[Rosiak's Blog] Fulce has surgery; Specialty Camp

[ToddRosiakSays]

Fulce has surgery; Specialty Camp
               

Unable to shake the pain that dogged him throughout his sophomore season and limited him to just 11 games, Joe Fulce underwent surgery on his troublesome right knee on Friday.

The junior-to-be is expected to be out around 12 weeks while he recovers.

"What he had done was an arthroscopic knee scope," said athletic trainer Ernest Eugene on Saturday night. "They just cleaned out some debris that was in the knee, cleaned it out a little bit. And the patellar tendon, they made an incision and debrided (removed) some of the scar tissue. They also cleaned out some of the roughening on the underside of the kneecap.

"It was more just cleaning up some bad stuff that was in there, to give it the opportunity to heal. We thought that was the best possible thing for us to do for him to be able to play pain-free. The main thing was the patellar tendon debridement. Sometimes the best thing is to debride it, instead of treating it and treating it and resting it.

"Some people manage it and get through it, but some people, if you take that approach and it doesn't work, the best thing is probably to go in and do the debridement."

In addition to all that, Fulce also had a more proactive procedure done.

"Since he had the patellar stress fracture, he had some remnants of some old stuff in the kneecap, they also drilled a couple little holes in the patella," he said. "Just to stimulate healing. Drilling the holes allows the patella to bleed, and it's like taking a scar and opening it up again and letting it bleed, so it can re-heal.

"It's along the lines of microfracture, but in terms of rehab it's not nearly as significant as a microfracture."

Eugene said Fulce's knee had begun to bother him again last month, which put he and the rest of MU's medical staff on watch. Less than two weeks ago, Fulce appeared fairly optimistic about the long road to recovery he's traveled since first being diagnosed with a stress fracture in his kneecap last November.

But now he's expected to be out until early September, assuming all goes well with his rehabilitation. And missing three months of summer workouts figures to be a significant setback for a player who remains an unknown quantity at the forward spot.

"Everyone heals differently; I don't like to use timetables," Eugene said. "Doctor tells us 12 weeks, that's a general timetable for us. But we set our goals in the short-term -- every two weeks we have different goals that we're trying to accomplish. It may take him 16 weeks; it may take him eight weeks. You never know."

The positive for the Golden Eagles is they finally appear to have enough depth in the frontcourt to survive an injury or two. The negative is much of that depth is untested, except for Lazar Hayward and, to a lesser extent, Jimmy Butler.

Either way, the hope is the surgery will help Fulce turn the corner and help him finally reach his potential sooner than later.

"If he ever had a chance to be healthy, they had to do it," said coach Buzz Williams. "If it's going to change, what they did was the right thing."

-- Fulce's surgery aside, Williams was in a good mood Saturday as he and the rest of his staff held the first of two Specialty Camps scheduled for this summer.

Attended by almost 40 high-school players from the Classes of 2010 and 2011, it was a chance for MU's brain trust to get an up-close and personal look over a two-day span at a number of prospects that have and will continue to be on the recruiting radar.

Among those in attendance was Aaron Bowen, one of two oral commitments in the Golden Eagles' 2010-'11 class. I'll break him down in a minute.

But first, here's the list of attendees, broken down by the teams to which they were assigned:

Team 1
Jerome Hunter, Chanse Creekmur, Darell Longstreet, Wayne Blackshear, D.J. Peterson, Darius Howell.

Team 2

Kevin Noreen, John Maklin, Reggie Smith, Derek Cook, Kevin Powell, Harris Roberts.

Team 3

Cinmeon Bowers, Aaron Bowen, Corbin Collins, Rajan Muhammad, Shane Southwell, Terry Whisnant, Jelan Kendrick.

Team 4

Quevyn Winters, Mike Shaw, C.J. Malone, Tony Benford Jr., Charles Lee, Jamail Jones.

Team 5

Phillip Jackson, Jonathan Jackson, Davontay Grace, Troy Huff, Preston Ross, Hakim Stampley.

Team 6

Donnell Harris, Devince Boykins, Jayvaughn Pinkston, Paul Jesperson, Jay Canty, Elgin Cook.

Each team played four games on Saturday night after a full day of stations, skill work, conditioning, testing, tours and the like.

