TU basketball notebook: Injury update
BY BILL HAISTEN World Sports Writer
Sunday, January 13, 2013
1/13/13 at 6:54 AM
Related Story:
Late spurt sparks TU past Rice
After missing two games because of a right-knee injury, University of Tulsa redshirt freshman Brandon Swannegan played two minutes during Saturday's 64-51 victory over Rice.
Two other Hurricane forwards - freshman D'Andre Wright and sophomore Rashad Smith - did not play because of stress-type, lower-leg injuries. Wright now has missed five games. Smith has missed 13 games and may not play again this season.
On Saturday, Wright was in uniform and did not wear a brace on his injured left leg.
"It means the rehab is coming along," Hurricane coach Danny Manning said of Wright's status. "He's progressing, yes. He still hasn't practiced.
"As long as he does what he's supposed to on the rehab side - and when the doctors give him the OK - we'll start getting him back in the mix."
Against Rice, the 6-7 Swannegan made his only shot and grabbed one rebound. Manning said Swannegan may get more playing time on Wednesday, when TU hosts UTEP.
"I just wanted to see how he would respond (in the Rice game)," Manning said. "He was good while he was out there. I just wanted to ease him back in slowly. We'll have to see what the doctors say. He's rounding back into shape.
"We definitely need him back out on the court because he's so active in blocking shots and altering shots."
Rice's hot start: On Saturday, Rice stunned the Hurricane by converting on eight of its first 10 shots from 3-point range. Manning was reminded of an August exhibition, when TU was defeated by an A-Game Hoops team in Toronto. In that game - a 102-92 Hurricane loss - the A-Game Hoops squad finished with 22 3-point baskets.
While watching red-hot Rice during Saturday's opening half, "I was thinking, 'I hope this isn't another A-Game Hoops night,'" Manning said. "But we did a better job of contesting shots (during the second half)."
After Rice staggered TU with a 14-0 run, Pat Swilling Jr. answered for the Hurricane by connecting on a pair of NBA-range 3-pointers.
Associated Images:
TU's Brandon Swannegan goes up for a shot guarded by Rice's Tamir Jackson during Saturday's game. JAMES GIBBARD/Tulsa World
|
