INDIANAPOLIS – Solo Ball's status forUConnin the men's basketballNCAA championship gameis in question after he sprained his left foot.
Ball said he is feeling "alright," and will leave a decision on his status for the game Monday, April 6, up to UConn's medical staff. He's wearing a walking boot and won't practice on Sunday, April 5.
"I'm doing everything I can to prepare for tomorrow," Ball said.
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UConn coachDan Hurleyannounced Ball's injury earlier, saying his junior guard has "some type of foot sprain." Ball said the injury occurred in the first half when he got tangled up withTarris Reed Jron a ball screen.
"He stepped on first three of my toes, I guess. I tried to move and like pivot, and something happened or whatever," Ball said.
"I'm just listening to the medical staff," Ball said when asked if he'll play Monday night against Michigan. "I've been preparing and doing rehab already. So definitely just preparing the same way as (if) I'm playing."
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He won't practice on the off day, and Hurley said they'd have a better idea of whether he can play later.
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UConn istrying to win its third title in four years. But it will have to get through a dominant Michigan team, which has scored 90 or more points in all five of its NCAA tournament games andblew out Arizona, the only other No. 1 seed left, by 18 points in the Final Four.
Ball will be key to that. He's UConn's third-leading scorer, at 12.9 points a game, and had 13 in theHuskies' win over Illinois in the Final Four.
"It's just a bump in the road, so you just got to keep moving forward," said Ball, who played through a wrist injury earlier in the season. "Pain is temporary, like people say. It pushes you through your toughest moment."
Meanwhile, Michigan is also dealing with an injury to a key playeras Yaxel Lendeborg was limited to 14 minutesin the Wolverines' Final Four win over Arizona on Saturday night after tweaking his ankle and knee in the first half.
When is national championship game?
Date: Monday, April 6
Times: 8:50 p.m. ET
Location: Lucas Oil Stadium (Indianapolis)
Stream men's Final Four with Sling TV
What TV channel is national championship on? How to stream Final Four
TV channels: TBS/truTV
Streaming options: NCAA March Madness Live | HBO Max | Sling TV
Every game remaining in the Men's NCAA Tournament will air on TBS and simulcast on truTV, with Ian Eagle, Bill Raftery and Grant Hill calling the game courtside and Tracy Wolfson reporting from the sidelines.
Streaming options include the March Madness Live app (with a TV login), HBO Max andSling TV.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Solo Ball injury: UConn guard status unclear for national championship game
