BYU loses its top rebounder

Monday, Feb. 10, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.

School spokesman Ralph Zobell confirmed Sunday night that Justin Weidauer, a 6-foot-7 junior forward, had undergone surgery earlier in the day to repair a dislocated bone in his left foot.

Weidauer is expected to be on crutches for a couple months, but should be back for his senior season.

"This is obviously a devastating blow to our team. Justin was the heart and soul of our team," said interim coach Tony Ingle. "It will be very difficult for us to overcome."

The Taylorsville product was hurt in the first half of BYU's 72-60 loss to Wyoming on Saturday in Provo. He returned in the second half, finishing with 16 points and nine rebounds.

Weidauer was averaging 8.7 points per game and 8.3 rebounds.

He was taken to Utah Valley Regional Medical Center after the game, and doctors decided to operate Sunday, inserting two surgical screws.

The Cougars, under Ingle since longtime coach Roger Reid was fired in December, are 1-19 overall and have lost all 10 of their Western Athletic Conference games this season.

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