NCAA Basketball FanHouse

Thin Stanford Loses Top Freshman

Ray Holloman — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 20:03:00 EST

Stanford coach Johnny Dawkins may not be the unluckiest man in college basketball right now, but with the way his luck is turning, he can probably get the poor sap that is to buy him a beer.

On the day Dawkins received a verbal commitment from the prize of his 2010 recruiting class, the second-year Cardinal coach watched Andy Brown, the star of the 2009 class go down with a knee injury. Monday night, the school confirmed that the ACL tear will cost Brown the season.

"This is an unfortunate loss for our program and I know how much of a disappointment this is for Andy," Dawkins said. "Andy had worked very hard leading up to the start of practice and we were expecting him to contribute this year. I wish him well in his recovery and look forward to having him back next season."

For Brown, a mobile 6-foot-8 forward who starred at Southern California basketball power Mater Dei, the injury was the second ACL tear in 10 months.

For Stanford, an all-but-certain shoo-in for the back of the line in Pac-10 predictions, it was another blow to the immediate future of the program.

Without Brown, the Cardinal are jersey-thin in the front court. Only Josh Owens, a 6-foot-8 junior who started 28 games last year but averaged only 6.9 points per game, is a threat in the frontcourt.

Stanford's depth elsewhere isn't much better.

The Cardinal lost three starters from last year's squad 20-14 team, including team MVPs Anthony Goods and Lawrence Hill (one of that duo led Stanford in scoring in 30 of 34 contests last year), and Mitch Johnson, a four-year fixture at point guard.

Complicating matters on The Farm is that all that talent going out hasn't been replaced by talent coming in, at least not yet. Brown comprised a third of Dawkins' first recruiting class. The only other freshman, Gabriel Harris, was expected to be the replacement for Johnson, but arthriscopic knee surgery in the offseason will likely slow that succession plan. The third member of the class, Andrew Zimmerman, has size at 6-foot-9, but redshirted last season at a junior college after transfing from Santa Clara, where he averaged less than two points a game as a freshman.

Meanwhile, the starter in the middle should've been Miles Plumlee, but the would-be sophomore opted out of his commitment when coach Trent Johnson left for LSU, ironically signing with Duke, where Dawkins served as an assistant before accepting the Stanford job.

If there's a silver lining, it may be that it forces Dawkins' hand in building a more up-tempo attack out of Mike Krzyzewski's playbook, with the four-perimeter player sets the Blue Devils have employed off and on over the past dozen years.

And the future is brighter for the Cardinal. Dawkins has secured four verbal commitments for 2010, all ranked in the top 40 at their position by Scout.

But their arrival is one, possibly painful year away.

Right now, Dawkins would probably be happy making it to the season opener with the rest of his roster intact.

Of course, even the opener seems fittingly ominous. The date of the Cardinal's first game? Friday, the 13th.

Some guys have all the luck.

Thin Stanford Loses Top Freshman originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Mon, 19 Oct 2009 20:03:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kansas' Tyshawn Taylor Injured in Apparent Altercation With Football Team

Terrance Harris — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 14:23:00 EST

Filed under: Kansas, Big 12, Injuries, Police Blotter

Kansas' basketball team may have an early-season problem, but Kansas' athletic department may have an even bigger mess on its hands.

The Kansas football and men's basketball teams are at odds, resulting in at least two skirmishes Tuesday and another early Wednesday morning. Sophomore guard Tyshawn Taylor suffered a thumb injury in one of the altercations and likely will not be available when the Jayhawks begin practicing next month.

The situation is serious enough that it demanded the attention of the school's administration, as well as basketball coach Bill Self and football coach Mark Mangino, on Wednesday.

"We are aware of an incident that occurred last evening that involved members of the football and men's basketball teams," said KU athletic director Lew Perkins in a released statement Wednesday. "I am disappointed that some of our student-athletes put themselves in this position, and it's something that I am taking very seriously.

"I continue to gather facts about this incident, and I plan to address this issue personally with both teams. I also know that Bill Self and Mark Mangino are working together to address it, and I am confident that they will handle the situation appropriately with their teams."

It's unclear what started the disagreement, but it's clear things have escalated. The initial skirmish took place Tuesday afternoon at the student union building, but the trouble spilled over into some of the dorms.

According to the website of the The Daily Kansan, the student newspaper, basketball players Sherron Collins, Mario Little, brothers Marcus and Markieff Morris and Taylor were placed at the scene, as were members of the football team, including receiver Dezmon Briscoe and starting cornerback Chris Harris.

Taylor, who was sent to the hospital and treated for a dislocated thumb, was the only athlete known to need medical attention. The police were called but no arrests were made.

