University of Kentucky forward Alex Poythress tore the ACL in his left knee during Thursday's practice, ESPN reports. The junior will miss the remainder of the season for the No. 1 ranked Wildcasts.
"When you're coaching other people's children and these children have high aspirations and unlimited potential - not only to do things for themselves but for other people-I can't begin to tell you the feeling when someone gets hurt," head coach John Calipari said in a statement. "My own son, Brad, tore his ACL last year. All I can tell you is I was physically sick when it happened to him. I feel exactly the same way now that it's happened to Alex."
No date has been set for surgery, but the standard recovery time for such an injury is between six and eight months.
Poythress was averaging 5.5 points and 3.8 rebounds in 20 minutes per game in Calipari's two-platoon system. Kentucky's next game is against No. 21 North Carolina this Saturday.
"Our team was devastated for Alex when I told them," Calipari said. "There were tears throughout the room because this hurt them to the core. How they will respond I really don't know, but I will do my best to be there for each of these kids.
"I told them, this is a big blow to our team. No one will be able to replace Alex and what he did for this team. I go back to last year's NCAA tournament. Without Alex, we don't win those games. No one will be able to replace him, but now everybody has to do a little bit more as we try to circle the wagons."
The 6-foot-8 forward cited a desire for a title after last season's NCAA Championship game loss to UConn as a major reason for his return.
