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Iowa Basketball: 5 reasons the Hawkeyes can win a National Title

By Joe Kipp

COLLEGE PARK, MARYLAND - JANUARY 30: Luka Garza #55 of the Iowa Hawkeyes huddles with teammates before a college basketball game against the Maryland Terrapins at Xfinity Center on January 30, 2020 in College Park, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
COLLEGE PARK, MARYLAND - JANUARY 30: Luka Garza #55 of the Iowa Hawkeyes huddles with teammates before a college basketball game against the Maryland Terrapins at Xfinity Center on January 30, 2020 in College Park, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /
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EVANSTON, ILLINOIS – JANUARY 14: CJ Fredrick #5 of the Iowa Hawkeyes in action in the game against the Northwestern Wildcats at Welsh-Ryan Arena on January 14, 2020 in Evanston, Illinois. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
EVANSTON, ILLINOIS – JANUARY 14: CJ Fredrick #5 of the Iowa Hawkeyes in action in the game against the Northwestern Wildcats at Welsh-Ryan Arena on January 14, 2020 in Evanston, Illinois. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) /

2. The Hawks can shoot the three

Iowa basketball has a handful of sharpshooters, which obviously bodes well when the team needs a desperate 3-point attempt. Jordan Bohannon returns after only playing in 10 games last season due to a hip injury.

Iowa’s all-time leader in 3-point field goals, Bohannon has the range and clutch factor to bury a three from anywhere at any time. He’s made 273 career 3-pointers while shooting 40.3 percent from beyond the arc.

CJ Fredrick could be the X-factor this season for the Hawkeyes. Fredrick shot 46.1 percent from 3-point range last season, the highest mark in a single-season for a freshman in program history. His 46.1 percent mark also led the entire Big Ten.

“We have enough weapons offensively and we have enough depth to keep fresh bodies on the floor defensively,” said Fran McCaffery. “I think we have enough size and most importantly, we have enough 3-point shooters because you can’t have enough of those, especially the way the game is being played today, and especially the way we play.”

Meanwhile, Joe Wieskamp and Luka Garza can also be relied on from downtown. Wieskamp struggled at times last season, but still shot 34.7 percent from 3-point range. Garza converted on 35.8 percent of his 3-point attempts.

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