Entries Tagged 'Injuries' ↓

Interview with Bowling Green High School’s Chane Behanan at NBA Players Association-sponsored Top 100 Camp at the University of Virginia.

Arkansas has decided not to roll over the coaching contract of former Kentucky player John Pelphrey. It’s a decision Pelphrey said Tuesday he understands and supports.
According to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Pelphrey’s contract runs for four more seasons, through April 8, 2014. He had gotten one-year extensions after each of his first two seasons at Arkansas.
Pelphrey met with the media Tuesday to introduce new assistant coach Brett Nelson, the former Florida player. Before being asked about his contract, Pelphrey revealed that the deal would not be rolled over this year.
Pelphrey said that when he met with Athletic Director Jeff Long in March, he told Long he didn’t expect or want a contract extension because he didn’t feel it “was necessary at this point in time.”
The Razorbacks finished 14-18 last season, including 7-9 in the SEC. That was an improvement over their 2-14 SEC mark in 2009, but they were 1-7 in their final eight games last season, capped by a loss to Georgia in the first round of the SEC Tournament.
Pelphrey said suspensions and injuries “certainly played into us not having the type of year that we wanted.” He also said he feels secure in his job because of the support he’s received from Long and Chancellor David Gearhart.
Pelphrey has a 51-46 record at Arkansas, including 18-30 in the SEC.
“When John and I met after the season, we talked about every aspect of the program,” Long said Tuesday night in a statement. “We discussed the high expectations we both have for student-athlete success on and off the court. During the course of our review and discussion, John indicated that he didn’t expect an extension of his contract beyond the current agreement and reiterated his commitment to build the program to those high expectations.”

All-American candidate Patrick Patterson and defender Ramon Harris must pass a re-evaluation of injuries before being permitted to play against Stanford Wednesday night, according to UK game notes provided to the media.

From the looks of the pre-game warmups, Patterson and Harris passed inspection. Each moved freely as the Cats did a layup line and then shot jumpers.

Patterson injured his right ankle and Harris his right knee against Cleveland State Tuesday.

Harris returned to the game, but Patterson sat out the last 18:56. UK listed each player’s status as “day to day.”

A good sign appeared later in the day when Patterson was observed not wearing a protective boot on the injured ankle.

Patterson was seen wearing a protective boot on his right ankle earlier in the day on Wednesday. UK officials did not rule out the possibility of the boot as a precautionary move. He’s had a series of ankle issues as a high school and college player. Most notably, after his freshman season for UK, Patterson had surgery after missing the final five games because of a stress fracture on his left ankle.

After the Cleveland State game, UK Coach John Calipari saluted Harris as a willing and able defender. That was a notable compliment on a night Calipari criticized his team’s effort and attention to detail.

UK Coach Billy Gillispie made it official on Friday when he said that big man Patrick Patterson will play on Saturday against Tennessee.

Patterson sat out the last two games after spraining his right ankle against Florida on Feb. 10.

In earlier comments, Gillispie noted the possibility that the time off might help Patterson recover from the finger injury he’s been hampered by for several weeks.

Apparently that’s the case because the UK coach said that Patterson had practiced without the finger being wrapped.

Arkansas Coach John Pelphrey just dropped a bombshell. He announced that point guard Courtney Fortson has been suspended indefinitely and will not play against Kentucky on Saturday.

Fortson has been the starting point guard all season. Earlier this season, he recorded a triple-double, which reflects his importance to the Razorbacks.

At his customary news conference called to discuss the upcoming game, Pelphrey refused to say why he suspended Fortson.

“I think we deserve a disciplined program,” Pelphrey said. “I think the coaching we’ve had, the players we’ve had, the success we’ve had, it’s just what I believe.”

Fortson, a 5-foot-11 freshman from Montgomery, Ala., is the Razorbacks’ second-leading scorer at 14.6 points per game. He leads the team in assists (6.5 per game), minutes (32.4 mpg), steals (28) and turnovers (95). He’s also second on the team in rebounds (5.3 rpg).

Fortson recorded his triple-double against North Carolina Central on Dec. 10. He had 20 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists in that game.