In attempt to defuse the explosive situation and show some type of unified front, the Kansas athletic department met with several members of both teams Wednesday, and they released a combined statement about the incident. The combined statement comes from basketball players Cole Aldrich and Collins and football members Kerry Meier, Todd Reesing, Jake Sharp and Darrell Stuckey.

"We realize that over the past couple of days we've let a disagreement between a few guys grow bigger than it ever should have," the statement read. "We're embarrassed about that.

"Now we want everyone to know that we have met and talked it out. We realize we're all Jayhawks. We're proud of what both teams have accomplished."

This is certainly a first step with the members of each respective programs' leadership speaking out against the altercations. But the school has yet to reveal what will happen from here and how the players involved will be disciplined.

"We will handle any discipline regarding this incident internally, and we will have no further comment about it," Perkins' statement said.

Taylor is expected to miss three to four weeks of action due to his injury. Basketball practice is set to begin in the middle of October.

But Taylor's injury could be the just the beginning of the problem Mangino and Self have on their hands. Feuding athletic teams on campus is hardly new, but both of these programs have a great deal riding on their current and upcoming seasons.

The football program is 3-0 in non-conference play and has a chance to win its first Big 12 North Division title this season. The men's hoops team, with a bevvy of returning talent and another big-time incoming class, is expected to start the season as the No.1 team in the country. The 20th-ranked football team hosts Southern Miss on Saturday.

The gathered members of the respective teams pledged to squash the bad blood and move forward.

"We appreciate the support these teams give each other," the players' combined statement continued. "We'll be in the stands rooting for each other like we always have.

"We all wear Kansas on our uniforms, and we're proud of that. We need to act like it. We've met; we're all on the same page, and we will move forward together. The football team is ready to get back to work, focused on Saturday's game against Southern Mississippi, and the basketball team will continue to prepare for another great season."

Information from the Associated Press was used in this story.

Kansas' Tyshawn Taylor Injured in Apparent Altercation With Football Team originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Wed, 23 Sep 2009 14:23:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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UCLA's Gordon Injures Knee

Gary Washburn — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 01:28:00 EST

Filed under: UCLA, Pac-10, Injuries

Drew Gordon, expected to play a major role for the UCLA basketball team this season, suffered a partially torn patellar tendon at the 2009 USA Basketball U19 World Championship Team Trials in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Gordon, a sophomore from San Jose, Calif., is expected to return to Los Angeles for further examination to determine the extent of the tear. Gordon could miss up to six months, meaning he likely wouldn't return to the Bruins until Pac-10 play begins. The 6-foot-8 forward averaged 3.6 points and 3.4 rebounds as a freshman.

Given the graduation of Josh Shipp, Darren Collison and Alfred Aboya and the early departure of Jrue Holiday, the Bruins were depending on Gordon to play a significant role next season.

"It is an unfortunate event, but Drew is a resilient kid and he'll get through it," UCLA coach Ben Howland said on the school's website. "We have a good Athletic Training staff and we will be here to support him."

UCLA's Gordon Injures Knee originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Thu, 18 Jun 2009 01:28:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Virginia Tech's Tourney Hopes Turn Blue

Will Brinson — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 18:20:00 EST

Filed under: Duke, Virginia Tech, ACC, Injuries

Virginia Tech needed a crucial win at home to solidify its NCAA tournament status with only two games remaining on its regular-season ACC schedule. But a Nolan Smith-less Blue Devil squad likely had a few points to prove as well.

And the Blue Devils' agenda won out.

That is, after a little controversy and a heckuva run by the Hokies.

Duke 72, Virginia Tech 65: Box Score | AP Recap | ACC Scores & Standings

Duke did just that, for most of the game, streaking out to an 11-point halftime lead. But the Hokies stormed back and tied the game at 58 with four minutes remaining, only to lose by seven, as a controversial ending -- Duke's Jon Scheyer blatantly traveled with his team up three and 18 seconds left, but no call was made -- gave Duke the free-throw opportunities to salvage a win in Blacksburg.

Seth Greenberg's squad, despite suffering some close losses, has now dropped four of its last five games and the Hokies have to play North Carolina and Florida State to close out the season. If they don't win one of those games, they're staring down 7-9 in the ACC.

And that, folks, despite setting them up as one of the top eight teams in the conference, probably isn't enough to punch the Hokies' ticket to the dance. Joe Lunardi had them as an No. 11 seed before the Duke game, and Ken Pomeroy had them at No. 71 in his ratings; that's not so much as to point to outside influence, as it is to say that the Hokies have had trouble distinguishing themselves from the rest of the bubble pack.

Granted, Virginia Tech beat then No. 1 Wake Forest, but so too did Georgia Tech, Miami and N.C. State. In other words, Wake's track record against the bottom of the conference doesn't really justify giving the Hokies credit. The only other bullet point Virginia Tech has to offset its overall record is a win against Clemson. The selection committee might want more.

