This is not the news TCU wanted to hear on starting guard Jaylen Fisher

TCU could be without Jaylen Fisher the rest of the season.

The junior point guard is at least out for the “foreseeable future,” according to coach Jamie Dixon.

He still has swelling in his right knee, which hasn’t gone down.

“It’s just where we’re at,” Dixon said. “I can’t give you more than that. He’s obviously devastated, frustrated, but that’s the situation. It has not gone ... it’s a meniscus surgery that just hasn’t gone as most go to be honest with you.”

Fisher underwent season-ending surgery on a torn meniscus in January 2018, and underwent a couple “clean up” surgeries before the season. Dixon said time is the only remedy at this point.

“It’s just a prolonged recovery because of the two additional surgeries from the initial surgery,” Dixon said. “It’s all guesswork really. Everybody wants an answer and things will be written, said that won’t be accurate. Things will turn out to be different and that’s just how it is in a situation like this.

“You play with the situation you have and we handle it as a program. That’s what we’ve done.”

If he doesn’t play again this season, Fisher would be eligible for a medical redshirt.

Fisher hasn’t played since Big 12 play began. In nine games this season he’s averaging 12.1 points per game in 24.1 minutes per game.

He had surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee a year ago.

In Fisher’s absence, TCU has started freshman RJ Nembhard. Freshman Kendric Davis has also gotten more minutes.

But Fisher’s extended absence is a blow to the Frogs. He’s been a difference-maker when healthy, going through a five-game stretch in non-conference where he made at least four 3-pointers.

Fisher hasn’t been the only injury setback for TCU. Big men Angus McWilliam and Yuat Alok, who are each in the NCAA transfer portal, sustained season-ending injuries. McWilliam has dealt with concussion symptoms, while Alok broke his hand.

Dixon mentioned freshman Kaden Archie, another player who is in the NCAA transfer portal, as someone who battled early-season injuries.

Nembhard sat out Sunday’s practice with the flu. It’s been that kind of season so far for the Frogs.

“Everybody deals with it,” Dixon said. “We’ve been dealing with it the entire time. I’m not one to talk about it much, you don’t want it to be as an excuse. It’s part of the game.”

Said junior guard Desmond Bane: “Ever since I’ve been here my freshman year, there’s been things whether it’s injuries, people getting sick. You never really know. It’s college basketball, it’s life. We just went with the motto next man up and we’ve been able to step into that role and fill the shoes as best as possible.”

On a positive injury front, Frogs forward Lat Mayen is 100 percent from a knee injury. Mayen played two minutes in the Oklahoma game, and could see more time going forward.

TCU is in the midst of a two-game losing streak (at No. 7 Kansas and at No. 23 Oklahoma). The Frogs host West Virginia on Tuesday at 6 p.m.

TCU (12-3, 1-2 Big 12) fell out of the Associated Press’ Top 25 poll on Monday, receiving 12 votes. TCU returned to the No. 25 spot last week after going unranked for six weeks.

This story was originally published January 14, 2019 at 11:24 AM.