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Tough Hawkeyes: Fran McCaffery details injuries Connor McCaffery, CJ Fredrick battled this season
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Connor McCaffery and CJ Fredrick battled through some painful injuries throughout this season, head coach Fran McCaffery told reporters following Iowa’s 95-80 loss to Oregon on Monday afternoon.
Following the game, Fran McCaffery explained the injuries the two Hawkeyes endured this year. Connor McCaffery has torn labrums in both hips and will have surgery on both during the offseason. He had been playing through quite a bit of pain throughout the season.
Fredrick has also been in some pain since returning with plantar fasciitis, per Fran McCaffery. The head coach said that issue “caught up with” Fredrick during Monday’s game against Oregon.
Connor McCaffery has torn labrums in both hips and will have surgery on both. Wow.
— Chad Leistikow🆑 (@ChadLeistikow) March 22, 2021
Fran McCaffery: "CJ (Fredrick) is in some pain… he hasn't been himself half of the season. I'm so proud of that kid for how he fought through and contributed to this team."
— David Eickholt (@DavidEickholt) March 22, 2021
Iowa finished the 2020-21 season with a 22-9 record. Fredrick appeared in 27 games for the Hawkeyes while Connor McCaffery played in all 31. Fredrick averaged 7.8 points, 2.0 assists and 1.1 rebounds while Connor McCaffery averaged 3.4 points, 3.7 assists and 3.2 boards per contest.
The Hawkeyes struggled when Fredrick went out of the lineup, dropping games to Indiana (twice), Illinois and Ohio State without him on the floor. Still, Iowa managed to finish third in the B1G standings and secure a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
Connor McCaffery is a junior and Fredrick is a sophomore, both are expected to return next season.
Dustin grew up in the heart of Big Ten country and has been in sports media since 2010. He has been covering Big Ten football since 2014. You can follow him on Twitter: @SchutteCFB