Mark Pope Provides Injury Update On BYU Basketball Forward Fousseyni Traore
Feb 15, 2022, 5:52 PM | Updated: 6:05 pm
PROVO, UT - DECEMBER 29: Fousseyni Traore #45 of the Brigham Young Cougars blocks a shot by Taylor Miller #3 of the Westminster Griffins during the first half of their game December 29, 2021 at the Marriott Center in Provo, Utah.(Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images)
(Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images)
PROVO, Utah – BYU basketball forward Fousseyni Traore is dealing with a groin issue. In the final minute of overtime, the freshman forward left last week’s win against Loyola Marymount, causing him to miss the win at Pepperdine.
On Tuesday, Traore didn’t participate in practice. The first-year big man hasn’t practiced yet this week as they gear up for a massive WCC showdown against Saint Mary’s on Saturday night in Moraga that will have significant NCAA Tournament implications on the line.
Mark Pope provides an update on injured #BYU forward Fousseyni Traore.#BYUHoops #GoCougs pic.twitter.com/XYi0v2byPU
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) February 16, 2022
“It’s kind of like touch-and-go,” said Pope on the latest with Traore’s availability. “He hasn’t participated in any practice the last couple of days. You know, we kind of have this thought, if there’s a chance he can go a little bit Thursday, maybe we have him for Saturday. We’ll just wait and see.”
After last Saturday’s win over Pepperdine, Pope said in the postgame interview on the BYU Sports Network on KSL NewsRadio that Traore could be out “days, weeks, or months.” The third-year head coach didn’t provide a specific timeline for his 6-foot-6 freshman standout during his weekly media availability on Tuesday.
Fousseyni Traore has emerged as a top player for BYU in his first year
Traore has been key to BYU being in a position to potentially secure an NCAA Tournament at-large bid, despite losing their top two big men this season. Earlier in the year, Pope pointed to Traore and his roommate Atiki Ally Atiki as saving the season for this year’s BYU team that is currently 19-8 overall, 7-5 in West Coast Conference play.
Traore is averaging 8.5 points and 8.3 rebounds this season. In his last outing against Loyola Marymount, the former Wasatch Academy star scored 19 points and pulled down 12 rebounds before leaving due to the groin issue.
Possible BYU basketball starting five if Traore can’t play
If Traore cannot go against Saint Mary’s, BYU sophomore Caleb Lohner will likely switch to the five, with LSU transfer Seneca Knight sliding in at the four.
Lohner and Knight combined for 23 points and seven rebounds in last Saturday’s win over Pepperdine.
BYU will take Wednesday off from on-court activities before returning to practice on Thursday.
Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for KSLsports.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.
