Uh-Oh...

[PuertoRicanNightmare]

Looks like we've got a couple injuries to worry about. Good thing Kuphall got that valuable experience last game. Hope these guys are OK.

www.jsonline.com/watch/?watch=2&date=1/1/2007&id=16589

[4everwarriors]

Did Crean have the team tackling a stuffed shirt or something before the big Providence game?

[mu_hilltopper]

Strange.  I bumped my head about an hour ago, too.  Obviously, not as bad!

MU's Matthews, McNeal injured

Marquette University sophomore guards Wesley Matthews and Jerel McNeal were injured in a collision during practice Monday afternoon at the Al McGuire Center.

The players, competing on the same team, bumped heads while attempting to grab a rebound. Both were taken to the hospital for precautionary measures, according to a university spokesman.

Although neither injury is considered serious, the status of both players for the Golden Eagles' Big East opener at Providence on Thursday is unknown at this point.

[spartan3186]

Why were they practicing on New Years Day anyways?? I know theyve been struggling but New Years Day? Just an obvservation

[ToddPacker]

You're kidding right?  I hope so because that is a ridiculous question.  They're on break for another 2 weeks or so, you have to take advantage of every chance you get.  New Year's Day is not a family holiday so who cares?

[PuertoRicanNightmare]

I understand they were injured in a teamwork drill, where individuals fall backwards expecting their teammates to catch them. Or, perhaps they were running around the indoor track at the Old Gym and fell off, ala Anthony Candelino.

[RawdogDX]

Why were they practicing on New Years Day anyways?? I know theyve been struggling but New Years Day? Just an obvservation

Pretty much every team does.  I'm dating a girl whose DIII woman's team had to.

[tower912]

Shades of Vinnie Johnson and Adrian Dantley in the 87 (?) playoffs against the Celtics.   Hopefully, a better ultimate outcome.

[mu_hilltopper]

Update from Rosiak:

Neither Wesley Matthews nor Jerel McNeal participated in practice Tuesday as the Marquette Golden Eagles continue to prepare for their Big East opener at Providence.

One would assume one/both of them had a concussion.  Only thing you can do there is rest, make sure you don't knock your noggin again.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concussion

Some concussions can have serious, lasting effects. The symptoms of most concussions are resolved in 48 to 72 hours, but in many patients, problems persist.[8][7] In postconcussive syndrome (PCS), concussion symptoms do not resolve for weeks, months, or even years, and the patient may have headaches, light and sound sensitivity, memory and attention problems, dizziness, difficulty with directed movements, depression, and anxiety. Symptoms usually peak 4 to 6 weeks after the concussion, but may go on longer, some even lasting a year or more.[7] Children commonly experience more severe symptoms of postconcussion syndrome than adults do.[7] Physical therapy plus rest is the best recovery technique, and symptoms usually go away on their own.

[snakesinthesnoilet]

I park my car in the parking structure attached to humphrey (often see many of the guys/girls on the bball teams in passing).  Low and behold as I pull out of my spot and turn the wheel to go straight, I see who appears to be wes (was in the usual mu bball players warmup outfit with his hood up and head hanging down so it was hard to confirm) walking to his car.  He was by himself and appeared to fine, so I was excited that he wasn't bed ridden or anything.  I intrepreted that as a good sign but if we find out on the contrary don't cut my nuts off, it was early and I was still half asleep.  Figured some might find solace in this little encounter I had this morning.

Hopefully he was going to practice instead of to a follow-up hospital visit.....

[rocky_warrior]

http://www.jsonline.com/watch/index.aspx?watch=2

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 3, 2007, 3:43 p.m.
By Todd Rosiak
MU's Matthews, McNeal recovering

Marquette Golden Eagles coach Tom Crean said sophomore guards Wesley Matthews and Jerel McNeal are continuing to recover after bumping heads during a practice Monday.

"It's still in a situation where they're going through the process of recovery from the mishap in practice," Crean said Wednesday afternoon, shortly after landing in Providence. "It's not really upgraded anymore from unknown. Possibly day-to-day but still an unknown situation at this point."

Crean would not detail the injuries to either player or their severity, but did shed some light onto what happened.

"It was one of our progression rebounding drills," he said. "It was a 2-on-2 rebounding drill, they were on the same team and they just collided. It was part of our daily process, one of those things that happened early in practice. Just a freak mishap. But it happened and we're just trying to deal with it and move forward."

Both Matthews and McNeal were taken to a local hospital for precautionary measures after bumping heads. Neither practiced on Tuesday, and 15th-ranked MU (13-2) wasn't scheduled to practice until Wednesday evening in Providence.

Crean didn't say if either player would take part.

Crean said he and the team are already prepared to go without the pair Thursday night against the Friars in the teams' Big East opener if need be.

"Absolutely. You have to do that," he said. "At the same time, when you mix teams up in practice and things of that nature throughout the year, hopefully that comes back if that is the case."

Having to play without Matthews, McNeal or both would be a huge blow for the Golden Eagles.

