As first reported by NBC Sports, Yale has lost sophomore forward Jordan Bruner and Yale senior guard Makai Mason to injury, Bruner for the entire season and Mason for up to two months.
Mason is reportedly dealing with a stress fracture in his right foot, the same foot that was broken in a scrimmage against Boston University before the start of the 2016-17 campaign, causing him to miss the entire season.
Mason was wearing a device in his shoe to take pressure off the area that he hurt last year, the New Haven Register reported, adding that he likely wound up putting more pressure on the rest of his foot, where he developed the stress fracture.
Mason originally felt pain in the area about two weeks ago, according to the New Haven Register, noting that Mason sat out a scrimmage against Rutgers, but wasn’t diagnosed with a stress fracture until after an MRI on Tuesday.
Bruner, meanwhile, underwent surgery on Tuesday to repair a torn meniscus, per NBC Sports, and the New Haven Register reported that Bruner’s meniscus was torn late in Yale’s scrimmage at Boston University a week ago. Mason also suffered his season-ending foot injury last year during a scrimmage against Boston University, which is helmed by Yale coach James Jones’ brother and former Columbia coach Joe Jones.
As the Register noted, Bruner could apply for a medical redshirt and would be granted an extra year of eligibility, but would have to withdraw from school to get the extra year.
Mason is expected to be ready for Ivy play if his recovery goes well.
Mason averaged 16.0 points, 3.8 assists and 2.8 rebounds in 32.7 minutes per game as a sophomore in 2015-16, posting 31 points, six rebounds, four assists and just two turnovers in 39 minutes in Yale’s NCAA Tournament first-round win over Baylor that season.
Ironically, Mason plans to join Baylor as a graduate transfer in the 2018-19 season.
Bruner averaged 8.4 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game as a highly touted freshman last season and was expected to anchor Yale’s frontcourt as a sophomore.
Yale opened its season without Mason and Bruner with a 92-76 loss at Creighton Friday, with Blake Reynolds, Paul Atkinson, Trey Phills and Alex Copeland combining to score 52 points, with Miye Oni notching five assists.
Ivy fans disappointed by this news, especially after Dartmouth’s loss of one of the League’s best. Take heart, Bulldogs, after losing Sears and Mason last season, you got to the championship game. Hope Mason gets back for league play. Early results suggest our two-bid prospects remain remote.