Martin updates progress of injured Gamecocks trio

SOUTH CAROLINA GAMECOCKS BASKETBALL

South Carolina is no stranger to injuries this season. Three players are out for the year with serious injuries.

Frank Martin updated those situations before the Gamecocks' big matchup Wednesday with No.1 Tennessee, including confirming one player - Jason Cudd - is officially redshirting.

“Cudd is off crutches and he’s starting to move around," Martin said. "He’s not in a place where he’s jogging yet.”

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Cudd, who was playing sparingly as a sophomore, dislocated his knee before South Carolina's game against Missouri in a voluntary shoot around and hasn't played since. He's now off crutches, but Martin said the 7-foot big man will redshirt this season.

TJ Moss is also redshirting this season after a serious foot injury, the team announced in early January, and Martin updated his rehab progress Monday as well.

Moss had a high ankle sprain and nagging foot injury that hampered him at the beginning of the season before he and the coaching staff opted to have the season-ending surgery.

Since then, the freshman guard has been moving around on a scooter and could be close to walking again soon and putting some weight on that injured foot.

“He’s out of the cast and in a boot now," Martin said. "He’s close to now being off the little golf cart he’s on or scooter where he can start putting his foot on the ground with the boot on. We have to be patient there.”

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Moss had surgery on his foot and was officially ruled out Jan. 10, announcing that he'll redshirt after playing in seven games this season with three starts.

His rehab process will be a little bit longer since he had to take care of the ankle sprain and foot injury at the same time. Martin said the recovery time would be close to five to six months, putting his return at some point in either May or June before summer workouts.

“TJ, the high ankle sprain was one injury and the other was one he suffered earlier in the year that got aggravated further when he was hurt with the high ankle sprain," Martin said. "They had to go in there with surgery and detach a tendon, shave the bone and then reattach the tendon. That’s like a five to six month deal. They’re good; they’re in good spirits.”

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The team announced Justin Minaya would also redshirt this season after a major knee injury sidelined him five games into the year.

Minaya's knee never healed as quickly as he would have hoped, and Saturday he and the coaching staff decided to scrap this year and save a full year of eligibility for next season.

His absence as the team's best defender, especially on the perimeter, has been felt, but Martin said his biggest absence has come from a leadership standpoint.

“Hands down,” Martin said. “Our two loudest players—and when I say loud I don’t mean hi-fiving and cheering, I mean like non-stop chatter, which is what you have to have—were Justin and Chris. Ever since Justin’s been down, that’s been a challenge from our guards. And it’s another voice. The more guys talk, it encourages other guys that it’s OK to talk.”