Don’t look now, but Iowa might just be one of the hottest teams in the Big Ten.
A pair of wins over Michigan and No. 24 Rutgers moved the Hawkeyes to 5-3 in the conference and 14-5 overall.
Iowa got back-to-back games of all-around solid contributions. Here’s who’s up and who’s down in this week’s stock watch.
Stock up: Luka Garza
Luka Garza casually leads the country with eight games of 20+ points and 10+ rebounds. Is that good?
Garza was unstoppable in his last two games. He torched Michigan (again) for 33 points. Then, against Rutgers, he scored 28 and grabbed 13 rebounds.
At one point in the second half against the Scarlet Knights, Garza scored nine points in a three-minute stretch. Rutgers simply had no answer for most of the game.
However, give credit where credit is due; Rutgers took Garza out of the game. Whether it was Iowa just not feeding the big man or the Scarlet Knights refusing post-entry passes, Garza did not attempt a shot in the game’s final 11:32.
But, again, for most of the night, Garza was unguardable. He made sure to let his defender know, too.
Garza said his defender's too little. @IowaHoops is extending the lead: pic.twitter.com/7Tte60ZkrZ
— Iowa On BTN (@IowaOnBTN) January 23, 2020
Stock down: Cordell Pemsl
There wasn’t much to complain about in Iowa’s two wins, but there was some questionable play from Cordell Pemsl in the win over Rutgers.
Iowa was -13 in 11 minutes with Pemsl on the floor. Pemsl did score on his only shot and grabbed two rebounds (good) but he committed two turnovers (not good).
Against Michigan and Rutgers, his minutes dipped dramatically from the two games prior. Pemsl played a combined 16 minutes in Iowa’s last two wins — 23 fewer minutes than he played against Maryland and Northwestern.
Stock up: Joe Toussaint
Joe Toussaint might just be Iowa’s hustle king this season.
This play against Rutgers was sensational:
Kriener with the slick fast-break footwork! @IowaHoops is in a good one on BTN: pic.twitter.com/RR3heshen6
— Iowa On BTN (@IowaOnBTN) January 23, 2020
His performance against Rutgers might just have been his best game as a Hawkeye. Toussaint finished with 14 points, seven rebounds, four assists, and a steal — he did a little bit of everything in the win.
Toussaint just does not quit. His energy is insane. From that assist above to his foul in the second half to stop a Rutgers fast break, his hustle is game-changing. He’s just so fast.
.@IowaHoops is off and running on BTN as Joe Toussaint splits the defense: pic.twitter.com/cHLrx0emfb
— Iowa On BTN (@IowaOnBTN) January 23, 2020
Stock up: Joe Wieskamp
20 points vs. Michigan. 18 points vs. Rutgers. Not a bad two-game stretch for Joe Wieskamp.
The sophomore was making plays in both wins, but he turned it up a notch in the second half against the Scarlet Knights. Wieskamp scored 15 points in the final half, hitting four of his five field goals and making all six of his free throws.
Oh, and he knocked down this clutch 3-pointer with less than 1:30 left in the game:
Joe Cool. ❄️
— Iowa On BTN (@IowaOnBTN) January 23, 2020
Wieskamp sinks a huge shot to widen @IowaHoops' late lead: pic.twitter.com/q7FplOdm0q
Wieskamp has scored 18 points or more in six of his last seven games. Not bad at all.