LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) – Louisville freshman point guard Mikel Brown Jr. is expected to miss his second straight game with a back issue when the Cardinals face Montana on Saturday, according to Jeff Goodman of Field of 68, who reported the news Friday evening.
Brown, who is second on the team in scoring at 16.6 points per game, missed Louisville’s 83-62 loss at Tennessee on Tuesday.
The No. 11-ranked Cardinals (9-2) struggled without Brown, who is easily the team’s assist leader with 51. The next-closest teammate is Aly Khalifa with 30.
After the game, Louisville coach Pat Kelsey wouldn’t speculate about the freshman’s status for this weekend’s game, saying “you’d have to ask the medical people.” Kelsey said that he’d hoped Brown would be able to play as he dealt with his back during the week. Instead, a game-time decision was made that he wouldn’t.
Louisville should be fine against Montana, which comes into the noon game in the KFC Yum! Center as a 30.5-point underdog.
Adrian Wooley moved into the starting lineup in Brown’s absence at Tennessee, and Kobe Rodgers saw extended minutes at point until he went down with a head injury. He returned to the game against Tennessee briefly, but his status for Saturday also remains a question.
“In terms of adjusting when somebody goes down, that's just the deal,” he said. “I mean, every team in the country, in every single sport, has people go down and injuries, and it's the old sports axiom of next man up.”
The Cardinals have impressive depth at the guard spot. But the 6-5 Brown’s ability to drive, get into the lane and distribute, as well as his length on defense, are significant weapons for Kelsey’s team.
This will be Louisville’s last game until it opens ACC play at California on Dec 30, which gives Brown further time to get back to 100 percent.
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