Spring Break
The Storrs Side: ACL injuries plaguing Husky hoops
Russell Blair
Issue date: 2/19/09 Section: Sports
During the past two seasons, UConn fans have gotten uncomfortably familiar with knee injuries.
The latest one to plague the Huskies - after three players from both the men's and women's basketball teams tore ACLs - was Jerome Dyson's torn meniscus. On Monday, he announced that he will miss the rest of the season.
While this news is hard to swallow, it also provides an opportunity for other players to step up, see more minutes and have a chance to lead the team to victory in the absence of their fallen comrade.
Take the women's basketball team, for example. When Caroline Doty, who was shooting the lights out from beyond the 3-point-line, went down with an ACL tear, fellow freshman Tiffany Hayes got the starting nod. In her four starts since Doty's injury, Hayes has averaged 11 points-per-game. After a tremendous 15-point, four-assist performance against No. 19 Pittsburgh, Hayes was named the Big East Freshman of the Week for the second time this month. Her first honor came after a 23-point night - her career best - against then-No. 7 Louisville.
Though the men's basketball team suffered its first loss post-Dyson's knee injury Monday night against Pittsburgh, there was a noticeable improvement of play from both Stanley Robinson and Kemba Walker. Robinson, while he still has yet to hit a 3-pointer, made two early jump shots on his way to a respectable eight-point and 10-rebound game, as well as helping out on perimeter defense.
Walker picked right up where Dyson had left off after his injury, attacking the rim and driving the lane on his way to a 13-point performance.
Despite the loss, it is obvious that the two have made strides in their play to help fill in for Dyson.
The latest one to plague the Huskies - after three players from both the men's and women's basketball teams tore ACLs - was Jerome Dyson's torn meniscus. On Monday, he announced that he will miss the rest of the season.
While this news is hard to swallow, it also provides an opportunity for other players to step up, see more minutes and have a chance to lead the team to victory in the absence of their fallen comrade.
Take the women's basketball team, for example. When Caroline Doty, who was shooting the lights out from beyond the 3-point-line, went down with an ACL tear, fellow freshman Tiffany Hayes got the starting nod. In her four starts since Doty's injury, Hayes has averaged 11 points-per-game. After a tremendous 15-point, four-assist performance against No. 19 Pittsburgh, Hayes was named the Big East Freshman of the Week for the second time this month. Her first honor came after a 23-point night - her career best - against then-No. 7 Louisville.
Though the men's basketball team suffered its first loss post-Dyson's knee injury Monday night against Pittsburgh, there was a noticeable improvement of play from both Stanley Robinson and Kemba Walker. Robinson, while he still has yet to hit a 3-pointer, made two early jump shots on his way to a respectable eight-point and 10-rebound game, as well as helping out on perimeter defense.
Walker picked right up where Dyson had left off after his injury, attacking the rim and driving the lane on his way to a 13-point performance.
Despite the loss, it is obvious that the two have made strides in their play to help fill in for Dyson.
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