Houston’s Marcus Sasser to start against Auburn with no minutes restriction: report

The Houston Cougars will have their star player for Saturday second round game against the Auburn Tigers.

Marcus Sasser, Houston top scorerwill kick off on Saturday with no minute restrictions, according to a Stadium report.

Sasser suffered a groin injury in the AAC tournament and sat out the Cougars’ loss to the Memphis Tigers.

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Thursday, Sasser played but seemed aggravate the injury in the first half against No. 16 seed Northern Kentucky, ending the game with just 14 minutes left.

Sasser, who is averaging 16.7 points, said Friday he will play Saturday against the Razorbacks.

“I’m playing 100%. It’s not a playing time decision,” Sasser told Fox26 on Friday. “I will train today, warm up tomorrow and be ready.

Marcus Sasser (0) of the Houston Cougars looks for a shot in the first half of the first round of the 2023 NCAA Tournament at Legacy Arena at the BJCC on March 16, 2023 in Birmingham, Ala. (Andy Hancock/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)

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“You can hurt him again,” he added. “You’re making it even worse, but it’s not in my head. I’m just saying my prayers. And I just have to try to get out there and play at full strength.”

Cougars Head Coach Kelvin Sampson told reporters On Friday, he would leave the decision to play to Sasser and the Houston coaching staff.

Houston goaltender Marcus Sasser kicks the ball during the first half of an NCAA Tournament first round game against Northern Kentucky in Birmingham, Alabama on Thursday, March 16, 2023. (AP Photo/Dill Butch)

“I’m dealing with his injury like I’ve dealt with all of a child’s injuries that we’ve had. … I’m not making any decisions,” Sampson said, according to ESPN. “People said, ‘Why did you play it? I did not do it. I play him if he is healthy. The coach thinks he can go, and the kid thinks he can go. I trust Marcus. … If Marcus is injured, he’ll say, ‘Coach, I can’ “I’m not going to play with him. If he’s out there and he can play, that means he can play. He’ll play so as many minutes as possible tomorrow night. I don’t know how many minutes that will be, but it will be up to Marcus.

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“He’s our best player, I know that. But I don’t treat him any different than anyone else if he’s injured. I treat them all the same.”

The No. 1-seeded Cougars and No. 9-seeded Auburn Tigers headlined at 7:10 p.m. ET in Birmingham, Alabama.