Xavier Musketeers’ Jamel McLean out with broken bone in face
Xavier Musketeers forward Jamel McLean has been ruled out for up to six weeks with a broken bone in his face near his eye socket.
McLean was injured in his club’s 73-62 exhibition warm-up game against the Northern Kentucky Norse. After the game, McLean went through several tests, which revealed the fracture.
The loss of McLean is more bad news for the X-Men, who recently lost 3-point specialist Brad Redford, after the youngster tore ligaments in his knee during a practice. The loss of Redford and McLean now leaves Xavier with only nine scholarship players and
two returning starters from last year.
The loss of Redford already hurt the Musketeers in the rankings, as the team's ranking dropped out of the top 25 in nearly every major poll. Prior to McLean’s injury the only poll the club was left in was the coach’s poll. However, after losing McLean as
well, it is unlikely the X-Men will survive another week in the coach’s top 25.
Xavier was already reeling after the loss of their best player from last season, Jordan Crawford. Nevertheless, the school was expected to get back to the NCAA Final Four Tournament and lead the Atlantic-10. Now the prospects of winning the constantly improving
conference seem all but lost.
The loss of Redford and McLean means other inexperienced players will have to step up. The squad still has skill at the guard position with Terrell Halloway and Dante Jackson, but neither are as an effective three-point threat as Redford. Similarly, the
Musketeers will count on Kenny Frease to dominate the boards. However, it will be made difficult without McLean’s 7.5 RPG.
The Musketeers have a deep club and they should finish near the top of the Atlantic-10. However, with improved sides in the Temple Owls and the Dayton Flyers, getting back into the Tournament will be made difficult.
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