The Houston Cougars will have their star player on Saturday Second round game against the Auburn Tigers.
Markus Sasser, Houston’s top scorerstarts on Saturday with no minute limit, according to a report by Stadium.
Houston Cougars guard Marcus Sasser (0) celebrates hitting a key 3-pointer during a game against the Tulane Green Wave at the Fertitta Center on February 22, 2023 in Houston. (Ken Murray/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Sasser injured his groin in the AAC tournament and did not play in the Cougars’ loss to the Memphis Tigers.
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On Thursday, Sasser played but seemed to be worsen the injury in the first half against No. 16 Northern Kentucky and finished the game with just 14 minutes.
Sasser, who averages 16.7 points, said Friday that he will play the Razorbacks on Saturday.
“I play 100 percent. It’s not a game changer,” Sasser told Fox26 on Friday. “I will train today, warm up tomorrow and just be ready.
Marcus Sasser (0) of the Houston Cougars aims to shoot in the first half during the first round of the 2023 NCAA Tournament at Legacy Arena at BJCC on March 16, 2023 in Birmingham, Ala. (Andy Hancock/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)
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“You can hurt it again,” he added. “You’re making it worse, but that’s not in my head. I’m just saying my prayers.
Cougars head coach Kelvin Sampson to reporters On Friday, he would leave the decision to play to Sasser and Houston’s coaching staff.
Houston guard Marcus Sasser brings the ball up during the first half of an NCAA tournament first round game against Northern Kentucky in Birmingham, Alabama, Thursday, March 16, 2023. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
“I’m dealing with his injury like I’ve dealt with any injury to a child we’ve had. … I don’t make decisions,” Sampson said, according to ESPN. “People said, ‘Why did you play him?’ I haven’t. I play him when he’s healthy. The coach thinks he can go and the boy thinks he can go. I trust Marcus… If Marcus is injured he’ll say, “Coach, me can’t go” and then I won’t play against him. If he’s out there and he can play, that means he can play. So tomorrow night he will play as many minutes as he can. I don’t know how many minutes, but that’s up to Marcus.
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“He’s our best player, I know that. But I don’t treat him any differently than anyone else when they’re injured. I treat them all the same.”
The No. 1 Cougars and No. 9 Auburn Tigers hit the ground running at 7:10 p.m. ET in Birmingham, Alabama.
Source : www.foxnews.com