Otule and Fulce

[schubert33]

I saw them warming up, so I asume they were available if needed.  I bet they will get there feet wet against IPFW.

[Daniel]

Fulce looked great int he warm-ups, was runing and making lay-ups etc.  I thought we'd see him last night.  Otule I think still had the boot on.  I think we'll see Fulce first.  Can't wait!

[muwarrior87]

Chris has been out there w/o the boot on but when I see him around campus, he still always has it on. 

[TallTitan34]

Take it for what it's worth but, in the post game conference Buzz said he allowed them to suit up to feel like they were apart of the big game instead of just sitting at the end of the bench.  He also said Chris can only be out of the boot 3 hours a day.

That being said Fulce did look great again, practicing before the rest of the team with OTule.

[lab_warrior]

Any one of these guys coming back against UT would be a huge bonus.  I thought Fulce had a worse injury than first reported??  Guess not.

[bilsu]

If they can play Saturday that would be great. If they cannot play Saturday, I do not think the Tennessee game would be the time to let them play. I think they should get to play first in a game that is not so fast paced.

[TallTitan34]

If they can play Saturday that would be great. If they cannot play Saturday, I do not think the Tennessee game would be the time to let them play. I think they should get to play first in a game that is not so fast paced.

Agreed bilsu.  When they were warming up against Central Michigan I was hoping they would get some time in that game instead of coming right into the UW game. 

Hopefully this week off will get them ready for a little PT against IPFW.

[Big Papi]

I don't get it.  WIth Fulce it has been mentioned that he can play if he can handle the pain.  If he is warming up in practice and doing the big dance around jumping thing that the team does before the tip-off, he can obviously handle the pain.  So shouldn't he be playing?

[wadesworld]

I don't get it.  WIth Fulce it has been mentioned that he can play if he can handle the pain.  If he is warming up in practice and doing the big dance around jumping thing that the team does before the tip-off, he can obviously handle the pain.  So shouldn't he be playing?

Not necessarily true.  Obviously different injuries heal differently and such, but that's why people need to go through rehab.  They are able to put it through certain things but not all things.  He has to work himself back into it.  When I had ankle surgery I was able to go and shoot by myself and felt fine, but then when I played in pickup games I could play for like half a game and I was dead.  I couldn't guard anyone.  My conditioning and strength was gone.

[avid1010]

I don't get it. 

Exactly my thoughts.  Either the team is keeping it hush or this one is even puzzling the doctors because I haven't heard anything that makes me think his knee will get any better this year.

Is there a surgical procedure they can do in the off-season, will it heal itself in time, or is this something he has to live with for life???

[ErickJD08]

Does anyone know if Fulce can shoot the trifecta?

[Danman5]

Does anyone know if Fulce can shoot the trifecta?

I'm not sure, but watching him warm up before madison he looked good from beyond the arc. he has kind of a unique release, its a little early (which isnt necessarily a bad thing ), but it works for him!

I have a really good feeling about Fulce for some reason
maybe its cause he looks kinda like Kobe 

[bma725]

Is there a surgical procedure they can do in the off-season, will it heal itself in time, or is this something he has to live with for life???

It won't heal itself over time.  The main option is to just live with it and learn to deal with the pain.  There are surgeries for the issue, but they don't really fix the problem, they just lessen the pain a bit.

[muwarrior87]

I have a really good feeling about Fulce for some reason
maybe its cause he looks kinda like Kobe 

looks like Kobe and has a game similar to the way Marion plays...by those two factors, he's gotta be good! 

[mosarsour]

I'm not sure, but watching him warm up before madison he looked good from beyond the arc. he has kind of a unique release, its a little early (which isnt necessarily a bad thing ), but it works for him!

I have a really good feeling about Fulce for some reason
maybe its cause he looks kinda like Kobe 

Kobe? Really? I see him more like a Shawn Marion type than a Kobe type.

[Markusquette]

Fulce can hit the three, but I would be surprised if he got many looks from beyond the arc.  If he is confidant with his shot in game situations, he might be one of our better shooters.

[avid1010]

It won't heal itself over time.  The main option is to just live with it and learn to deal with the pain.  There are surgeries for the issue, but they don't really fix the problem, they just lessen the pain a bit.

So what do you think he/the team is waiting for?

Am I over reacting because this sounds like a terrible injury that will really limit what he can do in his basketball career. 

[bma725]

So what do you think he/the team is waiting for?

Am I over reacting because this sounds like a terrible injury that will really limit what he can do in his basketball career. 

Likely waiting for the pain to get to a point where Fulce feels he can play with it.  That's kind of what Buzz said in the press conference last week when he called it a split kneecap.

And I wouldn't say it would limit his career, there appear to be many athletes that have this kind of thing.  Andy Murray is one of the top 5 tennis players in the world and he has had a split kneecap since childhood.  One could argue that given the amount of running he has to do in tennis, he is putting more stress on it than Fulce is playing basketball.

Of course, this is all based on the fact that Buzz called it a split kneecap, which may not be exactly correct.  Usually that kind of injury is something you have from birth when the bones don't form correctly.

[avid1010]

Likely waiting for the pain to get to a point where Fulce feels he can play with it.  That's kind of what Buzz said in the press conference last week when he called it a split kneecap.

And I wouldn't say it would limit his career, there appear to be many athletes that have this kind of thing.  Andy Murray is one of the top 5 tennis players in the world and he has had a split kneecap since childhood.  One could argue that given the amount of running he has to do in tennis, he is putting more stress on it than Fulce is playing basketball.

Of course, this is all based on the fact that Buzz called it a split kneecap, which may not be exactly correct.  Usually that kind of injury is something you have from birth when the bones don't form correctly.

That makes more sense....thanks.  Although I am a bit surprised it has been kept as quiet as it has.  I can believe they gain a competitive edge by keeping the injuries of two D 1 newcomers quiet. 

Tennis is a good comparison with the amount of running and lateral movement.  I'm looking forward to seeing him play.

[bilsu]

Right now since he has not played at all, there is no question he is eligible to red shirt. Otule played in the exhibition game, so he would have to apply for a medical red shirt. I think you want to make sure Fulce will make a difference before you give up a red shirt year. If his injury severly limits his playing time, I would think you do not play him at all. Playing Mbakwe last year would have been a waste, if he did not transfer out.

[Nukem2]

Right now since he has not played at all, there is no question he is eligible to red shirt. Otule played in the exhibition game, so he would have to apply for a medical red shirt. I think you want to make sure Fulce will make a difference before you give up a red shirt year. If his injury severly limits his playing time, I would think you do not play him at all. Playing Mbakwe last year would have been a waste, if he did not transfer out.

You are wrong on Otule.  The rules changed a couple years ago on the exhibition game impact.