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BYU starting forward could be held out for the rest of 2014-15 season

Nate Austin

Nate Austin

AP

BYU has already been playing without starting senior forward Nate Austin since a Dec. 10 injury before a game against Utah. The 6-foot-11 Austin tore his hamstring during pregame warm-ups of that contest and hasn’t returned to the lineup since.

Now, BYU head coach Dave Rose said in a radio interview with KSL Radio that Austin might be held out for the 2014-15 season. The senior re-injured his hamstring in drills during practice last week and could sit out the rest of the season and apply for a medical hardship waiver for 2015-16.

Austin only played in nine games this season, starting in all of them. He was averaging 3 points and 5.6 rebounds per game, but was a major defensive upgrade inside over his replacements, Luke Worthington and Corbin Kaufusi.

Originally, Austin was expected to only be out for two weeks, then the diagnosis for Austin was changed to more like a month.

With Austin in the lineup, BYU was a NCAA Tournament hopeful with its talented and high-scoring backcourt. But without Austin in the lineup, the Cougars have looked more like a NIT team. BYU currently sit at 15-7 (5-4 WCC) and has lost two straight games.

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