LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) – The hits just keep on coming for the embattled University of Louisville men’s basketball team. Starting forward JJ Traynor, who was nearing a return from a shoulder injury, re-injured his shoulder in practice on Friday and will miss the remainder of the season, according to a release from the program.
Traynor, a 6-8, 190-pound forward from Bardstown, had started six of the eight games he played in and averaged 10.1 points and 4.8 rebounds per game, both fourth-best on the team.
He was hoping to return to the Louisville lineup in Saturday’s noon tipoff against Pittsburgh.
"The funny thing about JJ is, nobody's really talked about the 10 points and five rebounds that he's brought to this team," Louisville coach Kenny Payne said on Tuesday of this week, when asked about Traynor. "We need him back, (and) he's been working hard to get back."
Traynor had a career-best game of 20 points and nine rebounds against New Mexico State on Nov. 26. He was shooting 51.6 percent from the field and had made 7 of 19 three-point tries (36.8 percent).
He's not the only Louisville player out in Saturday’s game against Pittsburgh. Transfer forward Tre White (groin) and center Emmanuel Okorafor (ankle) will also be unavailable.
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