Houston came out with a swarming defense against Duke in Friday night’s Sweet 16 matchup, showcasing the X-factor that makes the Cougars a legitimate national championship contender.
With an injury to All-American point guard Jamal Shead, though, those lofty hopes could be on hold.
Kelvin Sampson’s squad saw Shead go down with an ankle injury in the first half. The 21-year-old needed help to walk back to the locker room.
Houston thrives on its outstanding backcourt, which is led by Shead and LJ Cryer. Shead might not fill the stat sheet like other All-Americans, but he was recognized because he impacts just about every facet of the game for Houston. Any time without their floor general would be a major blow to the Cougars’ hopes.
Here are the latest updates on Shead’s status against Duke and potentially the remainder of the tournament.
MORE: Follow live updates from Houston vs. Duke in Sweet 16
Jamal Shead injury update
Shead appeared to significantly turn his right ankle while driving toward the basket during Friday night’s game against Duke. He immediately went down, grabbing his ankle, and wasn’t able to get back up as Houston went back on defense.
This did not look good for Jamal Shead. Ugh. He had to be carried to the locker room heavily favoring the right ankle. pic.twitter.com/GRQiEsXVor
— Kyle Boone (@kyletheboone) March 30, 2024
Shead did get up during the injury timeout, but he limped off the court and needed help to walk back to the locker room.
Jamal Shead was helped to the locker room with an apparent right ankle injury.
pic.twitter.com/JZ5EGJEIDO
— The Field of 68 (@TheFieldOf68) March 30, 2024
“He hardly was able to put weight on that right ankle,” CBS Sports’ Tracy Wolfson said on the broadcast, adding that Shead wouldn’t return before halftime but hadn’t been ruled out for a return at some point during the contest.
Houston’s depth thinned out a bit late in the regular season, but Shead’s presence is pivotal for the Cougars regardless of who else is available. The senior is averaging 15.1 points, 6.7 assists and 2.0 steals per game since the calendar flipped to 2024, making an impact both as a creator on the offensive end and an integral piece on the defensive end for a defensive-minded Houston team.
Cryer took over as the floor general when Shead went out, but the All-American’s status for the remainder of Friday’s game and potentially the remainder of the tournament could determine where Houston’s season goes.
