BYU’s Seneca Knight Dealing With Injury Heading Into LMU Game
Feb 22, 2022, 11:27 PM
Brigham Young Cougars forward Seneca Knight (24) drives on Pacific Tigers guard Alphonso Anderson (10) as BYU and Pacific play in an NCAA basketball game in Provo at the Marriott Center on Thursday, Jan. 6, 2022. BYU won 73-51. (Scott G. Winterton, Deseret News)
(Scott G. Winterton, Deseret News)
PROVO, Utah – Injuries are piling up for BYU basketball. The latest injury is to forward Seneca Knight, who didn’t participate in Tuesday’s practice.
“He’s got an issue with his thumb,” BYU coach Mark Pope said after Tuesday’s practice. “We got some imaging today. We’ll probably know more in the next 48 hours. He hasn’t practiced the last couple of days.”
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A transfer from LSU, Knight, has started in the previous four games for BYU. The 6-foot-6, 224-pound small forward has emerged as one of BYU’s top defensive players while also finding his groove on the offensive end within Mark Pope’s offense. It’s been an adjustment for Knight, who leaned heavily on offenses at San Jose State and LSU where he improvised, to more set plays at BYU.
Along with the thumb injury, Knight appeared to roll his ankle during the second half of Saturday’s loss at Saint Mary’s.
On February 10, Knight hit a game-winning free throw against LMU to end BYU’s four-game losing streak at the time. BYU welcomes LMU this time to the Marriott Center on Thursday night.
Along with Seneca Knight, freshman forward Fousseyni Traore has been battling a groin injury. Traore played against Saint Mary’s on Saturday and wasn’t at full strength, but he still logged 25 minutes of action.
Traore practiced on Tuesday and is expected to play against the Lions.
“We’re still trying to be a little bit cautious, but he’s doing good. I expect him to be a full go. I expect to have our full roster with the exception of Seneca,” Pope said.
BYU has been without their top frontcourt players since December 1, when Gavin Baxter went down with an ACL injury, and Richard Harward has been sidelined since the preseason due to a heart condition.
BYU vs. Loyola Marymount
Tip: 8 p.m. (MT)
TV: CBS Sports Network
Radio: KSL NewsRadio
Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for sports.ksl.com and host of the Cougar Tracks Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and Cougar Sports Saturday (Saturday from 12–3 p.m.) on KSL Newsradio. Follow him on Twitter: @Mitch_Harper.
