No. 9 Villanova loses starting guard Collin Gillespie to torn MCL in left knee

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Villanova is expected to be without starting guard Collin Gillespie for the remainder of the season after an MRI showed Thursday that he has a torn medial collateral ligament in his left knee.

It be a severe blow to the championship hopes of the Wildcats, ranked No. 9 in the Ferris Mowers Coaches Poll. 

Gillespie modified into as soon as damage in the main half of of Wednesday night’s 70-62 victory against Creighton when he landed awkwardly and his leg buckled. He struggled to set any weight on his leg as he left the court.

“We’re all devastated for Collin,” Villanova head coach Jay Wright said in a statement. “He is the coronary heart and soul of our program. All people knows we are able to’t replace him. All of us excellent prefer to step up and play so that we honor him.”

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The senior modified into as soon as averaging 14.0 points a sport, 2nd on the team behind sophomore Jeremiah Robinson-Earl (15.4). He also averaged a team-high 4.6 assists a sport and modified into as soon as 2nd on the team with 19 steals. He modified into as soon as named certainly one of 5 finalists for the Bob Cousy Award as the nation’s top point guard.

The Valuable East tournament will most certainly be held March 10-13 at Madison Sq. Backyard.

Gillespie has been a starter the past three seasons after helping Villanova win a national title off the bench in 2018.

“Collin is as mentally tough and resilient as any player now we gain had right here,” Wright said. “I do know he will get by means of this and get it a certain for his occupation.”