Matthews is third on the team in scoring at 11.5 points per game and its second-leading rebounder at 5.5. McNeal is the second-leading scorer at 14.5 points per game, second in assists at 3.7 per game, third in rebounds at 4.5 while also being the Golden Eagles' best defender.

Providence (10-3) might also be without a key player.

Sophomore point guard Sharaud Curry, who leads the Big East in assists at 5.6 per game, has missed the Friars' last three games -- including Tuesday night's victory over Longwood -- after being suspended by coach Tim Welsh for an unspecified violation of team rules.

"Following that game last night and looking at the box score, they didn't miss a beat," said Crean. "We've always tried to err on the side of (caution). I don't think you ever change your opinion on that until you look down and somebody's in their street clothes. Not even their warmups. You always prepare that way."

[PuertoRicanNightmare]

I'd love to see the "rebounding" drill that causes players to collide so violently that they require a hospital stay. This is about as plausible an explanation as the one offered for Diener's injury. But whatever...

[MUCrisco]

Basketball is a contact sport.  Rebounding might be the most physical part about basketball.  If you aren't physical, than you won't be a good rebounding team.  In any rebounding drill, two people's heads could collide.  Sure, we have a competitive rebounding drill @ Marquette called "War", but most programs in the country have a drill like that.

[maxpower773]

Nightmare, why do you even bother posting anymore? All you do is bash Crean and the program.  Sorry this isn't some sort of little kids basketball league, basketball is a contact sport whether you like it or not.  And obviously you've never played any organized basketball or even a pick up game because you'd know that. If you did play, you must be the wussiest player ever, no boxing out, no driving the lane.  Are you one of those people that calls a foul when someone looks at you in a pick up game? So unless you really know what you're talking about, you should just stop talking. Because really it gets old, I'd rather see murf post 100 times a day before I'd rather read what you write.

[LastWarrior]

I'd like to see Murf become more involved on this site.  I know he's not feeling the love on the other board.

[PuertoRicanNightmare]

The difference between the basketball games I play and the ones you describe, (with all that head banging) is the players I play with actually have shoulders, chests, hips and asses, which generally prevent them from banging heads together when jumping for a rebound. 

I must say, I am shocked at the stinging attack leveled against me. The "wussiest player ever?" Ouch. I'm just sorry that maxpower obviously won't ever see this reply.

[SoCalwarrior]

Let's just do without the personal attacks, eh. 

With that said, we're not really blaming Crean here are we?  I mean, unless he's running a head butting drill, how can you blame him?  It's completely plausible that two players will knock heads in a sport that is undeniably physical.  I've banged my head to near unconsciousness getting out of bed, stepping out of the shower and grabbing a cereal bowl from the cabinet.

[MU gimp ONE]

i wish i could see how many of PRN's 123 posts are negative towards the Marquette program.  i am willing to bet it is at least 85% and then the rest of the post were probably just wastes of time.  

I think people are reading too much into this.  big deal... two kids going for a rebound knocked heads.  they took them to the hospital as a precaution.  it didn't say that they rushed them into surgery and will be in intensive care due to a carelessly extreme practice drill.  it could really be something minor but people have to put it under a microscope and believe what they want.  What if these kids knocked heads diving for a loose ball in a game, would PRN come on the board and say it serves Marquette right for playing the game too rough?  we have no idea what kind of drill it was and what kind of intensity it had, so until they release that we should just chalk this up as a freak sport injury.  here's to hoping that they both play tomorrow.

[maxpower773]

Nightmare, maybe I went to far with the wussiest basketball player thing, but accidents happen. I've been hit plenty of times,  even a couple head to head, whether it be on rebounds, or going for steals...some one turns at the wrong time, things like that. Think of whiplash in a car its like that, when two guys go up for a rebound at full speed from different directions, things can happen. Necks are made to bend. You seem to overlook simple things to make your biased ways of thinking seem correct.  Then again, I really do think Crean wants to injure 2 of his top players. 

[spartan3186]

Tom Crean is always going to run a physical practice, dont forget that he used to coach under Tom Izzo. Maybe he should take something else out of Tom Izzo's book and start having the guys practice in football pads...

[PuertoRicanNightmare]

Exactly how is questioning how two players got hospitalized with head injuries "negative" toward the Marquette program?

[Chili]

I think this is the quote people are questioning:

I'd love to see the "rebounding" drill that causes players to collide so violently that they require a hospital stay. This is about as plausible an explanation as the one offered for Diener's injury. But whatever...

For some reason you never believe Crean in almost anything he says. And this rebounding drill is a VERY physical one.

[Warrior Farls]

It was Mike Flory that fell off the track at the Old Gym.

[PuertoRicanNightmare]

I don't know about Flory, but I KNOW Candelino fell off trying to "sweat out" a flu bug. Maybe they both did.

[maxpower773]

I think this is the quote people are questioning:

I'd love to see the "rebounding" drill that causes players to collide so violently that they require a hospital stay. This is about as plausible an explanation as the one offered for Diener's injury. But whatever...

For some reason you never believe Crean in almost anything he says. And this rebounding drill is a VERY physical one.

Yep thats the one