Mick Cronin offers update on Jaime Jaquez ankle injury for Sweet Sixteen

Following a 72-56 victory against Saint Mary’s in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, UCLA coach Mick Cronin offered an update on the ankle injury of Jaime Jaquez. With so little time to evaluate the injury, Cronin isn’t ready to make a decision on whether the Bruins forward will be available for a Sweet Sixteen matchup against North Carolina on Friday.

“We have til Friday,” Cronin said via Tarek Fattal of the LA Daily News. “If he can walk, he’ll probably play.”

Jaquez went down with the injury with 6:58 left to play. He stayed on the floor for several moments under the basket before eventually walking off under his own power with a noticeable limp. Trainers eventually took him to the tunnel, where they attended to his injury. He later returned to the UCLA bench, but with his socks off and ice wrapped around his ankle.

If Jaquez is ultimately unable to return, it would be a huge blow to UCLA’s tournament chances. He started 32 games this season and is the team’s second-leading scorer, averaging 14 points per game.

This isn’t the first Jaime Jaquez has dealt with an ankle injury this season. He has battled injuries off and on all year, though never missed an extended period of time. Cronin is hopeful his star will have another quick return, citing the toughness of Jaquez in the face of adversity.

Despite the loss of Jaquez, UCLA finished the game on a strong note to claim the victory and advance to the Sweet Sixteen. Leading by only eight at the time of the Jaquez injury, the Bruins expanded their advantage to as many as 18 points on their way to the win. Tyger Campbell stepped up in the absence of Jaquez to finish with a team-high 16 points on a perfect 8-for-8 from the free throw line.

Jaquez led the team with 15 points at the time of his injury, and still finished as UCLA’s second leading scorer.

UCLA will next face North Carolina for a trip to the Sweet Sixteen on Friday. The Tar Heels are coming off of a huge upset of No. 1 seed and defending champion Baylor, so they certainly won’t be an easy out.