Iowa Basketball: After rough beginning, Archie getting his shot

IOWA CITY - Devon Archie is finally on the court playing basketball. For a while, it didn't seem that was going to be possible.

A 6-foot-9 junior, Archie injured a shoulder on the second day of practice last year. The injury cost him the season and forced Iowa to red-shirt him.

This summer in the Prime Time League, he felt a nagging pain in his right knee. Here we go again, he thought.

“I was playing through it, and I stopped,” he said. “It was irritating real bad. I didn't want to damage it even further. So the doctors told me to relax and see if heals.”

Archie's injury eventually required arthroscopic surgery, and his knee took four weeks to heal. He missed most summer workouts and was relegated to riding a bicycle while his teammates scrimmaged in the off-season.

“It was kind of frustrating,” Archie said. “You want to be out here with your teammates getting your chemistry going.”

Now he's healthy and ready to contribute for Coach Fran McCaffery. Archie, a slender, athletic player, is in an offense now that suits his skill set.

Archie has struggled to fit in at Iowa, McCaffery acknowledged. Former coach Todd Lickliter recruited Archie in early 2009, in part because of Lickliter's relationship with Archie's high school coach. Archie started 19 of 30 games his sophomore season at Vincennes (Ind.) junior college. He averaged just 6.8 points, but Lickliter - who was fired after last season - said Archie had plenty of upside.

“He's a guy that needs some confidence,” McCaffery said. “He had a rough year last year with injuries and with some personal issues, and right now I think he feels like we've put our arms around him and encouraged him, as has everybody else at the institution.”

McCaffery sees potential from Archie in his up-tempo system.

“Physically, he looks good in terms of strength, and his length will be helpful,” McCaffery said. “He's got a pretty good understanding of how to play, especially in the motion game, which will be our primary offense. So I think from that standpoint, I feel really good about him.

“This is his chance. He's going to get a chance to play, and I feel good about his contribution.”