Willie Cauley-Stein Officially Ruled Out of Title Game
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Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images(ARLINGTON, Texas) — Kentucky center Willie Cauley-Stein, who has been dealing with an ankle injury, was officially ruled out of Monday’s national championship game against Connecticut.
The 7-foot, 244 pound sophomore injured his right ankle versus Kansas State, in Kentucky’s first game of the tournament. Cauley-Stein continued to play on the ankle during Kentucky’s third round victory over Wichita State but had to leave the team’s Sweet 16 win over Louisville when he aggravated the injury.
Despite not being able to play, Cauley-Stein still feels he has a role with his team.
“That’s the only thing I can really do is encourage the team to stay positive,” Cauley-Stein said. “Even though I can’t play, you know, I still serve a purpose of uplifting people and staying in people’s ear and cheering and stuff like that.”
Cauley-Stein averaged 6.8 points, 6.1 rebounds, 2.9 blocks and 1.2 steals per game this season.
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