But give the Blue Devils credit, because, even if the Hokies aren't that strong of a team, they still stepped up and pulled off a huge road win, despite Smith being sidelined by a concussion.

Virginia Tech's Tourney Hopes Turn Blue originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Sat, 28 Feb 2009 18:20:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Blake Griffin Cleared to Play Saturday

Will Brinson — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 15:40:00 EST

Filed under: Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Texas Tech, Big 12, Coaches, Injuries, Media Watch

Blake Griffin has missed his team's last two games due to a concussion suffered against Texas, both of which were Oklahoma losses.

Needless to say, he's the most important part of one of the better teams in the nation.

Fortunately for the Sooners, Griffin has been cleared to play again, and will likely return against the Texas Tech Red Raiders on Saturday.

Griffin's absence was felt heavily with losses to Texas and Kansas, respectively, even if the Sooners did come close to winning both games.

There's been some discussion as to whether bringing back Griffin this quickly was the smart move, but Oklahoma coach Jeff Capel said that the training staff was satisfied by Griffin's physical, so one has to presume that he's recovered from the effects of the concussion.

Blake Griffin Cleared to Play Saturday originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Sat, 28 Feb 2009 15:40:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Blake Griffin Returns to Practice, While Forward Juan Pattillo Gets Suspended

Will Brinson — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 22:45:00 EST

Filed under: Oklahoma, Texas, Texas Tech, Big 12, Coaches, Injuries

It's a win some, lose some kind of day for Oklahoma. On the downside, the Sooners suspended forward Juan Pattillo for Saturday's game against Texas Tech, further weakening an already depleted frontcourt.

But on the upside, that might be Oklahoma's temporarily depleted frontcourt.

While the Sooners were announcing news of Pattillo's suspension for violating an unspecified team rule, according to the Oklahoman, player of the year candidate Blake Griffin was doing something he hadn't done in almost a week -- playing basketball.

Griffin returned to practice Thursday for the first time since he suffered a rather large concussion against Texas last Saturday night. But, there's no guarantee that he'll be ready for this Saturday's game, according to Sooners head coach Jeff Capel, also via The Oklahoman.

Griffin sat out Monday's game against Kansas due to the injury, while Pattillo, whose developed into a nice complimetary player since turning in his redshirt 11 games ago, scored 15 points.

Pattillo will not play Saturday. Griffin probably shouldn't either.

Why? Well, for starters, the Sooners should be able to beat the Red Raiders without Griffin and Pattillo. Obviously losing Griffin hurts Oklahoma's chances in any game, but they certainly have the talent to take down Texas Tech without him. They did, after all, nearly "upset" Kansas with Griffin sitting on the bench.

Additionally, as I noted following the Kansas game, the Sooners need, more than anything else, to make sure Griffin is healthy when they head into the postseason. If Capel jumps the gun and puts him on the floor against the Red Raiders and he suffers further injury, it would be the worst coaching mistake of his young career.

Blake Griffin Returns to Practice, While Forward Juan Pattillo Gets Suspended originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Thu, 26 Feb 2009 22:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dominic James Out for the Year

Chas Rich — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 20:10:00 EST

Filed under: Marquette, Big East, Injuries

Marquette has arguably the best backcourt in college basketball with Dominic James, Jerel McNeal and Wesley Matthews. Each player is a talented guard that defends well, and is capable of hitting threes and driving to the basket. Add in the fact that all three are seniors that have played together for their entire career, and you will not find a backcourt in the country that can match that combination of talent and experience.

What Marquette does not have at the guard spot, though, is depth. That is now a major problem as point guard Dominic James went down very early in Wednesday's game against UConn with a left foot injury. After the half, the report came out that James suffered a fracture of the fifth metatarsal in his left foot. Shortly after the game, Marquette coach Buzz Williams announced that James would get surgery immediately. The consequences of this, is that James season and career at Marquette are now over.

This is a big blow for Marquette. James leads the teams in assists with 5.3 per game and is the fourth-leading scorer, to say nothing of being a senior leader.

They really only give Maurice Acker and Jimmy Butler serious minutes at the guard spots. Junior David Cubillan has seen his minutes fall from over 21 per game as a freshman down to a mere nine per game. In Big East play, he has not played more than nine minutes in a game and has three DNPs. As Cublilan's minutes have diminished, so has his offensive productivity. His shooting percentage has fallen off a cliff.

Marquette now goes from fighting to win the Big East, and a possible two or three seed looking for a deep run in the NCAA Tournament, to a very flawed team. A huge loss and disappointment to a season that looked like it could be something special.

