Chosen by a poll of national college basketball experts based on their performances during the first half of the 2020-21 season, the list comprises of 25 student-athletes who are front-runners for one of the sport’s most prestigious honor.
Garza (6-foot-11, 265 pounds) has been named to every major preseason All-American team and national player of the year award. Garza has ascended to second on Iowa’s all-time scoring chart, trailing only Roy Marble. Garza, who was a Wooden Award All-American a year ago, leads the all Division I players with a 46.82 Player Efficiency Rating (PER). He also is first in the country in points per game (27.5), 30-point games (5), and field goals made (111). Garza ranks third in the NCAA in free throws made (61) and free throw attempts (83), and tied for sixth in double-doubles (5).
Garza’s 34 points against Iowa State (Dec. 11) are the most points scored by a Hawkeye in the Cy-Hawk Series. He scored 21 straight points, spanning 5:15 in the second half against the Cyclones, including four consecutive 3-pointers on four straight possessions. Garza registered 30 points on 13-of-18 shooting from the field against top-ranked Gonzaga (Dec. 19). He recorded 32 points and season-high 17 rebounds against Minnesota (Dec. 25) for his fifth double-double of the season and 25th of his career, which ranks seventh most in Hawkeye history. Garza’s 41 points against Southern University (Nov. 27) are the most points scored by a Hawkeye in a single-game in Carver-Hawkeye Arena and his 36 first-half points (12-12 FG, 10-12 FT) are believed to be the most points scored by a Hawkeye in a half in program history. His efficient performance (14-15 FG; .933) against Southern was the best single-game field goal percentage by a Big Ten player since 1984.
Garza and the fifth-ranked Iowa Hawkeyes return to action on Thursday against Maryland. Tipoff is scheduled for 6:01 p.m. (CT) at the Xfinity Center in College Park, Maryland.
