WVirginia PG Bryant out of NCAAs with broken foot

[March 24, 2010]  MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) -- West Virginia point guard Darryl "Truck" Bryant broke his right foot during practice Tuesday and will miss the rest of the NCAA tournament.

The second-seeded Mountaineers, who won the Big East tournament, play 11th-seeded Washington on Thursday night in Syracuse, N.Y., in the East Regional semifinals.

The school announced that the sophomore from New York fractured his fifth metatarsal.

"I feel sorry for Truck that this injury happened during this time of the season," coach Bob Huggins said.

Bryant has started 31 games and averages 9.3 points and is second on the team in assists (3.1) and 3-pointers (40).

He will likely be replaced in the starting lineup by junior Joe Mazzulla, who is more of a playmaker than a scorer. Mazzulla averages 2.2 points and 2.3 assists per game.

Mazzulla's last start came against Davidson on Dec. 9, 2008. He hurt his right shoulder in that game, missed the rest of the season and had surgery. His shoulder limited his shooting mobility for much of this season.

The Mountaineers have no other point guards on their roster but have used forwards Da'Sean Butler and Devin Ebanks in stretches at the position. Earlier this season, West Virginia used an all-forward starting lineup in four straight games, going 3-1.

Washington is led by point guard Isaiah Thomas, who is averaging 17.1 points and 3.1 assists.

[Associated Press]

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