If you were wondering why USC big man Vince Iwuchukwu did not accompany the Trojan basketball team on its European tour in August, we now have an answer. It wasn’t anything related to his 2022 cardiac arrest episode. It isn’t COVID-19, either. It’s the lingering effect of his back problems which sidelined him for the last several games of last season, including the Pac-12 and NCAA Tournaments.
College basketball reporter Jeff Goodman noted on Thursday that Iwuchukwu had back surgery in the offseason.
USC athletics’ website said that Iwuchukwu “had lumbar discectomy after the season and is expected to be back during the first half of the 2023-24 season.”
Lumbar disectomy treats a herniated disc in the lower spine. Iwuchukwu, as Goodman pointed out, has now been deprived of a full offseason of workouts and basketball practices.
This is a brutal piece of news for USC hoops, and another stroke of awful luck for Iwuchukwu, whose career has constantly been interrupted by health problems since he came to USC. The school has a first-class medical and training staff, so Iwuchukwu is getting first-rate care, but after his harrowing cardiovascular scare, back problems have limited his ability to train and develop.
The statement from USC athletics on Iwuchukwu returning “during the first half” of the upcoming season strongly suggests that Vince won’t be available for the season opener on November 6 versus Kansas State. The hope is that Iwuchukwu can be available for the big December 2 game against Gonzaga in Las Vegas.
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Arizona — Arizona State — California — Colorado — Oregon State — Stanford — UCLA — USC — Utah — Washington — Washington State