McCaffery says Marble will fill in for Gatens

CHICAGO -- Iowa Coach Fran McCaffery said Devyn Marble will fill in for junior guard Matt Gatens, who is having surgery today on a torn tendon in his non-shooting hand.

"Matt's having surgery today," McCaffery said. "We're probably looking at three weeks before he can play."

"I think he'll be back within three weeks."

It's likely Gatens will miss Iowa's first two games. Iowa opens Nov. 14 against South Dakota State, then plays Louisiana-Monroe on Nov. 16.

Gatens has started 64 consecutive games for Iowa. He was Iowa's leading scorer last year at 12.3 points a game.

McCaffery said Marble, a freshman from Detroit, has improved dramatically in practice since the first week.

McCaffery said it's likely freshman Melsahn Basabe will start at power forward, while freshman Zach McCabe is "a tremendous shooter." McCaffery praised McCabe's versatility.