Panthers and Hawkeyes Battle in Final Hy-Vee Classic

This Weeks Action:

Hy-Vee Classic
Saturday, December 15 – Des Moines, Iowa (Wells Fargo Arena)
UNI vs #21 Iowa 6 p.m. | BTN | Audio | Stats

Full Game Notes
MVC Notes

THE PANTHERS

• The Panthers move to 4-5 on the season after defeating the University of Dubuque 75-67 in the McLeod Center.
• The Panthers now get a week off before traveling to Des Moines for the final Hy-Vee Classic where they are scheduled for a 6 pm showdown with the 7-2 Hawkeyes of the University of Iowa.
• AJ Green ranks in the top 25 in NCAA free throw percentage. Making 92.6% of his shots from the line, Green leads the conference and sits at 12th nationally.
• As a team, the Panthers rank first in the league in free throw percentage with a 75.7% mark. The teams also rank third in the MVC in total three throws made with 134.
• The Panthers are heavy on three-point shooting this season, trailing only Illinois State in three-point field goals, the Panthers have attempted 234 shots from beyond the arc, and are fourth in made three-pointers with 71.
• While AJ Green leads the Panthers with 21 made three-pointers, Luke McDonnell leads the Panthers in three-point field goal percentage, making 5 of 10 from distance, McDonnell ranks 7th in the MVC with a .500 mark.
• Sophomore Trae Berhow continues to rebound for the Panthers, with 58 total rebounds this season Berhow ranks 6th in the MVC while his 5.7 defensive rebounds also rank 5th in the league.
• The Panthers have rebounded well as a team, hauling in 289 total boards, third most in the MVC, while the Panthers 27.4 defensive rebounds per game rank third in the league.

THE HAWKEYES

The #21 Hawkeyes currently sit at 7-2 on the season with their only losses coming to #22 Wisconsin and #10 Michigan State.

The Hawkeyes have averaged 82.7 points per game, which ranks in the top 50 in the NCAA. The Hawkeyes rank second the Big 10 in scoring offense and lead the conference in free throw attempts, free throws made, and free throw percentage.

The Hawkeyes are led by two talented forwards in Tyler Cook and Luka Garza. Cook is off to a great start to the 2018-19 season, averaging a team-high 16.6 points per game while shooting 56 percent from the field. Cook also leads the team in total rebounds, hauling in 76 boards this season. Luka Garza will be a key matchup, the 6-11 forward has averaged 12 points per game and brought in 43 rebounds this season.

Connor McCaffery will be a player to watch in Saturday's matchup. The freshman guard is shooting 43 percent from the field this season and leads the Hawkeyes with 32 assists.

The Hawkeyes are led by eighth-year Head Coach Fran McCaffery. McCaffery was named the University of Iowa's 22nd head men's basketball coach on March 29, 2010. McCaffery and the Hawkeyes have finished in the first division of the Big Ten five of the last six seasons. Additionally, Iowa was one of only three schools to record a Big Ten record of .500 or better between 2013-17.

Since taking over the program in 2010, the Hawkeyes have vaulted back to national prominence. Iowa has appeared in a postseason tournament six of the last seven seasons.

McCaffery is the first head coach to lead Iowa to 18 or more victories in six straight seasons (2012-17). Overall, the Hawkeyes amassed 140 victories the last seven seasons (20 average) under McCaffery's direction. McCaffery's 151 wins rank second behind Tom Davis for the most in the first eight seasons as Iowa's head coach.

PUT THEM ON THE LINE

Collectively the Panthers lead the conference in free throw percentage. With a 75.5 mark, the Panthers also rank 33rd nationally in that category. AJ Green leads the conference in free throw percentage with players over 15 free throw attempts. Green's 92.6% ranks 12th nationally. Miles Wentzien and Wyatt Lohaus are perfect at the line so far, each going 12-12 to start the season.

GIVE ME THAT

Rebounding has been a strength of the Panthers so far this season, hauling in 289 total rebounds the Panthers rank third in the league. The Panthers rank 5th in the MVC with 27.4 defensive rebounds per game.

Sophomore Trae Berhow leads the team with 5.7 defensive rebounds per game, ranking sixth in the league. Luke McDonnell has brought down 18 offensive rebounds this season, a mark that has him at fifth in the league and eighth in offensive rebounds per game with 2.0.

NO PROBLEM FROM THREE

The Panthers don't shy away from shooting from distance. With 234 three-point field goals attempted, the Panthers rank second in the MVC and 93rd nationally. The Panthers don't just take the shots, they make them. The team has made 71 three-pointers this season, fourth-most in the league.

Freshman AJ Green leads the Panthers in three-point shooting, with 62 attempts Green ranks second in the MVC and his 21 made threes ranks him seventh. Forward Luke McDonnell leads the Panthers in three-point field goal percentage, making five of ten so far this season. McDonnell's .500 clip ranks seventh in the MVC.

THIS WEEK IN THE MVC

Wednesday, Dec. 12
Murray State at Southern Illinois
Saturday, Dec. 15
Jacksonville State at Evansville
Southern Illinois at #14 Buffalo
Drake vs. Iowa State
UNI vs. #21 Iowa
Eastern Illinois at Bradley
Missouri State at North Dakota State
Sunday, Dec. 16
Cleveland State at Illinois State
Norfolk State at Loyola
Indiana State at TCU
Monday, Dec. 17
SIU Edwardsville at Drake
Ball State at Valparaiso
Tuesday, Dec. 18
Bradley at Georgia Southern
Evansville at Murray State
Missouri State at Arkansas State
Benedictine at Loyola

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Panthers and Hawkeyes Battle in Final Hy-Vee Classic

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Players Mentioned

Trae Berhow

AJ Green

Wyatt Lohaus

Luke McDonnell

Miles Wentzien

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