West Virginia’s Da’Sean Butler helped off court after injuring left knee in Final Four

West Virginia’s Butler out with left knee injury

INDIANAPOLIS — West Virginia forward Da’Sean Butler had to be helped off the court after injuring his left knee in a hard collision.

Butler, the Mountaineers’ leading scorer, took a hard hit from Duke’s Brian Zoubek under the basket with 8:59 left in the second half Saturday night. The senior forward writhed in pain as a trainer tried straighten his leg, while teammate John Flowers stood over him clapping in encouragement.

West Virginia coach Bob Huggins came out onto the floor and barked at an official, arguing there should have been a foul. He then knelt to the floor, cradling Butler’s head and stroking his face as he tried to calm him down.

Butler was unable to put any weight on his left leg and was taken to the locker room in a golf cart.