Dominic James Out for the Year originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Wed, 25 Feb 2009 20:10:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kansas Wins, but That's Not the Story

Will Brinson — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 23:40:00 EST

Filed under: Kansas, Oklahoma, Big 12, Injuries

The story wasn't going to be about Kansas winning. Seriously. The Jayhawks never had a chance of grabbing the headlines. Even with Bill Self's crew closing out an impressive Big 12 road win, ESPN analyst Fran Fraschilla was still discussing the lack of impact this game would have on Oklahoma's NCAA tournament resume.

That's because Blake Griffin didn't play. And that's not to take away from Kansas' impressive 87- 78 win over the Sooners in Norman, Okla., but it would be completely unrealistic to think this is the same Oklahoma team with Griffin on the bench.

Kansas 87-Oklahoma 78: Box Score | Full AP Recap | Standings

Still, Kansas looked good. Sherron Collins and Tyshawn Taylor blew up for 26 points each, and Cole Aldrich posted a monster 15-point, 20-rebound line. The Jayhawks, who led by seven at the half, managed to fight off a furious Oklahoma rally late in the second half and take first place in the Big 12.

But the bigger point is that regular season standings only matter through the Big 12 season. If Griffin isn't healthy by Selection Sunday, then it won't matter what kind of Big 12 banner the Sooners stick in their rafters, because his absence would turn a really good team into just a good team. As talented as Oklahoma's Willie Warren and Taylor Griffin are, they're not helping coach Jeff Capel cut down the nets in Detroit if the younger Griffin isn't back to help them.

On the other hand though, there's definitely something to be said about the effort that the Griffin-less Sooners put out tonight -- they stormed out to an early lead in front of a white-out crowd, watched that hot start turn into a sizable deficit and still stormed back against a good Kansas team.

While that kind of effort alone isn't enough to give them a No. 1 seed in either the NCAA or Big 12 tournament, it is the kind of game that screams "good loss" and might somehow propel the Sooners to greater heights.

Of course, those things depend on Blake Griffin coming back healthy. That was that the story all along.

Kansas Wins, but That's Not the Story originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Mon, 23 Feb 2009 23:40:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Blake Griffin Out Against Kansas

Will Brinson — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 18:05:00 EST

Filed under: Oklahoma, Big Ten, Coaches, Injuries

Blake Griffin, arguably the best player in the country right now, will not play tonight when Oklahoma plays its first game after losing to Texas Saturday.

Griffin suffered a concussion and only played part of the game Saturday, but received a "clean" bill of health. Still, his status for tonight's game remained in question. Now it's official, he's out. Sooner head coach Jeff Capel has stated that there's no real timetable for Griffin's return, and frankly, that's a smart move.

Oklahoma is locked into the NCAA tournament -- although not necessarily a No. 1 seed at this point -- and risking further injury to their best player would be a seriously erroneous coaching maneuver.

That being said, Bill Self has to feel a whole heck of a lot better about Kansas' chances against the Sooners tonight. And unfortunately, most of us probably feel a whole heck of a lot worse about the exciting nature of tonight's Big 12 showdown.

Update: Holly Rowe is reporting on SportsCenter that over the past two days, Griffin has not passed the "Standard Assessment of Concussion" test that is administered in the preseason for a baseline; Griffin is "improving" though.

Blake Griffin Out Against Kansas originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Mon, 23 Feb 2009 18:05:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tyler Hansbrough Suffered Concussion

Will Brinson — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 16:50:00 EST

Filed under: NC State, ACC, Coaches, Injuries, North Carolina

North Carolina remained one of the nation's hottest team heading into the conference home stretch last week, beating up on Duke and then squeaking by a dangerous Miami team. They now have a very minor speed bump in their quest to win the ACC regular-season championship with a rivalry game against N.C. State Wednesday.

However, that hump may have gotten a touch bigger with the news that Tyler Hansbrough suffered a concussion during Sunday's game against the Hurricanes.

North Carolina forward Tyler Hansbrough suffered a slight concussion early in the second half of Sunday's win at Miami, coach Roy Williams said Monday night during his radio show.

His eight-point performance was "one of the worst games he's played all year," Williams said, until he took a charge in the final minutes to help secure the 69-65 victory.

Now, there are some people who might say that Williams often exaggerates with his players' injury status. For example, on Sunday, Ty Lawson was "sick as a dog" en route to hitting the game winner. Perhaps he picked up this trait from Michael Jordan while working Dean Smith's bench, or perhaps Carolina is just really suffering from some freak woes this year.

If Hansbrough's concussion is serious, you have to think that it could greatly impede Carolina's march to an ACC title. On the other hand, there's a decent chance that, with the way Lawson is playing these days, combined with the Tar Heels' overall talent edge over the Wolfpack, Hansbrough may not play at full throttle tomorrow night.

