Nebraska's Rienk Mast to miss time after undergoing minor knee surgery
At 9-2, Nebraska is looking to close out December with its best start since 2018-19. It will have to do so without one of its most important players.
Head coach Fred Hoiberg confirmed that junior forward Rienk Mast underwent minor clean-up surgery on his left knee on Monday. Mast’s recovery timeframe is to be determined, but Hoiberg expects him to rejoin the lineup by early January.
At a minimum, the 6-foot-10, 248-pounder will miss tonight’s game vs. North Dakota and Friday night’s non-conference finale vs. South Carolina State. His availability beyond that will be day-to-day.
Josiah Allick, who just returned from an ankle injury last week, should replace Mast in the starting lineup until his return.
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The former Bradley transfer has been a critical piece to NU’s frontcourt. He’s averaging 13.0 points and leads the team with 9.9 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game. He has four double-doubles this season, including 19 points and 12 boards at Kansas State on Sunday.
Mast currently ranks second in the Big Ten in rebounding and 13th in assists. Against Florida A&M on Nov. 9, he became the first Husker in the Big Ten era (2011-12 to present) to post at least 20 points and 15 rebounds since Aleks Maric in 2008.
As of Monday, Mast was one of only two power conference forwards averaging at least 10 points, nine rebounds, and three assists per game this season, joining only Duke’s Kyle Filipowski.
