Connor McCaffery's redshirt status in limbo after Iowa basketball exhibition

IOWA CITY – Iowa fans saw a lot of Connor McCaffery in the Hawkeyes' 105-81 season-opening exhibition win against William Jewell on Friday night.

The freshman played 18 minutes in the backup point guard role, which appears to be his if he wants it after Christian Williams decided Thursday he was leaving the program and seeking a transfer after this semester.

Head coach Fran McCaffery said after the game there's been no definitive decision whether or not his son will abandon the original plan of redshirting in basketball this year while playing baseball, though 'it's a possibility.' A conversation with Iowa baseball coach Rick Heller has to happen first, they both said.

'I just want to do whatever's best for the team and whatever's best for me,' Connor said. 'Obviously there's a lot that goes into it. I've got to sit down, look and the pros and cons and be able to make the right decision.

'I'm not really leaning one way or another right now. I need to get Coach Heller's thoughts and go more in-depth with my dad. There's a lot of things that go into it that I haven't even looked into yet. … It was something that came out of nowhere. I wasn't expecting it at all.'

Williams' decision was unexpected for everyone who was asked about it after the game Friday.

Fran McCaffery didn't have much to say about Williams after the game, offering a simple, 'no' when asked if the junior had expressed any frustration with anything during practice.

'I didn't know it was coming, but we wish him well,' Fran McCaffery said.

Sophomore point guard Jordan Bohannon, who finished with 19 points on 7 of 12 shooting, echoed his coach and teammate in saying it was a surprise decision. Bohannon wished Williams happiness, 'wherever that ends up for him,' and that Williams hadn't expressed anything to him, either, saying, 'he's a pretty quiet kid and doesn't say too much, and that transfers on and off the floor.'

Connor said 'I think so,' to a question after the game of whether or not he feels needed for the Hawkeyes right now, and acknowledged the obvious that Bohannon can't play 40 minutes a night at the point guard spot.

He also gave a little insight to how the guard rotation has broken down in practice leading up to the start of the season.

'I've been that other point guard in practice other than J-Bo,' Connor said. 'Brady (Ellingson) and (Isaiah Moss) have both been at the 2. Brady has been the third guy that's been coming in at the one, but me and J-Bo have been the two main guys.'

For an extended run in the second half, Bohannon and Connor were on the floor at the same time, with Connor running the point, moving Bohannon off the ball and freeing him up a little bit.

Fran McCaffery said after the game that had a lot to do with finding different shots for Bohannon. Bohannon said the pair have some history doing that, dating back to seventh grade AAU tournaments, so the comfortability has come quick.

Those two weren't the only ones who looked comfortable Friday night, though.

The other two freshmen very much looked the part throughout the exhibition win. Jack Nunge finished with 16 points on 6 of 6 shooting from the field, with nine rebounds, two assists and two blocks. Luka Garza had 17 points on 8 of 13 shooting with nine rebounds and two blocks of his own.

Their teammates remarked at how comfortable they looked, as did their coach. If all three freshmen are that at ease – Connor in potentially a necessary role, to boot – Fran McCaffery called it a 'game-changer.'

'When you have 6-11 guys that do (things like) that, it's a game-changer because if they're on the floor making 3s, you've got Cordell (Pemsl) posting, you've got (Tyler Cook) posting, you've got (Ryan) Kriener posting,' Fran McCaffery said. 'They were phenomenal, but it's not a surprise.'

MOSS MISSES SECOND HALF

Sophomore guard Isaiah Moss was seen in a walking boot in the Carver-Hawkeye Arena tunnel after the game on his right leg, a 'precautionary,' move after he suffered an ankle injury in the first half on Friday night.

Moss was injured, left the game and went to the training room before returning to play 11 minutes in the first half, finishing with three points and three rebounds on 1 of 6 shooting. Fran McCaffery said after the game it's nothing serious, and that he was held out of the second half for the same precautionary reasons as the walking boot.

'It's not bad,' Fran McCaffery said. 'It stiffened up on him at halftime and decided not to push it. There was no sense doing that. He's been playing really well; we're pleased with him. We want to keep him healthy.'

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