Tennessee's Candace Parker literally is bracing herself for the Women's Final Four.
The women's basketball All-American, who twice suffered a dislocated left shoulder Tuesday against Texas A&M, has been cleared to play in Sunday's national semifinal game against LSU.
The Lady Vols (34-2) and Lady Tigers (31-5) meet at 9:30 p.m. (TV: ESPN) at the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa, Fla. The game follows Connecticut versus Stanford at 7. The winners play Tuesday for the national championship.
Parker, who was named national player of the year Thursday by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association, participated in the Lady Vols' practice at Pratt Pavilion, the team's final workout before leaving for Tampa. She was wearing the shoulder sleeve that enabled her to rejoin Tuesday's 53-45 victory in the second half. She finished with 26 points, eight after her return, and was voted the regional's most outstanding player.
"It feels good,'' she said. "The brace is a little getting used to, but it's fine."
After further evaluation and consultation with Dr. Greg Mathien and Dr. Matt Rappe, Lady Vols athletic trainer Jenny Moshak said Parker has a "non-traumatic shoulder dislocation."
"She has very good range of motion and very good strength,'' Moshak said.
Parker's shooting form looked better, nothing resembling the air ball she fired up on her first attempt after returning against the Aggies. She will continue her rehabilitation and make use of the recovery time available until Sunday night.
"I think I'll be fine," Parker said. "I think the brace just serves as a reminder to me, you know, that my shoulder's injured and it won't let it get out of place."
Parker was philosophical about her circumstances. She has a lengthy medical history that includes an injury to her right shoulder in the preseason.
"I feel blessed it wasn't my right shoulder,'' she said. "That's the way I look at it."
Regarding Sunday, Parker said: "I'm going to go out there and play as hard as I can with the brace."
Taking Shots: Lady Vols guard Alexis Hornbuckle has been hearing from friends and family about her long 3-pointer against Texas A&M with 50 seconds left, which was crucial to the outcome.
"They say it's luck, you know you couldn't shoot that again,'' said Hornbuckle, regarding her friends' reaction. "My dad actually said he was a little nervous because I missed two layups. I told him, 'Thanks for the confidence.'"
Stay Fresh: The Lady Vols' practiced for 1 1/2 hours Thursday and will have a scouting-type workout today in Florida.
"I think rest is what we need,'' UT coach Pat Summitt said. "I think the mental fatigue can also set in, if they feel they've got to watch more tape or go through more scouting sessions. So at this point, we will definitely keep in mind that we need our legs and we need to be mentally sharp as well. So I think less is more in this situation."
Up For Scholarship: Lady Vols center Nicky Anosike has been nominated by UT for the H. Boyd McWhorter scholar-athlete post-graduate scholarship. Anosike has a 3.77 grade-point average while carrying a triple major in Political Science, Legal Studies and Sociology.
UT swimmer Michael Wolfe also has been nominated.
Tennessee's signing class for 2012
Tennessee 60, Connecticut 57 men's…
Tennessee 73, Georgia 62 men's…
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 49
LadyVolFanForever writes:
YES !!!!!!!!!!!!!
GO LADY VOLS !!
GreerVol22 writes:
just wait till Fowles give her a hard foul on that shoulder and then watch Coach Pat go "traumatic" on the refs......
thegoat0248 writes:
YES!!! This is the best news I've heard all day!!
utvolz#637682 writes:
Great news indeed! Go Candace and GO LADY VOLS!
Frank in Miami
PureOrange writes:
Great News! Hope she does not have any more problems.
Candace is the best, but we need all our girls stepping up and playing their hearts out for the next two games. We have the talent, we only need the "want to" to bring home Nr. 8. If we will cut out the lazy, careless passes, we will do great.
BrakTalk writes:
She hurt "himself"?
Copy editor for hire?
fifet#428379 writes:
OK, she is going to play, but the rest them need too help out and not rely on her too carry them or there done for early.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Great news. Sally forth, ladies and destroy this dragon.
Again!
vol_in_lsu_land writes:
Great news for this Vol fan in the heart of LSU Tiger/Lady Tiger country. My friends and coworkers already think this game is won. I bet Candace has a few things to say about that...along with the other wonderful players on this team.
volfan2002 writes:
The other girls played great defense after Candace went out and continued it after she returned. They need that same intensity for 40 minutes against LSU.
