The Auburn Tigers absolutely dismantled the North Carolina Tar Heels Friday night in the Sweet Sixteen. The 5th seeded Tigers put up 97 points on UNC and only allowed 80. However, the win was bittersweet. Late in the second half, Chuma Okeke went down with an apparent knee injury and left the game. It is now being reported by Shams Charania that he has torn his ACL.
Sources: Auburn’s Chuma Okeke has a torn ACL in left knee, surgery scheduled for upcoming week. Absolutely devastating for Auburn and an emerging player.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 30, 2019
It was apparent in Bruce Pearl’s postgame comments that the injury was severe despite the initial reports revealing a bone bruise. At the time of the injury, Okeke had 20 points, 11 rebounds, two steals, a block, and two assists. He looked like their best player on the floor by far. Unfortunately, it seems much more serious. Bruce Pearl fought through tears on the court after the game talking about the injury.
“We’re going to rally. I’ll go hug on him.”
Bruce Pearl gets emotional discussing Chuma Okeke after @AuburnMBB‘s win over North Carolina. ?#MarchMadness | #Sweet16 pic.twitter.com/sOaD9dtrEz
— NCAA March Madness (@marchmadness) March 30, 2019
Okeke will of course, not be available when the Tigers take on the Kentucky Wildcats on Sunday afternoon. One of the best moments of the 2019 NCAA Tournament so far has been the video of Okeke stamping the Auburn sticker onto the Tournament bracket in the locker room.
Chuma Okeke gets the honor of officially stamping the bracket ?#MarchMadness | @AuburnMBB pic.twitter.com/CLq3WeMj2x
— NCAA March Madness (@marchmadness) March 30, 2019
