Florida’s injured Eli Carter doubtful vs UConn

Author: Associated Press
Published:

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) – Florida guard Eli Carter is unlikely to play against defending national champion Connecticut on Saturday because of a foot injury.

Coach Billy Donovan said Thursday that Carter is doubtful for the Final Four rematch between two struggling teams. The Gators (7-5) have lost each meaningful matchup this season, and the Huskies (6-5) have dropped five of their last eight.

Carter probably won’t be available for the third meeting in 13 months. The 6-foot-2 junior sprained his left foot during Tuesday’s loss at Florida State and missed practice Wednesday and Thursday. Donovan said it’s the same injury that slowed Carter for about two weeks earlier this season. Carter also missed time because of strep throat.

Donovan said he doesn’t expect the team to be any more cautious with Carter’s second mid-foot sprain. But he added that Carter will have tests to ensure there’s no structural damage.

“These decisions, once the doctor and trainers clear him to go, it’s kind of on him how he feels,” Donovan said. “When he was cleared to play, he elected not to. He didn’t think he could. He felt like it was still bothering him. From our standpoint right now, whenever the doctors clear him to play, he’s going to be cleared. … That’s a decision Eli’s got to make.”

Carter is averaging 6.7 points this season. However, he scored 29 in the first two games before getting hurt.

The former Rutgers transfer missed most of last season while recovering from a broken right leg. He sat out four games this year because of the sprained foot and then missed a game while recovering from strep throat.

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