Injured Watson Plans to Miss Iona Game

Point guard Earl Watson, frustrated that a sore lower back has reduced his effectiveness, said he has already asked to sit out at least the Iona game, hoping several days of rest will allow him to heal.

“I don’t want to play Saturday if I feel like this,” the Bruin captain said. “I feel like all I’m doing is hurting my teammates. I’d be better off not playing. I don’t want to keep coming back and then getting hurt again. I want to wait until I’m 100%.”

Asked if he could be at full strength by Saturday, Watson said: “I honestly don’t think so. And if I’m not 100%, I’m not going to play.”

Watson bruised his tailbone last Thursday. After initial uncertainty about his status for the season opener, he started and played 38 of the 40 minutes Tuesday against Fairfield. But he also missed nine of 12 shots and left with 1:34 remaining after running hard into a pick and aggravating the injury.

“I’m not the same person,” he said. “I was three for 12. It was weird. It was like I was handicapped.”