Volfantm writes:
Way to go Candace and Jenny Moshak!
thegoat0248 writes:
Somebody give Jenny Moshak a raise!!
txsvol#372416 writes:
I'd rather hear it from Dr. Youmans or Dr. Mathien. Really don't think there is a non-traumatic dislocation of the shoulder, unless it is congenitally dislocated. Probably Ms. Moshak meant that it is a chronic dislocating shoulder, with ligamentous instability, that ultimately will need surgery to correct. Hope that Candace plays her career games the next two times she takes the court. She's a great LadyVol. SAVol
volunteer4life2 writes:
I would assume that txsvol is a orthopedic doctor. Go Lady Vols!
Volunatic writes:
No, but he played one on TV.
jglocsawgrass#635647 writes:
Awesome!! Good luck and "git r done"! GO VOLS!
txsvol#372416 writes:
Surgeon, yes. Orthopedic surgeon, no. But, I've seen more than 100 and probably less than 1,000 shoulder dislocations over the past three decades. I've reduced two in the past month, and scrubbed on another Tuesday where there was a Hill-Sachs lesion, a labral tear, and a rotator cuff tear which required suture-screw reattachment. And, I didn't stay in a Holiday Inn Select last night. My own bed, no less, but I will spend tonight in a hospital. SAVol
TommyJack writes:
txvol: I got this pain....
vol in LSU: Where you been, son?
topgun writes:
txsvol
Thanks for the info, doc. Bottom line--she is going to play. Hope she doesn't catch that "Hills-Sachs lesion" stuff--it sounds really bad. LMAO!
Outstanding news for UTLV fans. Wonder what Geno said when he heard this?? Ditto for the ultra feminine young ladies of LSU?? GO VOLS! Beat the little kittens.
jglocsawgrass#635647 writes:
ESPN just reported (in the past hour) that Candace would not play Sunday. Is she or isn't she?
HotlantaVol writes:
It's all a ruse to keep everyone guessing. She will play. She won't play. She will play. Who knows for sure until she dunks on you, chump-ette!!
98reax writes:
In whom do you have the most confidence, Tony Cornpone-heiser, Skip Bayless, or Dr. txsvol? ESPN WISHES she would not play Sunday. Geno does not want to talk about it, but he phoned it in "Reducectomy en updaticus et Parkeritis. Translation: 'don't say nothin good regarding Pat.'
FlaVol2 writes:
Great news about a great Lady Vol. Go Ladies!!!
amcguire01 writes:
Candace's teammates need to show up on Sunday! I'm not kiddin'... They looked terrible without her in the A&M game. The seniors aren't playing like veterns on a consistent basis. Be prepared for some LSU cheapshots to CP's shoulder. I wouldn't put anything past them.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
If you want to keep up with the Brill Creme king, try www.connpost.com. You can read ad nausem about the Huskettes or whatever they're called.
txsvol#372416 writes:
Herschel Walker's shoulders dislocated so many times that he could pop them back into place and return to the game during his NFL career. I haven't kept up with whether or not he ever had the ligaments repaired following his football career. My guess is that Candace Parker has dislocated her shoulder(s) enough that she has the chronic instability that I mentioned earlier. If you want a better explanation, google "Biomechanics of Massive Rotator Tears: Implications for Treatment" and "Prognosis of primary anterior shoulder dislocations in young adults." SAVol
abnermc writes:
BrakTalk, It's Sylvia that's a "him".
vol_in_lsu_land writes:
Candace is a soldier. She is the toughest, best woman's bsketball player in the nation. But guys don't be down on the rest of the team! Sure, Bobbit has issues with her height and getting the ball by a defender, but she has hustle, quickness, and good instincts. Hornbuckle would be the premier player on just about any other team. Anosike and Bjorklund are clutch players and we wouldn't be where we are without them. I'm pumped about the LVs chances vs. an overconfident LSU team.
98reax writes:
Here's a little tribute to the Lady Vols for all their hard work and dedication this season. They are the best and no one will convince me otherwise. I wish they could read this and know how much confidence we all have in them.
Guess Who's Not Coming To Dinner
This game is yours, Lady Vols. You made the play.
You brought your best dish to dinner today.
You played the game like you wanted it more,
Met each challenge like you'd been there before.
You got down in your stance. Defended each pass.
You took every shot like it was your last.
Every board was yours. You went up to get it.
When coached by the best, you never regret it.
The night was made for you, the best in the nation.
You finished them off. This is your celebration.
THE WOMEN OF ORANGE WIN TITLE #8.
See you next year, Geno. I'll bet you can't wait.
garyfmtn writes:
Hi Brian in Mississippi...This is Gary in Knoxville TN....Do I know you?? Do you know Nicky Anosike?? I do.....
Gary
Knoxville
Timed_vol (Inactive) writes:
txsvol:
hey, I need a scrpt for the stuff you use for the black toenail fundus. Just post it right on heree, wouldyA???