Tyler Hansbrough Suffered Concussion originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Tue, 17 Feb 2009 16:50:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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UConn's Dyson May Be Done for Season

Chas Rich — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 22:35:00 EST

Filed under: Connecticut, Big East, Injuries

When Jerome Dyson went down early in UConn's win over Syracuse Wednesday night, it looked fairly innocent. It appeared he banged knees with a Syracuse player fighting through a screen, and, at first glance hardly seemed like the kind of injury to worry about.

But an MRI today showed that it was much worse.

Dyson suffered a torn lateral meniscus in his right knee. The injury requires surgery and the chances are good that Dyson is done for the season. The loss of Dyson is a huge blow to UConn, which has looked like one of, if not the best, team in the country.

The final determination on Dyson's season will depend on the extent of the damage to the knee. That will not be learned until the surgery is performed next week.

Dyson is UConn's second-leading scorer with 13.2 points per game. He also leads the team in steals, is second in assists, third in rebounding and has averaged over 29 minutes per game. Dyson is a wing guard that specializes in slashing to the basket and is probably the team's best defender on the perimeter.

Last year, UConn's hope for a deep NCAA Tourney run was dashed when point guard A.J. Price suffered a torn ACL in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. This year, the Huskies hopes were even brighter, but another knee injury could again be the beginning of the end.

Latest College Basketball Photos

North Carolina State's Dennis Horner, back, pulls in a rebound over Wake Forest's Tony Woods during the first half at the RBC Center in Raleigh, North Carolina, Wednesday, Feburary 12, 2009. (Ethan Hyman/Raleigh News & Observer/MCT)

MCT

North Carolina State's Tracy Smith goes for two while defended by Wake Forest's Chas McFarland and Tony Woods, right, during the first half at the RBC Center in Raleigh, North Carolina, Wednesday, Feburary 12, 2009. Despite the contact, no foul was called on the play. (Ethan Hyman/Raleigh News & Observer/MCT)

MCT

Duke guard Nolan Smith (2) tries to get inside the North Carolina forward Tyler Hansbrough (50) and Ty Lawson (5) during second half action at Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, North Carolina, Wednesday, February 11, 2009. UNC defeated Duke, 101-87. (Chuck Liddy/Raleigh News & Observer/MCT)

MCT

University of North Carolina fans celebrate in Chapel Hill,N.C., after North Carolina defeated Duke on Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2009. It was the first of two regular season matchups between the rival schools. (AP Photo/JASON ARTHURS /The News and OIbserver)

University of North Carolina fans celebrate in Chapel Hill, N.C., after North Carolina defeated Duke on Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2009. It was the first of two regular season matchups between the rival schools.(AP Photo/JASON ARTHURS/News and Observer)

Utah guard Lawrence Borha breaks for the basket past San Diego State forward Kyle Spain during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2009, in Salt Lake City. Utah defeated San Diego 67 - 55 (AP Photo/Kenny Crookston)

San Diego State forward Billy White (32) takes a shot over Utah center Luke Nevill (50) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2009, in Salt Lake City. Utah defeated San Diego 67-55. (AP Photo/Kenny Crookston)

San Diego State forward Kyle Spain, right, drives to the basket past Utah forward Shaun Green during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2009, in Salt Lake City. Utah defeated San Diego 67-55. (AP Photo/Kenny Crookston)

San Diego State forward Ryan Amoroso (43) is fouled by Utah forward Shaun Green (21) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2009, in Salt Lake City, Utah. Utah defeated San Diego 67-55. (AP Photo/Kenny Crookston)

Duke's Gerald Henderson (15) splits the North Carolina defense of Ty Lawson (5) and Danny Green (14) during the second half at Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, North Carolina, Wednesday, February 11, 2009. UNC defeated Duke, 101-87. (Chuck Liddy/Raleigh News & Observer/MCT)

MCT

UConn's Dyson May Be Done for Season originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Thu, 12 Feb 2009 22:35:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hummel's Back Trouble Pains Purdue

Chas Rich — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 09:18:00 EST

Filed under: Purdue, Big Ten, Injuries

Purdue has noticeably struggled in games where Robbie Hummel has been forced to sit because of back troubles. The Boilermakers dropped games to Penn State and Ohio State without the preseason Big Ten Player of the Year. Without Hummel playing, Purdue has been killed on the boards.

With Hummel, Purdue was considered to be the one team that could challenge Michigan State for the Big Ten title and make a good run in the NCAA Tournament. Without him, they are a flawed middle-of-the-pack team in the conference.

It looks like Purdue is going to try and have it both ways. It was revealed that Hummel has a hairline fracture in his L-5 vertebra. It is something he can play with, as long as he can tolerate the pain.

The problem is that puts him in a game-to-game situation. Purdue coach Matt Painter is not even sure if he will play this Sunday against Illinois.

"Robbie Hummel can play in the Illinois game (on Sunday in Champaign), he might sit out two weeks or he might sit out the rest of the year," Boilermakers coach Matt Painter said on Thursday morning. "We have to continuously reevaluate his situation. He can make progress or take a step backwards."

