Edmond Sumner will return 'sooner rather than later' says Chris Mack
Xavier staved off a late comeback bid from St. John's to pick up a 74-66 win on Wednesday night at Carnesecca Arena.
The Musketeers have won back-to-back Big East games despite not having starting point guard Edmond Sumner in the lineup.
The redshirt freshman has not played since Xavier's loss to Villanova on New Year's Eve after a collision with a pair of Wildcats required him to be removed from the game on a stretcher.
Following the win over the Red Storm, Xavier head coach updated the status of Sumner, according to Shannon Russell of the Cincinnati Enquirer.
“To be honest with you, I haven’t asked our doctors and I haven’t asked our trainers. When the time’s right and he’s released, he’ll play again. I do think it will be sooner rather than later,” Mack said.
Sumner has been of the most productive freshmen in the nation this year. The 6-foot-6 guard is second on the team in scoring at 11.0 points, while also averaging 3.2 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game.
In his absence, junior guard Myles Davis has assumed the role as primary ball handler for the Musketeers. Xavier has been able to mix up the starting five with Sumner out. The Musketeers went big against Butler on Saturday with James Farr and Jalen Reynolds in the frontcourt. On Wednesday, key reserve J.P. Macura made his first start of the season.
Xavier does not play again until Tuesday, hosting DePaul at 6:30 p.m. EST on FS1.
(h/t Cincinnati.com)
