
IOWA CITY — One of the strengths of the Iowa basketball team entering this season was considered to be its depth, but the Hawkeyes will have only eight scholarship players in uniform Saturday when they take on Savannah State.
The bench got a little shorter when redshirt freshman guard Connor McCaffery was ruled out of the game while he undergoes concussion protocol.
The Hawkeyes already were redshirting Jack Nunge and C.J. Fredrick, and Cordell Pemsl underwent season-ending knee surgery Tuesday.
Backup center Ryan Kriener is expected to play Saturday after spraining his ankle in Tuesday’s 78-60 victory over Western Carolina. And walk-on Riley Till, who watched Tuesday’s game in a walking boot, should be able to play barring any sort of setback Friday in practice.
McCaffery took an elbow to the head from teammate Tyler Cook while going after a rebound late in the Western Carolina game. He stayed on the court for a minute or so after that but complained of being dizzy.
“It’s just one of those unfortunate situations,’’ Iowa coach Fran McCaffery said Friday on a teleconference with reporters.
Iowa had two players — Kriener and Brady Ellingson — miss five games or more last season while undergoing concussion protocol, but Coach McCaffery said this one doesn’t appear to be as serious.
“Kriener’s problem was he had two of them,’’ he said. “That obviously was problematic. He had two in the same year. Brady’s lasted a little longer than we thought but Connor’s progressing rapidly. I would expect him to play in the next game.’’
Connor has played an important role as the backup to starting point guard Jordan Bohannon. He has been on the floor with Bohannon at the conclusion of close games, leads the team in assists and has averaged 7.5 points per game.
But Coach McCaffery said he is comfortable playing Maishe Dailey, Isaiah Moss or even freshman Joe Wieskamp at the point.
“There’s a number of different ways we can go,’’ he said. “Austin Ash (a freshman walk-on) is a guy who is ready to get some minutes if we need him to so we’ve got some options.’’
Wieskamp said after the Western Carolina game that he feels the Hawkeyes will be fine no matter how short the bench gets.
“We’ll be all right …’’ he said. “We’ve got a lot of guys who can play more minutes if needed, myself included. If I need to play the whole game, I will. It’s whatever coach wants, whatever the team needs.’’
In Savannah State (3-10), the Hawkeyes are facing a team that has lost six straight games, allows 99.4 points per game and is 344th in the country in Ken Pomeroy’s power rankings.
McCaffery said the Tigers play “a very unique style.’’ They launched 57 3-point shots in one game, press continuously and use a 2-3 zone almost exclusively in halfcourt situations.
“They’re going to push it quick, shoot it quick,’’ he said. “They have multiple guys who can shoot 3s and go off the dribble. They’ve got very good team speed and quickness. They press on both makes and misses, which is another thing that’s rare … They’re going to scramble the game a little bit with pressure at the point of attack. We have to handle that pressure and move the ball effectively without turning it over.’’
120618-Iowa-basketball-007
Iowa’s Connor McCaffery drives against Iowa State’s Tyrese Haliburton on Thursday during second-half action at Carver Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City. Iowa won the game 98-84.
120618-Iowa-basketball-009
Iowa’s Connor McCaffery drives against Iowa State’s Tyrese Haliburton, Thursday, December 6, 2018, during second half action at Carver Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City. Iowa won the game 98-84.
Pittsburgh Iowa Basketball
Pittsburgh guard Xavier Johnson, left, steals the ball from Iowa guard Connor McCaffery during the first half Tuesday.
Connor McCaffery mug
McCaffery
UConn Iowa Basketball
Iowa forward Tyler Cook (25) and guard Connor McCaffery (30) celebrate a dunk by Cook during the second half Friday night. Cook scored 26 points and McCaffery 19 in Iowa’s 91-72 win over UConn in the championship game of the 2K Empire Classic.
111118-Iowa-bb-012
Led by Connor McCaffery, who is shooting 87.5 percent, the Iowa basketball team is off to a torrid start at the free throw line.
100818-Iowa-BB-Media-Day-018
Iowa head coach Fran McCaffery talks to his son, Iowa guard Connor McCaffery (30) and guard Joe Wieskamp (10) during the Iowa men’s basketball media day at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City on Monday, Oct. 8, 2018.
100818-Iowa-BB-Media-Day-023
Iowa guard Connor McCaffery (30) dribbles the ball for a photo during the Iowa men’s basketball media day at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City on Monday, Oct. 8, 2018.
100818-Iowa-BB-Media-Day-037
Iowa guard Connor McCaffery (30) poses for a photo during the Iowa men’s basketball media day at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City on Monday, Oct. 8, 2018.
100818-Iowa-BB-Media-Day-006
Iowa guard Connor McCaffery (30) smiles and laughs with guard Austin Ash (13) during the Iowa men’s basketball media day at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City on Monday, Oct. 8, 2018.
Connor McCaffery
It was pretty much a lost season for the coach’s son. He played in only four games because of an ankle injury, the flu, mononucleosis, strep throat and a tonsillectomy, and he never fully regained his stamina. The 53 minutes he did play early in the season were inconclusive since he only attempted three shots while handing out seven assists. However, assuming he is healthy next season, he should help a great deal as a pass-first point guard, giving Bohannon a breather and occasionally playing alongside him in the backcourt. McCaffery may not ever be a double figures scorer but he looks like an exceptional facilitator who could elevate the performance level of the players around him.
Southern U Iowa Basketball
Iowa guard Connor McCaffery, right, fights for a rebound with Southern University forward Jared Sam during a December game. The contest is one of only four in which McCaffery has played this season.
Southern U Iowa Basketball
Iowa guard Connor McCaffery (30) warms up before a game against Southern University on Dec. 10.
Southern U Iowa Basketball
Iowa guard Connor McCaffery, left, drives upcourt past Southern University guard Aaron Ray (14) during a Dec. 10 game.
Connor McCaffery
It was pretty much a lost season for the coach’s son. He played in only four games because of an ankle injury, the flu, mononucleosis, strep throat and a tonsillectomy, and he never fully regained his stamina. The 53 minutes he did play early in the season were inconclusive since he only attempted three shots while handing out seven assists. However, assuming he is healthy next season, he should help a great deal as a pass-first point guard, giving Bohannon a breather and occasionally playing alongside him in the backcourt. McCaffery may not ever be a double figures scorer but he looks like an exceptional facilitator who could elevate the performance level of the players around him.
Southern U Iowa Basketball
Iowa guard Connor McCaffery (30) walks off the court with teammates after an NCAA college basketball game against Southern University, Sunday, Dec. 10, 2017, in Iowa City, Iowa. Iowa won 91-60. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Iowa Media Day Basketball
From left, Iowa freshmen Connor McCaffery, Jack Nunge and Luka Garza pose for photographers during Iowa’s annual college basketball media day in Iowa City, Iowa. McCaffery will play this season after initially planning to redshirt.
101617-hawkeyes-009
Iowa freshmen Luka Garza (55) and Connor McCaffery (30) joke with Bettendorf’s Nicholas Baer (51) at the Hawkeyes’ preseason media day Monday at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
Connor McCaffery
McCaffery
031315-NorthScott-002
North Scott’s Grant Graham defends Iowa City West’s Connor McCaffery during a Class 4A state semifinal game at the Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines on Friday.
062814-shootout5
Connor McCaffery and the Iowa City West boys basketball team is off to a 3-0 start this season. The Trojans remain in the top spot on Quad-City Times prep sports editor Matt Coss’ Class 4A ballot.
