Rutgers basketball center Emmanuel Ogbole out with knee injury; Dylan Harper ankle update

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PISCATAWAY — Rutgers basketball’s quest to upset eighth-ranked Michigan State Saturday and jump-start a last-ditch push into the NCAA Tournament picture just got harder.

Junior center Emmanuel Ogbole will miss the remainder of the season after suffering a meniscus injury during Monday’s loss at Penn State, head coach Steve Pikiell informed the team at the end of Friday’s practice.

The 6-foot-10, 270-pound Ogbole averages 3.5 points and 4.4 rebounds per game and was starting to hit stride as a defender and rebounder. In last week’s win at Nebraska he grabbed 11 boards in 24 minutes. Against Penn State he tallied seven rebounds and two blocked shots in 17 minutes.

Nov 20, 2024; Piscataway, New Jersey, USA; Rutgers Scarlet Knights center Emmanuel Ogbole (21) goes up for a dunk as Merrimack Warriors forward David Murray (15) defends during the first half at Jersey Mike’s Arena. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

This is not Ogbole’s first knee injury. He suffered an ACL tear while playing junior college ball in 2023 and as a result didn’t debut for Rutgers until midway through last season.

His absence means 6-foot-9 freshman forward Bryce Dortch, who has been practicing but hasn’t checked into a game yet this season, will see his first game action Saturday. And it means even more will be needed from freshmen big men Lathan Sommerville (7.2 ppg, 4.2 rpg) and Dylan Grant (5.0 ppg, 2.1 rpg). Rutgers (10-9 overall, 3-5 Big Ten) has rebounded better of late after getting hammered on the glass throughout the first half of the season.

Michigan State (16-2, 7-0) ranks seventh in the country in rebounding margin at plus-9.

Rutgers Emmanuel Ogbole goes uo with shot against Lathan Sommerville. Rutgers Intrasquad Scrimmage at Rutgers Athletic Center in Piscataway, NJ on September 28. 2024.

Dylan Harper injury update

The injury bug has hit Rutgers hard this season. Postgrad guard Tyson Acuff missed the entire summer and preseason with a broken foot, then star point guard Dylan…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/rutgers-basketball-center-emmanuel-ogbole-195942745.html

Author : App.com | Asbury Park Press

Publish date : 2025-01-24 19:59:00

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