Injury Bug Hits the Valley

(St. Louis, MO) – A successful start to the Mountain West/Missouri Valley Conference Challenge has been clouded by an increasing plague of injuries. Key players have been smitten recently and Valley teams will be playing shorthanded this weekend and beyond.

Indiana State’s Jordan Barnes

Sycamore star Jordan Barnes sustained a concussion in mid November. The junior guard played in the team’s November 24 upset win over Western Kentucky, but then started having concussion symptoms again and missed Wednesday’s game with San Jose State. Barnes is a preseason all conference player averaging over 20 points per game.

Clayton Hughes was inserted into Barnes’ starting spot and responded with a career high 23 points sparking ISU (4-1) to a 86-57 victory.

The Sycamores will continue to play shorthanded as Barnes is unlikely to play in today’s game with Wright State.

Loyola Woes

Defending champion Loyola (4-3) has struggled to find their early season mojo, and now they’ll look for that rhythm without Lucas Williamson. The sophomore guard broke his hand in the Ramblers’ loss to Nevada and will be out until mid January.

Williamson is a stout defender averaging just under nine points per game. Freshman guard Cooper Kaifes will likely pick up some of Williamson’s lost minutes. Kaifes scored 11 points against Nevada.

Loyola visits UIC.

Eight Redbirds

Illinois State is down to eight players. They have played shorthanded all season while sophomore Taylor Bruninga recovers from a stress fracture. Now, ankle injuries have struck both Matt Hein and Matt Chastain. Hein as missed the last four Redbird games.

Chastain was injured during this week’s victory over Brigham Young.

Dan Muller’s team (6-2) entertains San Diego State today as part of the MWC/MVC Challenge. The Valley owns a 5-to-3 edge in games played earlier this week.

Bradley hosts New Mexico tonight to conclude ‘the Challenge’.

Three Valley teams will be playing shorthanded this weekend. Who will step in and stand out? That is the glory of college basketball. Wednesday’s answer to the question was Indiana State’s Clayton Hughes.

Do Good