Michal Cekovsky won’t play in Maryland basketball’s season opener, per report

Maryland will open its season against American Friday night without backup center Michal Cekovsky, according FanRag Sports Network’s Jon Rothstein.

The Slovakian center sprained his foot in practice earlier this month after dealing with hamstring issues since August.

Cekovsky’s absence gives the team even less depth in what was already a slim frontcourt. With power forward Ivan Bender out with a fractured wrist, center Damonte Dodd, grad transfer L.G. Gill and freshman Justin Jackson will have even more important roles.

The injury will probably force Maryland coach Mark Turgeon to go small when Dodd isn’t on the floor, since the team doesn’t have another center.

“The lineups might be a little different. We might have to go small at times,” Gill told reporters on Thursday. “For me, I might have to play some five some more, but nothing else really changes.”

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