Kia will Play Saturday vs Memphis or Tulsa [merged thread]

[Wbbfan1]

Glad to see she's playing but hopefully they'll be able to limit her minutes.

 

[OldAlum]

All Access reports that Kia will play tomorrow limited minutes.

 

[MilfordHusky]

Yay! Great news!

 

[OldAlum]

Slow fingers I guess. Merge?

 

[RockyMTblue2]

She's BACK!!! UConn Women Back At Full Strength As Kia Nurse Rejoins Lineup

 

[EricLA]

That is such great news in so many ways. Geno and the staff know there is no way they'd bring her back unless she was at 100%. Plus this will give her some time to get her "sea legs" back against lesser competition and give plenty of time for the entire team to be at 100% for the NCAA's...

 

[RockyMTblue2]

"You're playing? I penciled you in 2d round NCAAs." Geno capitulates!

 

[JoePgh]

"You're playing? I penciled you in 2d round NCAAs." Geno capitulates!

His head was badly bruised where the hockey puck hit it.

 

[BigBird]

... Geno and the staff know there is no way they'd bring her back unless she was at 100%....

Maybe yes, maybe no. Kids play with knots and bruises all the time. I doubt she is 100%, and I suspect she isn't going to be 100% until some time after the NCAA tourney. Where I might agree is that no coach at UConn will ask our players to risk additional injury or permanent physical damage. Like you Eric, I trust our coaches and players. But 100% might be a bit much to hope for at this point. The "limited minutes" bit tells us that much. She's going to play somewhat hurt and try her best not to get hurt worse.

 

[bizarro aj]

I say rest her till she is needed. We don't need another Coates situation.

 

[bags27]

Realistically, Kia isn't needed until the Eastern Regionals, which are March 26. If she tweaks her ankle again tomorrow, she has >3 weeks to recover.

 

[uconnfan68]

Realistically, Kia isn't needed until the Eastern Regionals, which are March 26. If she tweaks her ankle again tomorrow, she has >3 weeks to recover.

Man I hate BB material.

 

[BroadwayVa]

She's BACK!!! UConn Women Back At Full Strength As Kia Nurse Rejoins Lineup

Uconn back to full strength?? I think they were building NEW strength with Danger filling in or doing while KIA sat and soaked up
the glory of adoring fans. That's what Canadians do--they are so nice, except when the family plays hockey.

 

[BroadwayVa]

Realistically, Kia isn't needed until the Eastern Regionals, which are March 26. If she tweaks her ankle again tomorrow, she has >3 weeks to recover.

I believe she'll have that ankle securely taped--and retaped and darn near immovable. While she need to keep her foot and head into the game to not lose her edge--I'm all for very limited minutes----Great to build up confidence for Danger --and full recovery for Kia --win-win --win (the last one is for me getting the best for both)...

 

[UcMiami]

Maybe yes, maybe no. Kids play with knots and bruises all the time. I doubt she is 100%, and I suspect she isn't going to be 100% until some time after the NCAA tourney. Where I might agree is that no coach at UConn will ask our players to risk additional injury or permanent physical damage. Like you Eric, I trust our coaches and players. But 100% might be a bit much to hope for at this point. The "limited minutes" bit tells us that much. She's going to play somewhat hurt and try her best not to get hurt worse.

There is a difference between 'the stress reaction is 100% healed' and the player is 100%. It will take time for Kia to get back in shape and for her foot to regain the strength it will have lost from being immobilized in the walking boot.

 

[oldude]

I have to believe that the coaches and the medical staff are comfortable that Kia has sufficiently recovered to the point where playing her tomorrow will not result in a setback, or they wouldn't risk playing her.

Everyone is different, but Kia has essentially gone through the same protocol as Danger, who is playing her best basketball of the season right now.

It's all good.

 

[StephStorrs]

I can't say I'm not excited to see her back I just hope that her ankle is well and that she feels completely comfortable playing. We might not 'need' her -- though I do think this team always needs her in some capacity -- right now, but we're going to need her later.

 

[Carnac]

His head was badly bruised where the hockey puck hit it.

Every time the camera showed her during the last 4 games, she did not look happy, especially the last game against USF. I doubt she's 100%, so I suspect they'll ease her back like they eased back Danger after she was out for a while, as others have suggested with limited minutes. Danger should still get a lot of minutes these next 3 games. It's great to have her back!!!

 

[MilfordHusky]

Every time the camera showed her during the last 4 games, she did not look happy, especially the last game against USF. I doubt she's 100%, so I suspect they'll ease her back like they eased back Danger after she was out for a while, as others have suggested with limited minutes. Danger should still get a lot of minutes these next 3 games. It's great to have her back!!!

I think she was VERY frustrated about not playing.

 

[BigBird]

It's all good.

We hope. I'm guessing she plays first four minutes of each half.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

I can't say I'm not excited to see her back I just hope that her ankle is well and that she feels completely comfortable playing. We might not 'need' her -- though I do think this team always needs her in some capacity -- right now, but we're going to need her later.

I just have one concern. I'll call it my Samuelson Syndrome concern. Earlier in the year Lou was sick but played through it. Later in an interview she said words to the effect: If I don't tell them (the coaches) they can't sit me. Remember that? I just hope Kia isn't doing that and won't in the game.

 

[cabbie191]

Maybe yes, maybe no. Kids play with knots and bruises all the time. I doubt she is 100%, and I suspect she isn't going to be 100% until some time after the NCAA tourney. .

Very well may be true. But I'd take a 90% Kia over most any other 100% player on any other team. What she brings to the team equally important to her physical skills is BB IQ and that part won't be affected by her injury. She helps the team operate correctly on all cylinders.

 

[BroadwayVa]

That is such great news in so many ways. Geno and the staff know there is no way they'd bring her back unless she was at 100%. Plus this will give her some time to get her "sea legs" back against lesser competition and give plenty of time for the entire team to be at 100% for the NCAA's...

I agree with needing "sea legs" and getting mentally back into the swing of things--The staff, in my memory, rarely waits for 100 percent especially this far into the season. I doubt they'd risk further injury, but UConn kids are asked all the time to play with pain. Geno and Medical have opted at times for partial recovery--allowing the off season to do the rest.

 

[BroadwayVa]

I just have one concern. I'll call it my Samuelson Syndrome concern. Earlier in the year Lou was sick but played through it. Later in an interview she said words to the effect: If I don't tell them (the coaches) they can't sit me. Remember that? I just hope Kia isn't doing that and won't in the game.

There is the : Coaches expect the kids to play with pain and ankle issues are regularly taped and sent back in---I doubt Geno would risk REAL injury --but if past history is an indicator of future conduct--UConn Women have played many "injured" players--stress fractures (a fracture is a break, however thin), so this is more than a sprain. I'd opt for very very few minutes---enough to get Kia's brain back in BB gear.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

There is the : Coaches expect the kids to play with pain and ankle issues are regularly taped and sent back in---I doubt Geno would risk REAL injury --but if past history is an indicator of future conduct--UConn Women have played many "injured" players--stress fractures (a fracture is a break, however thin), so this is more than a sprain. I'd opt for very very few minutes---enough to get Kia's brain back in BB gear.

The ultimate example of this could be Stef hobbling through the NCAA tourney.