Iowa pre-game notes: Fuller close to full strength

Iowa sophomore forward Aaron Fuller still ices his sore left ankle every day and wears a boot when he's off the court. But his ankle is getting better, and that thrills Iowa assistant coach Chad Walthall.

"I think Aaron is really important for us," said Walthall, who fills in for Coach Todd Lickliter for the second straight game. "He's gotten a lot stronger in the last year. Because of that, he's been much more effective over the last four or five or six months in practice and overseas when we played, as far as his work in the paint. He's getting some things done in there."

Fuller sprained his ankle early against Bowling Green and played only six minutes over the last five games. Saturday against Prairie View A&M, Fuller came off the bench to play 19 minutes. He scored eight points and grabbed five rebounds.

"I'm just trying to do what I can to contribute," Fuller said. "I'm just trying to get second-chance opportunities on the offensive glass."

Fuller played one minute against Texas, one game after spraining his ankle. It swelled up and he missed the next two games.

"I don't think I came back too early," Fuller said. "I was just testing it out. Unfortunately it did kind of swell up. I just iced it."

In his limited time this season, Fuller averages 2.7 points and 2.5 rebounds a game. He has grabbed 10 offensive rebounds, a skill his teammates appreciate more in his absence.

"Before he got hurt he was just an outstanding rebounder, both offensively and defensively," Walthall said. " He just hunts the ball. We need that and he's very athletic. So he's certainly going to see his minutes increase as he starts to get in the flow again."

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Iowa junior Devon Archie is working out in practice but not practicing with the team. Archie, who transferred from Vincennes junior-college, has remained sidelined with a shoulder injury since the team's second practice this year. Lickliter suggested last week Archie may red-shirt this season.

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Lickliter remained hospitalized Tuesday morning after undergoing a medical procedure on Saturday. His sons, Garrett and John, did not attend Saturday's game so they could be with their father. Garrett Lickliter is a graduate assistant while John Lickliter is a red-shirt guard. Walthall said both are back with the team.