Vander goes down
There was one player over the rest that the Hawaii men’s basketball team couldn’t afford to lose for an extended period of time for the upcoming season.
Of course, we’re talking about Vander Joaquim.
Yet it’s Joaquim who is out for the next four to six weeks with a torn MCL in his right knee, suffered during a team workout session when bodies got tangled up and a teammate rolled into his leg.
Before people hit the panic button repeatedly, know that he won’t require surgery and he could conceivably return for the regular-season opener on Nov. 9.
Everything else about this, though, is a downer for the Rainbow Warriors. Keeping Joaquim involved as much as possible in his final year is paramount for Gib Arnold and his staff. Now the Angolan is sidelined, leaving him out of workout sessions for the next two weeks and out of full practices once they start on Oct. 12. Conditioning could be a major issue by the time he returns.
And if one is being pessimistic, Joaquim’s injury could linger going into some key games in December. It will all depend on how he responds to his rehab.
Arnold pointed out that he’s had to deal with a key player going down for portions of his previous two seasons, between Bill Amis (foot) missing the early part of the WAC schedule in 2010-11 and Zane Johnson (mono) going out for the WAC tournament in 2011-12.
Davis Rozitis, Isaac Fotu and Caleb Dressler will now have expanded roles while Joaquim recovers.
If there’s a silver lining here, it’s that this didn’t happen in the Big West season.
Brian you are correct. MCL tears, athletes can still play. Depend if Vander really can rehab that knee to close to 100%, will probably be a chronic thing during the year. He has to ice down, make sure proper brace for knee and right shoes. Exercise bike on the sidelines, during timeouts, and halftime. Reminds me of when, waaay back in the day Willis Reed came out for few minutes to inspire NY Knicks to go on to beat Lakers for NBA title in the early seventies.
Vander, rehab well.
Say Brian, would you know what is the name of that treatment that Bobby Curran always talks about. He swears by it. It rebuilds tissue and molecular structure of body, body heals self..no drugs..I forgot what is called, wonder if Gib and UH MBB doctors and trainers could try that treatment with Vander, maybe speed recovery time?
Billy Ray Stutzmann, miraculous recovovery, broken hand 18 days ago, now cleared to play full contact football, so maybe hope for speedy recovery for Vander!! Hope the best..main thing wasn’t ACL tear, if so, Vander would be pau!!
Get well soon Vander! We’re gonna need you!!
Thanks, Brian, poorboy,
Bobby Curran (808) 296-1420, talks about one of his sponsors the VASPER Systems (808) 679-1268 (Sebastian) which helps the body boost its own Generation of HGH, may help more rapid healing, with few/no negative side effects…
Maybe Brian can check this with Coach Gib and DOBO (Director of Basketball Operations and Certified Trainer) Chris McMillan ….
Vander on Vasper, sounds like a Potential Win-Win for Both ….
Vander, Work hard (as usual) and Good Luck on a Rapid, Solid Recovery
Comments closed re Michael Thomas post so will post link to YouTube highlight clip here -> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iV2gdqkE26g
Caught up with Joaquim some today during the “King of the Beach” festivities in Waikiki. Here’s what he had to say:
“I’m trying to limit my food, just lose as much weight as I can right now. Just a couple pounds. Watch what I eat, and keep working hard with Lyn (team trainer Nakagawa) in rehab.
“I’m still doing fine. I’m getting better every day. I’m just not trying to force anything, and let it heal perfect.”
On when the injury happened Tuesday afternoon:
“It was really painful … not knowing how bad it was until the next morning, Wednesday morning. We got the results Wednesday afternoon.”
Your feelings on the diagnosis?
“I was kind of relieved. It could be worse. I’m happy I’m only out for four to six weeks, instead of being out for the whole season. That would be really bad for me and also for the team.”