ATLANTA — Point guard Howard Washington will miss the remainder of the season with a right leg injury, Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim said after a loss to Georgia Tech on Wednesday night.

Boeheim declined to provide more specifics. This essentially leaves Syracuse with two guards — sophomore Tyus Battle and redshirt junior Frank Howard.

When asked in the locker room after the game for his thoughts on Washington’s situation, starting point guard Frank Howard said, “It hurts me just as much as it hurts him. I went through it in high school, so I’ll be in his ear.”

Howard missed all of his junior year at Paul VI Catholic (Virginia) High School when he tore the ACL in his left knee.

Washington was lightly recruited coming out of high school in Buffalo but became an integral role player for the Orange when graduate transfer combo guard Geno Thorpe quit the team in early December because he was frustrated with a lack of playing time.

Washington spelled Battle and Howard, who lead the Atlantic Coast Conference in minutes per game played, and both guards have previously spoken of the enormity of Washington’s minutes in a rough conference schedule. Washington was injured at practice on Monday. While running during a drill, he fell and laid on the ground for more than five minutes, a team source told The Daily Orange.

On Tuesday, Washington left the trainer’s room during practice on crutches with a large brace on his right leg.

“It’s tough to see because we know he worked hard,” Battle said. “He was always in the gym late night shooting the ball. He’s been playing so much better, shooting the ball better as the season went on. It’s tough to see him go down like that. I wish him the best and for a speedy recovery.”

In 18 games this season, Washington averaged 1.1 points and 0.6 assists per contest. His largest contributions were the breaks and increased ball movement he provided.

Next in line after Washington is junior transfer guard Braedon Bayer. Bayer, who received a scholarship earlier this season after Thorpe quit, came from Division III Grinnell College and has played three minutes this season.

“Braedon’s pretty good,” Boeheim said. “I should’ve probably used him tonight, the way we ended up playing. He’s not bad. He can go in and play for us here and there.”

Still, the Orange are forced to rely on another unproven presence as the schedule ratchets up in difficulty when SU needs wins, particularly on the road, most. Just when Syracuse felt comfortable with Washington, it no longer has him.

“He’s a great kid,” Howard said. “He’s going to work hard. He’s going to come back better than this. It sucks that he has to miss the rest of the season because you know how much work he puts in. We’re ready to support him.”

Published on January 31, 2018 at 11:07 pm

Contact Sam: sjfortie@syr.edu | @Sam4TR