Iowa freshman Tyler Cook out three weeks with broken finger

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Iowa freshman forward Tyler Cook has a broken right index finger and is expected to miss the next three weeks of the basketball season.

Cook, a 6-foot-9 native of St. Louis, had started each of the Hawkeyes’ first six games and was second on the team with averages of 13.7 points and 5.3 rebounds.

He broke the bone during the team’s Thanksgiving practice in Niceville, Fla., but played games Friday and Saturday, anyway. He scored 23 points and had 13 rebounds in two Iowa losses in the Emerald Coast Classic.

“After discussions with Tyler and the medical staff, it was determined that surgery was the best treatment for Tyler in terms of proper healing and recovery time,” Iowa coach Fran McCaffery said in a university news release. “We expect Tyler to make a full recovery and look forward to him rejoining his teammates on the court soon.”

Cook is being replaced in the starting lineup for Tuesday night’s game at Notre Dame by freshman Cordell Pemsl of Dubuque. Pemsl is averaging. 6.3 points and 6.0 rebounds.

Iowa is 3-3 this season and is already without senior forward Dale Jones, who has a broken wrist.