The Gophers men's basketball team is facing a tough stretch as head coach Niko Medved announced that forward Jaylen Crocker-Johnson is out indefinitely due to a foot injury. This is a significant blow, as Crocker-Johnson missed both the loss at Washington and the victory at Oregon. Medved mentioned that there's a real possibility Crocker-Johnson could be sidelined for the remainder of the season.
This injury adds to a growing list of setbacks for the Gophers. Forward BJ Omot, point guard Chansey Willis, and center Rob Vaihola are already out for the year. Additionally, guard Chance Stephens has not yet made an appearance this season, with no timeline for his return.
While the exact moment of Crocker-Johnson's injury is unclear, Medved noted that he was playing through pain earlier this month. The situation worsened after their win over ranked Michigan State on February 4th. Despite the discomfort, Crocker-Johnson tried to compete against Maryland four days later, but ultimately, it became too much to handle.
As the Gophers prepare to host Rutgers on Saturday at 11 a.m., they find themselves with a 5-10 record in Big Ten play, while Rutgers stands at 4-11. The team will need to dig deep to overcome these challenges and make the most of their remaining games.