Iowa Hawkeyes
2020-2021 Overall Rank: #8
Conference Rank: #2 Big Ten
Iowa won at least 20 games for the second consecutive season in 2019-20, and are set up for a monster year in 2020-21. The Hawkeyes were one of the best teams in the stacked Big Ten and return all five starters while getting multiple key players back healthy. The biggest return for Iowa is reigning Big Ten Player of the Year Luka Garza. Jordan Bohannon, Jack Nunge and Patrick McCaffery all project to be rotation players after missing most of last season with injuries. With so much production back, Iowa is set up to be a Final Four contender.
2019-20 Record: 20-11, 11-9
Coach: Fran McCaffery
Coach Record: 194-143 at Iowa, 445-320 overall
Key Departed Players:
Ryan Kriener, Forward, 7.7 ppg
Bakari Evelyn, Guard, 3.7 ppg
Cordell Pemsl, Forward, 2.8 ppg
Riley Till, Forward, 0.7 ppg
Ryan Kriener, Forward, 7.7 ppg
Bakari Evelyn, Guard, 3.7 ppg
Cordell Pemsl, Forward, 2.8 ppg
Riley Till, Forward, 0.7 ppg
Key Returning Players:
Luka Garza, Senior, Center, 23.9 ppg
Joe Wieskamp, Junior, Guard, 14.0 ppg
CJ Fredrick, Sophomore, Guard, 10.2 ppg
Jordan Bohannon, Senior, Guard, 8.8 ppg
Joe Toussaint, Sophomore, Guard, 6.5 ppg
Connor McCaffery, Junior, Guard, 6.2 ppg
Jack Nunge, Sophomore, Forward, 5.0 ppg
Luka Garza, Senior, Center, 23.9 ppg
Joe Wieskamp, Junior, Guard, 14.0 ppg
CJ Fredrick, Sophomore, Guard, 10.2 ppg
Jordan Bohannon, Senior, Guard, 8.8 ppg
Joe Toussaint, Sophomore, Guard, 6.5 ppg
Connor McCaffery, Junior, Guard, 6.2 ppg
Jack Nunge, Sophomore, Forward, 5.0 ppg
Key New Players:
Patrick McCaffery, RS Freshman, Forward
Keegan Murray, Freshman, Forward
Kris Murray, Freshman, Forward
Josh Ogundele, Freshman, Forward
Tony Perkins, Freshman, Guard
Ahron Ulis, Freshman, Guard
Keegan Murray, Freshman, Forward
Kris Murray, Freshman, Forward
Josh Ogundele, Freshman, Forward
Tony Perkins, Freshman, Guard
Ahron Ulis, Freshman, Guard
Projection:
Luka Garza electing to return to school immediately vaulted Iowa to national championship contender. Garza racked up the accolades as a junior, earning First Team All-American, Big Ten Player of the Year, NCAA Center of the Year and runner up for National Player of the Year. Garza dominated with 23.9 points, 9.8 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game and should be considered for preseason player of the year nationally. The other four starters also all return, highlighted by double-digit scorers Joe Wieskamp and CJ Fredrick. Joe Toussaint and Connor McCaffery are the other returning starters who are more like glue guys for Iowa. The return of a healthy Jordan Bohannon is a very underrated addition for the Hawkeyes. Bohannon played in just ten games last year, but averaged double-digits in each of his first three seasons and is a career 40.3% shooter from three. Jack Nunge and Patrick McCaffery were also limited to short seasons last year due to injury and will make impacts for the Hawkeyes in 2020-21. Iowa has five true freshmen coming in as well, though none are ranked higher than three-stars and playing time will be tough to get this season. Iowa, if healthy, will be one of the most complete teams in the nation. Defense has always been a concern under Fran McCaffery, but with this much scoring potential it may not matter this season. The Hawkeyes enter 2020-21 as legitimate Final Four contenders.
Projected Postseason Tournament: NCAA
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 77.7 (29th in nation, 1st in conference)
Scoring Defense: 72.3 (257, 13)
Field-Goal Percentage: 45.1 (107, 3)
Field-Goal Defense: 43.0 (185, 13)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 7.9 (110, 7)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 34.7 (102, 4)
Free-Throw Percentage: 75.0 (53, 4)
Rebound Margin: 2.2 (116, 9)
Assists Per Game: 17.4 (6, 2)
Turnovers Per Game: 12.1 (85, 9)