The hairline fracture takes about two to three months of resting the back to heal. The fracture is apparently in no danger of getting worse, but it won't get any better by playing.

Hummel, not surprisingly, wants to play through the pain. His effectiveness, however, has been inconsistent as late. This makes it hard to judge until the game gets underway whether Hummel can help the team.

Hummel's Back Trouble Pains Purdue originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Fri, 06 Feb 2009 09:18:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Marcus Ginyard, Will Graves Out for Remainder of Season

Will Brinson — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 23:45:00 EST

Filed under: ACC, Coaches, Injuries, Rumors, North Carolina

North Carolina rolled over Maryland tonight, and the Tar Heels appeared, for much of the evening, to be rounding back into championship form after two early season ACC losses.

But just when Carolina appeared to be bouncing back, their 2009 title hopes took a serious shot when Roy Williams announced that Marcus Ginyard, the team's best defensive stopper on the perimeter, will miss the remainder of the season.

Ginyard has only played in three games this season, and his presence was sorely missed against Boston College and Wake Forest. North Carolina's only two losses saw them torched by Jeff Teague and Tyreese Rice, two players that Ginyard would have defended were he healthy.

The school expects Ginyard to seek a medical redshirt, which seems likely considering the minimal time that he was able to play following preseason foot surgery.

Will Graves, a sophomore forward for the Heels, has been suspended by the team for the remainder of the season for failing to "maintain the standards we expect of a Carolina basketball player."

It's a bizarre suspension -- surely we'll find out more in the coming days -- and, while not as painful a loss as Ginyard, hurt Carolina's depth.

The Tar Heels have a pretty easy schedule heading down the stretch outside of a pair of games against Duke. A home-and-home with the Blue Devils in the next month will absolutely give us an idea as to whether or not they will legitimately compete for a national title once the tournament starts.

Marcus Ginyard, Will Graves Out for Remainder of Season originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Tue, 03 Feb 2009 23:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kentucky's Ramon Harris Collapses at Halftime of Kentucky-Alabama

Will Brinson — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Kentucky, SEC, Coaches, Injuries, Alabama

Update: Harris is "alert" but Gillispie isn't talking much about his condition.

Ramon Harris didn't play during the second half of Kentucky's 61-51 win over Alabama today. That's because he was en route to the hospital after collapsing outside the locker room right before halftime.

During his post-game radio show, Coach Gillispie said that Harris is resting at the local hospital. "They said everything looks good. They're concerned, obviously. He's alert. After he threw up he felt better," said Gillispie.

The start of the second half was delayed a couple of minutes, and Kentucky coach Billy Gillispie remained with Harris as the half began. Harris played only seven minutes in the first half and scored one point.

On Dec. 3, Harris was carried off the court on a stretcher and taken to the hospital after colliding with a teammate against Lamar. He missed three games with a back and neck injury, returned for one game and then missed two of the next three due to back stiffness.

What makes this even scarier is that, as noted above, this isn't the first time that Harris has fallen ill during a basketball game this year. Of course, the first fall was a result of injuring himself in a collision with a teammate, and not a seemingly random health mishap.

On the other hand, though, it does question whether or not Gillispie and the Wildcat medical staff appropriately gauged how his injury affected his health.

Latest College Basketball Photos

Washington senior Jon Brockman, left, grabs freshman Darnell Gant to give him advice late in the game against UCLA Saturday, Jan. 24, 2009, in an NCAA basketball game in Seattle. Washington won 86-75. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

Massachusetts' Chris Lowe drives to the basket past La Salle's Kimmani Barrett in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Amherst, Mass. Saturday, Jan. 24, 2009. La Salle won 62-54. (AP Photo/Nancy Palmieri)

Oklahoma State head coach Travis Ford instructs his players against Nebraska in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, in Lincoln, Neb., Saturday, Jan. 24, 2009. Oklahoma State defeated Nebraska 76-74 in overtime. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)

Washington's Jon Brockman is grabbed from behind by Quincy Pondexter as they celebrate beating UCLA 86-75, Saturday, Jan. 24, 2009, in an NCAA basketball game in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

Southern California guard Daniel Hackett (13) hits a jump shot over Washington State guard Klay Thompson as Aron Baynes, left, and Caleb Forrest, right, watch during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Jan. 24, 2009 at Jack Friel Court in Pullman, Wash. (AP Photo/Dean Hare)

Southern California forward Marcus Johnson (0) shoots over Washington State forwards Caleb Forrest (52) and DeAngelo Casto, left, during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Jan. 24, 2009 at Jack Friel Court in Pullman, Wash. (AP Photo/Dean Hare)

