Seton Hall sophomore point guard Aaron Cosby is questionable for the team’s season opener Friday against UMKC at Walsh Gym.
“We won’t know that until Friday morning. If the doctor gives him the OK that he looks good, then he’ll be playing,” head coach Kevin Willard said Wednesday on a conference call to promote the Hall of Fame Tip-off. “And we’re hoping he’s playing because we need him.”
Cosby suffered a sprained PCL late last month and was expected to miss 3-4 weeks.
“Aaron Cosby is doing great,” Willard said. “He’s been practicing since Monday. For the last two days he looks good. His probably only negative right now is his conditioning, but his knee is strong, it looks healthy.
“Whether he is ready to play this weekend or not that’s going to be on the doctor’s call. It is a long season. I’m not so much worried about his knee, I’m more worried about him hurting something else on his body for being not in great shape.”
If Cosby can’t go, freshman Tom Maayan and sophomore Freddie Wilson will run the point.
“Tommy is one of those point guards I love, he’s a pass-first guard that’s very good at getting in the lane and getting everyone shots,” Willard said. “And Freddie Wilson has really improved his conditioning and his strength. He gives us a different dynamic than Tommy. He’s a guy that can score the basketball, really shoots it well. Both of them have really played well, and complemented well at times. So although we’ve missed Aaron Cosby, both of those guys have stepped up their games and it’s been one of our stronger positions.”
After Friday’s opener, the Pirates host Norfolk State Monday in the Hall of Fame Tip-Off at the Prudential Center before facing Washington Saturday at the Mohegan Sun. They will then face either Rhode Island or Ohio State in that event Sunday.