Kris Jenkins injury: Jenkins sprains right knee, listed as day-to-day

During the Villanova Wildcats' matchup with the Delaware Blue Hens, forward Kris Jenkins left the game with a knee injury. On Wednesday, the Villanova basketball program confirmed that after undergoing an MRI, Kris Jenkins sprained his right knee and will be listed as day-to-day.

Here's the release, courtesy of Villanova.com:

VILLANOVA, Pa. - An MRI on Wednesday confirmed the preliminary diagnosis that junior forward Kris Jenkins (Upper Marlboro, Md.) suffered a sprained right knee during the first half of Tuesday night's 78-48 Villanova victory over Delaware at the Pavilion.

Jenkins is officially listed as day-to-day.

"We're relieved and thrilled for Kris that this is not as serious as we feared it might be last night," stated Villanova head coach Jay Wright. "Kris has worked extremely hard and is an important part of our frontcourt. Our Team Physician, Dr. Mike Duncan, and Head Athletic Trainer, Jeff Pierce, will continue to evaluate Kris' progress as we look forward to a busy week when we return from Christmas break."

Jenkins has started 10 of 11 games for the Wildcats thus far in 2015-16 and recorded a career-high 23 points on Saturday at No. 5 Virginia. He averages 10.9 points - third among the Wildcats - and 3.0 rebounds per game.

Villanova, ranked No. 17 in both the Associated Press and USA Today Coaches polls, returns to action on Monday night when it hosts Penn in a Philadelphia Big Five clash at the Pavilion.

So, there's some bad and some good with this.

On one hand, we wish Jenkins a speedy recovery. On the other, better a sprained knee than a severely torn ligament or any structural damage to Jenkins' bones. The Wildcats will begin BIG EAST play against the No. 6 Xavier Musketeers, who are 12-0 through to this point in the season after a comeback victory over the Wake Forest Demon Deacons Tuesday night. With two losses to Oklahoma and Virginia, 'Nova will likely need the production out of Jenkins going forward in a suddenly daunting-looking conference that the Wildcats may not be the runaway favorite of any longer.

Once again, best of luck to Jenkins going forward in healing up quickly. The Wildcats will play Penn next Monday, so we will see if Jenkins will be available for that contest against the Quakers.