Arkansas basketball may have another hurdle to cross entering Wednesday's game against Texas. Leading scorer Adou Thiero might miss the game after leaving Saturday's win against No. 15 Missouri with a back injury, according to head coach John Calipari.
During Tuesday's press conference previewing the Longhorns, assistant coach Chuck Martian told the media Thiero status was daily-to-day.
"He's been taking it day-by-day," said Martin. "Taking it slowly and trying to make sure that we put him in the best possible positions to continue to improve."
If Thiero is, indeed, out for Wednesday's game, Arkansas has already weathered a situation like it this season. Freshman point guard Boogie Fland was sidelined after season-ending surgery before Arkansas basketball's game against Georgia. Luckily, the Razorbacks went on to win their first SEC game, but it'll be significantly harder this time.
"We're trying to figure out if he's going to be able to play or not," said Calipari during the university's radio show. "It's kind of like, if you remember, we lost Boogie and had two days to prepare for Georgia. Well, now we have two days and have to prepare for Texas if he does not play ... If Adou doesn't play, well, then next man up. Come on, somebody else. One guy's misery is another man's opportunity. That's how you look at it."
Next-man-up mentality isn't easy to have with only seven scholarship players available. But there are more than enough players to take over Thiero's role in his absence, namely Trevon Brazile. Before leaving Saturday's game, Thiero put up 11 points with four assists and five rebounds. He also averages 15.6 points a game with six rebounds — 10 points and two boards more than Brazile this season.
Needless to say, Thiero's shoes will be difficult to fill. But hopefully, with extra minutes, Brazile may find the groove he's been missing since his ACL injury during his breakout sophomore season.