Vanderbilt basketball's Mark Byington refutes injury report on Frankie Collins

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A report about the seriousness of Vanderbilt basketball guard Frankie Collins' injury was inaccurate, according to coach Mark Byington.

Collins missed the past two games with what Byington called a "minor thing" and added that Collins could return in a few weeks.

Citing an anonymous source, On3 Sports reported on Dec. 27 that Collins suffered a torn meniscus and would be out indefinitely.

"I didn't go to med school, I dropped out, I didn't make it all the way through," Byington said after No. 11 Vanderbilt's 96-53 win over New Haven at Memorial Gym on Dec. 29. "But I'm listening to what the doctors and the trainers are telling me, and what was put on social media was not accurate."

Byington did not elaborate on the type of injury Collins is dealing with, but said the guard's condition would be evaluated soon.

"It was a minor thing. I don't have to be a doctor to figure that out," Byington said. "And he's an extreme athlete, so he'll recover quick. Getting our full team back will be good."

Vanderbilt (13-0) opens SEC play Jan. 3 at South Carolina (1 p.m. CT, ESPNU).

The Commodores were also without guard Duke Miles, who was ill, against New Haven (5-8).

Collins, a reserve, averages 7.8 points, 4.2 rebounds and 4.6 assists a game; Miles, a starter, averages a team-high 17.1 points, 2.8 rebounds and 4.8 assists.

Byington said the game against New Haven provided an opportunity to test some of the Commodores' less-experienced players.

"We had a chance to show off our depth tonight," he said. "We found out an hour before the game that Duke wasn't going to play. An illness hit him quick. We had shootaround and we had to quickly adjust. The other guys were ready for the opportunity with us being down a couple of guards without him and Frankie."

Byington praised Tyler Tanner and Washington transfer Tyler Harris for stepping up. Harris had 16 points, eight rebounds, two assists, there steals and three blocks. Tanner scored a game-high 23 points and also had seven assists, five rebounds and three steals.

Reach Mike Organ at 615-259-8021 or on X @MikeOrganWriter.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Vanderbilt basketball's Mark Byington disputes Frankie Collins injury report

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