Collins’ knee problem worse than revealed

By Gary Bedore     Mar 27, 2007

Sherron Collins’ knee injury, which has been described as a bout of tendinitis, is worse than has been revealed the past three weeks.

“We didn’t let on to anybody else. He played on one leg in California. He couldn’t even run out there. He was limping noticeably,” KU coach Bill Self of the freshman point guard’s zero-point, 15-minute effort Saturday versus UCLA.

“The practice before we played UCLA, he was crying, it (his left knee) hurt so bad. You could tell it was killing him. He was limited and didn’t play up and down (at practice) the last two weeks of the season.”

Collins had an MRI taken Monday with the results and plan of healing action expected to be known today.

“It’s a form of it,” Self said when asked about tendinitis. “We hope it won’t require surgery. He’ll have to take some extended time off. We’ll do tests on him to see what he needs to do to get his knee back 100 percent.”

The 5-foot-11, 200-pound Collins, who has a thick body frame, picked up an additional 10 pounds the past couple of weeks as his mobility was limited. That will have to come off with the guard hoping to report about 190 pounds next season.

“He couldn’t do extra cardio,” Self said. “I think his conditioning wasn’t as good of late just because the knee kept him from doing extra work.”

Self credited Collins.

“He wants it so bad,” the coach marveled.

¢ Banquet April 10: KU’s men’s basketball banquet will be the evening of April 10 at the Holidome. A mailer has been sent out to Williams Fund members with details.

¢ Duties: Self, who is a member of the NCAA Ethics Committee, NABC Board and USA Basketball’s selection committee, will leave for the Final Four on Wednesday. He’ll attend those three meetings, as well as a head coaches’ meeting and luncheon for all conference champions.

“If we’d have won (against UCLA), I’d have gotten a hall pass from all that,” Self said. “I enjoy seeing colleagues and visiting with people I don’t get a chance to see but once a year. I am not dreading this, but I’ll be disappointed the entire weekend our role is different than I wish it was.”

¢ Gators too tough: Self believes Florida will repeat as national champion after beating UCLA in one semifinal. Georgetown and Ohio State meet in the other semifinal.

“I’d give a slight advantage (to Florida) because of their inside game,” he said, “and (Corey) Brewer is a difference maker on the perimeter. If (Arron) Afflalo has a great game UCLA can play with anybody.

“I’d have to say it’ll be another close game, but Georgetown (over Ohio State) for whatever reason,” Self said. “It’ll be a fabulous matchup to see (Roy) Hibbert and (Greg) Oden go against each other.”

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