{"id":116344,"date":"2025-01-06T12:00:11","date_gmt":"2025-01-06T17:00:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=116344"},"modified":"2025-01-06T11:28:43","modified_gmt":"2025-01-06T16:28:43","slug":"big-east-injury-update","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/01\/06\/big-east-injury-update\/","title":{"rendered":"Good News and Bad News on the Big East Injury Front"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Big East season is upon us so what better time to check out what is going on regarding the Big East injury front? The return of Xavier\u2019s <\/span><a  href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cbb\/players\/zach-freemantle-1.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Zach Freemantle<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> has provided some good news when looking at the injured Big East stars.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Freemantle is far from the only key Big East player to miss time this season. Let\u2019s look at the comings and goings as one key injury could shake up the Big East title chase. With each of the Big East teams having played three or four conference games, 24 of the 79 players to average at least 15 minutes per game have missed at least one game.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>Good News and Bad News on the Big East Injury Front<\/h2>\n<h3><b>Freemantle Makes a Quick Return<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Freemantle had suffered so many season-ending injuries since he arrived in Cincinnati to play for the Xavier Musketeers. With that in mind, when <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/12\/19\/the-freemantle-injury-a-huge-blow-for-xavier\/\" target=\"_self\">Freemantle was sidelined<\/a> with a lower-body injury, the <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">fear on the Big East injury front<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> was that his time with the Musketeers had come to a painful and premature end.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Zach Freemantle getting loose ahead of Xavier-Georgetown here in D.C. A chance he could return after missing the last 3 games with a lower body injury. <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/ctyhcJJU3x\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/ctyhcJJU3x<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Shelby Dermer (@EnquirerShelby) <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/EnquirerShelby\/status\/1875330110607462865?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">January 3, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Freemantle\u2019s absence lasted just three games. He returned in Friday\u2019s loss to Georgetown. Freemantle had 16 points and seven rebounds in 31 minutes. He should be back on the court on Tuesday when Xavier welcomes St. John\u2019s to town. Freemantle averages a career-high 16.8 points per game.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>McNeeley To Miss Some Time<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Defending Big East champion UConn has already played without <\/span><a  href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cbb\/players\/alex-karaban-1.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Alex Karaban<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for two games earlier this season. Center <\/span><a  href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cbb\/players\/samson-johnson-1.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Samson Johnson<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> was hurt early in a win over Gonzaga at Madison Square Garden. He had to miss the next game as he worked his way out of concussion protocol.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is expected to be a longer wait for star freshman <\/span><a  href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cbb\/players\/liam-mcneeley-1.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Liam McNeeley<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to return to action. McNeeley suffered a high ankle sprain in a win at DePaul in UConn\u2019s first game in 2025. Without McNeeley on the court, UConn had to overcome a 14-point deficit to beat visiting Providence on Sunday.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">UConn men\u2019s basketball coach <\/span><a  href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cbb\/coaches\/dan-hurley-1.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dan Hurley<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> told the media that McNeeley\u2019s absence will be for \u201cweeks and not days.\u201d The hope is that he will return by late January. However, the recovery time for high-ankle sprains is very unpredictable.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"tl\">Dan Hurley Media Availability | 1.4.25 <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/v7yYVRkH7o\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/v7yYVRkH7o<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 UConn Men&#8217;s Basketball (@UConnMBB) <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/UConnMBB\/status\/1875647459457978755?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">January 4, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">McNeeley is second on the Huskies with an average of 13.6 points per game. It could be argued that he has made more big shots than any of the other UConn Huskies this season.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Hopkins Could be Close to Returning<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Providence played without three players including leading scorer <\/span><a  href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cbb\/players\/bryce-hopkins-1.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bryce Hopkins<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in the loss to UConn. Following the loss, Providence coach <\/span><a  href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cbb\/coaches\/kim-english-1.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kim English<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> said that Hopkins is starting to do more in practice. There is still some uncertainty when it comes to the Big East injury front as Hopkins continues to be sidelined.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hopkins has been dealing with a knee injury that has limited him to three games this season. The last time he played was on Dec. 10 when he had 19 points and 10 rebounds in a <\/span><a  href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mens-college-basketball\/game\/_\/gameId\/401719069\/providence-depaul\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">win over DePaul<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. He is averaging 17 points and 7.7 rebounds per contest.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>DePaul Without Its Top Rebounder<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><a  href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cbb\/players\/david-skogman-1.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">David Skogman<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> has missed the last three games for DePaul. The highlight of his season came when he had 22 points and six rebounds in an overtime loss to Providence in the Big East opener for the Blue Demons. Skogman leads DePaul with an average of 6.5 rebounds per game. That is an issue for a DePaul team that struggles in the rebounding department.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Like some others on the Big East injury front, Skogman\u2019s leg injury is not a long-term deal. He hasn\u2019t played since having 11 points and 10 rebounds in a loss to Northwestern on Dec. 21.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Creighton Misses Injured Texas Tech Transfer<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Creighton had a Big Three that was as productive as any in the Big East with <\/span><a  href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cbb\/players\/ryan-kalkbrenner-1.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ryan Kalkbrenner<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cbb\/players\/steven-ashworth-1.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Steven Ashworth<\/a> teaming with Texas Tech transfer <\/span><a  href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cbb\/players\/pop-isaacs-1.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pop Isaacs<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. However, the terrific trio is now a dynamic duo after Isaacs suffered a season-ending hip injury.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Isaacs saved his best for last with 27 points, seven rebounds, and four assists in a <\/span><a  href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mens-college-basketball\/game\/_\/gameId\/401706967\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">76-63 win<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> over top-ranked Kansas. In eight games at Creighton, he averaged 16.3 points, 4.8 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game. Creighton has already lost two Big East games. Time will tell if the Bluejays can live up to being picked to finish second in the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/10\/23\/big-east-preseason-poll-has-uconn-as-the-team-to-beat\/\" target=\"_self\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Big East preseason poll<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Big East season is upon us so what better time to check out what is going on regarding the Big East injury front? The return of Xavier\u2019s Zach Freemantle has provided some good news when looking at the injured Big East stars. Freemantle is far from the only key Big East player to miss [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5287,"featured_media":116375,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"1","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1608,773],"tags":[4447,2960,1472,1480,1744,853],"class_list":["post-116344","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-basketball","category-college-basketball","tag-big-east-basketball","tag-creighton-bluejays","tag-depaul-blue-demons","tag-providence-friars","tag-uconn-huskies","tag-xavier-musketeers"],"modified_by":"Eamon Cassels, Editor","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/116344","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5287"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=116344"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/116344\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":116378,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/116344\/revisions\/116378"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/116375"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=116344"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=116344"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=116344"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}