The 2016 men’s basketball season had given fans plenty of reasons to be optimistic. The sudden influx of new talent through recruiting and the return of star sophomore guard Quinndary Weatherspoon gave fans a lot of hope that this season would be a successful one. As it turns out, Weatherspoon won’t be able to play anymore this season.

BREAKING: Mississippi State's Quinndary Weatherspoon will miss the rest of the 2016-17 season with a wrist injury, per a source. — Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) November 22, 2016

Mississippi State has relied on Weatherspoon heavily through the first four games of the season, and it’s a huge blow for such a young team to lose its best player. Through the first four games of the season, Weatherspoon averaged 18.8 point, 5 rebounds, and 2 steals per game.

MSU will need the other four starters to step up if this season isn’t going to end in disappointment. I.J. Ready and Aric Holman will need to improve their production immediately to help carry the team. Weatherspoon’s injury makes Xavian Stapleton’s return from injury that much more important.

The Bulldogs should be able to find ways to win this season, but it’ll be much more difficult than it was originally anticipated because of Q’s injury. Howland will rely much more on the freshmen than what we had thought, and hopefully Stapleton can heal up quickly.