Cincinnati Basketball: Jarron Cumberland injury a concern for Bearcats

Cincinnati Basketball star Jarron Cumberland has been dealing with a foot injury all summer and was a non-participant in Bearcat Madness. Do Bearcat fans need to be worried?

Cincinnati Basketball and reigning American Player of the Year Jarron Cumberland did not participate in the Bearcats Midnight Madness of Friday Night. Cumberland has apparently yet to practice with the Bearcats this entire summer as he has been dealing with a foot injury. Bearcats head coach  John Brannen was dismissive with the media on Friday afternoon saying “You’d have to talk to the doctors,” when asked about the status of his star player.

Brannen also stated that “The philosophy I’ve always taken is a coach the guys that are out there. I don’t make medical decisions”. Brannen wouldn’t disclose more about Cumberland’s injury but gave status updates for some of the other Bearcats injuries.

Freshman guard Jeremiah Davenport will miss time after a summer knee surgery, he’s expected to return in December but may be a candidate for a redshirt depending on how his recovery goes. Trevor Moore will also miss some time, the junior is expected to miss a minimum of six weeks with an Achilles injury. This effectively rules him out for the Bearcats season opener against Ohio State.

Prince Toyambi will also miss some time and has been ruled out indefinitely. The nature of his absence is said to be medical related but that Brannen would know more in the coming weeks. Toyambi was a redshirt last season.

The Cumberland injury is definitely something to keep an eye out for. Justin Williams (The Athletic) seems to think that it didn’t sound too serious or that it would keep Cumberland sidelined long-term but we’re just a little over a month away from the Bearcats opening game November 6th at Ohio State.

A lot can change over a month but if Cumberland’s injury is indeed not serious it’s surprising Brannen didn’t shut down those rumors. The fact he hasn’t practiced all summer and it’s the same foot injury that he dealt with last season suggests that it has been a serious problem.

This is something to definitely keep an eye out for as we creep closer to the start of the season, Jarron Cumberland missing games would be a huge blow for a team already dealing with an injury-depleted roster. John Brannen has his work cut out for him and not having his star player able to practice and at risk to miss games is not how he wanted to start his career with Cincinnati.