North Carolina State University Athletics
Gugliotta Out For The Season
3/11/2000 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
PHOENIX (AP) - (March 11) Former NC State star and Phoenix Suns' forward Tom Gugliotta will miss the rest of the season after tearing two ligaments in his left knee during a game March 10 against Utah.
Dr. Richard Emerson, the team's orthopedic surgeon, drained fluid from Gugliotta's knee Saturday and said an MRI exam showed ruptures of the anterior cruciate ligament and medial collateral ligament. Gugliotta will have surgery in about a week.
"We've had experience with ACL injuries in this organization,'' said Emerson, noting knee injuries to former Suns forward Danny Manning. "We like to shoot for the seven- to eight-month range for recovery.''
Gugliotta was injured with 3:09 remaining in the 99-96 loss to Utah. Suns guard Randy Livingston drove to the basket and fell into Gugliotta's left leg. Gugliotta fell to the floor in pain, gripping his knee, and needed help to get to the locker room.
The injury also will keep Gugliotta from playing for the U.S. team in the Olympics this fall in Australia.
Gugliotta was averaging 13.7 points and 7.9 rebounds this season. He missed seven games after suffering a life-threatening seizure on the team bus Dec. 17 in Portland because of a reaction to a food supplement.
