Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Bluejays’ Watson has ACL tear
Creighton point guard and national assists leader Maurice Watson Jr. will miss the rest of the season because of a major knee injury, a huge blow for a team that is off to its best start and has hopes of making a deep postseason run.
An MRI revealed a torn anterior cruciate ligament in Watson’s left knee. The senior was injured in the seventh-ranked Bluejays’ 72-67 win Monday at Xavier.
“We are sorry to learn of the severity of Maurice’s injury but are thankful for his contributions since joining the Bluejay program three years ago,” coach Greg McDermott said Tuesday. “Our team will regroup, and we have a lot of young men who are capable of stepping up to fill the void in Maurice’s absence. Maurice’s leadership role on our team will continue to be a huge part of our success.”
Watson ranks first nationally with 8.5 assists per game for Creighton (18-1, 5-1 Big East).
“I’m going to fight to get back,” Watson said. “And my teammates need to keep fighting through the year. The fact that these guys battled through yesterday’s game gives me confidence and security that they’ll be able to go on and do great things. I intend to finish my college career and have a great impact, even if it’s not on the court.”
Watson was in his second year as the Bluejays’ starting point guard. He was the Bluejays’ third-leading scorer at 12.9 points a game.
The Bluejays’ tempo will slow down with Watson out. Senior Isaiah Zierden, who has been mostly a shooting guard, took over at the point after Watson left Monday’s game. Freshman Davion Mintz also is in line for more minutes.
Watson originally dinged his knee Jan. 11 in the final minute against Butler when he knocked knees with Butler’s Kelan Martin.
Against Xavier, he banged his knee in a collision with Edmond Sumner midway through the first half. He hobbled off the court but returned a few minutes later.
Watson went out for good after driving for a layup, getting fouled and landing hard. He immediately grabbed his knee and stayed on his back until medical staff arrived.