Iowa Basketball: Hawkeyes Announce Team Awards

The Iowa men’s basketball team held their annual post-season banquet on Tuesday evening. The event not only wraps up the season formally, but also hands out a number of awards. Admittedly, after a season like the one we all just experienced, handing out awards feels a lot like giving out little league participation ribbons after a season of not keeping score.

Here’s a rundown of all the awards handed out:

CHRIS STREET AWARD: Jordan Bohannon

According to the official pres release, “the Chris Street Award is presented annually to a Hawkeye player, or players, who best exemplify the spirit, enthusiasm and intensity of Chris Street. Street was an Iowa basketball player who died in an auto accident in 1993, midway through his junior year.”

Bohannon became just the sixth underclassman to win the award in its 25 years of existence. You’ll recall his moving gesture to intentionally miss a free throw against Northwestern back in late February that would have given him the record for most consecutive free throws made. With the miss, Bohannon left the record in Chris Street’s name at 34.

TOP PLAYMAKER: Jordan Bohannon

Aside from embodying all the things we associate with Chris Street, Bohannon is also a damn fine basketball player. He catches more than his fair share of grief and is the source of constant debate around the definition of “true point guard,” but his numbers sort of speak for themselves.

Per the release:

(Bohannon) became the sixth Hawkeye in program history to total more than 400 points and 150 assists in a season. The honorable mention all-conference honoree recorded three double-doubles as a sophomore to bring his career double-doubles in points and assists to a program-best six. Bohannon (6-foot, 180 pounds) is the only player nationally to post 150-plus assists and 80-plus 3-pointers as a freshman and sophomore over the last 25 years. He ranked first on the team in assists (178) and 3-point shooting (96-of-223, .430), and second in scoring (13.5) and steals (22).Bohannon’s 90.4 free throw percentage ranks first in program history by a sophomore; he led the league in percentage, missing only two free throws against Big Ten opponents this season (47-of-49, .949).

Not. Too. Shabby.

NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR: Luka Garza

Hawkeye fans have had a love/hate relationship with big men in recent years, but there’s a lot to love about freshman big Luka Garza. There were certainly some bumps along the way and areas to improve upon, but what we saw from the young man in his first year of Big Ten basketball should give fans a lot to look forward to in the future.

MOST IMPROVED: Isaiah Moss

Much like Garza, RS sophomore Isaiah Moss has flashed some serious potential in his two seasons on the hardwood. He possesses a skillset few other current Hawkeyes have with an ability to shoot from outside, but also slash and take his man off the dribble. Consistency and confidence have been issues at times, but he’s clearly improved each year he’s been in Iowa City.

I, for one, am very glad he’s decided to stay for at least another year.

BEST REBOUNDER: Tyler Cook

Now, I can hear your collective eyes rolling from here as a common criticism of Cook was effort on the glass, but he did lead the team in rebounding at 6.8 rebounds per game (Garza was a close second at 6.4). He also had 7 double-doubles on the year.

Here’s hoping Cook is back for another year to build on those numbers with a little more consistent effort on the glass. If so, he could be a major force with his athleticism.

ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AWARD: Nicholas Baer

Raise your hand if you’re surprised here?

Nobody? Didn’t think so.

Baer is the consummate Jack of all trades. He does so many things on the court and in the classroom as well. According to the release Baer was “a Dean’s List honoree last fall and earned Academic All-Big Ten laurels as a junior.”

Nicely done, sir.

KENNY ARNOLD HAWKEYE SPIRIT AWARD:Tyler Cook

And finally, Cook took home a second award for the year, the Kenny Arnold. Per the release, the winner “ inspires his teammates to be their very best in spite of the odds.” Hopefully the dispels some rumors around locker room friction.

Congratulations to all the winners. Here’s hoping next year’s award ceremony comes after a little more successful season for the team.

Here’s the full release from the University:

Men’s Basketball Announces Team Awards

Jordan Bohannon earns Chris Street Award

IOWA CITY, Iowa -- Sophomore Jordan Bohannon was named recipient of the Chris Street Award for the 2017-18 University of Iowa men’s basketball season. The Hawkeye sophomore received the award Tuesday evening at the team’s awards ceremony.

