Bohannon Honors Street: Iowa Time Machine February 25, 2018

Iowa Time Machine ⏰: On February 25, 2018, Iowa guard Jordan Bohannon stood at the free-throw line facing a choice that transcended basketball: tie a beloved Hawkeye record held by Chris Street or break it. When Bohannon missed the free throw, he proved that some records aren’t meant to be broken and thatsome things are bigger than the game.

Chris Street arrived at the University of Iowa in 1990 as a lanky forward from Indianola with dreams of Big Ten stardom. He developed into a reliable scorer and tenacious rebounder, earning team MVP honors and becoming a fan favorite for his work ethic and infectious personality. Despite struggling from the free-throw line early in his Hawkeye career, Street displayed remarkable consistency at the free-throw line during his junior season to convert 34 straight attempts without a miss. The streak represented the kind of focused excellence that defined his approach to the game. On January 19, 1993, Street's promising career ended abruptly when a snowplow crossed the centerline on a rural Johnson County road, striking his vehicle and killing him instantly. He was 20 years old. The tragedy devastated the Iowa basketball family and the broader community, turning Street into a permanent symbol of promise unfulfilled and potential tragically cut short.

Twenty-five years later, Bohannon found himself approaching Street's record during Iowa's matchup against Northwestern. The sophomore guard had been automatic from the charity stripe, making free throw after free throw with metronomic precision. When he stepped to the line in the second half and sank his 34th consecutive attempt, Carver-Hawkeye Arena erupted with applause that acknowledged both the achievement and its emotional weight. He knew Street's mother, Patty, still attended Iowa games and remained deeply connected to the program. When officials awarded him another free throw moments later, Bohannon took his position, went through his normal routine, and sent the ball deliberately off the front of the rim. The crowd's initial confusion gave way to a standing ovation as spectators realized what they had witnessed.

Patty Street publicly thanked Bohannon for his decision, calling it beautiful and meaningful beyond words. The moment became part of Bohannon's legacy at Iowa, defining him as much as his subsequent achievements on the court. The decision demonstrated that individual glory sometimes matters less than collective memory, that the stories we preserve about those we've lost deserve protection even when records beckon. #Iowa #OTD #History #Basketball #Records