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| Tim Frazier was a preseason All-Big Ten selection. He will apply for a medical hardship waiver this season. (US Presswire) |
The Penn State hoops program just took on one of the most devastating losses any team could suffer this season.
Point guard and All-Big Ten candidate Tim Frazier, the team's star, will not play the rest of the season due to necessary surgery on his Achilles, the school announced Tuesday. Frazier suffered a ruptured left Achilles tendon in the team's 25-point loss to Akron on Sunday in Puerto Rico.
The surgery is scheduled for later Tuesday. It's the second bit of bad, season-ending injury news to come out of Pennsylvania in the past 24 hours. On Monday, Drexel announced its leading scorer, Chris Fouch, would miss the year due to a broken right ankle.
"Tim is a tremendous player, a great team leader and just a fantastic young man who put a ton of hard work into having a terrific senior season," Penn State coach Patrick Chambers said in a statement. "I have no doubt he will meet this challenge and will again be one of the top players in the nation."
Frazier put up 21.7 points and 5 assists per game in his first three appearances this season. The injury comes early enough that he'll be able to apply for a medical hardship waiver and not get docked a season of eligibility.
From the Nittany Lions' perspective, it's tough to see where they go from here and how much success they can have. Frazier is a dynamo and the total key to that offense. Sophomore D.J. Newbill could see more time running the show now.
Penn State (2-2) plays its next game Friday at home against 5-0 Bucknell.