The Chris Street Award is presented annually to a Hawkeye player, or players, who best exemplify the spirit, enthusiasm and intensity of Chris Street. Street was an Iowa basketball player who died in an auto accident in 1993, midway through his junior year.

The native of Marion, Iowa, became sixth underclassmen to earn the award since the inception of the award in 1993. Bohannon’s numbers speak for themselves, but it was an incredibly selfless act by Bohannon that many fans remember from this past season. Bohannon made 34 consecutive free throws over a span of 15 games to tie Street’s program record before purposely missing the potential record breaking free throw to preserve Street’s name in the Hawkeye record books.

Bohannon, who also earned the team’s Top Playmaker Award for the second consecutive season, became the sixth Hawkeye in program history to total more than 400 points and 150 assists in a season. The honorable mention all-conference honoree recorded three double-doubles as a sophomore to bring his career double-doubles in points and assists to a program-best six. Bohannon (6-foot, 180 pounds) is the only player nationally to post 150-plus assists and 80-plus 3-pointers as a freshman and sophomore over the last 25 years. He ranked first on the team in assists (178) and 3-point shooting (96-of-223, .430), and second in scoring (13.5) and steals (22).Bohannon’s 90.4 free throw percentage ranks first in program history by a sophomore; he led the league in percentage, missing only two free throws against Big Ten opponents this season (47-of-49, .949).

Other Hawkeyes recognized include Nicholas Baer, Tyler Cook, Luka Garza, and Isaiah Moss.

Cook (6-foot-9, 255 pounds) was the recipient of the team’s Best Rebounder Award and the Kenny Arnold Hawkeye Spirit Award. The Kenny Arnold Hawkeye Spirit Award is presented to the Hawkeye who exemplifies Arnold’s spirit of leadership, character, courage, determination and poise. This player inspires his teammates to be their very best in spite of the odds.

Cook led the team in six statistical categories as a sophomore: scoring (15.3), rebounding (6.8), double-doubles (7), dunks (60), and free throws made (121) and attempted (183). The native of St. Louis was an honorable mention all-conference honoree and became just the second Hawkeye to total more than 500 points and 200 rebounds as a sophomore.

Garza (6-foot-11, 235 pounds) was named the team’s Newcomer of the Year. Garza became just the fourth Hawkeye in program history to score 400 points in his freshman season. A two-time Big Ten Freshman of the Week honoree, Garza started 26 of 33 games, ranked third on the squad in scoring (12.1), first in blocked shots (0.9), and second in rebounding (6.4). The Washington, D.C. native posted four double-doubles, becoming the first Hawkeye since Aaron White in 2012 to register at least four double-doubles as a freshman.

Moss (6-foot-5, 205 pounds) was the recipient of the team’s Most Improved Player Award. Heranked fourth on the team in scoring (11.1), third in assists (62), and tied for second in steals (22) as a redshirt sophomore. Moss increased his scoring average by 4.6 points from his freshman to sophomore seasons. Moss was voted to the Cayman Islands Classic All-Tournament team, averaging 18 points in three games. The Chicago native poured in a career-high 32 points at Minnesota on Feb. 21, including scorching the nets for 19 points in the final 1:36 of the game.

Baer earned the team’s Academic Excellence Award. The native of Bettendorf, Iowa, was a Dean’s List honoree last fall and earned Academic All-Big Ten laurels as a junior. On the court, Baer (6-foot-7, 210 pounds) became the first Hawkeye since Jeff Horner in 2005 and 2006 to lead the team in steals in back-to-back seasons.

2018 IOWA MEN’S BASKETBALL TEAM AWARDS

CHRIS STREET AWARD: Jordan Bohannon

TOP PLAYMAKER: Jordan Bohannon

NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR: Luka Garza

MOST IMPROVED: Isaiah Moss

BEST REBOUNDER: Tyler Cook

ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AWARD: Nicholas Baer

KENNY ARNOLD HAWKEYE SPIRIT AWARD:Tyler Cook