Feb. 13, 2004
Notre Dame, Ind. – Notre Dame sophomore forward Torin Francis (Boston, Mass.) will be sidelined indefinitely due to a disc injury in his lower back. The Irish’s third-leading scorer (14.8 ppg.) and leading rebounder (8.8 rpg.) averaged just eight minutes in recent outings against Pittsburgh (Feb. 7) and Connecticut (Feb.9) because of back spasms.
Prior to the injury, Francis had played and started all 54 games during his career at Notre Dame. He owns career averages of 12.2 points and 8.5 rebounds. He leads the team with seven double-doubles in 2003-04 and has registered 17 during his career. Francis has scored in double figures in all but four games this season, posting season-highs of 24 points and 19 rebounds versus Northern Illinois. He has netted 20-plus points on five occasions and grabbed 10-plus rebounds eight times. Francis leads the team in field-goal percentage (.541) and ranks second in blocked shots (35). He also ranks among the BIG EAST leaders in five categories – rebounding (5th, 8.8), defensive rebounds (tied for 4th, 5.70), offensive rebounds (7th, 3.05), blocked shots (9th, 1.75) and scoring (19th, 14.2).
Francis was the BIG EAST Co-Player of the Week on December 1 after averaging 18.5 points and 12.5 rebounds against Northern Illinois and St. Mary’s. As a freshman, he earned BIG EAST all-rookie team accolades when he averaged 11.1 points and a team-leading 8.4 rebounds. In leading the Irish to the Sweet 16 at the ’03 NCAA Tournament, he netted 17.7 points and grabbed 12.7 rebounds.
Notre Dame (11-9, 5-5) hosts Seton Hall on Saturday, February 14 and then travels to Syracuse to play the Orangemen at the Carrier Dome on Monday, February 16. Francis is not expected to accompany the Irish to Syracuse for the game.