A certain candidate for the 2006 U.S. Basketball Writers Assn.’s “Most Courageous Award” will be suiting up tonight for Idaho State University.
David Schroeder, a 6-foot-2 senior guard from Salmon, Idaho, is back in action — knock on wood — after blowing out one knee, then the other, in successive seasons.
His is a heartwarming comeback story that nearly was derailed last offseason.
“I tried to talk him out of it,” eighth-year Idaho State coach Doug Oliver said, recommending the Big Sky Conference academic all-league selection give up hoops and perhaps concentrate on another passion, flying, or his major, business management.
“I said, ‘That’s enough.’ I’ve seen him go through two years of rehab. He said, ‘Coach, if I don’t make it, that’ll be it.’ When college basketball is your passion, you are willing to go through it all. I call him the ‘Bionic Man’ now that he’s got both knees fixed,” Oliver said with a laugh.
Schroeder, who broke the 20-point scoring barrier four times his freshman season (2002-03) while averaging 10.3 points a game, tore his right ACL during Midnight Madness in October of 2003.
After an intense year of rehab, he returned strong last season, scoring 29 points off a career-best 11 field goals in the Bengals’ third game of the season — against Southern Utah. Unfortunately, in overtime, Schroeder tore his left ACL after landing awkwardly after he was fouled on a layup.
He stuck around to hit the ensuing free throw before being helped off the court, his season once again over.
It meant another year of rehab for Schroeder, who scored 26 points in Idaho State’s two exhibition games preceding today’s 7 p.m. contest at Allen Fieldhouse.
“Just the fact he is back playing says a lot,” Oliver said. “Most of the guys are now starting to recognize what it means him getting back on the floor.
“He’s a quiet kid, but athletic enough to be a successful Division I player. He’s an above-average Big Sky athlete who could be a quality track athlete — an all-around good young man who takes care of business.”
The 22-year-old Schroeder is expected to receive a sixth-year of eligibility from the NCAA because of his back-to-back injury setbacks.
He is expected to accept the extra year … if his knees hold up.
“I don’t worry about it (further injury),” Schroeder told the Idaho State Journal. “If it is going to happen, it’s going to happen. It’s pretty much out of my hands. I just focus on keeping healthy. Otherwise, there’s not much you can really do.”
Fans hope Schroeder’s return will help Idaho State bounce back from a 9-18 season in which the Bengals were 3-11 in Big Sky play.
“We’re picked last in the league, but we have one of the best rosters in the eight years I’ve been here,” said Oliver, who has four players returning from Mormon missions — in all seven juniors and three seniors on the squad.
“One to 10 it’s the best talent we’ve had. They can say what they want. Everybody is the same (in this conference). We lost five games in conference last year where we had the lead in the last minute of play. The previous year, we won four of five games where we had the lead late.”
Players of note include Slim Millien and Kasey Winters, 6-7 bookends who averaged 14.5 and 7.5 in two exhibition games this year. Also, 6-5 Tim Henry and Schroeder each potted 20 points in Monday’s 88-64 exhibition victory over Montana Tech.
“We’ve been a zone team, now we’re 75 to 80 percent man to man,” Oliver said. “We’re struggling to learn some basic concepts.”
Tonight, the Bengals will learn about historic Allen Fieldhouse, a place Oliver visited in 1978 as a Boise State assistant. KU, which never has played Idaho State, beat BSU, 82-68, on Dec. 4, 1978.
“It’s when Ted Owens was coach, they had (Darnell) Valentine and (Paul) Mokeski and those guys,” said Oliver, who also worked as an assistant at Stanford. “It’s great for our kids to get a chance to go to arenas like that. It documents a player’s college career. Last year, we went to Oregon (for 77-51 loss). We thought going to ‘The Pit’ (McArthur Court) would be fun. Later in the year the kids watch Oregon on TV and were able to say, ‘We’ve been there.’
“We’re excited about coming to play at Kansas,” he said. “My players have been talking about it since school started. We want to come and play well and not be embarrassed.”
Tongue in cheek, Oliver says just one thing about the trip worries him.
“We were laughing about what uniform to wear. Bucknell wears black and orange, don’t they? That’s what we are. We were thinking about wearing gray. They might want revenge if we look like Bucknell,” he added of the team that knocked the Jayhawks out of the NCAA Tournament last postseason.
“We’ve got a competitive group of guys,” Oliver said in a serious tone. “Our kids will stick their nose in there. They may get bloodied a few times, that’s OK too. They’ll come to play.”