IOWA CITY, Iowa – Patrick McCaffery’s status for Thursday’s game at Michigan State will be a game-time decision, according to his father, Iowa coach Fran McCaffery.

Patrick McCaffery, a 6-fooot-9 junior, has missed the last four games due to struggles with anxiety.

He has stayed involed with the team during his leave of absence, including traveling to road games.

Patrick McCaffery is averaging 12.8 points per game.

Fran McCaffery was also asked about the Notre Dame coaching job that will become available when Mike Brey retires after the 2022-23 season.

Some members of the media have listed Fran McCaffery as a possible candidate to replace Brey, partly because McCaffery spent 11 seasons as a Notre Dame assistant coach undere Digger Phelps and John MacLeod.

McCaffery’s wife, Margaret McCaffery, also played basketball for Notre Dame.

As for Thursday’s game, Iowa and Michigan State both have four conference losses, but the Hawkeyes had won four games in a row before losing at Ohio State 93-77 last Saturday, a performance in which Fran McCaffery said was unacceptable.

Michigan State is 8-2 at home and 2-3 in games away from East Lansing this season.

The Spartans are fourth in the Big Ten in 3-point percentage defense (41st nationally, .374), second defensive rebounds (26th nationally, 27.7), and third in free throw percentage (43rd nationally, .750).

Junior guard A.J. Hoggard is second in the conference in assists (7th nationally, 122) and assists per game (8th nationally, 6.3). He also leads the team in assists (122) and free throws made (69).

Fran McCaffery held a zoom conference with the media on Wednesday. The link to the video is below.

Iowa (12-7, 4-4) vs. Michigan State (13-7, 5-4)

When: Thursday, 6 p.m.

Where: East Lansing, Michigan (The Breslin Center)

TV: FS1

Radio: Hawkeye Radio Network

Series: Michigan State holds a 76-58 edge advantage Iowa in the series. The Hawkeyes have an active three-game win streak over the Spartans, its longest streak since the 2005-06 and 2006-07 seasons. Iowa swept Michigan State swept in 2021 — winning in Iowa City (84-78) and East Lansing (88-58) — and topping the Spartans in last season’s only mee” ng in Iowa City (86-60). Michigan State has won 14 of the last 20 overall meetings, dating back to 2011.
The Spartans hold a 46-19 edge in games played in East Lansing. Iowa has posted two impressive wins at the Breslin Center since 2016: 76-59 on Jan. 14 2016 and 88-58 on Feb. 13, 2021