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USC loses Boatwright for the year

USC v Baylor

TULSA, OK - MARCH 19: Bennie Boatwright #25 of the USC Trojans attempts a shot defended by King McClure #22 of the Baylor Bears during the second round of the 2017 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at BOK Center on March 19, 2017 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

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USC will be without Bennie Boatwright for the rest of the season following a knee injury.

The Trojans made the announcement on Friday after. The 6-foot-10 junior suffered a patella injury in a win over Oregon on Thursday night. It is not expected to require surgery, but it will keep him out throughout the rest of the season.

“It’s just a shame when injuries happen to such hard workers and outstanding young men like Bennie,” USC head coach Andy Enfield said in a statement. “Bennie has been such a valuable part of our program and he was having another very good year, being a factor on offense and defense. As we enter our stretch drive this season, we’ll miss having him, but we’ll be there to support him in his recovery every step of the way.”

Boatwright was averaging 13.6 points this season.

USC, a preseason top ten team, is currently in a fight to just reach the NCAA tournament. Most bracket projections have them somewhere between a play-in game and out of the tournament.

The Trojans are already playing this season short-handed, as sophomore guard De’Anthony Melton was not allowed to suit up following his involvement in the FBI investigation into corruption in college hoops.