Iowa’s Tavion Banks Battling Injury, Status Uncertain Ahead of Washington Matchup
EUGENE, Ore. - Iowa may have come out of Oregon with a convincing win, but the health of one of its key contributors is now a growing concern.
Tavion Banks, who’s been a major piece of the Hawkeyes’ rotation this season, is dealing with an undisclosed injury, head coach Ben McCollum confirmed following Iowa’s 84-66 victory over the Ducks. While McCollum didn’t go into specifics, he made it clear the issue is significant enough to warrant rest.
“He’s dealing with some stuff, so hopefully we’ll get him back healthy,” McCollum said postgame.
Banks was noticeably limited in Thursday night’s contest, logging just under 11 minutes - his lowest total of the season. He finished with four points on 2-of-7 shooting, missed his lone three-point attempt, and grabbed two rebounds. It was a quiet night for a player who’s typically been anything but.
This isn’t unfamiliar territory for Banks or McCollum. The Iowa head coach noted that Banks dealt with a similar issue last season while at Drake, and the nature of the ailment doesn’t lend itself to a quick fix.
“Not a lot for this one,” McCollum said. “We’ve just got to give him rest, hope that it goes away.”
That’s not exactly what Iowa fans want to hear, especially given how important Banks has been to this team’s identity. Before Thursday’s dip in minutes, he had scored in double figures in eight of his last 11 games, including a season-best 26-point outburst against Indiana.
He’s been a spark plug - bringing energy, defensive grit, and toughness on the glass. Banks has started all but one game this season and has consistently been one of the most reliable two-way players on the floor for Iowa.
Now, the Hawkeyes are hoping two days of rest will be enough to get Banks back closer to full strength before they wrap up their Pacific Northwest swing with a game at Washington on Feb. 4.
With Big Ten play heating up and postseason positioning starting to take shape, Iowa will need all hands on deck. And no one’s more important to that mission right now than a healthy Tavion Banks.