over Illinois, including 4-of-4 free throws in final 37 seconds of 64-61 win… tallied 10 points and four assists against #8 Michigan State in Big Ten Tournament quarterfinal game… letterwinner.

2010-11 – – Started all 29 games played, missed Iowa[apos]s first two games due to injury… led the team in scoring (12.6), steals (1.3) and ranked second in assists (1.8)… NetScouts Big Ten Player of the Week (Dec. 23)… made at least one 3-pointer in 23 of the last 26 games… ranked first in Big Ten free throw accuracy (.874, 76-87) in all games and 10th in triples made (1.86), in league games only… ranked 26th in the country in free throw shooting (.874, 76-87)… posted double figures in 22 games, including 19 of the last 22… returned to action and starting lineup against Xavier, tallying 15 points and four rebounds… posted 12 points, four rebounds, four assists and two steals in victory over SIU-Edwardsville… set a career high with five steals in win over Idaho State; also had 14 points and five assists… netted 15 points against Iowa State, making his first four field goal attempts, including three triples… notched a game-high 19 points in win at Drake, making seven field goals, including three triples… recorded a season and game-high 22 points in win over Louisiana Tech, equaling a career high with five 3-pointers… played all 40 minutes, scoring 21 points in home game vs. #23 Illinois, matching a career high with five 3-pointers… registered a team-high 13 points at #10 Purdue… notched 20 points in home game vs. Northwestern, matching a career high with five triples… had 13 points at #25 Minnesota, posting a career-high 21 field goal attempts and equaling a personal high with ten 3-point attempts… scored 19 points in home win over Indiana, making a career-high 11 free throws (11-12, .917)… recorded a game-high 19 points and a game-high four steals in home win over Michigan State… tallied 12 points, five rebounds and three assists at Northwestern… had 13 points and five rebounds in home win over #6 Purdue… netted 13 points in Big Ten Tournament game against Michigan State… letterwinner.

2009-10 Honors – – Honorable Mention all-Big Ten and academic all-Big Ten honoree… 2009-10 – – Led or shared team-high honors in scoring a team-best 12 times, assists 15 times, steals 13 times and rebounding five times… ranked third in Big Ten free throw percentage (.832, 84-of-101) and minutes played (36.7), ninth in 3-pointers (1.8), 12th in assists (3.3) and assist/turnover ratio (1.2) and 17th in scoring (12.3)… Iowa[apos]s leading scorer (12.3), and best free throw (.832, 84-of-101) and 3-point (.328, 58-of-177) shooter… notched a career high 25 points in win over Indiana… had seven assists vs. Virginia Tech in Big Ten/ACC Challenge… recorded 18 points, bolstered by matching a career high five four treys, and five rebounds at Northern Iowa… led team with 20 points at Iowa State and with 17 points at Michigan State… was the Hawkeyes[apos] leading player in Iowa[apos]s three games against in-state competition; playing 119-of-120 minutes and averaged 18.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 4.0 three-pointers… led Iowa in points (18), rebounds (9) and assists (5) in Iowa[apos]s victory over Drake… dished out a career-high eight assists in win over South Carolina State… posted team highs in points (14), rebounds (9) and assists (3) in home game vs. Minnesota; the nine rebounds were a season high… notched 14 points, four rebounds and four assists in win over Penn State, including a perfect 6-of-6 mark from the free throw line… posted 21 points, eight rebounds and four assists in overtime loss to Michigan, setting a career-high in 3-pointers made (5)… letterwinner.

