It’s obvious that for Saturday’s scrimmage, Auburn will be without two quarterbacks and the majority of its running backs. The Tigers are reviewing their medical reports to determine who can travel after practicing Thursday morning for the first time since Sunday.
The worst of the new information is that tailback Mario Fannin might need surgery to fix the shoulder he dislocated during the scrimmage on Saturday. According to coach Tommy Tuberville, the quick remedy has been recommended by doctors. Whatever happened, Fannin would be back for fall practice.
Many onlookers expected the worst when Jaylin Williams was carried off the court on Saturday night because he was unable to bear weight on his left leg.
Around this same period of time in 2018, Anfernee McLemore, a former big man for Auburn, had a leg injury that ended his season. After losing to South Carolina in the match, Auburn would lose four of its final seven games that year. The Tigers were changed, but they still prevailed in the SEC and broke their NCAA Tournament drought.
However, the news out of Auburn on Sunday morning was encouraging and, to be honest, a little unexpected: Williams’ MRI revealed that he had not had a knee injury that would have ended the season.
Williams is not expected to return to the floor for some time. Jon Rothstein, a national college basketball reporter, tweeted that Williams is “out for a couple of weeks,” citing a source.
With one game at Georgia next week, a trip to Tennessee and a home game against Mississippi State the following week, and a trip to Missouri and a final game against Georgia to wrap off the regular season, Auburn has three weeks remaining. While the NCAA Tournament’s first round takes place on March 21 and 22, the SEC Tournament begins on March 13.
Considering how serious Williams’ injury appeared to be on Saturday night, Auburn would be extremely fortunate to get him back for the entire season. It would be even more significant if he returned before the postseason got underway.
Williams still appears to be out for the Tigers for a while. It will also be difficult to step into his shoes: In SEC play, he is averaging 14.5 points and 4.5 rebounds per game, which is second only to Johni Broome. He leads the club in minutes per conference game with 26.8.
Pearl remarked, “We’re going to have to figure some things out if Jaylin’s out.” We have guys who I believe will step up. .. It must be the next man up if he is out for a little spell. That is a noteworthy setback.