Take PJ situation at Face Value

[Wildcatfan66]

This is just my opinion. I would not try to read into anything that has been said.
Yesterday, Cal said there is no significant damage to PJ's foot and that PJ wants to play. They were sending him to a specialist to be completely sure. I think shortly thereafter they also decided that PJ wasn't going to play in this Abilene Game. Why would you play him if you know he could rest that foot and you will still win without him? He's not needed for this game.

Once it was decided he wasn't going to play, the best way to immobilize that foot and keep anything further from happening is a hard cast. So, that's what they did.

So today, when it is said that he's "out for today's game" I would take that at face value. So, I'm assuming he will return for Saturday's game. And yes, a hard cast can be removed after a short time.

I don't think it is wise to read anything further into any of this.

I agree. There is just so much more we don't know. Sounds like no major structural damage. But maybe his pain got worse this week. Maybe the specialist said the fastest way to recover was a hard cast for 48 hours. My guess is the specialist recommended the cast and some rest if possible. I appreciate that Calipari is always looking out for the best for his players. Another coach might have played him anyway.

For us fans, we are upset because any chance of get to the FF or a NC goes out the window without PJ. But put yourself in PJ's shoes (literally). Tens of millions of dollars, his future NBA career, etc are at stake. It hurts us all, but all we can do is hope he is able to play Saturday or at least by next weekend.

 

[know1]

But you can't take the situation at face value because Cal/UK are clearly not telling us everything.

And when you think about the reasons why they would do that, the conclusions aren't good (that it's worse than they want to publicize).

 

[Cats192]

My other thought in regards to Saturday is this.

Why come down separately if he’s for sure going to sit? I get traveling with the team to support them and cheer them on. But why I take a separate flight or bus if you’re for sure ruled out?

It’s possible he doesn’t play Saturday, but I also don’t think it’s definite he is out.

 

[BlueBlood66_rivals34314]

That guy is speculating. He doesn't know the actual extent of this injury.
It's clearly not a serious injury. If it were, we'd ALL know when it happened in that game last Saturday, but we don't know. People have scoured the tape trying to figure it out and couldn't even find when it happened. If it were a season ending sprain, he'd have gone down in that game and wouldn't have returned. This is likely a mild sprained foot. If we were playing Duke or Tennessee tonight, he'd wrap the thing and play. As far as 100% goes, I'd be willing to bet 1/3 or more college basketball players are less than 100% this time of year. But they're gonna play and they will be fine. Get that adrenaline flowing and you play.

Saying he would play tonight if it were Duke or Tenn is speculation as well.

 

[STL_Cat]

The real face value here is that PJ has a hard cast, and he isn’t playing tonight. Anything beyond that we just don’t know yet.

 

[BBUK_anon]

[laughing] Just have to laugh...

 

[CC_332_rivals113783]

I just don't have a good feeling about this. Murphy's Law kind of thing.

 

[Cal-4-Three]

Most of the overreactions come from the hard cast not just him not playing. I don't think I've seen a hard cast put on for temporary reasons. I just worry it's worse than they are saying and that they don't want to hurt his draft stock.

 

[SemperFiCat]

They keep using the word "precautionary", and Cal said he might go before. My uneducated guess is he could/would go if we really needed him in a big game tonight. But we don't, so rest him an extra day.

 

[STL_Cat]

They keep using the word "precautionary", and Cal said he might go before. My uneducated guess is he could/would go if we really needed him in a big game tonight. But we don't, so rest him an extra day.

The sitting tonight doesn’t bother me. I fully expected that and said yesterday I expect he’ll sit Thursday’s game and play this weekend. Yes I will admit, I’m one of those that’s not as confident after finding out about the cast. I hope I’m just paranoid.

 

[March 22]

This is just my opinion. I would not try to read into anything that has been said.
Yesterday, Cal said there is no significant damage to PJ's foot and that PJ wants to play. They were sending him to a specialist to be completely sure. I think shortly thereafter they also decided that PJ wasn't going to play in this Abilene Game. Why would you play him if you know he could rest that foot and you will still win without him? He's not needed for this game.