2008-09 Honors – – Named to Big Ten Conference all-Freshman team . . . 2008-09 – – only player to start all 32 games . . . scored in double figures in 21 games, leading the team in scoring in six games, in rebounds four games and assists eight games . . . 12 points, six rebounds and four assists in win over Penn State . . . 11 points, three assists and two steals against Ohio State . . . 11 points, four rebounds and three assists at Northwestern . . . nine points, two assists and two steals at Michigan State . . . 16 points, including 4-4 FT[apos]s in final minute to force overtime, along with six rebounds in win over Michigan . . . 13 points in win over Northwestern . . . matched career-high with 22 points at Indiana . . . 13 points, four rebounds and three steals vs. Michigan State . . . 14 points (9-12 FT[apos]s) and five rebounds in win over Wisconsin . . . 11 points, five rebounds and three assists against Minnesota . . . career-high 22 points along with five rebounds at Ohio State . . . 11 points and a career-high 10 rebounds for first career double-double in win over Western Illinois . . . 14 points and two assists in win over Northern Iowa . . . 19 points, five rebounds aNd four assists in win over Bryant . . . 12 points, four rebounds and three assists at Boston College . . . 12 points and three assists in win over SE Missouri State . . . 13 points, six assists and four steals in win at The Citadel . . . 10 points, five rebounds and career-high seven assists in win over UTSA . . . letterwinner.

High school – – Named Iowa[apos]s ‘Mr. Basketball’ and Gatorade Player of the Year in Iowa as a senior . . . first team all-state as a senior and junior after earning second team honors as a sophomore . . . named EA Sports second team all-American and Athlon Sports and ESPN Top 100 all-American . . . named to The Sporting News Super 99 (ranked #52) all-America team and earned all-America recognition from Scout.com, Rivals.com and CBSSports.com . . . two-time NIKE all-American . . . led team to state Class 4-A state title as a senior with a 25-1 overall record . . . team also won Mississippi Valley Conference title . . . named captain of state tournament all-tournament team . . . earned first team all-conference recognition four straight years . . . led all scorers in state championship game with 24 points (13-13 FTs), while also collecting five rebounds . . . collected 51 points (19-20 FTs) and 14 rebounds in three games at state tournament . . . holds City High career records for points (1,928), free throws, free throw attempts, assists and games played . . . ranks 39th in career points among Iowa high school players. Including third best total in Class 4-A . . . holds career scoring record for Mississippi Valley Conference . . . career free throw percentage of 83% (582-702) . . . averaged 22.1 points, 6.1 rebounds and five assists as senior, shooting 39.7% from three-point range and 83.3% from the free throw line . . . averaged 23 points, seven rebounds and five assists as a junior, 20.3 points, seven rebounds and four assists as a sophomore and 18 points, 5.5 rebounds and four assists as a freshman . . . was team captain in each of final three seasons and was four-time team MVP . . . member of Martin Bros. Select 17-and-under team place second at Rumble in the Bronx tournament in New York prior to senior season . . . selected to compete in National Basketball Association Top 100 all-American Camp, Kobe Bryant[apos]s NIKE Skills Academy, which brings in the top 20 players in the nation at each position, and the NIKE Lebron James Skills Academy for the top 80 high school players in the United States . . . two-time invitee to the NIKE Basketball Jamboree in St. Louis, MO and the NIKE all-American Basketball Camp in Indianapolis . . . also competed for prep golf team, earning first team all-state honors and all-conference (three years) honors.

Personal – – Born 6/13/89 . . . marketing major . . . carried a 3.76 GPA as a prep . . . parents are Julie and Mike Gatens . . . father is an Iowa basketball letterman (1974-76) and mother is an Iowa graduate and former Hawkeye cheerleader . . . two sisters (Nicole and Megan) both competed in athletics at Iowa . . . made verbal commitment to Iowa program while in ninth grade . . . high school coach was Andy Woodley.

Career Bests

Points: 33 vs. Wisconsin, 2/23/12
Rebounds: 12 at Wisconsin, 12/31/11
FGM: 12 vs. Wisconsin, 2/23/12
FGA: 21 at Minnesota, 1/16/11
3-PT FG: 7, twice, last vs. Wisconsin, 2/23/12
3-PT FGA: 11 vs. Minnesota, 2/13/11
FTM: 11 vs. Indiana, 1/23/11
FTA: 12, twice, last vs. Indiana, 1/23/11
Assists: 8 vs. SC State, 12/21/09
Steals: 5 vs. Idaho State, 12/4/10
Blocks: 2, twice, last at Wisconsin, 12/31/11
Minutes: 50 vs. Penn State, 3/07/09