Illinois forward and Thornton graduate, Morez Johnson, is out indefinitely after suffering a wrist injury while making a highlight-reel block over the weekend. Illinois coach Brad Underwood confirmed the severity of the injury on Monday, explaining that Johnson fell to the floor after blocking a shot during the team’s 79-65 loss to No. 14 Michigan State. The injury will prevent Johnson from playing in Illinois’ upcoming game against No. 11 Wisconsin on Tuesday.
This injury marks a significant setback for the Illinois basketball team as they aim to finish strong in their conference games. Johnson has been an important contributor to the team this season, and his absence will be felt in the upcoming matchups. The loss of the freshman forward, who has shown great promise, adds to the challenges Illinois faces as they fight to maintain their position in the Big Ten standings.
Illinois (17-9, 9-7 Big Ten) will now need to adjust their strategy without Johnson, as they prepare to face Wisconsin, a team that has been performing well this season. The injury also casts doubt on Johnson’s availability for future games, leaving the team to rely on their remaining roster players.
As Illinois continues to navigate this injury, the coaching staff will likely look for other players to step up in Johnson’s absence. His physicality and shot-blocking ability had been an asset to the team, and the Illini will need to find ways to compensate for his loss on both ends of the court.
The news of Johnson’s injury follows a string of setbacks for Illinois, including their recent loss to Michigan State, which saw them blow a significant lead. The team now faces the task of regrouping and finding solutions to stay competitive in the remainder of the Big Ten season.
