Arizona Wildcats sophomore forward Brandon Ashley is done for the rest of the season due to a foot injury, the team announced on Sunday.
The injury happened just three minutes into Saturday’s game against California. Ashley landed awkwardly after rebound a missed shot. He was in a walking boot and on crutches in the second half of the game. Wildcats coach Seam Miller was worried that the injury was a broken foot. An exact diagnosis was not given by Arizona in a release that they issued.
“Last night, early in our Cal game, Brandon Ashley suffered a foot injury that will end his season,” Miller said in a statement. “While we’re all disappointed, we are also aware that Brandon needs our support and positive energy surrounding him. Someone once told me, the hottest heat forges the strongest steel. This adversity will ultimately make Brandon and our team stronger moving forward.”
Ashley averaged 7.5 points and 5.3 rebounds per game as a freshman. This season he has averaged 11.5 points and 5.8 rebounds in 22 games, and was shooting 52.7 percent from the field, according to College Basketball Talk. The loss of Ashley is huge for the Wildcats as he was a big part in their success. The Wildcats had won 21 consecutive games prior to losing to the Bears, according to ESPN.
Freshman Rondae Hollis-Jefferson will replace Ashley in the starting lineup. The Wildcats are expected to fall out of the number one spot in the new polls that will be released on Monday. They play Oregon on Thursday.