Mississippi State's Nick Weatherspoon holds his hip after going up for a layup and landing hard in the court during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Tennessee in the quarterfinals of the Southeastern Conference tournament, Friday, March 9, 2018, in St. Louis. Weatherspoon was taken off the court on a stretcher. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)ST. LOUIS, Mo. - When Tennessee starting forward and emotional engine Admiral Schofield brought the Volunteers' starting five together in a huddle before Friday night's 62-59 Southeastern Conference tournament quarterfinal win over Mississippi State, he prayed with his teammates just as he does before every game.
Early in the second half, when he brought the starting five together for another prayer, it was in the wake of a moment that brought a hush over the frenzied atmosphere of postseason basketball at Scottrade Center.
After Tennessee's Kyle Alexander defended a Nick Weatherspoon layup attempt, Weatherspoon lay under the basket clutching his side as play continued with no whistle from the officiating crew. As several players fought for a loose ball, Alexander's foot appeared to come down on Weatherspoon's neck, leaving the 6-foot-2 freshman motionless under the basket as play finally stopped.
As Mississippi State's medical staff came to Weatherspoon's side, the teams returned to their sidelines. The five Tennessee players who were in the game knelt with eyes closed as Schofield prayed again.
"In that one moment, AD (Schofield) brought us all together," Alexander said. "He said, 'We've got to pray for him real quick.' So we all prayed for him, for his safety, to be all right, and a fast recovery."
According to a post on Mississippi State's official basketball Twitter account, Weatherspoon was taken to a local hospital with an apparent neck injury.
Alexander stood looking toward the scene with a hand over his mouth as arena officials brought a stretcher onto the floor. Tennessee's players ran to join Mississippi State's players around Weatherspoon as he was carted toward the arena's tunnel.
"I just hope Nick is OK," Schofield said. "You hate to see that in sports. It's part of the game, but it really hurts for me to see the light being taken out of someone that quick."
Legend of the game
Howard Wood, Tennessee's SEC legend of the game for 2018, was honored during a midcourt ceremony at halftime. Wood was a standout forward for the Vols from 1977 to 1981 and part of the program's first Sweet 16 appearance in 1981. He was a second-round draft pick by the Utah Jazz in 1981.
Goodman's future
A Friday afternoon tweet from ESPN college basketball reporter Jeff Goodman suggested Tennessee assistant coach Rob Lanier is a candidate to become head coach at Missouri State. Lanier, 49, came to Tennessee from Texas, where he served two stints on the Longhorns' staff under Rick Barnes, who is in his third season as the Vols' head coach. Lanier was the head coach at Siena from 2001 to 2005.