What Gamecocks coach Frank Martin said about Keyshawn Bryant injury
Just when the South Carolina men’s basketball team had reached full strength, a key player went down with injury in Tuesday’s 81-66 loss to No. 9 Auburn.
Senior forward Keyshawn Bryant left the court and walked into the locker room midway through the first half after a hard hit, and he later returned to the bench with his left arm in a sling.
Head coach Frank Martin told reporters after the game that Bryant injured his shoulder — likely the AC joint — and he’s not yet sure of a timetable for Bryant’s return. Martin said Bryant told him his shoulder did not pop out with the injury.
Bryant is the team’s top returning scorer from a year ago and has operated as a sixth man of sorts off the bench. He missed the first five games of this season due to a suspension from violating academic department rules.
Starting power forward A.J. Wilson, a grad transfer from George Mason, also took a hard fall in the second half and walked with assistance back to the locker room. Wilson had just returned from a knee injury that he suffered Dec. 14 against Allen. After a brief trip to the locker room, Wilson checked back into the game with three minutes to play. TV replays showed Wilson taking a defender’s hand to the face.
Tuesday’s game marked one of the first times USC has had a complete roster at its disposal. COVID-19 protocols and injuries left USC without five players against Clemson and down four players against Army.
This story was originally published January 4, 2022 at 9:20 PM.
