Bill Self comments on Gethro Muscadin’s car crash, says he’s ‘praying for a miracle’
Kansas basketball coach Bill Self says he is “praying for a miracle” as former KU and New Mexico center Gethro Muscadin attempts to recover from serious injuries sustained in a single-car crash early Thursday morning in Osage County, Kansas.
“Fortunately the driver is, I believe, going to be OK. It may not be easy, but be OK, but Gethro is definitely fighting for his life,” Self said Friday in a news conference held to discuss Saturday’s KU-George Mason game (4 p.m., Allen Fieldhouse).
Muscadin was a passenger in a vehicle driven by his girlfriend. The vehicle according to the Kansas Highway Patrol’s crash log “went off the road, rolled multiple times, and came to rest on the fence line.”
The two were driving from Lawrence to his girlfriend’s hometown of Wichita after the two attended Wednesday night’s KU-Nevada game at Allen Fieldhouse. The log said the crash — involving a 2018 Ford utility vehicle — took place at mile marker 163.9 on I-335, which is 13 miles south of the second Topeka exit off the Kansas Turnpike.
“Yes it’s bad. It’s bad,” Self said. “I don’t think I am the one that should share the details of how the accident occurred. He (Muscadin) and his friend actually came to our game and unknown to any of us sat at the very top (of the fieldhouse stands) because he sent pictures to his guardian from the game sitting at the top.
“After the (7 p.m.) game, he called me at 9:56 (p.m.). I didn’t pick up,” Self explained, “because I didn’t have my phone with me. Then the accident I guess occurred pretty soon after that. But it’s not good, guys,” he added to media members. “It will be a very, very, very, very long recovery if he’s able to get through this.”
Many of Muscadin’s coaches asked for prayers on Muscadin’s behalf on Thursday. That included KU coach Self, who tweeted: “Last night Gethro Muscadin and a friend were involved in a serous one car accident. He, his friend, and their families need a miracle. Please lift them up as Gethro fights for his life.”
Muscadin was ranked No. 140 in the recruiting class of 2020 by Rivals.com and played 33 minutes total in 12 games during his freshman season at KU. This season, he averaged 20.5 minutes a game for the Lobos. He hit 48.8% of his shots, including 2 of 5 three-pointers and 30 of 39 free throws (76.9%). He also had 19 blocks. He left the Lobos team after 12 games via mutual decision between Muscadin and New Mexico coach Richard Pitino. Pitino said on his radio show Thursday night he was going to help Muscadin find a new school to continue his college hoops career.
Muscadin also played at Wichita-area Sunrise Christian Academy in Bel Aire and Aspire Academy in Louisville, Kentucky, during his high school career.
This story was originally published December 31, 2021 at 5:36 PM.
