MacDougall’s status still in limbo

Forward trying to file one last appeal

University of New Mexico senior forward Connor MacDougall, who sprained his ankle in an October exhibition game against BYU and has not played this season, has not made a final decision on whether he will.

“He is still accumulating information” to try to file one last appeal to the Pac-12 Conference to regain a season of eligibility, Lobos coach Paul Weir told the Journal on Tuesday.

MacDougall played 23 minutes his freshman season at Arizona State and appealed to the league to have it count as a medical redshirt season, which would not count as a year of eligibility. The Pac-12 denied that request, and MacDougall and his family are trying to file an appeal.

If MacDougall could win an appeal, he could return to the court this season for UNM and still play next season. If MacDougall cannot regain a season of eligibility, he is expected to take off this entire season and play his final season in 2018-19.

Weir has left those options to the player. MacDougall has been practicing with the Lobos and, at this point, injury isn’t a reason for him to miss games. But once he plays, it will count as an entire season of eligibility.

Players get five years to play four seasons. MacDougall has already played three seasons, or two if the Pac-12 approves his medical waiver appeal.