Advertisement

Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Collins’ stand-in ready for action

By Gary Bedore

Advertisement

photo

Photo by John Henry

Kansas University's Rodrick Stewart warms up before the season opener against Louisiana-Monroe. Stewart likely will replace Sherron Collins in the starting lineup Thursday when KU plays host to Washburn.

KU's big men need to take charge with Collins sidelined

With Sherron Collins sidelined for 4-6 weeks with a foot injury and Brandon Rush still recovering from a torn ACL, the Jayhawk basketball team hopes the big men will take charge.

Rush not ruled out against Washburn

Don't rule out KU basketball star Brandon Rush for Thursday's contest against Washburn.

Reader poll

Who is more likely to win a National Championship this year?

  • KU Football 52% 1372 votes
  • KU Men's Basketball 47% 1229 votes

2601 total votes.

Sherron Collins' basketball teammates filed into his Jayhawker Towers apartment one by one Monday night, several hours after Kansas University's sophomore guard had surgery on his left foot.

"It was sad to see him sitting there after the surgery. He was kind of down. The first day is the worst, especially getting out of surgery," KU senior guard Rodrick Stewart said. "You say, 'Man, I just had surgery.' Everybody came down to his room to give him support. That's all he needs is support."

Stewart - who watched some TV with Collins on Monday night - said the 5-foot-11 Chicagoan was in much better spirits Tuesday as he began his six-week recovery from a stress fracture.

"He's doing great today," Stewart said before a Tuesday afternoon weightlifting session. "Sherron is a tough kid. He's going to bounce back 100 percent. We've just got to help him all we can. This is a time we've got to keep him motivated, keep him positive."

Collins had been off to a strong start.

He scored 22 points in a 107-78 opening rout of Louisiana-Monroe and grabbed seven rebounds to go with 10 points in an 85-62 victory over UMKC.

"Sherron is an exciting player. His presence on the court ... you can feed off guys like that in the game," said Stewart, who likely will make the second start of his three-year KU career Thursday against Washburn (7 p.m., Allen Fieldhouse). Stewart started the Rhode Island game last year in place of Julian Wright, who came off the bench as a penalty for being late for a practice.

"We're going to have to have guys bring the energy Sherron had on the court and be a leader because he's a vocal leader on the court, too. That's something we'll miss. At the same time, somebody's going to have to step up," Stewart noted.

That somebody might be the 6-4, 200-pound Stewart, who had eight points off 4-of-4 shooting with four rebounds in 18 minutes against UMKC and three points and eight assists in 16 minutes versus Louisiana-Monroe.

"It's an unfortunate situation, (but) it's an opportunity for guys like me, Tyrel (Reed) and Jeremy (Case) to step up," Stewart said. "We all have to pull together and make this thing work. We've been doing it without Brandon (Rush), so we're definitely going to have to do it again without Sherron."

Stewart, by the way, wasn't shocked to hear of Collins' surgery on Monday. Collins went down in a heap after rolling his left ankle in the second half of Sunday's game against the Kangaroos. The ankle sprain may have aggravated an existing stress fracture to the point surgery was needed.

"Any time one of our players goes down, it's definitely a shock," Stewart said. "When you saw it, you kind of knew it was something when he went to the rack. Sherron is one of those tough guys who gets up right when he falls. I know I'm one of those guys. When I get hurt I at least try to get back up every time. To see him down on the ground, I knew he was hurt real bad."

Stewart - who currently is in what he calls the "best shape of my life" - can only hope the Jayhawks avoid additional injuries.

"I'm prepared if coach wants me to play (more)," Stewart said. "Last year I don't think I would have deserved it (minutes). This year I put in the work over the summer. I'm prepared to start. I'm prepared to come off the bench, whatever is best for the team. This year I'm all about winning. That's all that matters to me."

¢ Rush update: KU coach Bill Self, who this week has said junior Brandon Rush is "close to coming back," and will be back "in a short period of time," stopped short of saying Rush would play against Washburn.

"We're still evaluating the situation. Nothing's been decided," Self said Tuesday, responding to the rumor mill that has started to churn regarding Rush playing against the Ichabods.

Self has said Rush's surgically repaired right knee would not be what's holding him back, just the fact his "timing" remains off.

Self said Collins' injury has not changed Brady Morningstar's status as a red-shirt. Morningstar will continue to practice but not play in games this season.

