BYU Forward Kyle Collinsworth Tears ACL; Done for Season
By Mitch Harper
March 8, 2014; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Brigham Young Cougars guard Kyle Collinsworth (5) shoots against the Loyola Marymount Lions during the first half in the quarterfinals of the West Coast Conference tournament at Orleans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Terrible news struck the BYU Basketball team tonight. Sophomore forward, Kyle Collinsworth is done for the season with a torn ACL injury. This is devastating news for BYU, who waits to hear their post-season fate this Sunday when the NCAA Tournament field is announced.
You have to think the news to Collinsworth being out with an ACL injury will hurt BYU’s resume in the eyes of the selection committee. The selection committee made it known that they would be monitoring the back injury to Kansas’ Joel Embiid, and how that would impact the Jayhawks seeding in the tournament. Same rules likely will apply with BYU. With the Cougars being one of the projected last teams in, this has to hurt BYU’s chances.
Collinsworth was a 1st Team All-WCC selection this season, and has been one of the most versatile players in the country. BYU’s chances of winning a game in the NCAA Tournament went from slim to none without K.C.. Especially if BYU has to take on the Dayton Flyers in the First Four on the Flyers’ home floor in Dayton. That’s the latest projection ESPN’s Joe Lunardi has for the Cougars.
Feel bad for K.C. who has battled through a lot during his career at BYU. The Collinsworth name at BYU is always injury prone. Kyle’s brother, Chris, had his BYU career derailed by injuries. Hopefully this doesn’t become a trend for Kyle.
Getting an ACL injury is always devastating. But the timing with this injury is difficult to take. One, because BYU is heading into the post-season, and two, with this injury happening so late in the year it is unlikely Collinsworth will be ready to start next season at 100%. We might not see K.C. until West Coast Conference play starts in late December/early January.
Other questions that come to mind with this injury, how will this impact K.C.’s athleticism? Athletic players who suffer an ACL injury in basketball are usually never the same again. I think back to Ron Harper of the NBA. A high-flyer out of Miami of Ohio who had All-Star written all over him. Then he had an ACL injury, and he became a journeyman NBA player on championship teams. It’s just one example but with the way K.C. plays, this is a huge setback to his game.
How will Coach Rose respond in the spring signing period? BYU wasn’t expected to sign anyone in in April. Does this change Rose’ approach? Will he turn to a JC transfer to help? Rose does have the flexibility of redshirting Collinsworth next season if needed. K.C. played as a true freshman in 2010-2011, then served a two year mission in Russia, and then completed his sophomore campaign this year.
Many questions, and very few answers at this time. We all hope for a speedy recovery for K.C..