CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The Illinois basketball team will be without forward Morez Johnson Jr. for an undetermined period due to a wrist fracture sustained during an impressive defensive play over the weekend.

 
Head coach Brad Underwood confirmed the serious nature of Johnson’s injury on Monday. The incident occurred as Johnson attempted to block a shot and subsequently fell to the floor during Illinois’ recent 79-65 defeat against No. 14 Michigan State on Saturday.

 
As a result of this injury, Johnson will be unable to participate in the upcoming game against No. 11 Wisconsin on Tuesday. Illinois currently holds a record of 17-9 overall and 9-7 in the Big Ten Conference.

 
“I really feel for that young man,” Underwood expressed during a press conference. “It was an unbelievable play—one of the best I’ve witnessed in quite some time. Unfortunately, it led to this injury.”

 
The timeline for Johnson’s return remains unclear, as Underwood mentioned. He recounted how Johnson fell hard but exhibited resilience, getting back up and asking to have his wrist taped. This injury may have affected his performance toward the end of the game, where he had several near misses at the basket. He has since been fitted with a cast, with no specific date for his recovery given at this time.

 
Despite averaging only 17.8 minutes on the court per game, Johnson has been a significant contributor, ranking second on the team with an average of 6.6 rebounds. The 6-foot-9 freshman has also recorded an average of 7.2 points and 1.1 blocks across 26 games, with eight of those as a starter.

 
The loss of Johnson could pose a challenge for the team as they look to navigate their upcoming schedule without him.