Player news seems to come faster as the season approaches...
Louisville wing Terrence Williams went down with a tear in his medial meniscus, according to published reports on ESPN and elsewhere. Expect surgery to repair the tear (per a Coach Pitino interview) within 2 - 3 days, followed by a 4 - 6 week recuperation. Pick-up game injuries have been the bane of the Cardinal program. Since joining the Big East Louisville has lost Telo Palacios (twice), Andre McGee and David Padgett (twice) to pick-up game injuries. How good the 2006 team could have been is arguable, but their prospects were definitely hurt by the diminished play (due to injury) of Palacios and Padgett. While the prognosis is that Williams will be cleared to play around New Years, and his absence should have little or no effect on the Cardinal's OOC play, I wonder if he will be able to step into the role he (and the staff) made for him over the past two seasons. His athleticism and size add significantly to his versatility, a big part of the value he brings to the team. Diminished mobility (lateral especially) reduces his value to Louisville's offense. This development, particularly if recovery is less than 100%, can affect the Cardinal's prospects this season.
Michael Glover, an undersized front court player who has been trying to qualify (academically) at Seton Hall will definitely not suit up for Coach Bobby Gonzalez this season as his lawsuit against the NCAA and Big East was dismissed by a federal judge earlier this week. Glover's lawsuit, his latest effort to overturn the Clearinghouse's decision not to accept his credits from a private high school, was considered by consensus, a longshot at best (and a waste of everyone's time at worst). Glover would have added depth to the Pirate front court (and bench), but the Hall's staff was not planning an offense around him. Eligibility for transfer guard Keon Lawrence (waiver application was filed early this week) and freshman center Melvyn Oliver (yet to have transcript cleared by the NCAA) are still to be resolved. Lacking Oliver, the Pirates have seven scholarship players going into the season. Worst case for the Pirates will be to suit six scholarship players for the Puerto Rico Tipoff game against USC.
Louisville wing Terrence Williams went down with a tear in his medial meniscus, according to published reports on ESPN and elsewhere. Expect surgery to repair the tear (per a Coach Pitino interview) within 2 - 3 days, followed by a 4 - 6 week recuperation. Pick-up game injuries have been the bane of the Cardinal program. Since joining the Big East Louisville has lost Telo Palacios (twice), Andre McGee and David Padgett (twice) to pick-up game injuries. How good the 2006 team could have been is arguable, but their prospects were definitely hurt by the diminished play (due to injury) of Palacios and Padgett. While the prognosis is that Williams will be cleared to play around New Years, and his absence should have little or no effect on the Cardinal's OOC play, I wonder if he will be able to step into the role he (and the staff) made for him over the past two seasons. His athleticism and size add significantly to his versatility, a big part of the value he brings to the team. Diminished mobility (lateral especially) reduces his value to Louisville's offense. This development, particularly if recovery is less than 100%, can affect the Cardinal's prospects this season.
Michael Glover, an undersized front court player who has been trying to qualify (academically) at Seton Hall will definitely not suit up for Coach Bobby Gonzalez this season as his lawsuit against the NCAA and Big East was dismissed by a federal judge earlier this week. Glover's lawsuit, his latest effort to overturn the Clearinghouse's decision not to accept his credits from a private high school, was considered by consensus, a longshot at best (and a waste of everyone's time at worst). Glover would have added depth to the Pirate front court (and bench), but the Hall's staff was not planning an offense around him. Eligibility for transfer guard Keon Lawrence (waiver application was filed early this week) and freshman center Melvyn Oliver (yet to have transcript cleared by the NCAA) are still to be resolved. Lacking Oliver, the Pirates have seven scholarship players going into the season. Worst case for the Pirates will be to suit six scholarship players for the Puerto Rico Tipoff game against USC.
2 comments:
USF's Frosh Forward Gus Gilchrist just received a waiver and can play against Niagara.
Great news for Stan Heath and the Bulls. Gilchrist cannot right into Gransberry's shoes, but he can provide some defense immediately. And he can potentially grow into Gransberry's role on offense.
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