Caroline Still Not Her Old Self

[HopJim]

Caroline has had several strong games in a role. Even before, she played strong defense and gutted out several games when asked to play the entire 30 minutes. Certainly came back earlier than expected but seems injury free and playing well. Feel that much of the current criticism from Boneyarders that haven't seen her on TV recently.

 

[jabstep]

Like last year Caroline has been asked to step up and I think she has. Can she play better sure everyone can always play better. Her health and her play will be critical for the tournament. I bet she steps up. She has been rebounding, shooting and running the floor better. Keep it up Caroline.

 

[Bone Dog]

All's I know -- see what I did there? -- is that she looked really good against SH. She ran well and shot well, 16 pts on 6 of 8 shooting, 5 rebounds, 3 assists. She had a really good game in all the tangible ways, as well as being well positioned at key moments. If that one little mishap, when an SH player stepped on her foot and she seemed to tweak her hip, if that amounts to nothing, I suspect Caroline is almost there for us.

If I'm right, then there's no further need for anyone to fuss about her, or about how others speculate about her, or about her HIPAA information, or anything else about her game. It's getting to be time to bask in the warm light of her excellence.

 

[Gordo]

Apparently a number of people need an education on this subject.

Caroline did not have hip replacement surgery. While she had a significant surgery, it was nowhere close to a replacement. Many athletes return in less than six months from the type of labrum surgery she had.

Note: at no time have I been one of Caroline‘s critics.

If you are correct, then yes I stand corrected (educated). There are conflicting reports as to which it was. However, hip labrum surgery is still very significant and requires lengthy recovery time. Regardless, my position regarding the constant bombardment of negativity towards her this season remains unchanged. Injured athletes simply cannot be held to the same standard as the non-injured.

 

[Redux]

Caroline did not have hip replacement surgery

I don't think anyone took that seriously. Though actually you can "play" basketball after a hip replacement, in a sense. But not at a college or pro level. Maybe someone will come up with an exception or two but I'd guess that would have to have been for a very limited period time, hard to believe a doctor would allow it even as a stunt.

But back to the thread: I like the slope of the curve on Caroline's recovery chart. I just get the feeling this problem is going to require slow, steady improvement rather than allow a breakthrough.

 

[wingsfan055]

CD has both the size and shooting ability to play a Wing position, which poses mismatches against most teams. Probably the only UConn player that gives us this advantage. She'll be needed in March against the top teams if we want a good shot at another title.

 

[CL82]

CD has both the size and shooting ability to play a Wing position

Unfortunately she used up her eligibility at Rutgers.

 

[oldhusky]

If you are correct, then yes I stand corrected (educated). There are conflicting reports as to which it was. However, hip labrum surgery is still very significant and requires lengthy recovery time. Regardless, my position regarding the constant bombardment of negativity towards her this season remains unchanged. Injured athletes simply cannot be held to the same standard as the non-injured.

I think some of the reactions to Caroline including mine, were based on the limited information that was provided regarding her surgery. If for example the normal recovery from this type of injury would take well into the season before getting close to normal, and that was indicated at the time, then many of us would not be disappointed at where she is now.

But that kind of information was lacking, and for myself, I fully expected Caroline to be substantially better than last year by the first game this season. That was based on little indication the timeline for recovery went into the season, a surgery that didn't seem to be major, and the realization that I didn't know that Caroline was playing with a hip problem last year.

Of course, none of us know the true health details with Caroline or any other Uconn player for that matter. The team and players keep that internal which is their right, but that also means that fans can get the wrong impression, and sometimes unintended criticism of that player can be the result. Maybe the surgery wasn't as successful as anticipated, I don't know, but the lack of information or periodic realistic updates along the way allows expectations to get pretty far away from reality.

If a player feels she has to defend herself by revealing the health issues that are affecting her play, and set more realistic expectations such as "I still have a long way to go" then it seems to me the policy of keeping the public in the dark had an adverse effect in this case, if indeed this rate of progress was expected all along.

 

[uconnfan68]

I don't think anyone took that seriously. Though actually you can "play" basketball after a hip replacement, in a sense. But not at a college or pro level. Maybe someone will come up with an exception or two but I'd guess that would have to have been for a very limited period time, hard to believe a doctor would allow it even as a stunt.

But back to the thread: I like the slope of the curve on Caroline's recovery chart. I just get the feeling this problem is going to require slow, steady improvement rather than allow a breakthrough.

I was told I could do anything I wanted to after my hip replacement with the caveat that it would need earlier replacement if it was abused, as in running. I’ve known guys that were back working in less than 2 weeks and playing golf within 3. I think the key is whether muscle gets cut or not. That’s what takes so long to recover from.