Already one of the shortest major-conference teams contending for an NCAA Tournament bid, the Indiana Hoosiers were cut down to a smaller size when center Hanner Mosquera-Perea was felled with a knee injury.
Mosquera-Perea, who is 6-9, 225 pounds, is expected to miss between two and four weeks recovering from a knee problem that developed Monday, according to the Indianapolis Star.
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A junior who came to the U.S. from Colombia, Mosquera-Perea is averaging 7.4 points and 5 rebounds in 21 minutes per game, his first experience as a fulltime regular. His best recent game was a 12-point, 10-rebound double-double in the Hoosiers’ Big Ten opener against Nebraska. He struggled with foul trouble in Saturday’s home win against Ohio State.
The Hoosiers fill their power forward spot with 6-7, 215-pound Troy Williams. They can replace Mosquera-Perea with 6-7, 215-pound freshman Emmitt Holt; 6-6, 210-pound sophomore Collin Hartman or 6-8, 220-pound freshman Max Hoetzel.
Indiana’s size issues are a significant reason the Hoosiers rank 177th in defensive efficiency according to KenPom.com. But they own a 12-4 overall record with victories over Ohio State, Pitt, SMU and Butler.