Onuaku has quad injury, could return Monday

Mar 12, 2010 - 11:06 PM SYRACUSE, N.Y.(AP) -- Syracuse center Arinze Onuaku has a right quadriceps injury and could return to practice by Monday.

Onuaku crashed to the floor and clutched his right knee in pain late in third-ranked Syracuse's loss to No. 22 Georgetown on Thursday in the quarterfinals of the Big East tournament at Madison Square Garden.

The school said in a release that an MRI exam done Friday on Onuaku's knee revealed the quadriceps injury. He is receiving treatment and his status is day to day, though officials said he may only miss a few days of practice.

Onuaku should be ready to play when the NCAA tournament begins next week.

The 6-foot-9, 260-pound Onuaku is the school's career leader in field-goal percentage (64.9) and is averaging 10.7 points and 5.2 rebounds per game this season.

Onuaku, who has struggled with knee pain throughout his career, has undergone surgeries on both knees because of quad tendon problems. He redshirted his sophomore season after surgery on his left knee and played the entire 2008-09 season with a frayed quad tendon in his right knee before having surgery last spring to repair the tendon.

Onuaku was injured when he landed awkwardly after trying to block a shot by Georgetown's Greg Monroe. Whistled for a foul on the play, Onuaku grabbed his right knee immediately and was tended to by medical staff and coach Jim Boeheim before being helped off the floor. The fifth-year senior did not return to the game.

"He's a key part of our team," Boeheim said after Thursday's game. "He's had a great year. And he's a tremendous player. We hope that he'll be fine."