Once it was decided he wasn't going to play, the best way to immobilize that foot and keep anything further from happening is a hard cast. So, that's what they did.

Agree. Don’t think a “hard cast” is a big deal in of itself. This is not a casual, random Joe situation. To give him the best chance of healing fast in a dire situation (the tournament], the highest level of service is being utilized even though it may have marginal impact. Rightfully so! Might be cut off tomorrow, who knows.

 

[ImUTGagain]

This is just my opinion. I would not try to read into anything that has been said.
Yesterday, Cal said there is no significant damage to PJ's foot and that PJ wants to play. They were sending him to a specialist to be completely sure. I think shortly thereafter they also decided that PJ wasn't going to play in this Abilene Game. Why would you play him if you know he could rest that foot and you will still win without him? He's not needed for this game.

Once it was decided he wasn't going to play, the best way to immobilize that foot and keep anything further from happening is a hard cast. So, that's what they did.

So today, when it is said that he's "out for today's game" I would take that at face value. So, I'm assuming he will return for Saturday's game. And yes, a hard cast can be removed after a short time.

I don't think it is wise to read anything further into any of this.

Well said and thank you for being a good mod. Thanks others could learn a thing or two from you

But by reading your post, it sounds like you know most the posts on here are **** and we have a large community of fake fans or trolls. Why not clean this place up some? Ban some these fools. This site is hard to visit sometimes bc of the absolute **** you gotta Wade thru just to read a decent post of UK basketball. Why is that?

 

[SemperFiCat]

The sitting tonight doesn’t bother me. I fully expected that and said yesterday I expect he’ll sit Thursday’s game and play this weekend. Yes I will admit, I’m one of those that’s not as confident after finding out about the cast. I hope I’m just paranoid.

I hear ya, but why wouldn't you put your best player in a boot for precautionary measures? It's tournament time, and they want to give him anything to heal as quickly as possible. Again, my uneducated guess.

 

[fisherscat]

Sheppard and Bogans played after severe ankle sprains. PJ???

 

[STL_Cat]

I hear ya, but why wouldn't you put your best player in a boot for precautionary measures? It's tournament time, and they want to give him anything to heal as quickly as possible. Again, my uneducated guess.

Oh man I’m with you on the boot. I expected him to wear the boot and sit out tonight. The decision to change the boot to a cast is what is scaring me.

 

[SemperFiCat]

Oh man I’m with you on the boot. I expected him to wear the boot and sit out tonight. The decision to change the boot to a cast is what is scaring me.

Yeah. But I still see the key to all this is the word "precautionary".

 

[KY Long Rifle_rivals381398]

I understand the sentiment BUT we are now at 1-and-done. You do not risk losing or take an opponent that "lightly." If we lose and find that they were gambling on getting PJ another day?!?!?! That would turn out to be an AWFUL decision. Dress him, don't start him but have him available if the wheels start falling off.

This decision tells me that things are worse than they are telling us. I hope I am wrong.

That's kinda what worries me. I hope the OP is correct in his assumption, but I just don't see resting a player capable of playing in the tournament. 2 seeds have been defeated by 15 seeds a number of times in the past. In fact, just last year a 1 seed lost to a 16. No one is safe in the tournament, especially without their best player.

 

[KyFaninNC]

This is just my opinion. I would not try to read into anything that has been said.
Yesterday, Cal said there is no significant damage to PJ's foot and that PJ wants to play. They were sending him to a specialist to be completely sure. I think shortly thereafter they also decided that PJ wasn't going to play in this Abilene Game. Why would you play him if you know he could rest that foot and you will still win without him? He's not needed for this game.

Once it was decided he wasn't going to play, the best way to immobilize that foot and keep anything further from happening is a hard cast. So, that's what they did.

So today, when it is said that he's "out for today's game" I would take that at face value. So, I'm assuming he will return for Saturday's game. And yes, a hard cast can be removed after a short time.

I don't think it is wise to read anything further into any of this.

We are NOT 100% guaranteed a win tonight. There is no such thing. Ask UVA about that.

