GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) Florida will be without leading scorer Michael Frazier II against Mississippi on Thursday because of a badly sprained right ankle.
Coach Billy Donovan ruled out Frazier Monday, saying the junior shooting guard is wearing a protective boot and won't practice this week.
''How severe or how bad it is, we're not really quite sure yet other than to say that when he met with the trainer and the doctor, I guess the area was really tender, one of the indications of a high-ankle sprain,'' Donovan said. ''It could be a couple weeks. It could be three days. It could be a week. I just don't right now. Got to see how it responds to the treatment.''
Frazier injured his foot in Saturday's loss to top-ranked Kentucky and missed much of the second half.
Frazier leads the Gators (12-11, 5-5 Southeastern Conference) in scoring (13.2 points), minutes played (701), 3-pointers (55) and free-throw shooting (87.7 percent). He ranks second on the team in rebounds (105) and steals (31), and third in assists (36).
''It's going to be difficult because he's one of our main scorers, a big leader when he's on the court,'' freshman guard Chris Chiozza said. ''But his experience, he can still be a great leader while he's not playing. He can give us a boost, some energy, just being on the bench.''
Frazier has played in every game this season. Without him, the Gators likely will put Chiozza back in the starting lineup. Chiozza started four games in place of Frazier last month.
''It's not one guy that's going to make up for a player like Michael,'' Donovan said. ''We'll need some other guys to contribute, help. Hopefully guys like Devin Robinson, Chiozza, certainly for them on the perimeter will have more of an opportunity than they had previously.''
