USC's Archie to undergo season-ending surgery
By Travis Haney
COLUMBIA — Coming off a stunning loss Saturday at Wofford, South Carolina’s basketball team got more bad news today.
Senior forward Dominique Archie’s right knee will need season-ending surgery after all.
Archie and coach Darrin Horn learned that this morning after a second MRI exam revealed a ligament tear.
Archie injured the knee during the Charleston Classic championship game against Miami on Nov. 22.
Initially, Archie’s knee was said to be sprained. But after swelling in the area had gone down, the second test showed something bleaker.
Even though Horn had been upbeat in a recent update about Archie, many in the basketball office thought this day might be coming.
“Despite the encouraging response from his rehab, it was determined that he will not be able to reach full strength without surgery,” Horn said in a statement. “Our number one priority throughout the process has been Dominique and his best interests, for his future as an individual and a basketball player. We will continue to support and encourage him in any way we can.”
Horn is expected to talk more about the injury’s impact tonight after the Gamecocks host Furman (7 p.m., SportSouth).
Archie was the team’s second-leading scorer, at 14.4 points a game. He averaged six rebounds a game, as well, in his five games played this season.
It’s possible, at least technically, that Archie could get a sixth year of eligibility from the NCAA. The question is, Would Archie want one?
He very nearly left prior to this season to begin a professional career abroad. The versatile 6-7 wing could conceivably play again as a Gamecock. Or the Augusta native could move on.
Archie told former teammate Bryce Sheldon, via Twitter, that he planned to seek the sixth year.
Without him, South Carolina’s prospects this season aren’t quite so bright. The Gamecocks are 7-3, but have tough non-conference games against Boston College (Dec. 30 in Boston) and Baylor (Jan. 2 in Columbia) coming up before the SEC gauntlet begins.
ESPN’s Andy Katz surmised, via Twitter, that the Gamecocks’ NCAA bubble might’ve burst - in December - with the loss of Archie.
Reach Travis Haney at thaney@postandcourier.com and check out the South Carolina blog at www.postandcourier.com/blogs/gamecocks.
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