The No. 15 Florida Gators enter the season’s closing stretch without starting center John Egbunu, who suffered a season-ending knee injury Tuesday at Auburn.
UF announced Wednesday the 6-foot-11, 255-pound redshirt junior would miss the remainder of the 2016-17 season and faces a 10- to 12-month recovery process.
“We’re all disappointed for John,” coach Mike White said in a statement. “He’s been playing really well of late, so it’s a tough blow to him and our team. He’s a great young man, and unfortunately injuries are a part of basketball.
“He’ll be back even stronger.”
The setback, suffered during the first half of UF’s 114-95 win, is the latest injury for Egbunu.
He underwent offseason thumb surgery that forced him to miss several months. In December, a hamstring injury slowed Egbunu and sidelined him for two games.
Egbunu’s numbers had dipped this season, but the improvement of sophomore Kevarrius Hayes had balanced out the loss of production.
Egbunu did, however, enter Tuesday’s visit to Auburn coming off his first double-double of the season. He finished UF’s 71-62 home win last Saturday against Texas A&M with 11 points, 10 rebounds and no turnovers.
He ends the season averaging 7.8 points and a team-leading 6.6 rebounds in 24 appearances, including 19 starts.
Egbunu’s loss thrusts Hayes into a much more prominent role for the red-hot Gators (21-5, 11-2 SEC). The 6-9, 218-pound sophomore averages 15.3 minutes but has made the most of his time.
Hayes averages 6.2 points and 3.8 rebounds, and shoots 63.6 percent from the field. Hayes has a team-high 41 blocks, including 17 during the team’s seven-game winning streak.
Orlando senior Schuyler Rimmer also will have to become more than a bit player. The 6-foot-10 Orlando native has totaled just 22 points and 14 rebounds in 2016-17.
UF also announced 6-foot-11 Gorjok Gak, who has appeared in just 10 games, suffered foot sprain at Auburn expected to sideline him 10 to 14 days.
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Edgar can be reached at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com
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