Shoulder injury sidelines sophomore Mark
University of Houston guard Tramon Mark will be out for the “foreseeable future” with a left shoulder injury, coach Kelvin Sampson said Tuesday.
Mark, a 6-foot-5 sophomore, has been bothered since the preseason with the injury, which forced him to miss three games to begin the season. He returned to average 10.1 points off the bench in seven games before aggravating the shoulder Dec. 11 against Alabama.
Sampson said rest, rehab and surgery “are in play.”
“Sometimes, as a coach, I have to save kids from themselves. Sometimes I have to make the hard decision,” Sampson said as the No. 13 Cougars prepare to host Texas State in the final nonconference game Wednesday night.
“If that means shutting him down and having surgery now that gives him the best opportunity, you better believe that's what we are going to do. Winning a basketball game comes way down the list when it comes down to these kids' health. I have a responsibility for these kids.”
The Cougars will again be short-handed at the guard spot, as Taze Moore will miss a second straight game because of sickness. He is expected to return for the Dec. 28 AAC opener against Cincinnati.
Forward J'wan Roberts has been out of practice since injuring his lower back/hip on a nasty fall in Saturday's win against Oklahoma State.
After avoiding any prolonged injuries during last season's Final Four run, the Cougars currently have six players dealing with (or recovering from) injuries: guard Marcus Sasser (toe), forward Reggie Chaney (hand), guard Ramon Walker Jr. (hand), Mark, Moore and Roberts. That has forced the Cougars to alter their practices.
“It's been a while since we've been at full strength, but you have those years,” Sampson said. “You just have to battle through it.”
Team taking latest COVID precautions
With concerns over outbreaks from the omicron variant of COVID-19, UH has taken steps “out of an abundance of caution,” Sampson said.
Sampson, who is in regular contact with the team medical staff, said players and staff are back to wearing masks and no longer use smaller spaces like the team film room inside the Guy V. Lewis Development Facility.
The tradition of watching film at the Sampson's home the night before home games also has been suspended, in favor of social distancing on the team practice court.
“(COVID) has certainly reared its head,” Sampson said as he held up a mask he had just taken off prior to a Zoom call with reporters. “I think a lot of programs are dealing with it. We're just following the rules.”
The entire coaching staff has been vaccinated and received booster shots, Sampson said, and the entire roster will have received booster shots by Jan. 1.
“You just hop and pray that you're able to get through without interruption,” Sampson said.
Sampson praises Walker’s defense
After Saturday's win over Oklahoma State, Sampson praised the defensive effort of
freshman Ramon Walker Jr. As for Walker's reputation as a shooter, that will come as he recovers from hand surgery.
Walker, a 6-4 guard, missed the start of the season following surgery to reattach a tendon in his right hand.
Walker has played in two games, including a career-high 17 minutes against Oklahoma State. Walked scored three points, all coming from the free-throw line.
The recovery has limited Walker's ability to shoot, particularly from 3-point range, but the freshman has been forced to log minutes due to a shortage at the guard spot.
“He's going to be a good shooter,” Sampson said. “He's probably a month away from being 100 percent.”