Caleb Mills injury update: Memphis basketball senior carried off floor vs. Tulsa with knee injury
TULSA, Okla. — Memphis basketball senior guard Caleb Mills suffered an apparent non-contact left knee injury and was carried off the floor late in the first half Thursday at Tulsa.
With 2:19 to go before halftime, Mills broke toward the goal with the ball at full speed. As he neared the goal, he went airborne and came down on the floor, immediately clutching his left knee. He stayed on the court, writhing in pain, for several minutes.
Coach Penny Hardaway, trainer Darrell Turner and strength coach Darby Rich carried Mills to an area behind the visiting bench. Mills tried to come off partially under his own power, but the staffers wound up having to pick him up.
Penny, Darby and Darrell carrying Caleb Mills off the floor. Scary scene. pic.twitter.com/KmrdIW1d1t
— Jason Munz (@munzly) January 5, 2024
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Penny Hardaway updates Caleb Mills' injury after game
The 15th-ranked Tigers (11-2) finished the half strong and took a 49-35 into halftime, eventually winning 78-75 with help from Jahvon Quinerly's clutch shot. Shortly after the team went back to the locker room, Mills left the courtside area, partially under his own power. With a brace on his left knee and his arms around a pair of staff members, he was able to put some weight on his left leg as he slowly made his way to the locker room.
After the game, Hardaway was blunt in his assessment of Mills' injury.
"We don't know for sure, but it seems like it's bad. It's not good," Hardaway said. "He didn't slip, it just gave out. He said it was his kneecap. When he went to go explode, I think that's when it happened. Whether it was his patella, whether it was kneecap dislocation."
Mills is averaging 8.5 points and 3.2 rebounds a game this season.
Reach sports writer Jason Munz at jason.munz@commercialappeal.com or follow him @munzly on X, the social media app formerly known as Twitter.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Caleb Mills injury update: Memphis basketball senior carried off floor
