SOUTH BEND ― Official word on the immediate and long-term availability of one of their Notre Dame basketball teammates came early Tuesday afternoon from head coach Micah Shrewsberry, but the Irish knew.
They knew four days earlier and 1,000 miles away from home during Friday’s overtime victory at TCU. They watched junior guard Markus Burton be helped off midway through the first half. They saw him in tears in the locker room at intermission, then on the end of the bench dressed in warmups for the second half.
They watched him try to navigate out of the narrow locker room door on crutches and then exit arena receiving and toward the team bus while wearing a bulky medical boot over his left leg. Even with no medical training, the Irish knew that whatever was wrong with Burton’s left leg/ankle, it was likely going to take a long time to heal.
The unofficial word through Monday? Ankle. Not good. Nothing else.
On Tuesday, we learned the official word and the timeline.
Shrewsberry announced during his weekly media availability ― it was moved up nearly three hours and moved over from Rolfs Hall to Hammes Auditorium on the heels of athletic director Pete Bevacqua’s 30-minute media session ― that Burton was expected to miss considerable time with a left ankle injury.
The team issued a statement right before Shrewsberry spoke, saying, “During the Notre Dame men’s basketball game at TCU Friday, December 5th, junior point guard Markus Burton sustained a left ankle injury.
“He will undergo surgery Wednesday. There is presently no timetable for his return.”
Shrewsberry compared Burton to one of his sons. He said he was immediately heartbroken for Burton to have to go through another injury and recovery process.
“He’s a local kid as well, so this is a time for everyone in this community to wrap your arms around him and help him through it,” Shrewsberry said. “… I think it’s a rallying cry for all of us.”
Burton missed seven games early last season after suffering a right knee injury during the first half of an overtime loss to Rutgers in Las Vegas. He did not need surgery. The Irish went 3-4 without Burton, who currently leads the team in scoring (18.5 ppg.), assists (3.7), steals (16) and minutes (30.1).
A first team All-Atlantic Coast Conference preseason selection, Burton was hurt on a drive to the basket with 9:48 remaining in Friday’s 87-85 overtime victory at TCU. He fell awkwardly to the floor under the Irish basket after his bucket. He got to his feet and started to run downcourt but couldn’t make it to the free throw line before he collapsed.
Burton pounded the floor in frustration/pain before being helped back to the locker room.
Immediately after Burton left the game, Notre Dame tumbled into an 11-point deficit. Shrewsberry admitted afterward that the Irish spent the rest of the first half in a dazed state without Burton.
Eventually, the cobwebs cleared, in part because the Irish knew that on that night, and likely for many that follow, they would have to figure it out without Burton.
“We’ve got (other) players, too,” said freshman Jalen Haralson, who earned league player and rookie of the week consideration for his 20 points, five rebounds and career-high nine assists in 37 minutes against TCU. “He’s a big-time player for us, but we’ve got some guys who can play, too. We know that.”
Haralson knows that. He reminded the Irish when they were down nine at half at TCU that they weren’t out, even if Burton was.
“We’ve got players,” Haralson said. “We made it happen.”
Winners of three of four, Notre Dame (7-3) returns to action Wednesday at home against Idaho (6-3). Evansville visits Saturday before a week-long break for final exams. Notre Dame closes non-conference play on Sunday, December 21 against Purdue Fort Wayne.
“We’ve got to win these three games at home,” Haralson said.
And do it without Burton.
Follow South Bend Tribune and NDInsider columnist Tom Noie on X (formerly Twitter): @tnoieNDI. Contact Noie at tnoie@sbtinfo.com
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: What is the prognosis for Notre Dame basketball guard Markus Burton?
Reporting by Tom Noie, South Bend Tribune / South Bend Tribune
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
