Payton Sandfort is expected to be available for the matchup with Minnesota

On By Littum

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IOWA CITY – Payton Sandfort is expected to be available for Iowa basketball’s Tuesday game with Minnesota, according to the Big Ten availability report.

Sandfort was beaten several times in the first half of Iowa’s contest against UCLA on Friday and sat out the majority of the game.

Coach Fran McCaffery said Monday that Sandfort is dealing with shoulder and leg issues.

Before then Sandfort had begun to hit his stride. He was named Big Ten Co-Player of the Week for his performances in wins over Nebraska and Indiana. In the three games prior to UCLA, Sandfort averaged 24.3 points per game.

More: Iowa men’s basketball has the chance to steady the ship with two manageable opponents at Carver

Sandfort is second on the team in points (16.2), rebounds (5.4) and assists (3.2).

After a disastrous road trip, the Hawkeyes play two games at Carver-Hawkeye Arena this week, a place where they have lost just once all season. Iowa’s slate this week starts against Minnesota on Tuesday, followed by Penn State on Friday.

Minnesota (9-9, 1-6) is coming off its first Big Ten win of the season, which came in the form of an overtime victory over Michigan.

Cooper Koch (out) is the only Hawkeye listed on the availability report for Tuesday’s game.

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