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29 T here will be a number of firsts for University of Iowa head coach Fran McCaffery entering his 25th season as a head coach. McCaffery has never coached a team with seven players with starting experience, let alone the returning National Player of the Year. Center Luka Garza earned Big Ten and National Player of the Year distinction as a junior and is the frontrunner for National Player of the Year entering the 2020- 21 campaign. "Having seven players with starting experience provides us with incredible versatility," said McCaffery. "In a year where you may have a player out for a couple weeks (COVID-19 and contact tracing), depth will be important." e COVID-19 pandemic canceled last season's postseason and has carried over to 2020-21, delaying its start until Nov. 25. McCaffery said having a veteran team will be beneficial navigating through this unprecedented season. Returning seven players with starting experience on a team that has led the Big Ten in scoring offense the last two seasons bodes well for another year of scorching the nets. But McCaffery knows that to get to the next level, the team needs to continue to make defensive strides. "Considering how great this league is, and the number of good players, you need to be good every night defensively," said McCaffery. Garza was a beast in 2019-20, finishing the 20- game conference schedule averaging 26.2 points per game. He scored a school-record 740 points, breaking the program's 50-year-old record. Garza was one of three Big Ten players to total 740 points and 300 rebounds in a season. e All-American produced against top competition all season, scoring 20-or-more points a school-record 16 straight Big Ten games, and averaging 26.7 points, 11.1 rebounds and 1.7 blocks in 12 contests against ranked opponents. In addition to Garza, starters Jordan Bohannon, Connor McCaffery, Joe Wieskamp, CJ Fredrick, Joe Toussaint and Jack Nunge return. Bohannon is back for a fih season, receiving a medical hardship aer undergoing season-ending hip surgery last December. e return of the program's all-time 3-point leader (8.8 ppg, 3.3 apg) should stretch defenses with his range and ability to make timely baskets. Not only can Fredrick (10.2 ppg, 2.8 apg) and Wieskamp (14.0 ppg, 6.1 rpg) knock down the 3-ball, but they can finish at the basket. Wieskamp, a junior, was a third-team All-Big Ten selection last year, while Fredrick was honored on the All- Big Ten Freshman Team. Connor McCaffery (6.2 ppg, 4.0 rpg) was vital to the team's success last season. e co-captain led the country in assist-to-turnover ratio (4.6) and was first on the squad in assists per game (4.0). Toussaint (6.5 ppg, 2.9 apg) was thrust into the starting lineup in the 12th game as a rookie and never looked back. He was a terrific defender, leading the team in steals per game (1.2). Nunge started the first five games last season before sustaining a season-ending ACL injury. He averaged six points and 4.6 rebounds in his abbreviated sophomore season. McCaffery is pleased with his rehab progress and expects him to be ready by the Nov. 25 opener. If that wasn't enough, the Hawkeyes add six freshmen. Patrick McCaffery returns for his redshirt season, while true freshmen Keegan and Kris Murray, Josh Ogundele, Tony Perkins and Ahron Ulis step onto campus. McCaffery said to be successful in the Big Ten, temas have to be mentally and physically tough, and he believes this team has those qualities. "is team has incredible mental toughness and impressive chemistry," said McCaffery. "In this league, you have to be able to execute, especially under pressure coming down the stretch, and this team does that well."