There is a week between now and the semifinals in Madison Square Garden. That is sufficient time to allow his ankle to get closer to being able to be effective.
Do you play Trey tomorrow and delay the healing process OR sit him and try to get to New York City at closer to 100 percent?
Simple, play him if he is ready and sit him if he isn't (or play him sparingly as a decoy like last night). Trey playing last night is a big reason for the win. Him being on the court meant Bacote was open to hit those early 3s and open up that lead that we clung to for the rest of the game.
yeah, after watching him wince just trying to ride on the bike last night tells me he's hurting pretty badly. I say start him as a decoy. at least that'll keep MS guessing, but for the most part the cat is out of the bad and I bet they are preparing as if he won't play.
If he is limping around like last night, just sit him.
I wouldn't worry about the healing process. The name of the game is "survive and advance". If playing Trey for however many minutes gives us a better chance of winning tomorrow, that is all that matters. As for the next game, we'll cross that bridge if/when we get to it. If he can play a role tomorrow, you don't sit him so he is healthier for a game that might not even happen.
I almost think that you play him for about 5 minutes in each half, for no other reason than to allow Palmore a few minutes of rest. Freeman at whatever % he was last night is still our best option as a backup PG.
Sit him. When Freeman was on the court yesterday it felt like we were playing 4 on 5
If we don't beat Murray State, then resting Trey for next week was pointless. I think that it'll be up to him. If he feels like he can contribute, he'll play. He does a lot for this team besides just being their leading scorer. As EverRespect said, use him as a decoy to free up someone else. He also does a great job of getting the crowd fired up. How many times this season have we seen Trey pumping up the crowd after a big bucket or defensive stop? Little things like that are huge. Hopefully he can go tomorrow. If not, Palmore needs to be ready to pick up where he left off last night.
Can't answer that yet. If he didn't hurt himself even more by playing last night perhaps we can get 10 minutes out of him. See what the treatment the next 30 hours can do for him and then you will know. Think it would be a miracle though.
(03-24-2015 09:24 AM)FTW ODU Wrote: [ -> ]Sit him. When Freeman was on the court yesterday it felt like we were playing 4 on 5
Well, the first few minutes he seemed okay. It was once he left the game and it tightened up that he had issues. If that's the case tomorrow as well, then I imagine we'll see a repeat of last night--squeeze a few minutes out of him, but once it tightens he's done.
If he heals just enough or they do a better job of keeping it loose, then we'll see.
Ankles are just tricky injuries--my kid sprained his so bad it's costing him his junior season on the soccer field. Some sprains look horrible and take a week, others look okay, and take 4+ weeks. Even the doctors don't really know. It's all pain management and controlling the swelling.
I voted to play him but that means (to me) to suit him up and have him ready. If nothing else, his uniformed presence on the bench will have Murray St. watching him and wondering if he is going to come in. Play him as much as he can stand without further injury. It is walking a tight rope, but that is part of what JJ is being paid for. And I think JJ will make the right decision, both for the team and for Trey's ankle.
Leave him on the bench or stationary bike unless the game is getting out of hand.
If the game is out of hand, what will bringing in a gimpy Trey exactly do? His shots were way off last night.
I agree with Ever. Play him in a similar role as last night. I'll be happy if he gets 10-15 minutes in again. IMO the thing we miss the most about Trey is his ability to absolutely take over a game offensively, but unfortunately the sprain is making it very hard for him to set his feet correctly and propel his shot.
I believe the NIT semi-final game is a week from tomorrow, and a week off can do a lot towards healing a sprained ankle.
I vote for a decoy start with a 10 minute ceiling for his PT. We get him in the game so Murray State has to consider an additional variable, then we take him out and have his ankle on ice the rest of the game. We need the rest of the team to step up again, and if they play with the guts they showed against Ill State I think they'll be up for it.
It's hard to answer this, because it will be 100% dictated by how he feels tomorrow. So, in essence, all we're voting on is how healthy we think he'll be.
I would guess he will not be healthy enough. Hope I am wrong but I doubt it.
sit him until it's time for his Willis Reed moment...(old NBA reference)...I don't think "decoy" is much of an option now...files have been updated...he'll have to prove himself if he's on the court...
The question is not whether or not to sit or play Trey. The only question is whether or not his ankle has healed enough to let him go. If he is able to go -- he plays. If not -- he sits.
Exactly. Since this is based 100% on his health, and no one here knows a thing about it, expressing an opinion isn't really giving us much other than "I think he'll be healthy!!!"