-- Bowen played best in his first game, with six rebounds and a blocked shot. He scored on a putback to open the game but didn't score again. Considering each game was played with a 15-minute running clock and both played and refereed fairly loosely, that wasn't a huge issue.

Watching him warm up, he has a somewhat unorthodox-looking jumper, but it's smooth nonetheless and went in much more than it missed. Bowen used his length and ranginess well in each game, especially on the boards, and looks to be exactly the type of athlete Williams has been trying to land.

While defense didn't appear to be the highest priority for anyone, Bowen at least has the looks of someone who can become a solid defender with work and coaching. On his block in the first game, he cleanly swatted Winters as he faced up from beyond the arc -- a play that required both length and timing.

Bowen does have a fair amount of work ahead of him both in the weight room and at the training table, as he's extremely lanky. A conservative guess is he'll need to put on another 15 pounds or so by the time his freshman season rolls around, in order to be able to withstand the physical play he's going to be facing.

The camp concludes on Sunday, and MU is expected to host its second sometime in August.

-- Finally, I'll be on vacation this coming week, so unless something earthshattering happens, I won't be posting any updates on the blog.

Once I return, I'll have profiles catching you up on more of MU's returning players, beginning with David Cubillan.
               

http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/47136642.html
               

[mug644]

Good to get more information about Fulce, and to have a glimpse of Bowen. I guess the quick mention of Cubillan at a returning player hints that he most certainly is not leaving. Here's hoping he can get his shot back.

[VegasWarrior77]

"Once I return, I'll have profiles catching you up on more of MU's returning players, beginning with David Cubillan".

It looks like Cubes will be back to play his senior year.

[Pakuni]

Some fairly big-time recruits there:

Jelan Kendrick (#30 overall 2010 per Scout)
Dwight Powell (#39 overall 2010)
Wayne Blackshear (#8 overall 2011)
Mike Shaw (#10 overall 2011)

[Brewtown Andy]

"Once I return, I'll have profiles catching you up on more of MU's returning players, beginning with David Cubillan".

It looks like Cubes will be back to play his senior year.

It also means that for whatever reason, Rosiak is waiting to do his offseason profile on Acker.

[bilsu]

All he said was Culliban was next.

[77ncaachamps]

Tony Bedford, Jr.

Where does he play and what year is he?

[ATWizJr]

Is he the coach's kid?

[MUDPT]

They played off the microfracture, but it really depends on how big the "lesion" was on his kneecap.  If he had a small one (head of an eraser or smaller) that's okay, but if it's bigger, that might take a lot longer to heal.  Wayne Blackshear, wow.

[ChicosBailBonds]

I never understand why they wait so long to do these surgeries.  I know you want to avoid it as much as possible and I suspect school is part of the issue as well, but it seems to me so many times I read about an athlete's surgery and the recoopment time puts them into the season or pre-season.  Why not have the surgery in March when the season was over, or early May when the school year was over?

Obviously I'm sitting 1000's of miles away with only fragments of information, I only bring it up because it seems to happen to many pro and college athletes that wait well into the offseason instead of right when the offseason starts.

[mviale]

Is Fulce the new Kinsella?  So much potential, yet always disappoints with an injury.

[MUBasketball]

Is he the coach's kid?

Are you really asking if Tony Benford Jr. is the son of Tony Benford???

[lurch91]

They played off the microfracture, but it really depends on how big the "lesion" was on his kneecap.  If he had a small one (head of an eraser or smaller) that's okay, but if it's bigger, that might take a lot longer to heal.  Wayne Blackshear, wow.

If that's the case, I really hope Buzz considers next year as a possible redshirt year for Fulce. 

[ATWizJr]

Are you really asking if Tony Benford Jr. is the son of Tony Benford???

Was responding to 77 NCAA Champs.

[MR.HAYWARD]

that was a pretty darn nice list of kids at the camp obviously the 4 aforementioned kids are highly toughted but also a good number of 3 and 4 star kids in that group too.  Interesting to see who will be at the next camp and very disappointing that rosiak did not get a comment or updat from any of those top recruits.

