Matt Painter shares unfortunate injury update on Purdue big man Daniel Jacobsen
Matt Painter met the media on Sunday ahead of Purdue’s non-conference game against Yale.
The big news: center Daniel Jacobsen has fractured his right tibia and is “most likely” done for the season, according to Indianapolis Star beat reporter Nathan Baird. Jacobsen started Friday’s game against Northern Kentucky but left the court a minute into the contest after suffering what was originally ruled a “lower leg injury”.
Following an MRI, the extent of Jacobsen’s injury was revealed. It’s a massive blow for the highly-regarded freshman, who reclassified from the 2025 class to join the Boilermakers a year earlier than planned.
He was set to follow in the footsteps of program great Zach Edey, a 2-time national college player of the year and the eventual ninth overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. But those plans have been put on hold as it appears Jacobsen’s initial season in West Lafayette is over almost as soon as it began.
The Boilermakers, ranked No. 14 in the preseason AP poll, are 2-0 on the season, starting the campaign with double-digit wins over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and Northern Kentucky. They advanced to their third Final Four in the spring before falling in the national championship game to UConn.
Purdue hosts Yale on Monday.
Matt Painter said Purdue freshman center Daniel Jacobsen suffered a fractured tibia in his right leg.
Surgery coming Wednesday.
Most likely out for the year.
More coming @IndyStarSports— Nathan Baird (@nwbaird) November 10, 2024