|
Knee could be thorny for Bush MIGHT MISS 2-3 GAMES October 25, 2007
Flames coach Jimmy Collins confirmed the Bush had tweaked “his jump knee” during an interview at the Flames Athletic Center on Monday. The coach also said that there was an MRI done on the knee. Bush said Monday that he could miss “the first three games [including exhibition] and be back for the Virgin Islands tournament at the worst.” Though, he could return sooner. “It’s a little stiff,” Bush said. “I’ve been off it for about a week—just a lot of ice and a lot of rest. It’s nothing real major. We’re probably going to do a scope sometime this week.” A UIC spokesman said that nothing is confirmed for sure on the length of time Bush might miss. Bush has been sitting out practice as the other Flames get ready for the season. BAPTIST DISMISSED: Incoming junior Billy Baptist was dismissed from the team last week for violating an unspecified team rule. The 6-foot-5 transfer from Illinois Central Community College was likened to Armond Williams in terms of tenacity. Baptist would have been in the Flames’ rotation and had the potential to earn a starting spot. Collins would not elaborate on the specific action behind Baptist’s removal from the roster, but did say: “What he did, simply, was he broke my team policy. Anytime you do anything that can bring negative energy towards the team can’t be tolerated.” “It was laid out at the beginning of the year when we passed out a code of conduct. Billy, as well as the other guys, understood that. I would rather not elaborate, because things are hard enough for him and me.” On any chance that Baptist might return, Collins said, “We’re just going to turn the page on that.” He added that the problems within the team last year may have been behind the decision. “We just want to move forward in a positive manner,” Collins said. MORE PRESEASON PICKS: The Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook picked UIC to finish fifth in the Horizon League behind Butler, Green Bay, Milwaukee and Wright State. It graded the Flames with B’s for backcourt and bench/depth, B- for frontcourt and C for intangibles. USA Today Sports Weekly’s special college basketball preview issue also has the Flames fifth behind Butler, Green Bay, Valparaiso and Wright State. They also selected junior center Scott VanderMeer to be a Second-Team All-Horizon pick. WALK-ONS: The Flames have added two walk-ons to their roster in Alex Tkaczuk and Jimmy Harding. Tkaczuk is a 6-foot-2 small forward from New Trier High School, where played for coach Rick Malnati. Harding is a 6-foot-5 guard from Minooka High School. MELAFUSIC: A schedule of events for Melafusic has been posted at the University’s official athletic site. For much more information on the exciting week of events planned for students, fans, alumni and neighbors, check out http://uicflames.cstv.com/ot/melafusic.html. |
|||
