Former Duke basketball guard Jeremy Roach, now a first-year starter for the Baylor Bears, faced a significant setback in Wednesday night's game. He left the floor early in the second half due to concussion protocol and remained sidelined, leaving the team's status in question.

Unraveling the Consequences of Jeremy Roach's Injury

Roach's Early Exit and Concussion Protocol

Jeremy Roach, a key player for the Baylor Bears, had a disappointing moment during the 76 - 72 road loss to the No. 25 - ranked UConn Huskies. In the second half, he had to leave the game prematurely and was sidelined as per the concussion protocol. This unexpected event not only affected his performance on the court but also raised concerns about his availability for future games.As a 23 - year - old full - time starter for the Bears, Roach had shown great potential before the injury. In his 23 minutes of action against the Huskies, he finished with nine points, one rebound, and one turnover. However, his absence will be felt by the team as they prepare to host Abilene Christian at 8 p.m. ET Monday.

Roach's Scoring and Assisting Stats

Throughout his eight games as a full - time starter for the Bears, Roach has been averaging 12.8 points. This is a slight dip from his scoring averages of 13.6 and 14.0 as a junior and senior under Duke basketball head coach Jon Scheyer. But what's impressive is that he has dished out a career - high 4.1 assists per game and is enjoying a career - best 2.1 assist - to - turnover ratio. These stats show his evolving role and contribution to the team.Roach, a 2023 - 24 All - ACC Third Team selection for the Blue Devils, is now shooting 44.2 percent from the field, 37.8 percent beyond the arc, and 70.6 percent at the charity stripe. His shooting skills and ability to distribute the ball make him a valuable asset to the team.

Upcoming Games and Team Schedule

After hosting Abilene Christian, the Baylor Bears will face Norfolk State at home two nights later. However, they won't play again until welcoming Arlington Baptist to Foster Pavilion on Dec. 27. This schedule presents both challenges and opportunities for the team as they try to recover from Roach's injury and continue their season.The team will need to rely on other players to step up and fill the void left by Roach. It will be interesting to see how they perform in the upcoming games and how they manage to maintain their momentum without their star player.Stay tuned to Duke Blue Devils On SI for more Duke basketball news and updates on Jeremy Roach's recovery.