Chance McMillian injury update: Grant McCasland explains Texas Tech guard's absence vs. Arkansas

Chance McMillian missed his fourth consecutive game during Texas Tech‘s Sweet 16 victory over Arkansas. The second-team All-Big 12 selection has been nursing a strained oblique and has had to miss all three of the Red Raiders’ games in the NCAA Tournament to this point.

Texas Tech head coach Grant McCasland revealed that McMillian had been trending toward playing prior to the start of the second weekend. Ultimately unable to suit up during Thursday’s win over the Razorbacks, McCasland revealed why his star player ended up being unavailable.

“I anticipated him being available. I didn’t know how much,” McCasland said. “Then we got to the arena, and we had had him planned to dress out and be ready. You don’t know in these games. Like what it was tonight, you may be somewhat limited but I thought there was a chance he could play, like legit. We were planning on dressing him out.

“He got to the arena, and he just came to me and said he couldn’t do it. So the truth is, he shot around today and moved really well and looked good. And then maybe just what happened in shoot around set him back a little bit.”

McMillian is averaging 14.2 points and 4.1 rebounds per game for the Red Raiders on a 52.5% field goal percentage — all of which are career highs for the former Grand Canyon guard. He’s the team’s third-leading scorer behind both JT Toppin (18.2) and Darrion Williams (14.8).

His status for Saturday’s Elite Eight matchup against Florida is still up in the air, however, McMillian is working diligently in his rehab to suit up for the matchup. As a fifth-year senior, McMillian likely doesn’t want to end his college career on the injury report. His head coach is confident in his veteran guard, but ultimately McMillian’s body will make the final call.

“I trust him with everything because he’s [one of the players] to me that has the greatest belief on our team that we’re going to win,” McCasland continued. “He’ll do anything it takes to win, but it felt like he wasn’t quite confident enough that he could help the team. So he decided not to dress.”

Saturday’s game in the Elite Eight against Florida is set for 6:09 p.m. ET and will air live on TBS and truTV. The Gators are a 6.5-point betting favorite heading into the matchup, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.