Iowa guards Bryce Cartwright, Eric May questionable for Wisconsin game

IOWA CITY - Bryce Cartwright wants to play. His coach wants him to play. Cartwright's right ankle, which has the final decision, has yet to render a verdict.

The Iowa senior point guard suffered what's called a high-ankle sprain in an Feb. 11 practice while chasing a loose ball with fellow guard Devyn Marble. Cartwright has missed the last two games with the injury, and Iowa Coach Fran McCaffery labels Cartwright as "questionable" for Thursday's game against No. 15 Wisconsin.

"I wouldn't go probable with him," McCaffery said. "I think he really wants to play. He's doing everything he can. It's the explosion and the pounding. He's not there yet. So we'll see."

Cartwright said he's spent time rehabilitating in the pool and has worked on balancing and strengthening his ankle since the injury.

"You don't want to rush these things," Cartwright said. "You want to be healthy, but at the same time help your team. If it's not helping the team, it's hurting the team. I just want to help the team."

Cartwright was a difference maker in the teams' first meeting, a 72-65 Iowa win at Kohl Center. He came off the bench to score 17 points and dish five assists and had just one turnover in the Hawkeyes' first win in Madison since 2000.

Cartwright later moved back into the starting lineup, and McCaffery said he "would make a big impact" against Wisconsin.

"But I'm not sure he's going to be able to play," McCaffery said. "That's where we are."

Junior guard Eric May also is questionable after suffering from back spasms. May did not play against Indiana and played only five minutes at Penn State last week. May has missed two games because of back issues, and he's played a combined 30 minutes the last six games.

McCaffery said May has a chance to play Thursday.

"Basically (I) concluded, 'OK, he's over here, and you just do whatever you have to do to rehabilitate him,'" McCaffery said. "Don't sort of get him ready for practice. Don't sort of get him ready for games. You get him ready to play and then give him back to us.

"It's not fair to him. He was really trying. He knows we need him. He knows we need him for some of the time. But he was not nearly what he's capable of being. It wasn't helping us, wasn't helping his confidence level, wasn't helping him at all."