Arizona basketball: Big Daniel Batcho out indefinitely due to knee injury
Nov 5, 2020, 11:05 AM
Arizona coach Sean Miller watches during the second half of the team's NCAA college basketball game against Washington State, Saturday, Feb. 9, 2019, in Tucson, Ariz. Washington State defeated Arizona 69-55. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Arizona Wildcats freshman big man Daniel Batcho will miss at least two months of the reduced college basketball season after undergoing knee surgery in late October, the program announced Thursday.
Batcho will be reevaluated in late January and is “out indefinitely,” the Wildcats said in a statement released over Twitter.
The 6-foot-11 big man out of France was a four-star prospect and could have competed for immediate playing time for a team that lost forwards Zeke Nnaji and Stone Gettings, plus center Chase Jeter, from last year’s team.
Batcho has a history of knee injuries and missed the 2018-19 season with a fractured kneecap.
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Arizona did not specify the severity or type of knee injury that required Batcho to undergo surgery.
The Wildcats have apparent depth — or at least size — with sophomore Christian Koloko returning and senior Ira Lee expected to contribute heavily. Nevada transfer Jordan Brown, a former McDonald’s All-American pick, also brings size with Batcho sidelined.
Freshman Azuolas Tubelis, who is listed at 6-foot-11, will also bolster the backline, as will his brother, Tautvilas Tubelis, who is 6-foot-7.
If Batcho can return after his late January reevaluation, he would potentially contribute for a nine-game run from February through the first week of March leading into the Pac-12 Tournament.
That, at this point and without specifics regarding his injury, remains to be seen.
