Comments on: Hansbrough – For Your Own Good, Play or Get Out

By: briannadanielle06

briannadanielle06 — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 19:45:42 +0000

I’m sorry that in my reply I didn’t add that I did this article in Early December and I just got it the way I wanted it, but it was posted before.

By: briannadanielle06

briannadanielle06 — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 19:43:57 +0000

I used some quotes form this article of your post in my own blog post at http://carveraig.21classes.com/weblogCategory/1r3qhubc2xwy4?slsid=1231357231785&p=1
and I just wanted to let you know you can check it out and find out all about me as well. When I wrote my blog I did address the author as Rush the Court, because there was no name that I saw. Please read my blog and give me feedback if you wish, because this is my first blog and I want to know your opinion.

By: Dr Rosenpenis

Dr Rosenpenis — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 17:11:07 +0000

Unfortunately, North Carolina’s world-reknowned sports medicine staff is currently fully staffed with experts (although I’m sure that they will take your advice under consideration due to the depth of your analysis), however, my organization is in need of an expert. If you have any interest please contact me head of sports medicine for the Cleveland Steamers of the MILL.

By: jstevrtc

jstevrtc — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 15:29:19 +0000

Honestly, I say great for him if the stress reaction is totally healed. The whole point of my column was that TH’s best interest should be the main motivation, especially since it’s obvious that, at least right now, the team doesn’t need his on-court contribution. They’re better with him, but they’re pretty unbelievable without him, too.

When ESPN started its broadcast, Doris Burke came on and reported the ankle as the more concerning injury, and the fact that THAT itself was a new story — not the ankle injury against UCSB, but the fact that it was more concerning than the shin/stress rxn — even if it wasn’t a totally new bit of info. Even Dan Shulman was talking about how he was unaware of that. I appreciate your reference above, since evidently Roy Williams says it was being “misreported.”

Anyway…with last night’s performance, we can assume the ankle is fine. As you note above, Roy is saying the shin/stress reaction is also not a concern. He may be under restricted activity by his coaches/docs/trainers over the next 7-10 days (as reported on the broadcast last night), but it sounds like TH is completely healthy. It certainly looks that way too, given his production and the fact that he didn’t seem to be restricted-of-movement at all during the game. If he continues to miss games after this bit of down time, you can best believe I’ll revisit the issue. I think fans of the game and specifically UNC fans would have the right to ask why their reigning POY and an obviously important player is still missing games after it had been made apparent that he was over his injuries. But again, I don’t think we’ll need to worry about that. I/we have no reason to assume that TH will be hindered in any way after the next week or so. We have every indication that his injuries aren’t a story anymore, that he’ll be in the lineup from now on, and should take his place not only on the All-American 1st team, but also what looks like a frankly unbeatable eventual national champion squad.

I definitely don’t think the column was a waste because it generated discussion, and that’s the point of this whole thing. That’s why we do this. In all seriousness, thanks for reading, thanks for commenting, keep them coming, and enjoy the season!

John S.

By: jstevrtc

jstevrtc — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 05:42:45 +0000

Post-script:

So it looks like when it came down to Play or Get Out, Hansbrough chose Play, at least for now. And boy did he play, eh? Again, it didn’t look like he was needed against the Spartans but he was out there anyway and he did pretty much whatever he wanted. Despite being a game-time decision, I’d say this proves that TH is completely healthy, and he should stay that way now that he’s got 7-10 days off where he’s been told (acc. to the ESPN broadcast, at least) that he’s to do nothing but shoot FTs. The only way that college hoop/UNC fans should have any further questions about the guy’s fitness (shin, ankle, or whatever) is if he misses games after this rest period. If that happens, I’ll revisit the issue then. As for now, it looks like TH’s health is no longer a problem, and the issue is closed.

By: jbates

jbates — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 01:09:47 +0000

John:
This was Roy Williams from the UNC-A postgame. The foot in reference is an ankle injury suffered during the UCSB game. “He felt great against Notre Dame and he played great, and was about as intense as I’ve ever seen him. It’s a hard plane ride back, those seats are so small, and we had some problems that you read about – we were sitting in those seats a long, long time. Came back on Friday and he could barely touch the rim his foot was so stiff.”

