Kevin Keatts on Dusan Mahorcic: "It's Probably 50-50 At This Moment"

NC State forward Dusan Mahorcic went down with a knee injury on December 6 against Coppin State, and there has been no timetable announced for his return. Today Kevin Keatts addressed Mahorcic’s status with the media.

“He’s not available,” Keatts said of Mahorcic.  “I’ve said before, and I want to be realistic about it. I’m not even sure if he’s going to return this year. With his injury, he’s going back and forth. It’s the same thing he did last year at Utah and sometimes when you injure the same body part a couple of times it takes a little bit longer. 

“We’re hopeful, we’re grateful, but I don’t know where that is going to end up at.”

“It’s a challenge,” Keatts later added.  “He’s working really hard, as hard as anyone I’ve had to get back from an injury. I certainly hope it happens for him, but it’s going to be a challenge.  I don’t want the expectation to be he’s definitely coming back. I’d say it’s probably 50-50 at this moment.”

Mahorcic is averaging 8.7 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 1.2 assists while shooting 64.3% from the field.  NC State has yet to pursue a potential medical waiver for Mahorcic, but Keatts didn’t rule out the possibility.

“We haven’t [pursued a medical waiver] just because we want to keep everything positive where there is an opportunity he could play at the end of the year. That is something that obviously could be on the table if he does not, but at this point we have not.”