Otule Cleared?

[Benny B]

From Stats LLC game preview via ESPN & Yahoo 12/28:

"Starting center Chris Otule will miss his fifth straight contest due to an ACL injury to his left knee, with Williams hoping the junior may be available for Marquette's Big East opener against Villanova on Sunday."

Here's my question... how far in advance must one be cleared from an ACL injury?  Same day, two days, a week?  If Chris could  be ready to go Sunday, wouldn't it be plausible that he might see some action tonight -- even if just a few minutes?  Heck, I might sub CO in on defense for a possession at a time for no other reason than to give him some game minutes against an elite big before heading into the BE season.

Far be it for Buzz to outright mislead the media, but apparently all he said was that he was hoping CO might be available Sunday... that doesn't preclude him from hoping he might be available tonight.

Strotty via Paint Touches 12/28:

"Otule’s status still is unknown, but Williams said his center is inching closer to running in practice.  “If he’s able to get on the court, it’d be towards the end of the week,” Williams said. “He’s continued to improve relative to his flexibility, his strength is gaining, but there’s only so much you can do to hurry up and get stronger.”"

Presumably, the interview was earlier in the week, so if one were to take Buzz literally, "towards the end of the week" has to be tonight.  Sunday wouldn't be "towards" the end of the week... it "is" the end of the week (or the beginning of next week depending on how you set your Outlook calendar preferences).

OK -- Now that my stretching is done, I'm all warmed up for the game tonight.

[Skatastrophy]

I hope he gets 5 minutes.  That would bode well for him being ready when we really need him starting this weekend.

[MerrittsMustache]

Personally, I'd be happy just to see him dressed and going through warm-ups before the game.

[ATWizJr]

Hope I'm wrong, but there seems to be a lot of ambiguity regarding this injury which leads me to conclude that the injury is serious enough to require surgery and sideline him for the year.  My guess, done for the year.  Not a doctor, just a feeling.

[GGGG]

Why would ambiguity lead you to believe that it's a season ending injury?  It seems to me that if it were for sure season ending, he would be declared out and have the surgery already.  It looks to me that he is trying to get it back in shape to play shortly. 

And frankly I don't find it all that ambiguous.

[Hards Alumni]

Hope I'm wrong, but there seems to be a lot of ambiguity regarding this injury which leads me to conclude that the injury is serious enough to require surgery and sideline him for the year.  My guess, done for the year.  Not a doctor, just a feeling.

I have no idea where you would get this since we have heard basically everything to the contrary.

[jsglow]

Personally, I'd be happy just to see him dressed and going through warm-ups before the game.

Agree.  Be a lift for the team if he can be in uniform tonight and run the layup drill before the game.  I'd view that as a huge win.

[Tugg Speedman]

Hope I'm wrong, but there seems to be a lot of ambiguity regarding this injury which leads me to conclude that the injury is serious enough to require surgery and sideline him for the year.  My guess, done for the year.  Not a doctor, just a feeling.

We are approaching a month since Otule's injury (dec 2).  If surgery was needed it would have happened weeks ago.  You don't wait a month to repair a ACL.

[Bocephys]

We are approaching a month since Otule's injury (dec 2).  If surgery was needed it would have happened weeks ago.  You don't wait a month to repair a ACL.

Actually these days you do since they typically wait fort swelling to go down before surgery.  That being said, if it was a complete tear, they wouldn't be talking about him suiting up for Sunday's game.

[Brewtown Andy]

Hope I'm wrong, but there seems to be a lot of ambiguity regarding this injury which leads me to conclude that the injury is serious enough to require surgery and sideline him for the year.  My guess, done for the year.  Not a doctor, just a feeling.

Buzz told Enlund earlier in the week that if it was just about health, he'd play again this season. But Buzz is trying to make the right decision for CO's entire life, not just the time he can help Buzz win ball games.

[94Warrior]

He did not appear close to ready one week ago prior to the UWM game.  We was limping badly before the game as he walked back to the locker room.  I'd be shocked to see him against Vandy or Nova.

[Brewtown Andy]

He did not appear close to ready one week ago prior to the UWM game.  We was limping badly before the game as he walked back to the locker room.  I'd be shocked to see him against Vandy or Nova.

Maybe sitting down on those (relative to his size) tiny chairs for 2 hours is bad for his knee.

[Hards Alumni]

Actually these days you do since they typically wait fort swelling to go down before surgery.  That being said, if it was a complete tear, they wouldn't be talking about him suiting up for Sunday's game.

I can tell you that waiting for the swelling to go down does not take a week let alone a month.

