Gators' Handlogten fractures left leg in SEC final

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Florida center Micah Handlogten fractured his lower left leg in the opening minutes of the Southeastern Conference tournament final Sunday and was taken off the court on a stretcher.

“You just hate to see it for him because he does everything the right way and works hard,” Florida coach Todd Golden said as he fought to control his emotions after the 86-67 loss to No. 12 Auburn. “That’s a super fluky injury you know that you don’t see very often in this game. Playing a big-time game like this, to go out that way, I just feel for him.”

Handlogten, a 7-foot-1 sophomore, had two rebounds in two minutes and was trying to come down with a third when he landed awkwardly on his left foot with 17:46 remaining in the first half. He immediately went down in pain and rolled onto his side, putting his hands to his face.

The sound of bone apparently breaking could be heard on TV with blood immediately visible on the back of his calf.

Play continued as Aden Holloway took a pass and finished a layup on the other end for Auburn. Play then stopped as trainers rushed out to tend to Handlogten, and everyone inside Bridgestone Arena went silent.

Golden thanked the medical staff from Florida, Auburn and the SEC for the quick response treating Handlogten. Florida officials were expecting Handlogten to have surgery later Sunday at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

Handlogten’s parents were brought to the court from their seats in the stands. His mother, Danielle, wearing his No. 3 jersey, kneeled near his head as her son was treated on the court with his father, Ben, close as well.

Handlogten’s leg was placed inside an air cast before he was placed on a backboard, then lifted onto a stretcher. Teammates came over to him as Handlogten was taken off the court. Fellow sophomore Riley Kugel could be seen crying on the Florida bench.

Handlogten averaged 5.5 points and was fifth in the SEC with 7.1 rebounds per game during the regular season. He came into Sunday’s game ranked fourth nationally in offensive rebounding percentage.

“Losing him really kind of affected us,” Florida forward Tyrese Samuel said. “We’re going to go out there next week and keep on playing for him.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.