Markus Burton is the one player that the Notre Dame men’s basketball team can ill afford to lose, for however long.
Less than four minutes into Tuesday’s game against Rutgers, there was the 6-foot, 190-pound Burton, driving and twisting and falling to the floor early in the opening round of the Players Era Festival. As Burton landed, Emmanuel Ogbole, a 6-10, 270-pound forward, fell and landed on Burton’s right leg. Burton stayed on the ground for a beat, then limped to the sideline. Sophomore Logan Imes subbed in for Burton, who dragged himself to the end of the bench to be examined by team medical personnel.
Burton stayed seated for a second, maybe two, before getting up and limping off to the locker room. He looked in obvious discomfort/pain.
TBS sideline reporter Allie LaForce reported late in the first half that Burton would not return and would be reevaluated after the game. TBS cameras showed Burton, who was dressed in his sweat suit, seated near the Irish bench with his right leg propped up in a chair.
Burton entered Tuesday’s game as the team leader in scoring, assists, steals and minutes. He has played in all 39 games in his brief collegiate career.
Notre Dame already is without freshman backup point guard Sir Mohammed, who underwent surgery last week for a lower left leg injury. Mohammed has been bothered by a balky left knee since the summer. He’s expected to return this season, though the timetable for it is unclear.
Tuesday was the first of three games for Notre Dame in Las Vegas.
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