With tonight’s win, Iowa has recorded its fourth straight 20-win season. Iowa has also won 16 straight home games, dating back to last February. The Hawkeyes are 13-0 when playing at home this season.
Iowa is now in sole possession of first place in the Big Ten Conference. The last time Iowa was in first place in the Big Ten this deep in the season was Feb. 23, 2006.
Jarrod Uthoff recorded his third double-double of the year (24 points, 15 rebounds, 6 blocks). He is the third player to record 20+ points, 15+ rebounds, and 5+ blocks in a Big Ten game in the last 20 seasons. His 15 rebounds are a career high, while his six blocks equal a personal best (6 blocks vs. Michigan State, 12/29/15).
Peter Jok led all scorers with 27 points, bolstered by four 3-pointers. He has now scored 20+ points in eight games this season. Iowa is 8-0 when he scores 20 or more points this season.
“I just try to enjoy myself out there,” Jok said after the game. “I love playing with this team. I have a long way to go but I feel like I am getting better.”
Mike Gesell matched a career high in assists with 12. He has dished out 10 or more assists four times this season.
The Hawkeyes travel to University Park, Pennsylvania for its next game, facing Penn State on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. (CT). The game will be broadcast live on BTN.
“They are a physical team and their arena is one of the toughest to play in. We know what we have coming,” Senior guard Anthony Clemmons said.
Hawks Take Sole Possession of 1st Place in Big Ten Conference. https://t.co/jixQgfu8xu
— Iowa Men’s Basketball (@IowaHoops) February 15, 2016
Need a big late basket?
Go to @IowaHoops star Jarrod Uthoff.
Every. Time. https://t.co/3QgAhtYao1
— Iowa On BTN (@IowaOnBTN) February 15, 2016
Updated Big Ten standings. pic.twitter.com/gpCuqd4PvA
— Iowa Men’s Basketball (@IowaHoops) February 15, 2016
Sunday, February 14, 2016
Fran McCaffery
Iowa – 75
Minnesota – 71
Q. Is this one of those games where you are just happy to get out with a win?
COACH McCAFFERY: I wouldn’t look at it that way, no. We just beat a Big Ten team. They’re athletic. They’re long. They compete. You got to look at the scores of recent games, they’re in every game.
Q. How about Uthoff’s performance?
COACH McCAFFERY: I thought he was great. I thought he was great for this reason: he started slow, he continued to be aggressive. I think that’s been the evolution of him as a player.
We needed him to do that today. 24-15-6, pretty good night.
Q. You went zone pretty much out of the chute.
COACH McCAFFERY: Went man right away, then we went zone, finished the half, started the second half zone, then we went man, then we finished with zone.
Q. What did you like about the matchup?
COACH McCAFFERY: They’re a driving team. They drive in man coverage, they drive in zone. They’re quick. Somebody gets you a chance to get your defense back, see everything, contain penetration as much as you can.
Q. Jarrod at the end of the first half seemed to be really important. Got him on the scoreboard. Seemed to be important for your team.
COACH McCAFFERY: But he always is. In that particular stretch, he was terrific. Hit the deep three. Had a couple baskets at the rim. I think that’s what you like about him, he was scoring in a variety of ways.
We posted him. He ripped. Got to the free-throw line. I’m really proud of him.
Q. Did you feel like your team played well? Seemed like they got shots that weren’t going down.
COACH McCAFFERY: I thought we did a lot of good things. It was not a perfect game. Wasn’t a perfect game for them. But, you know, if you study this team, you’re going to have to fight till the end, you’re going to have to execute, you’re going to have to do things. You’re going to have to overcome some adversity throughout the course of the game because they’re going to create that. They’re going to keep coming. They’re going to finish at the rim.
They hit enough threes to keep you honest. They’ve had games where they didn’t make six, but they made six tonight. They make nine, they probably win the game.
We were willing to live with that. Like I said, we had three consecutive stops under the four-minute mark when we really needed it.
Q. Mike had 12 assists, no turnovers. How big is that to have in a game?
COACH McCAFFERY: It was huge because we were running some sets, we were running some motion, we were pushing the ball in the break. It was his decision making that was spectacular. Had a little trouble with his jumper today. I thought in terms of being a floor leader, engineering victory, he was great.
Q. How was practice the last couple days?
COACH McCAFFERY: Good. Real good.
Q. You got six from the bench tonight. Seemed like they had more energy.
COACH McCAFFERY: You look at the offensive rebounding in particular, Baer and Ahmad, when we really needed it. Those guys were all over the glass. They weren’t mistake guys. That’s what you need, rebound, energy, defend, don’t make mistakes, and the points will come.