McNeal out for Tournament

[State]

Crean confirmed it this afternoon....check out Rosiak's column.


Sorry if I'm a little late on this....

[rocky_warrior]

http://www.jsonline.com/watch/?watch=1&date=3/13/2007&id=20538

TUESDAY, March 13, 2007, 3:57 p.m.
By Todd Rosiak
MU's McNeal out this weekend

Marquette will be without starting guard Jerel McNeal for this weekend's NCAA tournament games. coach Tom Crean confirmed this afternoon.

"There is now way he is going to be able to play," Crean said Tuesday afternoon. "I know he wants to play, but there is no way he can."

McNeal has been sidelined since suffering an injury to his right thumb in practice the day before the regular-season finale against Pittsburgh.

MU is holding out hope that McNeal might be ready if the Golden Eagles advance past the second round.

Marquette plays Michigan State at 6:20 p.m. Thursday in the first round of the tournament.

McNeal averaged 14.7 points for the Golden Eagles this season.

edit: updated with latest info

[Wade for President]

Absolutely crushed by this news.  Really thought we could've made a good run with a healthy McNeal.

The reality of this is CRUSHING.

[NavinRJohnson]

That really sucks, but obviously is not surprising.

Looks like Andy Katz nailed another one.

[IAmMarquette]

Story just lead the 5:00CST SportsCenter.

Good to see MU getting some pub, at least... 

[mwbauer7]

a. Doug Gottlieb is a f'in Jerk, arguing about how MU dealt with McNeals injury then decides to throw in "they are a team that lost at home to ND State"

b. Andy Katz just said you can erase the pencil and write in pen, MSU over MU.

[ChicosBailBonds]

This is going to swing big Mo I hope for us.  Everyone will pick against us now, the line will blow up....all the pundits say we have no chance.

Let's go out and win this game.

[rocky_warrior]

This is all kinda' amusing.  Had we lost to Pitt (gameday) and St. Johns, I think you could say his loss was devastating.  As is, we won those two, and didn't play too terribly against Pitt in the BET.  Our defense misses him a LOT, but our offense may be better.

People not "in the know" are acting like Marquette won't know how to deal with his loss.  Umm...they've already dealt with it, and have played and won without him.

Yes, a loss, but something the team has already confronted.

[NYWarrior]

People not "in the know" are acting like Marquette won't know how to deal with his loss.  Umm...they've already dealt with it, and have played and won without him.Yes, a loss, but something the team has already confronted.

exactly.  TC crossed this bridge with the team before the Pitt game at the BC

the team moved on an adjusted just fine

[NavinRJohnson]

I agree. Let everyone pile on while they can, then circle the wagons and ram it up their a$%es!

[MilTown]

This is not good news, but luckily we are a not a one man team. I really like the way Wes and Fitz have stepped up in the past 3 games. If Matthews, Fitz, and DJ play up to their capabilities, we are still a formidable team. I still like our chances against MSU, but UNC is another story.

[spiral97]

Don't forget Kinsella.  I'm hoping he gets another bid for stud of the game!

[ecompt]

Rocky: The difference is that had we lost to Pitt (Gameday) or St. John's, we'd be hosting an NIT game tomorrow night. This disclosure is no surprise; that splint on his shooting hand indicated a 4-6-week injury.

[Tommy Brice for Coach]

This just in: The announcer of the Opening Play In Game just said McNeal is only out for the first round... thats gotta be a mix up, right?

[MUEng92]

MU had an official press release stating it that way.  This was posted on CBS-SL just now.

http://www.cbs.sportsline.com/collegebasketball/story/10058732

[LastWarrior]

So what is the injury??   ???

[NavinRJohnson]

Rosiak has changed the report to say only out for this weekend. Looks like he got it wrong the first time - or at least thats what it appears someone from MU called to tell him.

[MUEng92]

Or he was assuming the season wouldn't last past the weekend!

[LastWarrior]

PER ESPN...


MILWAUKEE -- Marquette guard Jerel McNeal will miss the first round of the NCAA Tournament because of an injured right thumb.

The sophomore has been sidelined for Marquette's last three games and won't play in the Golden Eagles' game against Michigan State on Thursday, associate athletic director Mike Broeker said Tuesday.


http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/ncaatourney07/news/story?id=2797567

[Big Papi]

Butch fractures his elbow and he might be back for the FinaL Four if UW makes it McNeal is ruled completely out for the entire tournament for a thumb.  Now I know that you can't compare the two situations nor the two injuries but I find it awfully hard to believe that he is completely ruled out only because that Butch injury looked really bad and his range of motion would be greatly impacted.