KML out indefinitely, Tuck out 4-6 weeks

[ASweet3781]

Obviously Stokes and Chong need to step up but the real player who will need to step up is the one who is clearly capable of it....Breanna Stewart. If the regular season bores her, she will have to lose that boredom for this weekend. I expect her and Dolson and Hartley to be the new focus on the offense.

 

[jdubct]

I think that was Kelly Clarkson

Thanks. I could use a laugh. Kelly must have read Nietzsche in her spare time.

 

[bschwartz]

If Huskies still blow out MD and Penn State...imagine

 

[jdubct]

Obviously Stokes and Chong need to step up but the real player who will need to step up is the one who is clearly capable of it....Breanna Stewart. If the regular season bores her, she will have to lose that boredom for this weekend. I expect her and Dolson and Hartley to be the new focus on the offense.

And offenses featuring 3 smaller guards may be seen a lot.

 

[Wonkster]

Hate to say it, but this is about as positive an update as you can expect from KML. She avoided any bone issues and didn't suffer from any torn ligaments from a dislocation.

She should be able to avoid surgery and recover through rest and rehab. Timetable for this injury is usually 4-6 weeks. Being conservative, she should be back on the court by early to mid-January. For a small % of patients with this injury, if the above doesn't work, surgery is required. Not likely though.

Please tell us you have an MD degree, Ron!

 

[VAMike23]

While this isn't good news, at least for the short term, there are some good things that could come out of it:

1. This will force Stewart to have to play like an All-American every night. If she becomes consistently great, and KML gets healthy, UConn becomes unbeatable.
2. This will also force Stokes to step up her game, and Moriah Jefferson to play a more prominent role on the offensive end, which could pay dividends later on.
3. Tuck's injury opens up the door for more playing time for Banks, which could help her get up to speed more quickly.
4. Chong will get some really good experience right off the bat.

If KML and Tuck get healthy on schedule, they should return with plenty of time before the postseason, and they'll be coming back to a better supporting cast.

A big +1 on all counts.

 

[John Glass]

the quick whistle could be a major problem now.

 

[Blue Huskie]

It actually sounds like nearly the best possible news for KML given the initial pain and look of the injury. No break, No Separation and no tears. THOSE would be the things that would have taken a long time to recover from. Indefinitely only means they can't estimate a return.

 

[psconn]

Not the worst news we could have gotten. Get well soon Kaleena and Morgan.

Teams that suffer and conquor adversity during the regular season are always tougher in the post season. As a unit they will likely emerge more experienced, balenced and capable when this is over. If there are any lingering injury effects to KML she will be able go to the wide range of other skills she has worked so hard on and contribute to the cause.

I'm generally not much of a "Tony" around here, but I can see the potential for positives coming out of a tough period of adjustment and maturation.

 

[johnnyc]

Well we now know the answer to who will start.....everybody.

 

[pap49cba]

If Geno and the staff are looking for new challenges they've got them now. I have every confidence they will find a way... and if Maryland, PSU and Duke are licking their chops they may be in for a rude awakening.

 

[psconn]

While this isn't good news, at least for the short term, there are some good things that could come out of it:

1. This will force Stewart to have to play like an All-American every night. If she becomes consistently great, and KML gets healthy, UConn becomes unbeatable.
2. This will also force Stokes to step up her game, and Moriah Jefferson to play a more prominent role on the offensive end, which could pay dividends later on.
3. Tuck's injury opens up the door for more playing time for Banks, which could help her get up to speed more quickly.
4. Chong will get some really good experience right off the bat.

If KML and Tuck get healthy on schedule, they should return with plenty of time before the postseason, and they'll be coming back to a better supporting cast.

Could't agree more... this is a HUGE opportunity for Kiah, Brianna and Saniya. Moriah badly wants to be the ultimate point guard. Keeping the offense running smoothly for the next few weeks is a huge test. It goes without saying that Senior leaders Stef and Bria will be looked to to keep a steady hand on the tiller.

 

[Samanthabrown3]

I feel worse for Morgan than for Kaleena. She was just starting to prove herself, whereas KML was already established.

And yeah, we're/they're lucky it wasn't any worse.

Sending good vibes for a speedy recovery for both and lots of observational learning while they're on the bench.

 

[Plumber Luigi]

Basically a severe hit on the funny bone. At least it's not ligament, cartilage damage or a fracture.

 

[pap49cba]

David J. Chao, MD ‏@ProFootballDoc 38m
@ron_egan @NHRJimFuller Don't have any details but nerves are tricky. Usually unpredictable and sometimes take awhile.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

How to say ... nothing at all

 

[pap49cba]

Rich Elliott ‏@elliottctpost 53m
.@M_Tuck3 had experienced swelling in right knee prior to having surgery. #UConn #bleedblue http://blog.ctnews.com/elliott/2013/11/13/tuck-undergoes-right-knee-surgery-out-4-6-weeks/…

 

[rt bb fan]

Stef will see double and triple teams in the low post if no one is hitting from the outside. Stewie needs to get out of her funk. Bria needs to continue being Bria.

 

[NVUConnFan]

I agree with most of the posters in this thread.

My initial (not medical) assessment when I saw the replay was "funny bone" not hyper-extension or breakage.

Morgan Tuck's surgery is the big surprise, of course.

Get well soon girls!

UConn is now "mortal", at least for some weeks.

 

[wire chief]

Be nice if walk-ons graduate to big time.

 

[UcMiami]

Have to say the KML news is a positive though nerves can always be tricky and there aren't generally treatment options beyond rest. Morgan is an unexpected loss, but 1) it is not her surgically repaired knee which I think is a positive, and 2) it doesn't sound like a difficult or very serious surgery. Hopefully they are both back quickly. As others have said - better now than later as they should be back with plenty of the regular season remaining to get back in shape. Best wishes for both.
Interesting situation for the coaches - I am betting on a three guard starting line-up as the team needs to keep Stokes as a reserve in case of foul issues - that way the scholarship bench contains one guard and one forward. I can also see Polly and Tierney getting first half minutes in case of fouls and or pacing of the first seven. And full court pressure is probably on hold until the reinforcements get back.

 

[hthusky74]

It actually sounds like nearly the best possible news for KML given the initial pain and look of the injury. No break, No Separation and no tears. THOSE would be the things that would have taken a long time to recover from. Indefinitely only means they can't estimate a return.

Actually a minor fracture may have been the best news. 4-6 weeks, bone heals and you get back in the saddle. Ulnar nerve contusion, while not debilitating to the average person, can leave you with long term or even permanent loss of feeling in the fingers and hand. For someone who is the top 3 point shooter in the country, this could be a very serious injury. Let's hope not, but a hairline fracture might have been a better situation. Time will tell. You might find this to be interesting reading:
http://www.wosm.com/index.php/component/content/article/123-ulnar-nerve-contusion

 

[rvwsleep]

Wow, was not expecting the MT news though the KML result is probably as good as could be hoped for. As others have already said this will present opportunities for major minutes from what use to be the bench. Now it amounts to 7 starters with playing time split fairly evenly among them. I'm still confident in their playing ability, it's the foul situation I worry about. Can't have BS going out 4 minutes into the game with a couple of fouls as she did in the Stanford game.

 

[Zorro]

Well, anyone who was worrying about a boring season, can stop worrying.

 

[Fiftyish]

Well we now know the answer to who will start.....everybody.

Looks like TLaw and Polly will be getting some playing time....ready or not.