So the injury that may or may not keep Hansbrough out of the MSU game is an ankle, not the stress reaction.

By: Ed

Ed — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 22:14:02 +0000

Maybe the injury to Tyler Zeller has something to do with it. Zeller went down really late in the UK game, and they were ahead to the point that they could win the game without him. Since then, Hansbrough has played in games against legit opponents. It seems as if even if the stress “reaction” isn’t completely healed, he is getting closer to 100% and UNC is using him against real teams to try and get him worked into the flow of everything (although it is debatable as to whether or not UCSB is a dangerous opponent). We’ll see if he plays tonight at all, although Suton being out means he probably wont have to play too long tonight. I understand your argument about his knee being an all or nothing proposition, but ultimately the choice to play is his, and I see no problem with simply playing as neccessary against better opponents.

By: jrhyne

jrhyne — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 21:40:57 +0000

John,
Don’t go by anything ESPN says…..they (esp Andy Katz) just don’t know.

Roy has said in more than one press conference, and on his radio show, that Tyler’s ankle is the problem right now, not his shin.

By: jstevrtc

jstevrtc — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 20:24:54 +0000

Chris:

I understand about the ankle injury, but ESPN.com has reported in two different places in the last 48 hours that the shin (the stress reaction) is still a problem. I’ve put two links below. The first is a report that specifically says the shin/stress reaction is what kept him out of the UNC-A game, not the ankle. The second link also cites the shin as a reason that he might sit out tonight against MSU, but does indeed mention the ankle, as well:

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=3735652

http://scores.espn.go.com/ncb/preview?gameId=283380127

If these Associated Press and ESPN News reports are erroneous, and the stress reaction is truly healed, then I say good for TH. Hopefully he won’t have to worry about it any more, and hopefully this ankle will be a minor problem that he’s already over.

Thanks, and keep the comments coming. Discussion is always a good thing.

John S.

By: rtmsf

rtmsf — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 19:57:36 +0000

@ Chris – From today’s Detroit News:

It’s unclear if North Carolina’s Tyler Hansbrough, last season’s national Player of the Year, will play Wednesday against Michigan State because of a lingering problem in his right shin.

“I don’t know,” Tar Heels coach Roy Williams said Tuesday in a teleconference.

By: Chris

Chris — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 19:28:47 +0000

If you had read anything in the past week or so on this, you would know that what is keeping Hansbrough out of the lineup is not his stress reacted shin, it’s his “tweaked” ankle.

It was the ankle that stiffened up on the flight back from Maui that kept him out of the UNC-Asheville game (and too bad, UNC could have used him, I mean they only won by 68 points).

And by Roy’s own comments from yesterday and Monday, it will be how his ankle reacts that allows him to play tonight or not.

So your whole diatribe here is not based in facts and/or reality. Hansbrough has had 2 different injuries — the stress reaction in his shin for which he sat out 3 straight weeks of practice and missed a few games, and now his “tweaked” ankle.

The shin has healed, the ankle is the problem now.

By: Ringo

Ringo — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 19:22:18 +0000

Wow, harsh reaction Psycho J. I think you were reinforcing his point there. Way to call a guy out on not actually watching hoops when it sounds like you didn’t actually read his post.

By: jstevrtc

jstevrtc — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 19:10:16 +0000

Psycho J:

Read the piece again. You’re helping me prove my point.

From what I can tell, you’re saying TH should be careful. That he should be resting the leg so the stress reaction doesn’t become a fracture. That very sentiment is present throughout what I wrote, both in the original article and the response to TLU’s comment above.

You seem to want him to be careful — that is, until later in the year when you might need him more, meaning when conference play begins and the tournaments arrive. So, I’ll ask you…what if he still has a stress reaction at that time? What if it’s not healed, then? Do you still want him to be careful, or would you want him to play anyway?