 

[Ineverplayedthegame]

Stress fracture.
Out until the combine.
Deal with it.

 

[jdoub11]

Well at least the team we play tonight suspended 3 of there players about a month or two ago

 

[Bigkyfan88]

Stress fracture.
Out until the combine.
Deal with it.

You know this how?

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

But you can't take the situation at face value because Cal/UK are clearly not telling us everything.

And when you think about the reasons why they would do that, the conclusions aren't good (that it's worse than they want to publicize).

Not buying it.

Cal never said "we expect him to play" in regards to WCS in '14 or Vanderbilt in '18.

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

Stress fracture.
Out until the combine.
Deal with it.

Silly post.

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

That's kinda what worries me. I hope the OP is correct in his assumption, but I just don't see resting a player capable of playing in the tournament. 2 seeds have been defeated by 15 seeds a number of times in the past. In fact, just last year a 1 seed lost to a 16. No one is safe in the tournament, especially without their best player.

Cal's "we expect him to play" might have more to do with the coaches "expecting" the team to advance past the first weekend without PJ, and then getting him back next weekend.

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

Most of the overreactions come from the hard cast not just him not playing. I don't think I've seen a hard cast put on for temporary reasons. I just worry it's worse than they are saying and that they don't want to hurt his draft stock.

That would be a first though.

Comparing PJ to J Vando last year is not sufficient because Vanderbilt was actually legitimately hurt.

Cal also never said "we expect him to play" in regards to JV's tournament chances.

 

[westerncat]

I think Washington will play this Saturday. Man there are a lot of "sky is falling " fans on this board.

 

[Ineverplayedthegame]

I know every bit as much as everyone else on this board.
I don’t want it to be the case. I know that PJ surely doesn’t want it to be the case. I hope I am wrong. But it doesn’t change that stress fractures are often initially diagnosed as ankle sprains.

 

[MegaBlue05]

Sheppard and Bogans played after severe ankle sprains. PJ???

Bogans was awful in that game and hurt us more than he helped.

 

[Cal-4-Three]

I know every bit as much as everyone else on this board.
I don’t want it to be the case. I know that PJ surely doesn’t want it to be the case. I hope I am wrong. But it doesn’t change that stress fractures are often initially diagnosed as ankle sprains.

They said the MRI was negative though...

 

[TortElvisII]

Luke Maye should only be allowed to play if his head is in a cast.

 

[richbrookstomato]

I know every bit as much as everyone else on this board.
I don’t want it to be the case. I know that PJ surely doesn’t want it to be the case. I hope I am wrong. But it doesn’t change that stress fractures are often initially diagnosed as ankle sprains.

Not after an MRI read by a specialist.

However, that doesn't mean Cal is telling the public the whole truth either. PJ's injury could be worse than is being told, but how does that benefit PJ?

The NBA teams are going to examine PJ extensively now whether he plays or not. So, I don't see any benefit for PJ and Cal not coming clean with how long he will be out from this point forward.

This makes me think that PJ will at some point return if we can keep winning until then.

 

[83Cat_rivals79182]

The question begs : Does Cal roll the dice Saturday too and give PJ an additional week to recover? Past precedent with Reid (for the Florida game) suggests he does . Risky to say the least , but I think we can beat Wofford/ SH winner w/o PJ

Let's just hope for huge coming out games from EJ and Nick. If the light goes on with EJ and he starts hitting we can still be GREAT! Then if we get PJ back, we will be all the stronger for it. Reid might also find a new self through this. Cal can make some tweaks and coach us through this!

 

[St.PatterSoN-54-]

I'm usually a supreme optimist, but I'm in the camp that we've possibly (likely?) seen the last of PJ in a UK uniform. I hate it, but I'll be pleasantly surprised if that's not the case. Cal always errs on the side of player safety, so if there's any doubt, he will not play. Get better soon, big fella.

 

[kybassfan]

I'm not normally a gloom and doom fan, but I don't know that UK has earned the benefit of the doubt on injuries. They don't have to share information at all, but it always seems that injuries are worse than they let on and/or take longer to heal than they report.

