Houston Cougars guard Jamal Shead (1) reacts after an injury during the first half in the semifinals of the South Regional of the 2024 NCAA Tournament against the Duke Blue Devils at American Airlines Center. Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

Watch: Houston's Jamal Shead leaves Sweet 16 against Duke with lower-leg injury

By Mike Santa Barbara | Last updated 3/29/24

Houston All-American guard Jamal Shead left Friday's Sweet 16 contest against No. 4 Duke with an injury, signaling a potentially catastrophic loss for the No. 1 seed.

Near the end of the first half, Shead appeared to roll his right ankle while planting for a shot on a fast break.

This did not look good for Jamal Shead. Ugh. He had to be carried to the locker room heavily favoring the right ankle. pic.twitter.com/GRQiEsXVor
— Kyle Boone (@kyletheboone) March 30, 2024

Shead stayed down, holding his ankle, while play continued on the other side of the floor. Shortly after play stopped, he needed to be helped off the floor, putting little to no weight on the ankle.

Adding further anxiety to the situation, shots from CBS showed Shead on a knee scooter.

Jamal Shead appears to be using a scooter after going into the locker room pic.twitter.com/a24FjoYRwh
— CBS Sports College Basketball (@CBSSportsCBB) March 30, 2024

Officially, Shead is questionable to return.

Without him, the tide of Friday's contest changed swiftly. Houston erupted with an 8-0 fun to start the game, but after losing their star, they watched as Duke went on a 13-6 stretch to close out the half. The Blue Devils hold a 23-22 lead at the break.

Houston leans on Shead to be the team's floor general, but without him, its hopes of an Elite Eight trip are in serious jeopardy. This season, he ranks second on the Cougars in points, averaging 13.2 per game, while recording a team-high 6.4 assists.

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