The point of my article was that if he’s got a stress reaction, he should be sitting, at the VERY LEAST for the early part of the season, and, if it’s best for his basketball future, maybe the whole thing. IF he really DOESN’T have a stress reaction (because if he does, he shouldn’t even by TRYING to play or practice on it, esp. if it STILL HURTS, which it obviously does), then he should be out there with his teammates praticing and playing. In other words, if he’s really healthy in the opinion of his coaches/doctors but is just having an unexplained pain, and a diagnosis of ‘stress reaction’ was just given to the media as a reason for his sitting out, then he needs to get out there and play. But again, that’s only if there’s NOTHING that they’re basing that diagnosis on. That’s if he really DOES NOT have any bony changes on exam and/or the imaging studies. And again, I DON’T THINK that’s the case, here. We have to take the UNC coaches and docs at face value and assume they’re telling the truth when they say TH has a diagnosis of a stress reaction.

It looks like we’re agreeing more than we’re disagreeing. And yet you’re calling me a moron. I suggest you reread the article.

So do us both a favor, and try to make your points like an adult. I admire the passion and love you have for your team, and I’ll talk basketball with anyone, so let’s do that, OK? It’s an open forum and you can say whatever you want, but come on, man. You’re better than that. Represent your fan base like a real man.

John S.

By: Psycho J

Psycho J — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 18:08:50 +0000

You moron. Do you really want him to exacerbate a stress reaction into a stress fracture so he can play meaningful minutes vs UNC Asheville? UC Santa Barbabra? Chaminade? Penn? Oral Roberts? Valpo? Hell you could start for Carolina vs those guys and he Heels would still win. As opposed for letting him rest him for the grueling ACC schedule, ACC tourney, and NCAA tourney? UNC is looking at playing the most games of any team in the NCAA this season. Especially when Deon Thompson and Ed Davis are crushing opponents’ front-courts without him in the lineup…
I guess you didn’t see Tyler destroy Luke Harangody, another media darling and pre-season all-america in the maui shoot-out. You wanna call tyler out for being overexposed? Being the most hyped guy since GayGay Redick? Fine. You wanna call him out for not banging Erin Andrews on the half-court circle when she called the Kentucky game? Fine. Do you even watch college hoops, or do you just watch the highlights on PTI and rely on Kornheiser to keep you current? You are a fucking dope.

By: jstevrtc

jstevrtc — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 18:00:06 +0000

TLU:

You’re certainly correct — the current UNC squad without Hansbrough (for whatever reason…NBA defection or injury) is still the best team in the country, and the polls would have reflected that, for what that’s worth.

My question was more about Hansbrough, himself. Since UNC is the consensus #1, everyone is an inferior opponent…but I think I know what you mean…you’re talking about the Chaminades, UNC-A’s etc. But I wouldn’t lump #6 Michigan State (UNCs toughest test yet, though I think it won’t be that close) in with that group, and evidently TH is unlikely to play. Kentucky isn’t what they once were right now, but I wouldn’t lump Patrick Patterson in as an inferior opponent since in their only prior meeting, PP got the better of him. But TH didn’t play in that one, either. So quality of opponent hasn’t really shown to be a determiner of TH’s playing status. TH isn’t just missing the non-“intense” games.

A diagnosis of Stress Reaction has to be based on something. Most likely it’s on the imaging of TH’s leg. If they saw something on the imaging, the guy shouldn’t be putting much weight on the leg at all, let alone practicing and playing at full speed, lest the ‘reaction’ actually evolve into a fracture (then we’re talking MONTHS of rest, casting, maybe even surgery). He should have an extended period of rest. That might not be what UNC fans, coaches, and players want to hear — that TH might be better served if his college career were truncated or even over, since you don’t want to do permanent damage that would hinder his making millions in the NBA — but it might be an unfortunate truth.

The other possibility is that nothing was seen on the imaging, the term ‘stress reaction’ was thrown out there as an intentionally vague diagnosis, and there’s little that should be keeping TH off the floor. If that’s the case, he needs to quit being flaky, suck it up, and get out there and play like a regular teammate. But I don’t think that’s the case here.

So I agree with your statement re: the quality success of the UNC side. Even without TH, they’re great. The ACC and NCAA tournaments will probably bear that out. The issue I’ll take is with the last sentence. Maybe in the more “intense” games, if it’s better for his long-term health and his pro basketball career, maybe in those later-season games, maybe he SHOULDN’T be there.

Thanks VERY much for the comment, and by all means keep them coming. I/we like hearing what you folks have to say.

John S.