OXFORD, Miss. (AP) -Mississippi junior forward Eniel Polynice had knee surgery Tuesday and will miss the rest of the season.
The Rebels lost guard Trevor Gaskins to a knee injury 11 days ago. That leaves five players on the roster to play the three perimeter positions and all but one are underclassmen.
``Any time a team loses its most experienced player, there will obviously be adjustments that have to be made,'' Mississippi coach Andy Kennedy said. ``I feel bad for E.P. because I know how hard he worked in preparing for his junior year.''
Polynice injured his left knee last season and had arthroscopic surgery after Mississippi lost in the semifinals of the NIT. He made it through the summer with no ill effects, but the knee started to bother him as the Rebels prepared to open the season against Arkansas State last Friday.
Dr. William Geissler of the University of Mississippi Medical Center said Polynice will have 4-to-6 months of rehabilitation after surgery to remove lose cartilage fragments and repair a torn lateral meniscus.
The 6-foot-6 Polynice was among the Southeastern Conference's most difficult matchups last season and helped the Rebels to a 13-0 start that pushed them into the national rankings. He averaged 10.7 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.1 assists in 34 games, starting 31. He will apply to the NCAA for a medical hardship redshirt.
Gaskins, a sophomore, tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during practice and had season-ending surgery. He started eight games last season and played in all 35, averaging 5.9 points.
Polynice was replaced in the starting lineup Tuesday night against South Alabama by sophomore Zach Graham.
