When Syracuse University basketball fans saw forward Chris McCullough's knee land awkwardly on Jim Boeheim court in the first half of Sunday night's game against Florida State, they feared the worst.
Those fears were confirmed Monday when it was announced that McCullough will miss the rest of the 2014-'15 season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his right knee.
Surgery has not been scheduled at this time for McCullough, who was generating some NBA Draft buzz this season.
McCullough's absence will have a ripple effect around the entire Syracuse roster. While McCullough had been struggling in the past few games (he hadn't scored in double figures since Dec.6 against Colgate), there was no doubting the impact he could make on the game as one of the most talented players on the roster.
Jim Boeheim said Sunday night that he was encouraged McCullough would start to play better due to better performance in practice.
Tyler Roberson will be counted on the most to make up for McCullough's presence.
Players like Chinonso Obokoh and BJ Johnson will also see added playing time.
"The difference now is Chinonso's gotta play more if Chris is out for any length of time," SU coach Jim Boeheim said Sunday. "Chinonso has got to do a better job. He got in foul trouble right away. They're going to go at him, so he's gotta get better. He's gotta get going on defense. We just need him to play defense and rebound. He's gotta do that for us moving forward."
In addition to players stepping up inside, the Syracuse guards will have to improve on scoring from the outside to ease the added pressure that Rakeem Christmas is sure to see from ACC opponents (he has already seen added double teams before the McCullough injury).
Those fears were confirmed Monday when it was announced that McCullough will miss the rest of the 2014-'15 season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his right knee.
Surgery has not been scheduled at this time for McCullough, who was generating some NBA Draft buzz this season.
McCullough's absence will have a ripple effect around the entire Syracuse roster. While McCullough had been struggling in the past few games (he hadn't scored in double figures since Dec.6 against Colgate), there was no doubting the impact he could make on the game as one of the most talented players on the roster.
Jim Boeheim said Sunday night that he was encouraged McCullough would start to play better due to better performance in practice.
Tyler Roberson will be counted on the most to make up for McCullough's presence.
Players like Chinonso Obokoh and BJ Johnson will also see added playing time.
"The difference now is Chinonso's gotta play more if Chris is out for any length of time," SU coach Jim Boeheim said Sunday. "Chinonso has got to do a better job. He got in foul trouble right away. They're going to go at him, so he's gotta get better. He's gotta get going on defense. We just need him to play defense and rebound. He's gotta do that for us moving forward."
In addition to players stepping up inside, the Syracuse guards will have to improve on scoring from the outside to ease the added pressure that Rakeem Christmas is sure to see from ACC opponents (he has already seen added double teams before the McCullough injury).
