UConn loses Clingan for three to four weeks with a foot injury

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Dec. 23—Sophomore Donovan Clingan, UConn’s impactful starting center, will be sidelined for three to four weeks with a foot injury.

UConn made the announcement on Saturday afternoon.

An MRI taken on Friday revealed that Clingan injured a tendon in his right foot. He suffered the injury early in the second half of a Big East season-opening loss at Seton Hall on Wednesday and sat out practice Thursday and Friday.

It’s a big blow for the fifth-ranked Huskies, who lost their best interior offensive player and feared rim protector during the first week of the Big East basketball season. They hosted St. John’s Saturday night at a sold-out XL Center in Hartford.

The 7-foot-2 Clingan is averaging 13.9 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.0 blocks in 12 games.

Following practice Friday, redshirt sophomore Alex Karaban talked about what basketball life will be like for the Huskies if Clingan, who also happens to be his roommate, had to sit out.

“It changes how we are offensively and defensively a lot more,” Karaban said.

Clingan’s absence will mean a bigger role for the 6-10 junior forward Samson Johnson, who has shown flashes of his potential this season. He’s averaging 5.6 points and 3.8 rebounds.

It also means coach Dan Hurley may have to rely on freshmen that have seen limited action so far this season, including 6-10 center Youssouf Singare who has played a total of 12 minutes.

Hurley also could opt to go with a smaller lineup.

After hosting St. John’s Saturday, UConn will have more time to make some adjustments with a rare holiday week break until playing DePaul on Jan. 2.

An All-Big East preseason second team selection, Clingan has been battling injuries since the preseason. A foot strain kept him sidelined about a month before he returned for the regular season opener on Nov. 6. He also has dealt with an issue with his big toe.

The Huskies took advantage of Clingan’s absence in October to get both Johnson and Singare more incorporated in the rotation.

“We had time when he was out to get…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/uconn-loses-clingan-three-four-013700731.html

Author : The Day, New London, Conn.

Publish date : 2023-12-24 01:37:00

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