Report: 'Nova's Yarou out for the year
FoxSports.com's Jeff Goodman is reporting that Villanova freshman Mouphtaou Yarou, who has been sidelined since the Wildcats' trip to Puerto Rico with a viral infection, is going to miss the entire rest of the season.
Report: 'Nova's Yarou out for the year
Jonathan Tannenwald, Philly.com
I am passing this along as a quick breaking news item, and I figure the Inquirer and Daily News beat guys will have more to say about it by the end of the day. I'll link to their coverage when it arrives.
FoxSports.com's Jeff Goodman is reporting that Villanova freshman Mouphtaou Yarou, who has been sidelined since the Wildcats' trip to Puerto Rico with a viral infection, is going to miss the entire rest of the season.
It will be a big loss for 'Nova, but after watching the La Salle game it looks like it won't be as big a loss as we might have thought earlier in the season. It's certainly consequential, but Isaiah Armwood and Antonio Pena did well against the Explorers.
Of course, La Salle is not Syracuse or Connecticut or West Virginia. The remaining frontcourt players will have to stay out of foul trouble, which won't be easy. But there's still a lot of talent left.
How much of an impact do you think this will have?
UPDATE: MSNBC.com's Mike Miller weighs in with some analysis of his own that's pretty similar to what I've said, but in more depth.
It's probably that whole age thing coming back to haunt them. THWND !!!!— Hawks2004- Figured that would be the first comment.
- How is St Joe's doing this year? Oh yea they couldn't beat the worst team in the Big East, Depaul.— Joe WS
- And now the door is open for Drexel on Wednesday...— DrexelDragonFan
- Hope he gets better. That's a rough loss for the Wildcats. He should be hitting his physical prime next year as a 26 year old Frosh.— KidCole35
- How cute. The St. Joe's (PA) fan is talking smack.
- I suspect it's not a health issue but the "age" issue coming in to play . If an investigation finds that he is indeed over the age limit, then Villanova would probably have to forfeit all games in which he played . The safe route would be to hold him out until all questions are resolved . This is what I think the Villanova staff are doing here . Just a guess .— Joe R.
- If they are uncertain on age, this is the safest approach. If you play him 5 minutes a game all year, and he IS ineligible, then there are forfeit ramifications.This way, if he gets healthy, and is who he says he is, they try to get a medical redshirt, and save his year of eligibility. I wouldn't be suprised if he never plays again for Villanova.— willll
- What's it like to be a St. Joe fan and the ONLY happiness you get is from something negative unfolding @ "GUARD U". Be more annoyed @ your coach, and the fact he can't stay off the WIP airwaves instead of hitting the pavement for some talent. Face it, your coach/program didn't capitalize on its lightening in a bottle season a few yrs back. I do hear that you guys now play in a newly renovated "walkin closet". I guess things are looking up? Nova by 10 plus @ the newly refurbished walkin closet!!— somertonspartan
- FYI: The NCAA cleared him - TWICE. He's 19, GET OVER IT!!! The reason he is out is because he truly IS sick; that's a fact. He's out indefinitely and will likely take a medical redshirt.— novacat
- An unspecified viral illness is a bit vague. As a physician who clears high school athletes to play, I can't recall a viral infection, save the serious mononucleosis cases, that sidelined a player for a year...unless we're talking about something far more serious, like HIV or a something weird endemic to Africa— frinkie
- The ncaa and checking/verifying, now that's oxymoronic at best.— montco1
- St. Joe's is a 5 point favorite against LaSalle....LaSalle High School that is.— lgeagles
- I too believe there are age issues with him and they are playing it safe. I never heard someone being out for the year with a viral infection. He looked healthy sitting on the bench at the Lasalle game.— mikegrim
- my roommate has a class with a bunch of the basketball players at Villanova [seems like they are all education majors or just like to take classes together]. Apparently they like to say "balls" a lot during the few seconds they're not texting. They also have a hard time controlling their laughter when one of them says "balls."— nm306072
Reach Jonathan at jtannenwald@phillynews.com or 215-854-2330.