¢ Signing Day is here: Today is the first day of the week-long early signing period in recruiting. KU will receive signed letters of intent via fax from five players who constitute Rivals.com's No. 7 recruiting class.

They are: Mario Little, 6-5 forward, Chipola (Fla.) Community College; Marcus and Markieff Morris, 6-8 and 6-10 twin forwards from Philadelphia, currently at APEX Academies (Prep School); Quintrell Thomas, 6-8, power forward, St. Patrick High, Elizabeth, N.J.; and Travis Releford, 6-5, guard, Roeland Park Miege.

Little, who attended Chicago's Washington High, is averaging 19.5 points, 5.2 rebounds and 4.2 assists a game for 4-0 Chipola.

Marcus Morris, Rivals.com's No. 37-rated player, averaged 27 points and 12 rebounds his senior year at Philadelphia Prep Charter High. He'll play 30 games this year for APEX Academies. Markieff Morris, Rivals.com's No. 72-rated player, averaged 23 points and 15 boards his senior year.

Thomas, Rivals.com's No. 147-rated player, averaged 9.0 points and 7.5 rebounds his junior year at St. Patrick High. He averaged 22 points and 12 boards last summer for New Jersey Elite AAU.

Releford, Rivals.com's No. 70-rated player, averaged 19.6 points, 6.7 rebounds, 3.0 steals and 3.0 assists his junior year at Miege.

More like this

Comments

jeffreysr (anonymous) says...

I would like to say to Sherron Keep your head up. You will be back before you know it and stronger and better. Your family is always here all you have to do is call.

Jeffrey Sr.

November 14, 2007 at 7:52 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

Lebowski (anonymous) says...

Glad Sherron won't be out too terribly, long. One of the most exciting players to watch play.... definately in the top three for me.. Kirk Hinrich, Steve Nash & Sherron Collins. (I'm sure Nash would have come to KU if only we recruited him!)

Here's to hoping KU doesn't do something unneccesary and plays Brandon in the Washburn game. It's Washburn! I'd be extremely disappointed to see his career and KU's season jeopardized because we want him back for a powderpuff game.

November 14, 2007 at 8:27 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

jpstrayer (anonymous) says...

Regarding Rush...please don't rush Rush back for Washburn...its just not worth it.

November 14, 2007 at 8:29 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

jhwkfan162515 (anonymous) says...

I don't know about this. He's not supposed to be back until December 1. Self needs to stick with that plan.

November 14, 2007 at 8:49 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

okjhok (anonymous) says...

Coach Self, I just want to make sure you got the memo from jpstrayer...he doesn't want you to rush Rush back because he says "it's just not worth it."

November 14, 2007 at 9:11 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

okjhok (anonymous) says...

OK, let me get this straight. Coach Self is supposed to stick with an entirely tentative and completely subject to change return date that was set 6 months ago? It says, plain as day in the article "Self has said Rush's surgically repaired right knee would not be what's holding him back, just the fact his "timing" remains off." Are you guys just messin' with me today?

November 14, 2007 at 9:57 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

suzifrye (anonymous) says...

Keep in mind that it might be a good game for Rush to get a little playing time since it is Washburn, it would be a good practice game for him. Of course I don't want anything to happen to Rush that would set him back, but putting him in a game like this would maybe do some good. I think Self should just wait and see how the game is going and if it is a game that would help Rush slowly work his way back into games then play him for short periods of time.

November 14, 2007 at 10:05 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

okjhok (anonymous) says...

I understand your premise, but these games often get sloppy, and I don't know if it's the type of game that will improve his "timing," as coach calls it. However, it would be a good opportunity for him to start getting his "game legs" back. We're going to need him on the 25th.

November 14, 2007 at 10:18 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

lalawguy (anonymous) says...

I'm NOT saying I want Rush back if he is not 100% healed, but if he is OK to play in time for the Arizona game, that would be just swell! I will be sending my positive vibes his way this week and next.

Either way, I just want both players to get better so that they can be back on the court in perfect condition (whenever that may be).

November 14, 2007 at 11:21 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

KUFan90 (anonymous) says...

I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that Coach Self and the medical staff know when Brandon can safely enter a game without risking injury. If he is cleared for Washburn and Self wants to play him, he'll play him. It won't be "rushing him back" just to ensure we beat Washburn. Cries of "oh no, don't play him against Washburn!" are just plain silly. He will play when it's time to play. Come on.