Perhaps reflecting what Fortson’s absence means, Arkansas’ next leading assist man is Stefan Welsh, with 49.

Pelphrey did not name a player to take over the point guard duties.

Arkansas Coach John Pelphrey, the former UK standout, expects Patrick Patterson to play when Kentucky plays the Razorbacks on Saturday.

Speaking on the SEC coaches’  teleconference, Pelphrey said he would prepare his team for Patterson. He also noted the big difference Patterson can make.

“Oh, I think he’s great,” Pelphrey said. (Listen to Pelphrey)

Pelphrey noted how fundamentally sound Patterson posts up on offense and the UK big man’s size, strength and athleticism.

Plus, Patterson puts those attributes to use. “His warrior-like approach to the game,” Pelphrey said. “Patterson is one of my favorite players in the league.”

Patterson turned his right ankle in the second half of Kentucky’s game against Florida on Tuesday.

During his turn on the teleconference, UK Coach Billy Gillispie said Patterson was continuing with treatment. The UK coach did not say whether Patterson would play at Arkansas.

Gillispie noted the importance of thinking long-range in determining when Patterson plays.

Let’s correct an error in the Kentucky-Florida game story. UK big man Patrick Patterson sprained his right ankle in the second half.

The injury occurred when Patterson blocked a shot by Kenny Kadji and came down on the Florida player’s foot.

X-rays were negative, meaning there was no damage to Patterson’s ankle beyond the sprain. After the game, UK said his status would be evaluated day by day.

By the way, UK confirmed that Patterson did not suffer the dreaded high ankle sprain, which takes longer to heal.

Patterson sustained an inversion ankle sprain, UK said.

UK doctors cleared Ramon Harris to play at Ole Miss, the school just announced.

Harris had a fainting spell at halftime at Alabama on Saturday.

Here’s the one-sentence UK release:

After undergoing extensive testing on Monday morning, Kentucky junior guard/forward Ramon Harris has been cleared for practice and the Ole Miss game on Tuesday.

Kentucky wing Ramon Harris attended the UK women’s game against LSU on Sunday. Besides watching the action, he also signed autographs.
That suggested no serious aftereffects from his fainting spell at halftime of Kentucky’s game at Alabama on Saturday.
The school issued a released on Sunday saying Harris had suffered “no further complications” from the incident. He did not participate in Sunday’s practice, UK said.
His status for Tuesday’s game at Ole Miss will be determined after Harris undergoes further testing on Monday, UK said.
His mother expected Harris to be available to play against the Rebels.
“I think he’s going to be fine for Tuesday,” Carmen Bowles said Sunday. “They didn’t tell us anything (to suggest otherwise).”
Bowles did not attend UK’s game at Alabama. She works every other Saturday, and last Saturday was a day on the job.
Harris’ mother said she watched the first half, then went back to work during halftime.
When she came back to the television for the second half, she learned something was wrong.
“All I heard was that there was a player who collapsed,” Bowles said. “After that, I was scanning the huddle. When (the announcers) use the word ‘collapse,’ it makes you think of something worse.
“Then I realized, oh, boy, that’s Ramon.”
Even while watching the first half, Harris’ mother sensed something was wrong. “I thought he was playing kind of odd,” she said. “You just know your kid and how he plays.”
Bowles was under the impression that “a bug or something” caused the fainting spell.
Of course, it wasn’t the first medical problem requiring hospitalization for Harris this season. He suffered a neck injury in a nasty head-to-head collision with teammate Michael Porter during the Lamar game on Dec. 3. Medical personnel had to carry Harris off the court on a stretcher.
“Oh my goodness,” Bowles said when reminded of the earlier incident. “I am just ready for them to play well and move on.”

Michael Porter has been battling a cold. And when teammate Donald Williams contracted strep throat, Kentucky coaches decided to isolate Porter to make sure he did not catch the illness.

As I sit near the end line and listen to Rocky Top for the first of many times, I see Porter and Williams warming up. So the assumption is both are available to play against Tennessee Tuesday night.