Emmitt Matthews suffers 'stinger' against Maryland, return to action uncertain

West Virginia forward Emmitt Matthews went right to the bench after a rough screen from Maryland big man Julian Reese left him in pain and holding his left shoulder. After a few minutes on the sideline, CBS sideline reporter Tracy Wolfson caught up with one of the Mountaineer trainers to ask how serious the injury was for Matthews.

Here was her report on the broadcast:

“West Virginia athletic trainer Randy Meador tells me it is a stinger to Emmitt Matthews’ left shoulder. He had some balm rubbed on it, he took some pain medication and we’ll see if he can play through it.”

The 6-foot-7 senior forward has started in every game he’s played in this season and averages double figures for WVU. A big piece of Bob Huggins’ front-court that the team will dearly miss if he can’t come back in or is limited the rest of the way.

In the middle of the second half, a few minutes following the Matthews injury, Mountaineer forward Jimmy Bell Jr. picked up his fifth foul to foul out after just 11 minutes of play. Not great news for a WVU team that already lacks size as it is and is without Matthews for the time being.

Game times, TV channels, odds for NCAA Tournament Thursday Round 1:

(All times listed are EST; Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook)

No. 8 Maryland Terrapins vs. No. 9 West Virginia Mountaineers (-2.5) — 12:15 p.m. (CBS)

No. 4 Virginia Cavaliers (-5.5) vs. No. 13 Furman Paladins  — 12:40 p.m. (TruTV)

No. 7 Missouri Tigers vs. No. 10 Utah State Aggies (-1.5) — 1:40 p.m. (TNT)

No. 1 Kansas Jayhawks (-22.5) vs. No. 16 Howard Bison — 2 p.m. (TBS)

No. 1 Alabama Crimson Tide (-23.5) vs. No. 16 Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Islanders — 2:45 p.m. (CBS)

No. 5 San Diego State Aztecs (-4.5) vs. No. 12 Charleston Cougars — 3:10 p.m. (TruTV)

No. 2 Arizona Wildcats (-14.5) vs. No. 15 Princeton Tigers — 4:10 p.m. (TNT)

No. 8 Arkansas Razorbacks (-1.5) vs. No. 9 Illinois Fighting Illini — 4:30 p.m. (TBS)

No. 8 Iowa Hawkeyes vs. No. 9 Auburn Tigers (1.5) — 6:50 p.m. (TNT)

No. 5 Duke Blue Devils (-6.5) vs. No. 12 Oral Roberts Golden Eagles — 7:10 p.m. (CBS)

No. 2 Texas Longhorns (-13.5) vs. No. 15 Colgate Raiders — 7:25 p.m. (TBS)

No. 7 Northwestern Wildcats (-1.5) vs. No. 10 Boise State Broncos — 7:35 p.m. (TruTV)

No. 1 Houston Cougars (-17.5) vs. No. 16 Northern Kentucky Norse — 9:20 p.m. (TNT)

No. 4 Tennessee Volunteers (-10.5) vs. No. 13 Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns — 9:40 p.m. (CBS)

No. 7 Texas A&M Aggies (-2.5) vs. No. 10 Penn State Nittany Lions — 9:55 p.m. (TBS)

No. 2 UCLA Bruins (-17.5) vs. No. 15 UNC Asheville Bulldogs — 10:05 p.m. (TruTV)