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Tracy Abrams is expected to miss his second consecutive season after tearing the achilles tendon in his left foot during practice Monday, Illinois announced Tuesday.
Abrams missed the 2014-15 season after tearing his ACL.
Here is the press release llinois issued:
"First of all, my heart goes out to Tracy," head coach John Groce said. "He went through so much the last 10 months fighting back from a torn ACL to return to the court this summer in preparation for the upcoming season. So this is obviously a very difficult time for him right now. But I've said it before that Tracy has the heart of a champion, and I know that he will handle this latest setback with the same courage and resolve in making a full recovery."
Abrams averaged 10.7 points for the Illini in 2013-14. He was expected to be the starting point guard for Groce's team this upcoming season.
Here is some reaction from Twitter:
Abrams would be able to apply for a medical redshirt and possibly get a sixth year. Will ask Groce about that today.— Jeremy Werner (@WernerESPNCU) July 28, 2015
Sad news! Stay strong I know how it sounds but you can do it, tough times don't last forever #respect
— Dee Brown (@deebrown11) July 28, 2015
Sept: Tracy ACL. Nov: Karras ACL. Dec: OConnor, White ACLs. March: Dudek ACL. April: Dre Brown ACL. June: P Nelson ACL. July: Tracy achilles
— Robert (@ALionEye) July 28, 2015
My heart goes out to @_TA13 who torn his Achilles in practice yesterday. Hang in there. #goillini
— Stephen Bardo (@stephenbardo) July 28, 2015
Tracy doesnt deserve this. Thats the toughest dude I know. His perseverance thru all of this has been absolutely inspiring. One of a kind.
— Mike LaTulip (@MLaTulip_5) July 28, 2015
And lastly:
Player injuries are going to cut Groce's tenure short before he gets even one season to perform, and that's tragic.
— A.G. Fish (@fishangelous) July 28, 2015