Villanova’s second-leading scorer out with injury ahead of KU game in Final Four
Villanova’s second-leading scorer, Justin Moore, won’t play in the NCAA Final Four semifinal game against Kansas after suffering an injury toward the end of the Wildcats’ win over Houston on Saturday.
Moore tore his right Achilles’ tendon, will have surgery this week and is out indefinitely, Villanova announced Sunday.
“This is a tough blow for all of us, not just because of the great player Justin is, but because of what he means to us as teammates and coaches,” Villanova coach Jay Wright said. “As one of our captains, Justin has been an integral part of our success. He helps our team in so many ways. Every game, he guards the opponent’s best scorer and is one of the toughest rebounding guards we have had in our time at Villanova.”
Moore, according to ESPN.com, “slipped while driving to the lane with 35 seconds left in Saturday’s game and had to be helped off the court. He did not take part in the postgame celebrations, with his teammates coming to see him at the end of the bench after the final buzzer sounded.”
Jermaine Samuels had 16 points and Collin Gillespie six, while Moore had eight in the win over Houston.
The KU-Villanova national semifinal will tip off at 5:09 p.m. Central time Saturday and air on TBS.
Wright’s Wildcats pounded the Jayhawks 95-79 in a 2018 Final Four semifinal on March 31, 2018 in San Antonio. The Wildcats went on to win the national title. In 2016, the Wildcats defeated KU, 64-59, in an Elite Eight game on March 26, 2016 in Louisville. Nova went on to claim the NCAA crown that season as well. Back in 2008, KU defeated Nova in the Sweet 16 en route to its own national title.
The two programs each have won three NCAA Tournament titles (KU in 2008, 1988 and 1952; Villanova in 2018, 2016 and 1985). Nova leads the all-time series 5-4. The Wildcats have won four of the last five meetings. Last meeting in the series was the Wildcats’ 56-55 win over KU on Dec. 21, 2019.
This story was originally published March 27, 2022 at 5:29 PM with the headline "Villanova’s second-leading scorer out with injury ahead of KU game in Final Four."
