The Michigan basketball program announced yesterday that junior guard Daniel Horton is expected to be out for four weeks with a sprained left knee. Horton injured himself after colliding with a teammate during practice on Sunday.
- Angela Cesere
- Horton
“Based on evaluations, it has been determined that Daniel Horton has a partial ligament sprain and associated swelling in the knee,” team physician James Carpenter said in a statement released yesterday. “We anticipate that this ligament will heal, and his swelling will resolve over the course of the next few weeks. I anticipate that he will not be released for full activity for approximately one month.”
Horton will undergo rehab with the Michigan athletic medical staff to regain strength in the knee.
“We are very fortunate to have the caliber of medical professionals available to us that we have here at Michigan,” coach Tommy Amaker said in a statement released yesterday. “We will obviously follow their guidance and advice as Daniel rehabilitates his knee.”
Horton had played in every single game of his Michigan career before missing Tuesday night’s game against High Point. He averaged 13.4 points, four assists, 2.6 rebounds in 71 games as a Wolverine. This season, Horton is averaging 11.7 points per game — down slightly from last year and more than three points from his freshman campaign. But, Horton was brilliant in Michigan’s 61-60 victory over Notre Dame on Saturday, scoring 11 of the Wolverines’ last 12 points.
Michigan is already without two starting captains — wing Lester Abram and forward Graham Brown. Abram is out for the season with an injured shoulder and Brown for four to six weeks with a hernia injury. Michigan will most likely have to turn to walk-on wing John Andrews, freshman Ron Coleman and junior forward Chris Hunter to start against South Florida tomorrow.
“We’re just kind of figuring out when it’s going to stop,” Amaker said about the plethora of recent injuries after the game against High Point. “That’s the nature of it. If you talk to many coaches, we all go through it, and I’ve been fortunate as a head coach to never have this occur in the past.”
Filling in for Horton Tuesday, junior guard Dani Wohl logged 30 minutes against the Panthers. Wohl converted his one shot attempt, scored four points, committed four turnovers and had one assist.
Freshman Ron Coleman continues to improve with a recent boost in playing time. Coleman shot 3-for-22 during Michigan’s first six games, yet has shot 6-for-8 in the past two. His ten first half points against the Irish were critical in Michigan’s victory.
“I’m feeling really comfortable with my shot,” Coleman said after the game against High Point. “Just letting it go. It makes me feel comfortable to take it when I am open, and I do. And it’s starting to fall.”
With the losses of Horton and Abram — Michigan’s two most prolific scorers — the bulk of the offensive weight will rest on sophomore guard Dion Harris, who shot 3-for-13 against High Point. Harris will likely be the lone player to start tomorrow against the Bulls who began the season in the starting lineup.
“Coach explained to us that it’s time to show everybody that we are a team,” Coleman said.
Michigan and South Florida will tip off at noon tomorrow at Crisler Arena.