INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — A broken nose won't keep Michigan State's Raymar Morgan out of the Midwest Regional final.
The starting forward has been fitted for a protective mask, and he plans to wear it during Sunday's game against top-seeded Louisville.
Morgan was injured early in the second half of Friday night's 67-62 victory over defending national champion Kansas. MSU teammate Delvon Roe went up for a block, accidentally elbowing Morgan when he came down.
"The mask felt all right," Morgan said Saturday. "A lot of people play with a broken nose, so it should be good. I'm a little worried, but I have to play with it."
Coach Tom Izzo, too, is worried about how long it will take the versatile junior to get comfortable with the mask.
"I don't know what's gonna happen," Izzo said. "I don't know how it will be when we put the mask on him. I don't know how he'll adjust to that. I don't think anybody does. To have to adjust to it in one day is kind of an issue."
Morgan admitted the break affects his vision when he looks sideways while not wearing the mask.
Morgan averages 10.5 points and 5.4 rebounds, second on the Spartans in both categories. But he's only averaging 7.7 points and 2.7 rebounds while shooting 33 percent from the field in the NCAA tournament.
And that bothers him.
"As long as we're winning, I'm fine with that," he said. "I definitely want to play a bigger part. It's been stressful, but it's part of the game."
