Iowa basketball player Luka Garza's removed cyst weighed ... 9 pounds

Iowa basketball's gifted sophomore big man Luka Garza has been on the mend since early September following the surgical removal of a cyst from his abdomen. 

And for good reason, reporters learned Monday at Iowa basketball media day. 

The cyst Garza had removed weighed nine pounds, he told Hawk Central. 

Garza began running this past weekend and his father told Hawk Central last week that his son will return to play this season, although the exact return date is unknown. Garza did tell reporters that he hopes to play in Iowa's season opener in a month.

“We’re counting on him being back for sure. We just don’t know when,” Frank Garza said. “He wants to be there for the first game. That’s my son, though. That’s his mindset.”

Garza averaged 12.1 points per game last season to rank third for the Hawkeyes. He led the team in blocked shots (32) and was second in rebounding (6.4 per game).