HOUSTON -- Freshman Joseph Tugler, one of top-ranked Houston's best defenders, broke a bone in his right foot and will miss the rest of the season, coach Kelvin Sampson said Monday.
Tugler will have surgery Thursday, Sampson said.
"That's a big hit. Everyone will try to figure out what it means for us," Sampson said. "But that's a human being with a broken foot, who's invested his entire life into this season."
It's the third season-ending injury for the Cougars, who got 52 of 62 first-place votes in the AP Top 25 released Monday. Sophomore wing Terrance Arceneaux tore an Achilles tendon in a game against Texas A&M in December, and reserve guard Ramon Walker Jr. tore a meniscus in practice about a week ago.
Tugler, a 6-foot-7 forward, was averaging 3.8 points and 4.1 rebounds in 28 games (one start) this season in 16 minutes per game.
Houston (26-3, 13-3 Big 12) has two games left in the regular season, its first in the Big 12 Conference.