[bma725]

that was a pretty darn nice list of kids at the camp obviously the 4 aforementioned kids are highly toughted but also a good number of 3 and 4 star kids in that group too.  Interesting to see who will be at the next camp and very disappointing that rosiak did not get a comment or updat from any of those top recruits.

You might want to learn the rule before you criticize Rosiak.  He is allowed to watch them play and report who is there but that's it.  Any contact with the kids is considered a violation and MU would be punished.  He can interview them after the camp is over, but no contact is allowed during the camp.

[downtown85]

Hey BMA, does recruiting rules cover journalists with no direct affiliation with the university as well?   Does this only apply to camps?     Kind of more than a little ridiculous if such a rule exists.     

[bma725]

Hey BMA, does recruiting rules cover journalists with no direct affiliation with the university as well?   Does this only apply to camps?     Kind of more than a little ridiculous if such a rule exists.     

Any journalist whatsoever.  The university is required to make sure the kids are not contacted.  I supposed a journalist could try to do it anyway, but they'd find themselves out of a job rather quickly.

Not sure if it is a camp specific thing or not.  There are all sorts of rules regarding press contact during official/unofficial visits, and I think camp visits are considered some sort of unofficial visit.

[Pakuni]

Any journalist whatsoever.  The university is required to make sure the kids are not contacted.  I supposed a journalist could try to do it anyway, but they'd find themselves out of a job rather quickly.

Not sure if it is a camp specific thing or not.  There are all sorts of rules regarding press contact during official/unofficial visits, and I think camp visits are considered some sort of unofficial visit.

Forgive my skepticism but I'm, well ... entirely skeptical. Any chance you can show me where I can find this rule?
Essentially, the rule would have the NCAA punishing a member institution for two people not affiliated with the institution exercising their First Amendment rights to free speech, free association and, if they so choose, freedom of the press. I could understand a rule against the university making the players accessible at the camp, but to stop a news organization from contacting a player outside of the camp?
Even if such a rule existed, good luck trying to enforce it.

As for someone losing their job ... fat chance. I'm not aware of many news organizations firing reporters for speaking with sources in an entirely ethical and legal manner. I suppose MU could seek some retribution by denying Rosiak access, but that would a) only cause the JS to dig in its heels, b) make the university look exceptionally petty and c) hurt the university as much, if not more, than the JS.

[dsfire]

Forgive my skepticism but I'm, well ... entirely skeptical. Any chance you can show me where I can find this rule?
Essentially, the rule would have the NCAA punishing a member institution for two people not affiliated with the institution exercising their First Amendment rights to free speech, free association and, if they so choose, freedom of the press. I could understand a rule against the university making the players accessible at the camp, but to stop a news organization from contacting a player outside of the camp?
Even if such a rule existed, good luck trying to enforce it.

I think you missed part of bma's first post on the subject:

He can interview them after the camp is over, but no contact is allowed during the camp.

[Marquette65]

Pukuni, I'm not a NCAA rules " expert"  not sure any one is.  However, the University of Tenn. is self reporting a possible recruiting violation because an ESPN camera was present when the head football coach was talking to a recruit during a camp and was filmed w/ audio.

I'll take a wild guess and say that MU is recruiting most , if not all, of the kids at the camp.

[Marquette65]

don't be surprised if Blachshear is not playing in the Chicago Public High School league next year

[bma725]

Forgive my skepticism but I'm, well ... entirely skeptical. Any chance you can show me where I can find this rule?
Essentially, the rule would have the NCAA punishing a member institution for two people not affiliated with the institution exercising their First Amendment rights to free speech, free association and, if they so choose, freedom of the press. I could understand a rule against the university making the players accessible at the camp, but to stop a news organization from contacting a player outside of the camp?
Even if such a rule existed, good luck trying to enforce it.

As for someone losing their job ... fat chance. I'm not aware of many news organizations firing reporters for speaking with sources in an entirely ethical and legal manner. I suppose MU could seek some retribution by denying Rosiak access, but that would a) only cause the JS to dig in its heels, b) make the university look exceptionally petty and c) hurt the university as much, if not more, than the JS.

Read the post again.  The school is required to keep the players from being interviewed while they are here for the camp.  If Rosiak wants to interview them after the camp that's fine.  If Rosiak wants to interview them before the camp, that's fine.  But the school cannot allow access to them while they are visitors to the university.

