Gophers basketball coach Richard Pitino gave an update on point guard Nate Mason since his ankle injury in Saturday's 95-60 win against Florida Atlantic.
Mason's return is crucial for Minnesota's hopes of contending in the Big Ten, which opens play in a week.
Pitino said on WCCO radio over the weekend that Mason is still day-to-day, but he's not seriously hurt and not expected to be out long. Mason returned home to Georgia for Christmas. He was given three days off like the rest of the team before the Gophers return to prepare for this Saturday's game against Harvard.
"He'll get some time off," Pitino said. "I don't anticipate him missing a whole lot, so dodged a bullet there, which was obviously very, very important."
Mason rolled his left ankle at the 16:33 mark in the second half last Saturday against Florida Atlantic when he was off balance and planted awkwardly going for a steal. He couldn't put weight on his left leg and didn't return after being helped into the locker room.
The 6-foot-2 senior captain had his most impressive first half this season with 17 points on 5-for-8 shooting from three-point range. He finished as the team's leading scorer despite only playing 21 minutes against the Owls. Pitino said the injury initially looked like Mason hurt his Achilles' tendon.
"But it was really just kind of like the back part of his ankle," he said. "Fortunately, it's nothing too serious."
The Gophers won their third straight game Saturday – and it was the most impressive performance during that stretch. The Owls were held to just 34 percent shooting (23-for-66) from the field and were edged in rebounding 45-31. Minnesota's bench also had a 34-9 advantage.
