Hines’ Toe Injury Is Only a Sprain

Rico Hines’ worries about having suffered a broken big toe Saturday gave way to the more-encouraging news Monday--X-rays of the right foot confirmed the initial diagnosis of a sprain.

It’s just not perfect news. The Bruins’ starting shooting guard did not practice Monday and is not expected to workout today or Wednesday, putting his availability for Thursday’s game at Oregon State in question.

Coach Steve Lavin has the option of going back to Ray Young, whose struggles cost him the starting job 10 days ago. But Young is also coming off his best showing in weeks, 27 minutes against Arizona State when Hines lasted only four minutes because of the injury.

Young made four of eight shots, including two of four three-pointers. Just as important in the victory was his defensive work on Sun Devil Eddie House, helping to shut down the conference’s leading scorer after a hot start.