McCaffery to seek extra year for Jones, red-shirt for Hutton

IOWA CITY — Iowa men's basketball coach Fran McCaffery said his program would explore an extra year of eligibility for junior forward Dale Jones and plans to withhold freshman Brandon Hutton from competition this year.

Jones, a 6-foot-7 forward, suffered a season-ending knee injury last week that will require surgery. Jones, a Waterloo native, played in six games and averaged 5.5 points and 3.0 rebounds a contest. He previously took a red-shirt season after an ACL tear at Tyler (Texas) Junior College two years ago. So for Iowa to reclaim a year, the Big Ten's academics and eligibility subcommittee must grant him a sixth year.

'There's precedent for it,' McCaffery said. 'We'll see where it is. (Jones) certainly would be eligible for that.'

Hutton, a freshman guard from Chicago, has not played this season. Monday night he was in street clothes during the Hawkeyes' 90-56 win against Western Illinois.

'We're not going to play him this year,' McCaffery said. When asked if he plans to red-shirt Hutton, McCaffery said, 'Yeah.'

Hutton is the second Hawkeye freshman to red-shirt this season. Guard Isaiah Moss, who also is from Chicago, was announced as a red-shirt before the season opener.

l Comments: (319) 339-3169; scott.dochterman@thegazette.com