IOWA CITY – The Iowa Hawkeyes will face a Big Ten foe Thursday night without their leader on the sideline, head basketball coach Fran McCaffery.
McCaffery was fined and suspended by the Big Ten Conference Tuesday for an outburst against highly-ranked Wisconsin as his team’s second half lead slipped away.
McCaffery responded to the suspension Tuesday as his team looks to even its record in Big Ten play.
“I never want to put them (the team) in a position where it affects them in any way negatively, or, as I said before, anything to reflect negatively on the institution. Certainly not my desire,” McCaffery said.
Iowa has lost three games to highly-ranked teams, including Iowa State on the road, Wisconsin on the road and Villanova on a neutral court. All three games were tightly-contested.
Watch interviews with McCaffery, Iowa Athletic Director Gary Barta and Iowa players:
httpv://youtu.be/PYfqam4QXZU