ST. LOUIS – Saint Louis coach Rick Majerus missed the first game of what the school expects to be a three-game absence with an infected leg.
There was no public announcement of Majerus' ailment prior to the Atlantic 10 opener against Dayton on Wednesday night. Saint Louis missed its first 10 shots with associate head coach Porter Moser in charge, and trailed 33-22 at the half.
"I talked to him today and he's in good spirits," athletic director Chris May said. "We're looking forward to him getting back next week."
The 62-year-old Majerus missed most of the second half of Saint Louis' loss to Bowling Green on Saturday after the accident. He collided with two players who had been diving for a loose ball, gashing his left leg, and left the bench when the wound began to bleed profusely.
The rest of the game, Majerus was in the trainers' room getting treatment.
Majerus is on blood thinner medication. He also missed a game in the Cancun Governor's Cup due to illness and will not make trips to Temple on Sunday and Duquesne on Jan. 12, but is expected to make a complete recovery and return Jan. 15 for a home game against St. Joseph's.
The school said in a statement that Majerus' injury requires that the leg be immobilized. Hours after the accident, the coach said he must keep the leg elevated.
On Saturday, Majerus was fairly confident he'd be back for Monday's practice.
"I don't think he had a setback," May said. "I think you were talking to a confident coach."
Moser has seven years of Division I head coaching experience, with his latest stint from 2003-07 at Illinois State.
Majerus has never had a losing season but this season has been trying in many ways. The top two returning players from last season, center Willie Reed and point guard Kwamaine Mitchell, were suspended for a semester just prior to the start of fall practices.
Saint Louis was 5-8 and had lost three in a row, with four freshmen getting significant playing time.
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