TUCSON, Ariz. -- Arizona forward Brandon Ashley will be out the rest of the season with what has been described as a "foot injury," the school announced late Sunday.
Ashley, a sophomore starter who was averaging 11.5 points and 5.8 rebounds, suffered the injury to his right foot two minutes into top-ranked Arizona's 60-58 loss to California in Berkeley, Calif., on Saturday night. It was the Wildcats' first loss the season.
"Last night, early in our Cal game, Brandon Ashley suffered a foot injury that will end his season," Arizona coach Sean Miller said in a statement. "While we're all disappointed, we are also aware that Brandon needs our support and positive energy surrounding him. Someone once told me the hottest heat forges the strongest steel. This adversity will ultimately make Brandon and our team stronger moving forward."
After the game, Miller said he suspected that Ashley's foot was broken, although the statement through the school was not that specific.
With Ashley out, freshman sixth man Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and lightly used backup forward Matt Korchek, a junior-college transfer, likely will be asked to take on bigger roles. Before his injury, Ashley had been on the court for an average of nearly 28 minutes per game.
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