At least enough to tell the extent of the injury.

[ATWizJr]

Why would ambiguity lead you to believe that it's a season ending injury?  It seems to me that if it were for sure season ending, he would be declared out and have the surgery already.  It looks to me that he is trying to get it back in shape to play shortly. 

And frankly I don't find it all that ambiguous.

  Not ambiguous? what is the exact nature of the injury? Full tear? Partial tear? Tear with meniscus damage? Tear with additional mcl damage?  Some combination of the above?  I think they are desperately hoping it will heal, but could be in denial.

[Jay Bee]

We are approaching a month since Otule's injury (dec 2).  If surgery was needed it would have happened weeks ago.  You don't wait a month to repair a ACL.

Absolutely false.  Such a wait occurs frequently.

For a real world example - Trevor Mbakwe.  Literally more than a month, although surgery was decided upon almost immediately.

[Benny B]

Buzz told Enlund earlier in the week that if it was just about health, he'd play again this season. But Buzz is trying to make the right decision for CO's entire life, not just the time he can help Buzz win ball games.

There's a reason I quoted Strotty, not Enlund.  In time, most everyone else will be doing the same.

[Bocephys]

Absolutely false.  Such a wait occurs frequently.

For a real world example - Trevor Mbakwe.  Literally more than a month, although surgery was decided upon almost immediately.

Exactly, that was my point.  Tom Brady waited about a month to have his done as well if I recall.

[bilsu]

I think we do not need Otule to beat Villanova. I hope he is allowed to recover before he is rushed back. Tonights game a healthy Otule would make a difference, but it is a non-conference game and I would not bring him back early for it. We definately could use Otule against Georgetown and Syracuse. However, Syrcause is a loss either way so why rush him back for that. Georgetown is the only game I would rush him back for and personally I would rather take the chance that we do not need him.

[GGGG]

 Not ambiguous? what is the exact nature of the injury? Full tear? Partial tear? Tear with meniscus damage? Tear with additional mcl damage?  Some combination of the above?  I think they are desperately hoping it will heal, but could be in denial.

I think it is obviously an injury that isn't necessarily season ending.  I have no idea why you say "could be in denial."  They know the extent of the injury...don't make assumptions just because you don't.

[Bocephys]

  Not ambiguous? what is the exact nature of the injury? Full tear? Partial tear? Tear with meniscus damage? Tear with additional mcl damage?  Some combination of the above?  I think they are desperately hoping it will heal, but could be in denial.

I do not believe there is any rule per the NCAA requiring them to disclose injuries like the NFL, hence the lack of information.  You didn't get up in arms only knowing that Juan had a "shoulder injury" did you?  So why not trust the coaches with this one as well?  I highly doubt they know Chris has a torn ACL and are just hoping on a wing and a prayer that it magically heals all by itself quicker than anyone in existence.

[ATWizJr]

I think it is obviously an injury that isn't necessarily season ending.  I have no idea why you say "could be in denial."  They know the extent of the injury...don't make assumptions just because you don't.

I do not know the full extent of the injury.  Nor do you or anyone else on this  board.  That's because this state of ambiguity has been created by the program not disclosing it to us.  Obviously not necessarily season ending?  Now, there's an assumption.  Please recall, I said it was only a feeling that he was done for the year, not a fact and that I hoped I was mistaken.   

[ATWizJr]

I do not believe there is any rule per the NCAA requiring them to disclose injuries like the NFL, hence the lack of information.  You didn't get up in arms only knowing that Juan had a "shoulder injury" did you?  So why not trust the coaches with this one as well?  I highly doubt they know Chris has a torn ACL and are just hoping on a wing and a prayer that it magically heals all by itself quicker than anyone in existence.

  No, I didn't get up in arms about Juan's injury.  It has nothing to do with trusting or not trusting the coaches  It has to do with my caring more about an injury to our starting center than an injury to an incoming switchable at this point.  Should be obvious, aina'?

[GGGG]

Obviously not necessarily season ending?  Now, there's an assumption.   

"Not necessarily season ending" isn't an assumption.  If he is working out, MU obviously believes it may not be season ending.

[ATWizJr]

"Not necessarily season ending" isn't an assumption.  If he is working out, MU obviously believes it may not be season ending.

That sounds ambiguous.  "not necessarily season ending" ="also possibly season ending". 

[JD]

Lmao, Does Sultan have anything better to do than argue with people?  Everytime I'm reading comments it seems you're always giving your objective opinion and throwing insults in there as well.  How do you dress yourself in the morning?

Can't wait for this "educational" I'm about to receive.