By Hawk Fanatic

IOWA CITY, Iowa – The Iowa men’s basketball team should be closer to full strength when it faces No. 3 Iowa State Thursday at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

Iowa head coach Fran McCaffery said Tuesday that he expects sophomore forward Seydou Traore to play against the Cyclones.

“I think so,” Fran McCaffery said when asked if he thinks the 6-foot-7 Traore would be available for the Iowa State game.

Traore, who transferred from Manhattan this past summer, injured his ankle against against USC Upstate on Nov. 26th and he hasn’t played since, missing four straight games.

Fran McCaffery said after the game that it was a “bad” sprain.

Traore, when healthy, is one of Iowa’s most athletic players. He has been highly effective playing at the front of Iowa’s press.

He is averaging 6.8 points and 3.4 rebounds per game.

“He’s a really good player, so you need all your good players when you’re playing good teams,” Fran McCaffery said.

Fran McCaffery was also asked about the availability of freshman forward Cooper Koch, who has missed the last three games for what is believed to be an an undisclosed medical reason.

“Potentially,” Fran McCaffery said. “I hope so.”