AUSTIN (KXAN) — Texas basketball is dealing with multiple injuries as the team approaches the start of the 2025-26 season, having lost two big men over the past few weeks.
“We ran into two unfortunate injuries over three weeks ago with Lassina Traore and Matas [Vokietaitis], our two 5 men,” Texas head coach Sean Miller said. “In both of our closed scrimmages, neither of those two guys participated.”
Without Traore and Vokietaitis, the team has had some unconventional practices, adapting to the untimely injuries.
“[The injuries] made both of those scrimmages problematic, and it’s also, no doubt about it, put us in a unique situation,” Miller said. “Of the 30 practices … about a 3-week period of time with your two 5-men who are gonna play a lot of minutes, both out at the same time.”
Vokietaitis is dealing with an ankle sprain, an injury Miller expects will subside by the time the team opens the season.
“I think the good news is in Matas’s case, he’s not only returned to practice, but is doing really well,” Miller said. “A lot of the bad is behind him, and I think he is not only set to play, but my hope is he can have a good four, five, six days before we play Duke.”
Traore’s injury, according to Miller, poses a bigger problem. Suffering a mid-foot sprain, the Longhorns want to ensure they ease him back into play.
“That is a little bit more complicated simply because a year ago, he missed the season with an ACL on his other leg, so we’re just making sure we don’t put him in a bad position in either way,” Miller said. “We also are anticipating him being available for our season opener.”
Miller went on to say that Traore has also returned to practice, but in a more limited capacity compared to Vokietaitis. While both players are expected to return, in their absence, the team has looked to a few younger players to fill the void.
“Those two guys missing the time that they’ve missed has really hurt everybody,” Miller said. “If there’s a silver lining in it, I think John Clark and Nic Codie have gotten a lot of additional reps.”
Texas will take on No. 6 Duke in Charlotte on Nov. 4 to open the season.
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