Badgers' King to undergo knee surgery, out for remainder of season
MADISON, Wis. -- The injury news keeps getting worse for Wisconsin.
The team said Monday that freshman guard Kobe King would miss the rest of the season following left knee surgery.
One of three promising newcomers to the roster this year, King averaged 5.2 points after playing in each of the first 10 games. He is eligible to apply for a medical redshirt.
Starting point guard D'Mitrik Trice was also scheduled to have surgery on Monday. The sophomore was averaging 9.4 points and playing a team-high 31.5 minutes a game.
It would be at least another two weeks after surgery until Trice could start rehab. There is no timetable yet for Trice's return. It's possible that Trice could also apply for a medical redshirt, though a team spokesman said the guard could still play this year.
"I feel awful for D'Mitrik and Kobe. Fortunately, there is a silver lining that we were right under the minimum number of games" to seek a medical hardship waiver from the NCAA, coach Greg Gard said.
Wisconsin (4-7) is three games under .500 for the first time since starting 1-4 in the 2001-2 season. A streak of 19 straight NCAA Tournament appearances could be in jeopardy.
This was already supposed to be a transitional season with Gard incorporating four starters, including Trice, around premier big man Ethan Happ. The team has relied heavily on freshmen in the rotation, including King off the bench.
Wisconsin revealed the extent of the injuries to Trice and King before the 82-63 loss Saturday to Marquette. Gard said afterward that he may have to adjust his lineup game-to-game with the Badgers down two scholarship players in the backcourt.
Another freshman, Brad Davison, is already logging heavy minutes at guard while playing through a left shoulder injury.
"It's just something we have to deal with ... It will help us a lot to get some practice in," Davison said after the Marquette game about adjusting to the injuries. "Going forward, we'll learn a lot from this experience."
