Freshman guard Nyk Lewis might not be available for the majority of the second-round showdown against the Illinois Fighting Illini.
What happened to Nyk Lewis?
The VCU Rams took on Illinois in the second-round of the NCAA Tournament. However, just one minute after tip-off, they received some concerning news about Nyk Lewis.
While trying to get a defensive rebound, the freshman guard landed awkwardly on a teammate’s foot. This led to him twisting his right ankle and going down in pain. He could not put any pressure on his foot and had to be helped off the court by the medical team.
The No. 11 VCU Rams evaluated his injury on the sideline, raising questions about his return on the court. However, according to a tweet by “The Field of 68,” a spokesperson said that Lewis will not be playing in the rest of the VCU vs. Illinois showdown.
Coming out of high school, Lewis was a four-star prospect with offers from programs like Michigan, Creighton, Marquette, Kansas State, Georgetown and Tennessee. At first, he had committed to play for Xavier. But Lewis then flipped his commitment to join the VCU Rams.
The freshman guard has established himself as a key player for coach Phil Martelli Jr.’s team. He started in all 34 games and has averaged 8.9 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game. The VCU Rams defeated Dayton to emerge as this season’s Atlantic 10 conference tournament champions. In that game, Lewis scored 17 points, 11 rebounds, one assist and one steal.
How did Nyk Lewis perform during VCU’s NCAA Tournament first-round victory against North Carolina
Phil Martelli Jr. and his team faced the North Carolina Tar Heels in the first-round of the NCAA Tournament. They were considered the underdogs facing a team that went 24-8 before this game.
However, despite all the doubts, the VCU Rams secured an upset 82-78 victory over Hubert Davis’ team, knocking them out of the tournament. They made an impressive 19-pointt comeback to clinch the win. Nyk Lewis was one of the key contributors, scoring 16 points with seven rebounds, one assist and three steals. Terrence Hill Jr. was the top scorer with 34 points, five rebounds and five assists.
However, despite this impressive victory, Phil Martelli Jr. reminded his players not to count their chickens before they hatch. During an appearance on “Stugotz & Company LIVE!” he shared a message for his team heading into Sunday’s game against Illinois.
“Right now, we’re just talking about number two,” Martelli said. “You know, how do we get number two, you know, and just being ready with whatever it takes and, you know, not getting caught up in. … You know, all these people that want to tell you they love you right now are the same people that, if you had lost last night, they’d be telling you how much you suck.”
The winner of this VCU vs. Illinois game will face the Houston Tigers in the Sweet 16. Can the Rams emerge victorious despite Nyk Lewis’ injury?
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