That’s a Huge, Huge Hit’—Bruce Pearl’s Reacts To Key Player’s Devastating Injury!

Bruce Pearl Reacts to Duke Star’s Injury: ‘That’s a Huge, Huge Hit

The college basketball world held its breath early in Duke’s ACC Tournament quarterfinal game against Georgia Tech when one of the sport’s biggest stars went down with an apparent ankle injury.

Duke’s standout freshman and National Player of the Year contender suffered the injury while coming down from a rebound, rolling his left ankle in a way that immediately raised concerns. The severity of the injury became clear as he was unable to put any weight on his leg while making his way off the court. Shortly after, he was seen in a wheelchair being transported through the arena tunnels for further medical evaluation.

The injury quickly became a major talking point across the basketball community, and Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl was asked about it during a halftime interview on SEC Network. At the time, Pearl was providing analysis during the SEC Tournament second-round matchup between Arkansas and Ole Miss.

When asked about the impact of the injury, Pearl acknowledged the depth of Duke’s roster, suggesting that the team still had enough talent to compete at a high level even if their star freshman was forced to miss time. However, he did not downplay the significance of the injury, describing it as a “huge hit” for Duke.

“[He] impacts winning on both ends of the floor,” Pearl said during the broadcast, highlighting how much of a difference the player makes for Duke’s success.

Pearl is very familiar with the injured player’s abilities, having coached against him earlier in the season. Auburn faced Duke on December 4 in a high-profile non-conference matchup, where the Blue Devils came out on top with an 84-78 victory. The injured freshman played a crucial role in that win, scoring 22 points and making key plays throughout the game.

During his SEC Network appearance, Pearl also referenced a similar injury that Auburn’s own star forward, Johni Broome, sustained earlier in the season. Broome, another frontrunner for the National Player of the Year award, sprained his ankle in Auburn’s victory over South Carolina in January. As a result, he was sidelined for two games before making a full recovery.

With Duke now awaiting further evaluation on their injured star, the Blue Devils’ tournament hopes could hinge on how quickly he can recover. The injury casts uncertainty over the remainder of their postseason run, adding a dramatic twist to their championship aspirations.