Houston’s Marcus Sasser to start against Auburn without minutes restriction: report

The Houston Cougars volition person their prima subordinate for Saturday’s second-round game against the Auburn Tigers. 

Marcus Sasser, Houston’s starring scorer, volition commencement connected Saturday without a minutes restriction, according to a study by Stadium. 

Houston Cougars defender Marcus Sasser (0) celebrates hitting a cardinal 3-pointer during a crippled against the Tulane Green Wave astatine the Fertitta Center Feb 22, 2023, successful Houston.  (Ken Murray/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Sasser injured his groin successful the AAC tourney and did not play successful the Cougars' title crippled nonaccomplishment to the Memphis Tigers. 

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On Thursday, Sasser played but appeared to aggravate the injury successful the archetypal fractional against No. 16 effect Northern Kentucky, finishing the crippled with conscionable 14 minutes.

Sasser, who averages 16.7 points, said Friday he’ll beryllium playing travel tipoff Saturday against the Razorbacks.  

"I’m playing 100%. It’s not a game-time decision," Sasser told Fox26 Friday. "I’m going to spell done signifier today, spell done warmups time and conscionable beryllium ready. 

Marcus Sasser (0) of the Houston Cougars looks to sprout successful the archetypal fractional during the archetypal circular of the 2023 NCAA Tournament astatine Legacy Arena astatine the BJCC March 16, 2023, successful Birmingham, Ala.  (Andy Hancock/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)

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"You tin reinjure it," helium added. "You reaggravate it, but that’s not successful my head. I’m conscionable saying my prayers. And conscionable got to effort to spell retired determination and play to my afloat strength."

Cougars caput manager Kelvin Sampson told reporters Friday he’d permission the determination to play to Sasser and the Houston grooming staff. 

Houston defender Marcus Sasser brings the shot up during the archetypal fractional of a first-round NCAA Tournament crippled against Northern Kentucky successful Birmingham, Ala., Thursday, March 16, 2023.  (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

"I woody with his wounded similar I've dealt with each wounded of a kid that we've had. … I don't marque immoderate decisions," Sampson said, according to ESPN. "People said, 'Why did you play him?' I didn't. I play him if he's healthy. The trainer thinks helium tin go, and the kid thinks helium tin go. I spot Marcus. ... If Marcus is hurt, he'll say, 'Coach, I can't go,' and past I won't play him. If he's retired determination and helium tin play, past that means helium tin play. So he'll play arsenic galore minutes arsenic helium tin time night. I don't cognize however galore minutes that'll be, but that'll beryllium up to Marcus.

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"He's our champion player, I cognize that. But I don't dainty him immoderate antithetic than I dainty anybody other if they're injured. I dainty them each the same."

The No. 1 effect Cougars and the No. 9 effect Auburn Tigers extremity disconnected astatine 7:10 p.m. ET successful Birmingham, Alabama.