West Virginia point guard Darryl Bryant hopes to play in Final Four despite broken foot

WVU’s injured Bryant hopes to play in Final Four

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The Truck might not be parked, after all.

West Virginia’s medical staff is looking at options that could allow point guard Darryl “Truck” Bryant to play in the Mountaineers’ first Final Four since 1959.

Bryant broke his right foot during practice Tuesday and was expected to miss the rest of the NCAA tournament. He didn’t play against Washington in the East Regional semifinals or against Kentucky in the final on Saturday, but might be able to return next weekend in the national semifinals.

Bryant hasn’t been cleared to play, but West Virginia trainer Randy Meador told The Sporting News that Bryant could wear a specially designed shoe that would shift weight away from his fractured fifth metatarsal.

In a television interview Saturday on CBS, Mountaineers coach Bob Huggins said Bryant was in Durham, N.C., getting fitted for the special orthotics that are supposed to take pressure off his injured foot.

“We don’t know yet whether it’s going to work or not,” Huggins said.

West Virginia star Da’Sean Butler said Bryant is a key member of the team.

“He does a lot more other than just bring the ball up the court,” Butler said. “He’s one of the team’s leaders.”

Starting in place of Bryant, Joe Mazzulla scored a career-high 17 points Saturday night in West Virginia’s 73-66 victory over Kentucky.