Iowa basketball hands out post season awards
The Iowa men’s basketball team held their annual team banquet on Thursday evening and the highest honor that can be given to a Hawkeye player was shared by Filip Rebraca and Kris Murray. They were both named the winner of the Chris Street Award, which is given annually to a Hawkeye player, or players, who best exemplify the spirit, enthusiasm, and intensity of Chris Street.
Murray’s father, Kenyon, was a teammate of Street and named him after Chris when he was born. He was a consensus third-team All-American after being voted third team All-America by Sporting News, United States Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) and the Associated Press. The 6-foot-8 forward was also a Naismith, Wooden and Lute Olson Award semifinalist, and was a finalist for the Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year. He also earned National Association of Basketball Coaches and USBWA All-District accolades and was a unanimous all-conference selection. Murray, who also shared the team’s Top Rebounder Award with Rebraca, averaged a team-best 20.2 points and 7.9 rebounds as a junior. He was the only Division I player to average 20+ points, 7+ rebounds, one block, and have made 65+ 3-pointers in 2023. The Cedar Rapids, Iowa, native scored 30+ points four times this season, 25+ points nine times and 20+ points 15 times.
Rebraca ranked second on the squad in points (14.1) and rebounds (7.5) per game, while ranking first in field goal percentage (.571), and free throws made (108) and attempted (161). The native of Sombor, Serbia, netted double figures a team-best 28 times and posted a team-best nine double-doubles in 2023. He was one of only five Division I players to average 14+ points, 7.5+ rebounds and 2+ assists, while shooting 57 percent or better from the field this season. A third-team all-league honoree, Rebraca averaged 2.9 offensive rebounds, third best in the Big Ten and 53rd-best nationally. His 57.1 field-goal percentage was 35th-best in the country.
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Rebraca and Payton Sandfort shared the most improved player award this season. Connor McCaffery and Tony Perkins shared the top playmaker award. Connor and Patrick McCaffery shared the Kenny Arnold Spirit Award. This award is presented to the Hawkeye(s) who exemplifies Arnold’s spirit of leadership, character, courage, determination and poise. This player(s) inspires his teammates to be their very best in spite of the odds.
Finally, Dasonte Bowen and Josh Dix shared the newcomer of the year honor. Bowen saw action in 26 games, including one start in his rookie campaign. The Boston native totaled 81 points, 26 assists and 23 rebounds. He netted a season-best 12 points against No. 15 Duke at Madison Square Garden in New York. Dix played in 31 games, totaling 62 points, 28 assists, 28 rebounds and 14 3-pointers. He shot the long ball at a 40 percent clip, sixth best for a freshman in program history. The native of Council Bluffs, Iowa, had a season-high 10 points in Iowa’s overtime victory over Michigan and distributed a season-best five assists in back-to-back wins over the Wolverines and Maryland in January.
