Wildcats lose Swopshire for the rest of the season

EVANSTON, Ill. - Northwestern graduate student Jared Swopshire (St. Louis, Mo./IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.)) underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee on Tuesday and will miss the remainder of the 2012-13 season.

Swopshire suffered an injury to the knee during the second half of last Saturday's game at Iowa.

"We all feel badly for Jared that he won't be able to play out the remainder of his final collegiate season," Northwestern head men's basketball coach Bill Carmody said. "He has been a terrific addition to the program, both on and off the court. He was enjoying a very productive year and was playing his most consistent basketball of the season when the injury occurred. There is every indication that he'll experience a full recovery."

Swopshire started all 24 of the Wildcats' games to date this season, averaging 9.7 points and 6.7 rebounds per game. His average of 7.5 rebounds per contest in Big Ten play currently ranks fifth in the league. The overall norm of 6.7 rebounds per game marks the highest average by a Northwestern player since Eschmeyer averaged 10.1 per contest during the 1998-99 season.

Swopshire scored a career-high 22 points against Mississippi Valley State on Nov. 15 while grabbing a career-best 16 boards at Nebraska Jan. 26. The 16 rebounds were the most by a Northwestern player since Evan Eschmeyer had 21 against Penn State on Jan. 20, 1999.

Swopshire played his first three seasons and spent four years at Louisville where he appeared in 109 contests and helped the team reach the Final Four a year ago. He is currently pursing his graduate degree in sports administration from Northwestern.

NU (13-11, 4-7 Big Ten) returns to action at 6 p.m. Thursday when it takes on No. 13/14 Ohio State in Columbus, Ohio.