For the third time in the last three seasons, BYU forward Gavin Baxter has suffered a devastating injury.
According to BYU head coach Mark Pope, Baxter sustained a season-ending ACL injury in the No. 12 Cougars’ overtime loss to UVU Wednesday night, one year and three days removed from another season-ending ACL injury.
The injury is the latest devastating blow to Baxter’s career. The former Timpview High star also suffered a shoulder injury prior to the 2019-20 season and was sidelined for the majority of that season.
“It has a huge impact on our team,” Pope told the Deseret News, before clarifying that BYU didn’t lose to UVU because of Baxter’s absence.
“It didn’t have anything to do with tonight,” Pope said. “Utah Valley beat us and they earned it. They deserve it. Going forward, it’s what you do during the course of a season. It’s a journey. You take it and you have to get better.”
The Cougars are also without big man Richard Harward, who is sidelined indefinitely with a “cardiovascular issue.”
Second year forward Caleb Lohner and true freshman Fousseyni Traore are the remaining big men available for BYU who have seen significant time so far this season.