I think you are overestimating how much a news organization would allow it's reporter to get away with.  Every reporter out there knows that they would cause a school to commit an NCAA infraction if they behave in such a manner.  They would have to willfully do so, and no credible news source is going to employee someone who willfully breaks the rules and alienates and entire staff/athletic department in order to get a possible scoop on a kid who isn't even coming to the school yet.

[downtown85]

Now it is clear.  I am almost sorry I started this highjack.   

Anyway, getting back to the original piece.  Does anyone know whether previous Marquette camps had such a high quality turnout or is this more of the Buzz recruiting magic? 

[Pakuni]

Read the post again.  The school is required to keep the players from being interviewed while they are here for the camp.  If Rosiak wants to interview them after the camp that's fine.  If Rosiak wants to interview them before the camp, that's fine.  But the school cannot allow access to them while they are visitors to the university.

That's fine, but it's not quite what you said. I don't mean to parse words too much, but allowing and/or providing media access to a recruit in a camp setting and preventing one person from speaking with another outside the camp setting - even while camp is occurring -aren't the same thing.
Are you suggesting that if Todd Rosiak stood outside the Al and spoke with Wayne Blackshear - outside the confines of the camp - MU would be guilty of a recruiting violation? Or if Rosiak got Mike Shaw's cell phone number and gave him a call over the weekend, that would have caused Marquette problems with the NCAA? What's MU reasonably supposed to do in that circumstance? Take away campers' cell phones?

I'm still waiting for some evidence that this would be a recruiting violation.
The closest I can find from the NCAA recruiting rulebook is ..

13.10.1 Presence of Media during Recruiting Contact.
"A member institution shall not permit a media entity to be present during any recruiting contact made by an institution's coaching staff member. Violations of this bylaw do not affect a prospective student-athlete's eligibility and are considered institutional violations per Constitution 2.8.1. (Adopted: 1/9/96, Revised: 1/14/97)"

https://goomer.ncaa.org/wdbctx/LSDBi/LSDBi.LSDBiPackage.DisplayBylaw?p_Division=1&p_IndexName=ManualIndex&p_PkValue=332&p_TextTerms=ThisIsADummyPhraseThatWillNotBeDuplicated&p_TitleTerms=ThisIsADummyPhraseThatWillNotBeDuplicated&p_BylawNum=13.10.1&p_Text=1_13_11_1.HTML&p_ViewAdopted=off&p_BylawType=0&p_ProposedDate=&p_AdoptedDate=&p_EffectiveDate=01-JAN-2000&p_HeadFoot=1&p_CallCount=1

I'm no expert on NCAA rules, but talking to a kid outside the camp, to me, isn't the same as being present "during any recruiting contact made by an institution's coaching staff member." Clealry if Rosiak were to speak by phone with a player, or talk with him outside the Al, that would not be present during a contact between recruit and staff member.
That's why the Tennessee situation - mentioned by another poster above - is not remotely comparable. Kiffin allowed ESPN to film him speaking with recruits. That's not the hypothetical here. We're talking about a reporter speaking with a player outside the camp and outside a staff member's presence.

Also, if you look at the recruiting rulebook, it very clearly defines "contact" as "any face-to-face encounter between a prospective student-athlete or the prospective student-athlete's parents, relatives or legal guardians and an institutional staff member or athletics representative during which any dialogue occurs in excess of an exchange of a greeting." So, i don't see these kids simply being on campus as qualifying as a recruiting contact as stated in the media rule above.

I think you are overestimating how much a news organization would allow it's reporter to get away with.  Every reporter out there knows that they would cause a school to commit an NCAA infraction if they behave in such a manner.  They would have to willfully do so, and no credible news source is going to employee someone who willfully breaks the rules and alienates and entire staff/athletic department in order to get a possible scoop on a kid who isn't even coming to the school yet.

A reporter wouldn't be "getting away" with anything because there's simply no way it would be a recruiting violation.
That said, in your opinion, will ESPN soon be firing its Outside the Lines producer, cameraman and reporter (Wendi Nix) for the Tennessee incident?




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