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NCAA Basketball: 5 most significant injuries of the season

By Holden Walter-Warner

HARTFORD, CT - MARCH 11: Tacko Fall #24 of the UCF Knights looks on during the second half against the Southern Methodist Mustangs during the semifinal round of the AAC Basketball Tournament at the XL Center on March 11, 2017 in Hartford, Connecticut. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
HARTFORD, CT - MARCH 11: Tacko Fall #24 of the UCF Knights looks on during the second half against the Southern Methodist Mustangs during the semifinal round of the AAC Basketball Tournament at the XL Center on March 11, 2017 in Hartford, Connecticut. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
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HARTFORD, CT – MARCH 11: Matt Williams
HARTFORD, CT – MARCH 11: Matt Williams /

5. Tacko Fall, Central Florida

Tacko Fall always held the attention of the college basketball world, entirely due to his 7-foot-6 frame. His size obscured the fact that the junior center was developing into one of the AAC’s better players.

All of that came crashing to a halt on Saturday, with the news that Fall would require shoulder surgery on an injury he has been struggling with all season. The surgery ends his junior season.

The Senegal native has been playing basketball for just a handful of years but has seen gradual improvement since joining the Golden Knights. He was averaging 11.3 points and 7.3 rebounds per game this season, the former a collegiate high. His 1.9 blocks per game lead the AAC, while his .767 field goal percentage only trails Udoka Azubuike in all of college basketball.

At 12-6 in an ordinary AAC, Central Florida is fighting for an NIT berth more than an NCAA Tournament berth. Fall is the team’s best player, one of just two Golden Knights averaging more than ten points per game on a team that struggles to score.

Without him, the path to a postseason appearance becomes increasingly difficult. Meanwhile, college basketball loses one of it’s most intriguing giants since UNC Asheville played Kenny George a decade ago.

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