November 14, 2007 at 11:22 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

flipborder02 (anonymous) says...

I no Rush dosent need to be rushed but it would be nice if he could play 2 or 3 min in the Washburn game.

November 14, 2007 at 12:07 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

BrockIII (anonymous) says...

Little averaging 19 points a game? Nice. From what I've read, it sounds like he'll be the #1 juco player in the country this year.

November 14, 2007 at 12:31 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

soapboxstew (anonymous) says...

Now I know what they mean by "injury bug". It's like it infects the whole team. We have had three guys with "All-American" (high school or college) attached to their name go down this year (da, br, & sc). There are only a handful of teams that can handle that kind of a blow.
I like that everybody is confident that things are OK. There is a lot of positivism on these boards; but I see a big problem on the horizon: we won't have BR or SC against U of A, USC, and GT. If we loose those games, you can kiss a 4 seed goodbye. So I am bummed about this injury.
I know that RodStew is the right replacement for right now; but why not go with the "bigs" line-up?
PG- RussRob
SG- Mario
sf- da
pf- dj
c- Sasha

November 14, 2007 at 2:02 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

100 (anonymous) says...

Sherron is going to be fine and so will KU basketball. He's a great kid with a heart of a champion and could help us to win the whole thing this year. As for something that really matters a bunch right now: Let's talk about iowa state cyclone football. It is time to begin making plans for Saturday KU fans. If you don't have tickets to the game yet, there will be plenty of room on the hill. Wear BLUE!!! I repeat, wear blue!!! no red!!! As for the game, Iowa State is for real -- a truly good football team, with a deceiving record -- they've already shocked two of our big wins, Colorado and K-State. Let's keep in mind that Colorado and K-State beat Oklahoma and Texas (on the road by 21). Every ounce of our rooting energy needs to be put into that game at Memorial Stadium on Saturday. KU football players: You have so much to be proud of -- across the nation, we are so proud of you guys! Win or lose on Saturday, make sure to shake Iowa State's hands -- they are great guys, just like you, and a hard working group to boot. respect the cyclones! Rock Chalk Jayhawk!!!

November 14, 2007 at 2:30 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Chicago_JHawk (anonymous) says...

Hey 100 - Glad to see you're back spewing your foolishness.

Let me tell you what I did last weekend. On Friday evening, I went to a bar to watch the Jayhawks beat UL-Monroe on the hardwood. I hung around a bit after the game before heading home. After breakfast on Saturday, I went to the grocery store and the bookstore before returning home to do some laundry and take a nap. Saturday evening, a friend stopped by and we watched Kansas beat a solid OSU squad on the football field. On Sunday, I slept in before getting up and watching some NFL games while doing some things around the house. I got everything done in time to listen to that evening's basketball win over UMKC over the internet. After the game ended, I went to bed.

The story here is that I was able to follow BOTH the football and the basketball team in the same weekend. In addition, I was able to handle some other tasks that I needed to complete. I was amazed when I woke up Monday and was able to go to work and remember details of all three games with a couple of co-workers who had also watched pieces of the games.

November 14, 2007 at 3:06 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Chicago_JHawk (anonymous) says...

stew-

I really don't think losing those three games alone costs us a top-4 seed. Besides, all signs point to BR being back for GT definitely, and USC probably.

It's just something we have to deal with. The lack of strong defense and continued inability to hit free throws is what would ultimately do in this team. I think the team's overall defense will improve with BR's return as well as getting more games under our belt, but I think the free throw situation is what it is.

November 14, 2007 at 3:17 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

RckChalkJeff (anonymous) says...

Hey 100....'
See ya at the game....ill be the one in the RED jayhawk shirt that says cyclones blow!!!!!

i guess that goes against your plea of "Wear BLUE!!! I repeat, wear blue!!! no red!!! " and the "respect the cyclones"...oH well...get over it moron....

Oh and Guuesss what...im watching ku basketball on thursday!!!! Two days before the Football game....stupid!

November 14, 2007 at 7:53 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

didjabuti (anonymous) says...

Dec 1 was the plan??? I guess the LJW told us so many times we forgot. the plan was 1 Dec. OR 1 month earlier OR one month later. I believe....let me check my calendar...yes, we are in the 1 month before window. chill out.

November 15, 2007 at 1 a.m. ( | suggest removal )