Bryce Thompson to Miss Rest of Season After Shoulder Surgery
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Oklahoma State will be without one of its best players for the rest of the season.
OSU coach Mike Boynton announced on Thursday that Bryce Thompson will not play again this season. The news comes after Thompson had surgery on his right shoulder for a torn labrum he suffered in a loss to Kansas.
Thompson is in his third season with OSU and fourth overall after playing with Kansas as a freshman. In his time in Stillwater, he has become one of OSU’s most reliable offensive options and has been a leader for OSU.
This season, Thompson averaged 11.6 points on 39% shooting and has been OSU’s second-leading scorer. Although there was hope he could return this season, there was more damage to his shoulder than initially thought.
Without him, OSU will need to rely on others to provide that scoring punch. John-Michael Wright and Quion Williams will now be the only rotation players who are not in their first season with OSU.
The Cowboys have already played two games without Thompson and have had mixed results. In their first matchup, the Cowboys beat Kansas State and showed how they can overcome the senior’s absence.
Against the Wildcats, the Cowboys had four players finish with at least 10 points, including a 17-point performance from Williams. But the Cowboys' most significant key to success will be Javon Small, who had 18 points and seven assists in the win.
OSU could not keep up that type of production against Houston. In its matchup with a top-five team, OSU could not score at the rate it needed to, specifically in the first half, and lost by 16.
With another eight Big 12 games left for the Cowboys, their hopes of turning the season around are likely dashed. But to stay competitive, contributions from role players while Thompson recovers are a must.
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