Back injury sidelines Iowa's Peter Jok vs. Ohio State

IOWA CITY – Peter Jok is officially sidelined.

Iowa's star shooting guard was ruled out for the Hawkeyes’ Saturday game against Ohio State, the school announced about 50 minutes before the 7:05 p.m. tipoff.

The Big Ten Conference’s leading scorer has been struggling through back and shoulder injuries that have limited him to only 28 points and 9-of-30 shooting in the Hawkeyes’ last three games, all losses.

During his news conference Friday, Iowa coach Fran McCaffery said he would consider shutting down Jok for a period of time with the hopes of him getting healthy.

“I think it's a legitimate consideration,” McCaffery said. “I look at it like this, it can't hurt. If he is sore in certain areas, rest can only help you. Is it one of those things where the first time he gets banged, it's going to feel the same regardless of whether it takes two days or 10 days? I can't tell you that. Only he can tell you that, and only our doctors and medical personnel can tell you that.

“But he's obviously been struggling physically. I think we can all agree to that. I don't want to see a guy struggle physically. Our job is to try to help him, like I said. Whether it's X's and O's (or) whether it's how can we get you to feel better?”

With Jok missing his first game of the season, McCaffery juggled his starting lineup and was expected to roll with Jordan Bohannon, Isaiah Moss, Nicholas Baer, Tyler Cook and Ahmad Wagner against the Buckeyes.

McCaffery had not given an indication Friday that Jok would definitely sit against Ohio State, but he said he would listen to trainer and doctor recommendations. And to that point, he said, they told him Jok was OK to play.

It was not immediately clear how long Jok would be out. Iowa next plays at Rutgers on Tuesday, then returns home Feb. 5 against Nebraska.