Illinois' head coach Bruce Weber calls a play during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Wisconsin at the Assembly Hall in Champaign, Ill. on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2009. Illinois won 64-57. (AP Photo/Robert K. O'Daniell)

Wisconsin's Joe Frabbenhoft (45) shoots over Illinois' Chester Frazier (3) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game at the Assembly Hall in Champaign, Ill. on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2009. Illinois won 64-57. (AP Photo/Robert K. O'Daniell)

Southern California forward Nikola Vucevic (5) dunks over Washington State guard Marcus Capers, left, during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Jan. 24, 2009 at Jack Friel Court in Pullman, Wash. No foul was called on the play. (AP Photo/Dean Hare)

Wisconsin head coach Bo Ryan watches his players during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Illinois at the Assembly Hall in Champaign, Ill. on Saturday, January 24, 2009. Illinois won 64-57. (AP Photo/Robert K. O'Daniell)

Kentucky's Ramon Harris Collapses at Halftime of Kentucky-Alabama originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Sat, 24 Jan 2009 18:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kentucky's Harris Released From Hospital After Colliding With a Teammate

Shiloh Carder — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 23:07:00 EST

Filed under: Kentucky, SEC, Injuries, Video

Sorry for the grainy video footage but it's all I have. In it you will see Kentucky's Ramon Harris and Michael Porter bonk heads, as my wife would say.

As you can see, it was a freak thing. There was a loose ball with both Kentucky and Lamar players fighting for it. While you may expect the collision to happen during the scramble, it actually happened several feet away from the ball. Harris and Porter were next to each other when Harris turned to head up court. When he turned, he ran right into Porter.

Porter received 10 stitches in the locker room and didn't return to the game. He will be okay. Harris had trouble getting up after the collision and was taken out on a stretcher. The good news is that he's been released from the UK Chandler hospital after tests were run to see if he had any spine or back damage. He is now listed as day-to-day.

Kentucky won the game, 103-61.

Kentucky's Harris Released From Hospital After Colliding With a Teammate originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Thu, 04 Dec 2008 23:07:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Harangody Out Indefinitely With Pneumonia

Shiloh Carder — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 00:30:00 EST

Filed under: Notre Dame, Big East, Injuries

During Notre Dame's loss to North Carolina in the championship game of the Maui Invitational, you could tell that Luke Harangody wasn't feeling well. The broadcasters passed along that he was sick as he looked sluggish on both ends of the court.

Turns out he has pneumonia. Harangody is out indefinitely.

The Irish are entering into a fairly easy stretch of games. They host Furman today and South Dakota on Tuesday. They play Ohio State in Indianapolis next Saturday before hosting Boston University, Delaware State and Savannah State. If they want to play it safe, they may sit Harangody for that entire stretch. I doubt they'd sit him for an entire month.

Also, that has to suck to get a trip to Hawaii and come back with pneumonia. What are the odds?

Harangody Out Indefinitely With Pneumonia originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Sun, 30 Nov 2008 00:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tar Heel's Injuries Mount: Tyler Zeller May Have Broken Wrist

Shiloh Carder — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 12:03:00 EST

Filed under: UNC, ACC, Injuries, Video

Video by News & Observer's Jason Arthurs

The North Carolina Tar Heels are so talented that many feel that injuries are the only thing that could stop them from winning the national championship.

So, of course, they have injury issues.

Tyler Hansbrough and Marcus Ginyard have missed the Tar Heels' first two games of the season. Hansbrough just began practicing after taking a few weeks off to rest a stress reaction in his shin. Ginyard had surgery to fix a stress fracture in his foot and may not be back until after New Year's Day.

Now freshman center Tyler Zeller could miss some significant time with a wrist injury suffered late in last night's game with Kentucky. While there isn't an update on his condition, speculation is that he broke the wrist. He was taken to the university's hospital for x-rays. We will update his status when it becomes known.

Tar Heel's Injuries Mount: Tyler Zeller May Have Broken Wrist originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Wed, 19 Nov 2008 12:03:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tyler Hansbrough Out Indefinitely With Stress Reaction Condition

Shiloh Carder — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 02:26:00 EST

Filed under: UNC, ACC, Injuries

Defending National Player of the Year Tyler Hansbrough is out indefinitely with a stress reaction condition in his right leg. The Tar Heels forward was held out of practice on Thursday and an MRI revealed the condition.

"He'll be ok," Hansbrough's father, Gene, told ESPN.com's Andy Katz. "His leg's been bothering him for a couple of weeks. It's a stress reaction and he needs to rest a bit. He just needs time to let it heal. There is no reason for him to limp through it."

According to ESPN medical analyst Dr. Michael Kaplan, the MRI likely showed increased uptake in tibia (leg bone) suggesting a stress reaction. An overload or overuse type phenomenon occurs with inflammation and, ultimately, fatigue failure with stress fracture. This is a precursor condition to stress fracture. A period of rest is mandatory for tissues to quiet down or worsening injury will result.

