JRob and Butler return to practice

[The_Answer1313]

Without really knowing the extent of the injuries, every minute they play is another chance of re-injury. We've seen this happen to both of them several times this year. The main goal for me is to make a sweet16 and maybe beyond. That likely can't happen without them. So while I'd love for them to play every game, they are clearly banged up, playing through an injury that needs to be addressed in the off season.

Playing them against Auburn and having them tweak something again, is kind of like winning the battle only to lose the war.

It does seem both of them will be good to go by the SECT (Butler sooner) but I'd much prefer them to be on a minutes restriction and possibly be given more time.. because even if more time doesn't make the injury heal, It DOES remove the chance of injury in a very aggressive SEC.

This is something I always just trust the medical staff and coaching staff about. They have more information about the health of the players than we'll ever have. My feeling is that if they are given an ok to practice, it really doesn't make any sense to hold them out longer.

I don't think we can be scared of reinjury. This could happen while they practice. I also don't think throwing them into one and done tournaments and expecting them to perform when they really haven't played in weeks would be fair either.

My feeling is if the medical staff oks it and the coaching staff and the players feel good, give it a go.

I feel like they have already weighed this information and that if the chance of reinjury was significant, they wouldn't chance it. Again it's just about trusting people here. I can understand the concern tho.

 

[LineSkiCat14]

This is something I always just trust the medical staff and coaching staff about. They have more information about the health of the players than we'll ever have. My feeling is that if they are given an ok to practice, it really doesn't make any sense to hold them out longer.

I don't think we can be scared of reinjury. This could happen while they practice. I also don't think throwing them into one and done tournaments and expecting them to perform when they really haven't played in weeks would be fair either.

My feeling is if the medical staff oks it and the coaching staff and the players feel good, give it a go.

I feel like they have already weighed this information and that if the chance of reinjury was significant, they wouldn't chance it. Again it's just about trusting people here. I can understand the concern tho.

It does seem their injury situation improved for the better in the last day or two, as now both are probable for tonight. So maybe internally, these was more about pain tolerance, and the fans just didn't have all the info.

 

[The_Answer1313]

I also think that if the goal is Sweet 15 and possibly beyond these games are very important. There's a major difference between going into this as a 3 seed and say........a 6.

 

[The_Answer1313]

It does seem their injury situation improved for the better in the last day or two, as now both are probable for tonight. So maybe internally, these was more about pain tolerance, and the fans just didn't have all the info.

Yeah this is why I'm kind of like well ok.........if they say they can go, they can go. If not, then you 100% definitely keep them out. You don't put them into a bad situation.

If I see both on the court playing tonight I'm just going to assume that the injuries are either 100% better or getting there.

 

[The_Answer1313]

I do get it tho.

Any of those guys out during the tournament we are toast.

Better to have a worse seed and those guys healthy than a good seed and those guys out. But I feel like we have to weigh all potential possibilities here.

And seeding matters.

Gonzaga was brought up in that other thread. They are going to be an 8/9 seed. Are they better than that? Probably. Would they be favored over some 7s, some 6s probably even some 5s? Probably. Is that going to help them in the second round where they would no doubt be an underdog vs the 1 seed? Nope.

UK as a 3 seed playing a 6 we'd be favored.
UK as a 6 seed playing a 3, we probably would not be.

Not to mention the location of the game would be less favorable.

It would no doubt make things harder on us.

 

[rob_47]

I can’t speak on butlers injury but Robinson injury is very hard to play through. It’s literally his shooting wrist and it takes a couple of weeks to come back from that

He wouldn't be playing if he didn't feel good about it.

 

[Digger-Cat]

It's a gamble either way. So I understand that we could rest them for nothing just to see them fall on ice outside the arena. Still, it's clear these are nagging injuries where even a slight tweak to it *may* mean they are out another 3 weeks.

It does seem both are trending very well now. Based on both being probable tonight (maybe Pope is just extra cautious with his wording on injuries).. so I'm more open to them playing a bigger part of these remaining games. But I'd still like to maybe see a minutes restriction and possibly given a night off if we win some of these next few games. Their injuries both occurred because SEC teams were allowed to assault them, and that worries me.

I totally get what you're saying and none of us want to see these guys re-injure themselves.

But, let's put ourselves in their position, this is their last hurrah, they have 4 games left in the regular season, so they absolutely do not want to sit.

Also, if the doctor is clearing them on the knowledge that they are healed enough to play, knowing they are going through surgery at seasons end, it just makes no sense to make them sit.

I have to believe Robinson just needed to rest his wrist and Butler just has to muscle through the pain, otherwise, I can't believe any doctor would clear them if they could end up getting seriously injured.