ISU center Mike Samuels out indefinitely

TERRE HAUTE, Ind.(WTHI) - Sycamores center suffered broken right foot during Indiana State University's (ISU) exhibition trip to the Bahamas.

The Indiana State men's basketball team is still a month away from their first practice for the 2012-2013 season and already the team has suffered a major injury.

Sycamores head coach Greg Lansing confirmed to Sports 10 that junior center Mike Samuels has a broken right foot. 

"Disappointing for him and our team,” said Lansing.
 
Samuels is set to have surgery this Monday. 

"The doctors will be putting a pin in a size 18 foot, for a guy that's 285 pounds," said Lansing. "Its a delicate operation." 

Coach Lansing said Big Mike, as he is nicknamed, is out indefinitely.  The earliest the ISU center is expected back is after Christmas.
 
Coach Lansing did admit Samuels’ injury could change the way the Sycamores play. 

"Mike with his size could guard biggest guys were were going to play and do that for however long he could handle it," said Lansing.  "Now, without him, we have Jake Kitchell, Justin Gant, RJ Mahurin, TJ Bell and Rhett Smith down there. More minutes that Mike would have had for those other guys, some one will have to step up. May have to play different way, depending on how we are guarding the post. We will figure it out."
 
Samuels suffered the injury in the Sycamores second exhibition game during their trip to the Bahamas back in August. It was originally thought to be just a ankle injury, but the pain never went away for the ISU center.
 
The 6-foot-11, 285-pound, junior college transfer from Wabash Valley College was expected to help provide ISU with some low post presence.

"We were thinking we were going to be a bigger team and be more physical with Him as a anchor down low," said Lansing. "He's worked awful hard since he has been here in June. He got his body in tremendous shape. Hard to coach that size, he was going to be a big asset for us this year."