Just when it seemed like Nebraska’s luck was starting to turn the corner this season, the Huskers suffered another major injury setback earlier this week.
Head coach Tim Miles announced in a statement on Wednesday that sophomore forward Edward Morrow, who started the first 16 games this season, would be out indefinitely after suffering a foot injury prior to NU’s loss to Northwestern.
Men’s basketball athletic trainer R.J. Pietig announced in the same statement that Morrow underwent an MRI earlier this week, and while no surgery will be required for the injury, there is no timetable on when the 6-foot-7, 234-pound native of Chicago would be back in action.
“Obviously this is disappointing for Ed,” Miles said via press release. “I think he’s been playing the best basketball of his career, but a foot injury is a delicate one. We want to make sure he is at full health, and it was obvious on Sunday that he just needs rest and time for his foot to heal properly.”
During his radio show on the Husker Sports Network on Thursday night, Miles expanded on the situation and said Morrow would be evaluated on a week-to-week basis going froward. Miles said the trainers would examine Morrow’s foot again on Monday with either an X-ray or an MRI to gauge his progress.
The bad news is this marks the second significant foot injury Morrow has suffered over the past two seasons.
Morrow missed four games during Big Ten play as a true freshman and was limited by the injury in several other games. Miles said the new injury was similar to the one Morrow suffered last season, as it’s on the same foot but occurred on a different spot on the foot.
“Feet are very delicate, and so you have to be very careful,” Miles said. “We knew that there was something wrong with it going into the Northwestern game, and the way he played you could tell that he just wasn’t able to operate. He just wasn’t himself.”
The blow is significant on several levels for the Huskers looking ahead to the foreseeable future.
Morrow is averaging 10.1 points, 7.9 rebounds and 1.5 blocked shots per game, and he ranks sixth in the Big Ten in rebounding, seventh in blocked shots (1.5 bpg) and 13th in field goal percentage (.554).
As for what Nebraska will do with it’s rotation during Morrow’s absence, Miles said he anticipates all three freshmen - Jordy Tshimanga, Isaiah Roby, and Jeriah Horne - to see increased roles as well as sophomore Jack McVeigh and junior Nick Fuller getting more minutes.
The Huskers will have only nine active scholarship players available for Saturday’s road game at Michigan.
“Ed has been fierce for us…” Miles said. “He’s gotten so many critical offensive rebounds at the end of games that have scoring (possessions) alive for us, it’s just been incredible. We’re going to miss him, but we’re just going to have to find another way.
“Get some of those young guys to step up, get maybe an opportunity for Nick Fuller or Jack McVeigh to get back out there, and just find another way to score.”
