McCaffery Holds Out Hope Bohannon Can Play This Season

Iowa coach wants his guard to play his senior season 'pain-free.'

ROSEMONT, Ill. — Fran McCaffery knows the questions about Jordan Bohannon's status are still out there.

The Iowa basketball coach still doesn't know the answer, but he acknowledged Bohannon could play this season.

Bohannon underwent hip surgery in late May, and has said that if he isn't healthy at the start of the season, he will take this season as a medical redshirt year.

"I would have said eight weeks ago, seven weeks ago, we're playing it without him," McCaffery said during his press conference at Big Ten media day on Wednesday. "Now there's, I think, the possibility. He's not playing, but he's dribbling and shooting and doing some things.

"We're trying not to put pressure on him in any way, shape or form. I want him to be able to play his senior year as pain-free as possible."

Bohannon started all 35 games last season, averaging 11.6 points. He led the Hawkeyes with 119 assists.

Bohannon is the program's all-time leader in 3-point goals with 264. He led the team with 79 last season.

"Well, if he's healthy, we plan on playing with him. If he's not, we'll play without him," McCaffery said. "I don't know what else to say about that, other than he ... I think it's a good question because nobody knows what his status is, and he's obviously critical to our team.

"So we're planning as if he's not playing. If he plays, we'll be thrilled that he is, and he'll be able to jump back in because of how good he is and because he's our senior leader."

"Injuries suck," said sophomore Joe Wieskamp. "But it's a lot different for us knowing that he's been out this many months, so you can prepare for it, as compared to if he went down in the first game or something like that.

"It hurts us a little bit. He's one of the greatest Iowa players of all-time. Having his leadership out there, or not out there, is going to affect us in a big way."

McCaffery said if Bohannon doesn't play, there is plenty of depth in the backcourt. McCaffery's son, Connor, is back. C.J. Fredrick is ready to play after redshirting last season. Freshman guard Joe Toussaint was part of the 2019 recruiting class, and graduate transfer Bakari Evelyn was a late addition.

"We're in good shape there," McCaffery said. "You're missing 90 (3-pointers) — somebody else is going to have to make 90 threes, or three people (will)."

McCaffery said it won't be a point-guard-by-committee.

"Somebody will start, and then we'll go from there," he said.

"Right now, it's so hard to figure out what we're going to do. Right now, he's just over (on the side) dribbling. And I don't want him to feel like (there is pressure to play). You do whatever the trainers and doctors tell you to do. If at some point he can play, he'll play."