These players are thankful to be back
At this time of the year, we should all have a lot to be thankful for. In college basketball, there are a number of players who were sidelined last season due to various injuries. The fact that they are back and playing this season gives reason to be thankful.
My friends, these are guys you can root for because they have endured a lot. They have worked hard to get into position for a return to college basketball courts all over America.
Several guys down in SEC country have come back. At Alabama, Ronald Steele had back-to-back injury-plagued years. He got off to a good start this season and looks like he is returning to the form displayed when many considered him an All-America candidate. Steele worked so hard after knee surgeries and it is great to see him back.
At Kentucky, Patrick Patterson was sidelined late last season due to a stress fracture in his ankle. Now that he is healthy, he should dominate in the post. Kentucky has to make sure it gets him the ball in good position and he has to get enough shot opportunities.
LSU is happy to have Tasmin Mitchell back after a stress fracture in his left shin led to season-ending surgery last November. He was granted a medical redshirt year and has two seasons of eligibility remaining.
Down at Auburn, Korvotney Barber suffered a broken left hand in late December. He was averaging 15 points per game while shooting 72 percent from the floor at the time of his injury. Coach Jeff Lebo is glad to have him back. Barber posted solid numbers early this season.
The Big East has had its share of players come back from injuries. Pittsburgh guard Levance Fields was questionable for the start of this season after a foot injury. He came back playing excellent basketball, running up his assist totals for Jamie Dixon's top 10 squad.
Syracuse got Eric Devendorf and Andy Rautins back on the perimeter. Devendorf suffered a torn ACL last year after starting 10 games. He teams up with Jonny Flynn to form a super backcourt for the Orange. Rautins has bulked up physically and provides outside scoring off the bench.
Providence has guard Sharaud Curry back providing leadership in the backcourt for new coach Keno Davis. At Cincinnati, Mike Williams is rounding back into form after an Achilles injury. Williams previously transferred to the Bearcats from Texas.
Among others coming back from injury: NC State guard Farnold Degand, who missed the entire ACC schedule due to a knee injury; UAB point guard Paul Delaney III, who had an ACL injury which led to a redshirt season; North Carolina's Bobby Frasor (torn ACL) and UCLA's Michael Roll. Delaney III got off to a fast start for Mike Davis' Blazers this season.
Wow, the team doctors and trainers deserved consideration for special honors, baby!
My friends, it is great to see these young men back in action, proudly wearing the uniforms of their respective schools. These are guys with a lot to be thankful for and I am hoping they can stay healthy and enjoy success during the 2008-09 season.
