McCaffery delivers mixed injury news on White, Olaseni

The availability of Aaron White in Iowa's Saturday showdown against fifth-ranked Wisconsin is growing increasingly in doubt.

The Hawkeyes' leading scorer and rebounder won't practice Thursday, coach Fran McCaffery said during his radio show Wednesday night. White was re-evaluated by doctors Wednesday as scheduled, and McCaffery said his 6-foot-9 power forward remained in pain after suffering a stinger early in last Saturday's 67-63 loss at Purdue.

"If he's going to play Saturday, we'll probably try to do something with him on Friday," said McCaffery, who will meet with the news media Thursday afternoon in advance of Saturday's 11 a.m. game at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. "But he's not ready to do anything yet."

Severe stingers can involve a recovery time of weeks or even months. White suffered the injury in his right (shooting) neck-and-shoulder area.

McCaffery offered a more optimistic prognosis on the health of backup center Gabe Olaseni, who was seen in a walking boot Tuesday on the University of Iowa campus.

McCaffery said he was on the road recruiting Monday when he learned that Olaseni "tweaked" his left ankle in practice. McCaffery said Olaseni was put in a boot Tuesday, a non-practice day. He expects Olaseni — who averages 8.5 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.8 blocked shots per game — to play Saturday.

"He's out of the boot today. He did not practice today," McCaffery said. "I suspect he's got a good chance to practice (Thursday). He'll practice Friday, for sure, I would think."

If Olaseni is 100 percent by Saturday, he could be in line for increased minutes if White can't go.

Iowa is on a two-game losing streak and 13-7 overall, 4-3 in the Big Ten Conference. Wisconsin (18-2, 6-1) drubbed the Hawkeyes, 82-50, on Jan. 20 in Madison, Wis.