LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Derek Anderson is lost for the season because of a knee injury, a blow to Kentucky’s hopes for repeating as national champion.
The guard injured his right knee in the second half of the third-ranked Wildcats’ win over Auburn Saturday, ending the fifth-year senior’s injury-plagued collegiate career.
Anderson, the leading scorer in the Southeastern Conference, completely tore the anterior cruciate ligament in the knee and will undergo surgery, the school announced Monday night.
“We’re extremely disappointed for Derek Anderson,” coach Rick Pitino said in a statement. “He was having a fantastic senior season. Right now, we’ll just turn our attention to his rehabilitation.
“We expect him to make a full recovery in time for the NBA draft in June and we will do everything we can to make his dream of playing professional basketball a reality.”
Immediately after the Auburn game, Anderson’s injury was diagnosed as a contusion by team physician David Caborn.
“It wasn’t bad,” Anderson said after the game. “I just bumped it when I went down. I just took a little while to get up. It’s no big deal.”
Pitino also said after the game that a team must cope with injuries to be successful.
“One thing I’ve learned about injuries is that it’s part of the game,” he said. “They can’t be used for excuses. That’s why you have a bench.”
Anderson has not practiced since the injury and was taken to the UK Sports Medicine Clinic Monday, where he underwent an MRI on the knee.
The test showed that Anderson tore his anterior cruciate ligament, said Dr. Darren Johnson of the UK basketball medical staff.
“We’ll schedule reconstructive surgery within the next week or 10 days and begin rehabilitation immediately,” Johnson said.
Anderson leads the SEC in scoring, averaging 18.6 points per game. He also leads the team in steals (2.1), 3-point shooting (40.4 percent), free throw shooting (80.6 percent) and is second in assists (3.7).
During the Wildcats’ run to the national championship last season, Anderson averaged 9.4 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.4 assists. He scored 11 points in the title game against Syracuse.