Thing is, UK does not owe us a single shred of information. Not one single word. Further, injuries are unpredictable and player reactions to injury is even more chaotic. There is no benefit of the doubt or false expectation. A player plays if and when he plays. If you expect to know more or expect some insight into a player’s discussion with the medical staff or coaches, that’s on you. The school, program, staff or player owe us nothing.

We’ll PJ when we see him. Casts can be used for many things. Compliance for one. Whether it is needed long term or short term, only his doc can guess. That individual is bound by law not to discuss it without specific permission. End of story. That is what we know. That is all we are entitled to know. Any other expectation is contrived and utterly without merit.

 

[TheWyldKat_rivals45219]

They keep using the word "precautionary", and Cal said he might go before. My uneducated guess is he could/would go if we really needed him in a big game tonight. But we don't, so rest him an extra day.

Yes my same exact thought. Good point.

 

[Wildcats1st]

This is just my opinion. I would not try to read into anything that has been said.
Yesterday, Cal said there is no significant damage to PJ's foot and that PJ wants to play. They were sending him to a specialist to be completely sure. I think shortly thereafter they also decided that PJ wasn't going to play in this Abilene Game. Why would you play him if you know he could rest that foot and you will still win without him? He's not needed for this game.

Once it was decided he wasn't going to play, the best way to immobilize that foot and keep anything further from happening is a hard cast. So, that's what they did.

So today, when it is said that he's "out for today's game" I would take that at face value. So, I'm assuming he will return for Saturday's game. And yes, a hard cast can be removed after a short time.

I don't think it is wise to read anything further into any of this.

You don’t fully immobilize a guy then play him 2 days later. The chances of serious injury increase 10 fold. Pj will need pt before he plays again. The only reason for a hard cast is serious injury bc even after a couple days the muscle will begin to atrophy once that happens the risk is much higher than just playing on it.

 

[RobynL]

This is just my opinion. I would not try to read into anything that has been said.
Yesterday, Cal said there is no significant damage to PJ's foot and that PJ wants to play. They were sending him to a specialist to be completely sure. I think shortly thereafter they also decided that PJ wasn't going to play in this Abilene Game. Why would you play him if you know he could rest that foot and you will still win without him? He's not needed for this game.

Once it was decided he wasn't going to play, the best way to immobilize that foot and keep anything further from happening is a hard cast. So, that's what they did.

So today, when it is said that he's "out for today's game" I would take that at face value. So, I'm assuming he will return for Saturday's game. And yes, a hard cast can be removed after a short time.

I don't think it is wise to read anything further into any of this.

Exactly this!

 

[Elliott Tim]

This is just my opinion. I would not try to read into anything that has been said.
Yesterday, Cal said there is no significant damage to PJ's foot and that PJ wants to play. They were sending him to a specialist to be completely sure. I think shortly thereafter they also decided that PJ wasn't going to play in this Abilene Game. Why would you play him if you know he could rest that foot and you will still win without him? He's not needed for this game.

Once it was decided he wasn't going to play, the best way to immobilize that foot and keep anything further from happening is a hard cast. So, that's what they did.

So today, when it is said that he's "out for today's game" I would take that at face value. So, I'm assuming he will return for Saturday's game. And yes, a hard cast can be removed after a short time.

I don't think it is wise to read anything further into any of this.

Agree. I don't want the sky to fall.

 

[Cats192]

You don’t fully immobilize a guy then play him 2 days later. The chances of serious injury increase 10 fold. Pj will need pt before he plays again. The only reason for a hard cast is serious injury bc even after a couple days the muscle will begin to atrophy once that happens the risk is much higher than just playing on it.

You’re not going to have significant muscle loss in 24 to 48 hours.

 

[Ky_Bred_Cat]

This very well may be true, though I would suspect the hard cast decision was made with an awareness that he is out Saturday.
While you can remove at any point, the recovery hopes from complete immobilization usually involve longer than a two-day span.

I agree with this assessment. PJ's likely out till next week.