Iowa Hawkeyes
2019-2020 Overall Rank: #21
Conference Rank: #4 Big Ten
After a two-year absence from the NCAA Tournament, Iowa won 23 games in 2018-19 and made it back to the Big Dance. The Hawkeyes were ranked as high as 14 at one point and their record was 20-5 through mid-February. However, Iowa slipped down the stretch and only earned a 10-seed, though they did advance to the Second Round. This year, the expectations of the Hawkeyes hinges on the health of senior guard Jordan Bohannon. Bohannon had surgery over the offseason and an official decision has not been made yet if he will redshirt this season or not. If Bohannon plays, Iowa should be among the top teams in the Big Ten.
2018-19 Record: 23-12, 10-10
2018-19 Postseason: NCAA
Coach: Fran McCaffery
Coach Record: 174-132 at Iowa, 425-309 overall
Key Departed Players:
Tyler Cook, Forward, 14.5 ppg
Isaiah Moss, Guard, 9.2 ppg
Nicholas Baer, Forward, 6.7 ppg
Maishe Dailey, Forward, 2.5 ppg
Tyler Cook, Forward, 14.5 ppg
Isaiah Moss, Guard, 9.2 ppg
Nicholas Baer, Forward, 6.7 ppg
Maishe Dailey, Forward, 2.5 ppg
Key Returning Players:
Luka Garza, Junior, Center, 13.1 ppg
Jordan Bohannon, Senior, Guard, 11.6 ppg
Joe Wieskamp, Sophomore, Guard, 11.1 ppg
Ryan Kriener, Senior, Forward, 5.7 ppg
Connor McCaffery, Sophomore, Guard, 4.4 ppg
Cordell Pemsl, Junior, Forward, 4.0 ppg
Jack Nunge, Sophomore, Forward, DNP last season
Luka Garza, Junior, Center, 13.1 ppg
Jordan Bohannon, Senior, Guard, 11.6 ppg
Joe Wieskamp, Sophomore, Guard, 11.1 ppg
Ryan Kriener, Senior, Forward, 5.7 ppg
Connor McCaffery, Sophomore, Guard, 4.4 ppg
Cordell Pemsl, Junior, Forward, 4.0 ppg
Jack Nunge, Sophomore, Forward, DNP last season
Key New Players:
Bakari Evelyn, Senior, Guard, Transfer from Valparaiso
C.J. Fredrick, RS Freshman, Guard
Patrick McCaffery, Freshman, Forward
Joe Toussaint, Freshman, Guard
C.J. Fredrick, RS Freshman, Guard
Patrick McCaffery, Freshman, Forward
Joe Toussaint, Freshman, Guard
Projection:
If Jordan Bohannon does decide to play this season, Iowa will have one of the top returning trios in the NCAA. Bohannon was voted to the Third-team All-Big Ten by the coaches last season and already holds the school record for most 3-pointers made. Bohannon is the key to the Hawkeyes’ offense and his decision to play this season could be the biggest preseason decision in the country. Luka Garza was an Honorable Mention All-Big Ten member as a sophomore behind 13.1 points and 4.5 rebounds per game. Garza is efficient from the field (53.1%) and the free-throw line (80.4%) making him one of the top centers in the Big Ten. Rounding out the trio is sophomore Joe Wieskamp who is the top NBA prospect of the bunch. Wieskamp made the All-Big Ten Freshman Team behind 11.1 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game. Wieskamp is a marksman from deep as he finished second in the Big Ten in 3-point percentage at 42.4%. Ryan Kriener, Connor McCaffery and Cordell Pemsl all return to provide experienced depth to the roster. McCaffery could be the likeliest of the group to take a step forward this year. As a freshman, McCaffery averaged 4.4 points and was second on the team with 3.0 assists per game. 6-foot-11 big man Jack Nunge could be an X-factor as a redshirt sophomore. Nunge played as a freshman in 2017-18 and averaged 5.7 points and 2.8 rebounds, but he redshirted last season to improve his strength and skill-level. Bakari Evelyn is the lone non-freshman newcomer to the team. Evelyn is a grad transfer from Valparaiso who averaged 8.4 points last season and 12.6 points in 2017-18. Three freshmen are on the roster this season, highlighted by coach’s son Patrick McCaffery. McCaffery is a 6-foot-9 stretch forward who was a four-star, top-100 recruit. Fellow true freshman Joe Toissaint is a three-star prospect and C.J. Fredrick is a redshirt freshman. With Jordan Bohannon, the Hawkeyes look like a top-25 team capable of competing for a Big Ten title. Even if Bohannon decides to sit out for the season, Iowa should still have enough talent to make the NCAA Tournament.
Projected Postseason Tournament: NCAA
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 78.3 (47th in nation, 1st in conference)
Scoring Defense: 73.9 (242, 13)
Field-Goal Percentage: 45.6 (100, 3)
Field-Goal Defense: 44.8 (236, 13)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 8.1 (128, 3)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 36.4 (76, 3)
Free-Throw Percentage: 73.9 (70, 3)
Rebound Margin: 0.8 (161, 10)
Assists Per Game: 15.5 (36, 2)
Turnovers Per Game: 12.2 (108, 7)
Madness 2019 Men’s Basketball Recruit Rankings:
#68 Patrick McCaffery