There is no timetable for Hansbrough's return.

This is the second injury blow to the top ranked Heels. Senior swingman Marcus Ginyard will be out another five weeks after he had surgery to fix a stress fracture in his foot. The Tar Heels begin the regular season against Penn on November 15th.

Hansbrough's absence will mean Carolina will have to rely on junior Deon Thompson and freshman Ed Davis and Tyler Zeller to be the main options in the frontcourt.

Tyler Hansbrough Out Indefinitely With Stress Reaction Condition originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Fri, 31 Oct 2008 02:26:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cincinnati's Cashmere Wright Done For the Year After Tearing ACL

Shiloh Carder — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 11:35:00 EST

Filed under: Cincinnati, Big East, Injuries

Bad news for the University of Cincinnati hoops team. Freshman point guard Cashmere Wright will miss the 2008-2009 season with a torn ACL.

Wright will undergo surgery later this week to repair his ACL and will miss the season as he goes through rehabilitation over the next 6-8 months.

"We feel terrible for Cashmere as he was looking forward to the season as all young players do," said head coach Mick Cronin. "Obviously he was a big part of our plans this year so we are going to have to make some changes.

I want our fans to know that although we have had some setbacks, we are on the right track and our kids are working very hard. Our best days are ahead of us and we can't wait to get started this year."

Wright had originally committed to Clemson after his junior season but changed his mind and chose Cincinnati. The Savannah, GA product chose the Bearcats because he felt it was the best situation for him to start immediately.

I don't know why he believed that since incumbent Deonta Vaughn isn't a slouch. Vaughn led the Bearcats in scoring and assists last year and was an All-Big East selection.

Cincinnati's Cashmere Wright Done For the Year After Tearing ACL originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Thu, 23 Oct 2008 11:35:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nation's Tallest Player Kenny George Undergoes Amputation

Shiloh Carder — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 10:23:00 EST

Filed under: Mid-Majors, Injuries

UNC Asheville center Kenny George, who rose to prominence last season because of his tremendous height and steady performance, will most likely not play basketball again in his collegiate career after having part of his right foot amputated.

"This just breaks our heart," said coach Dave VanderMeulen of Chicago Latin, where George played in high school.

"I've talked to Kenny, and he's dealing with what kind of mountain he's facing and reflecting on what could have been...his parents are trying to keep his spirits up, but they are devastated, as any parents would whose child lost part of a limb."

George is listed at 7-foot-7 according to UNC Asheville's official roster and ranks along with Shawn Bradley and former North Carolina player Neil Fingleton among the tallest players in NCAA history.

In August, George came back home from Pete Newell's Big Man Camp with MRSA -- a difficult-to-treat staph infection -- in his foot. He was then hospitalized and underwent several surgeries to save both his foot and his life. Three weeks ago, doctors decided to amputate part of the foot.

George was the Big South defensive player of the year. The would-be senior averaged 12.4 points and seven rebounds last season but could only average 20 minutes of playing time.

Centers Career Likely Over

UNC Asheville senior Kenny George recently had part of his right foot amputated, according to ESPN.com. The 7-foot-7 center is college basketball's tallest player, but the amputation -- which was the result of George's battle with a staph infection -- will likely end his playing career.

Chuck Liddy, Raleigh News & Observer/MCT

George put up 14 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks against North Carolina in a game last season. UNC's Tyler Hansbrough, right, didn't back down from the towering center in their showdown. Hansbrough keyed UNC's victory with a momentum-shifting slam over George -- the first time someone had ever dunked against him in at least three years, George said. Watch Dunk

Kevin C. Cox, Getty Images

George drew praise from UNC head coach and Asheville native Roy Williams for his defensive intensity in the loss. "He blocked a couple of shots, but he changed about a million," Williams said.

Sara D. Davis, AP

The Chicago native had indicated mixed feelings about his impressive height in the past. "I don't hate it, but there are times I wish that I weren't so tall," George told the New York Times in an interview this year.

Shawn Poynter

Buffalo coach Reggie Witherspoon had plenty of praise for George's talent and ability near the basket during a game last season. "We tried not to go under the basket when he's in, because it's useless," the coach said.

Brett Flashnick, AP

Thanks to his tall frame, George was able to dunk and tip passes in without having to leave his feet. He has a wingspan of over 100 inches as well.

Shawn Poynter

George used specially-designed shoes for his size 26 feet when he played basketball -- modifying Shaquille O'Neal's size 23 footwear to fit his feet. Source: AP, New York Times, ESPN.com, MSNBC

Shawn Poynter

Nation's Tallest Player Kenny George Undergoes Amputation originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Sat, 18 Oct 2008 10:23:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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