Timed_vol (Inactive) writes:
The thing about Candace...She is, well, hot.
If I were wealthy, young, handsome, athletic, and smart, I'd be after that lady. Sad to say, I'm none of the required atrributes. She'll end up marrying that NBA clown. Dang it.
Have you guys seen Maya Moore?? I did on TV the other night, against Rutgers. She's got a baby face like Shannon Bobbitt.
Tell you waht, I know she had a bad game, but that girl should have been a Vol.
Timed_vol (Inactive) writes:
The thing about Candace...She is, well, hot.
If I were wealthy, young, handsome, athletic, and smart, I'd be after that lady. Sad to say, I'm none of the required atrributes. She'll end up marrying that NBA clown. Dang it.
Have you guys seen Maya Moore?? I did on TV the other night, against Rutgers. She's got a baby face like Shannon Bobbitt.
Tell you waht, I know she had a bad game, but that girl should have been a Vol.
TropicalFish writes:
>>>You can read ad nausem about the Huskettes or whatever they're called.
They're called the Huskies.
>>>ESPN WISHES she would not play Sunday.
Stupid remark. ESPN wants Huskies vs Tennessee in the final, because that would send ratings skyrocketing. The Huskies want Tennessee in the finals, so they can whip their butts. And you can bet the Tennessee ladies would also like to see the Huskies.
And, yes, Geno would love to see Tennessee in the Final game. He's a competitor and wants to beat her team on the court, make her shake his hand and like it. Just the way Pat Summitt should have felt about it - you don't like Geno - beat his team on the court and make him have to shake your hand and say "Good game." That's the mark of a competitor.
utchris writes:
come on txvol.... all she means by saying non traumatic shoulder is that there is not major damage to the capsule or ligaments. Because someone subluxes or dislocates their shoulder does not mean that they will need surgery. Jenny mentioned that she had good ROM and strength. By the way, in case you missed the Memo, Youmans retired. As for hearing it from Mathien, I am sure Jenny's word's were not all that different. Three decades and less than 1000 shoulders? Dang, your practice must be slow. I have been a trainer for 8 years and have to be close to that number.
Candace is in great hands. Moshak has pulled off some great injury turnarounds in her time with the LV's. There was the Semeka Randall ankle sprain (a pretty significant one at that) in the Final 4. I think they did almost continuos treatment and Randall played (the LV's won). Then there was the miraculous ACL recovery (Jolly or Marchiniak?) that was cleared in right at 3 months (a 6-9 month recovery is the norm) just in time for the Final 4. Those are some of the more notables. There are others that were never reported for obvious reasons.
txsvol#372416 writes:
utchris2003, My 'career' as a military surgeon ended after seven years, and my 'team doctor' volunteer work for local high school football was something I stopped after three years, so the shoulders I see these days are either in the ER or the OR. So, for a non-orthopedist, my numbers are quite large. You are right in that all dislocating shoulders do not need surgery. As a running back, Herschel Walker could pop his shoulder back in place and return to the game. But my guess is that for a WNBA career, a chronically dislocating shoulder might interfere with shooting coordination, rebounding, etc. I'm just trying to add 'light' rather than the 'heat' we see so much on this site. As a trainer, then you know to think about the etiology of the _____(want to say injury, but if I say 'injury,' then by definition, it is traumatic) problem with the shoulder. Words mean things, and Ms. Moshak's calling Candace's shoulder injury non-traumatic implies some other cause. What is the cause, then? I'm almost sure that the first sentence in the sixth paragraph above was added to the article following my comments. (I'm in San Antonio, where I encounter almost daily some of the orthopedists trained by Dr. Charles Rockwood, the guru of shoulder surgery.) I appreciate your endorsement of the LadyVol trainer. I'm sure that Pat would have no less than the best! Go LadyVols! Beat LSU & Connecticut! SAVol
houvol#438636 writes:
Congrats to Nicky on the Academic Honors. That is a story within itself.
I live in Houston and many people here are LSU fans. I hope the Lady Vols can pull out one more victory over them. Let's not look to UConn gang lets stay focused on a very good LSU team.
highlanderinc#594435 writes:
HE STAYED IN A HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS LAST NITE
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Third time on this thread for that one, highlanderinc; not funny anymore. He is a REAL doctor. Anyway, it never hurts to read ALL posts, even the long ones(;-)), before posting. Great news for Candace and the team. Agree that everyone else has to step up and take care of LSU's hungry tigers (FIFTH straight Final Four without a championship) before we worry about the UConns. GO LADY VOLS!!! BRING HOME THE EIGHTH!!!
utchris writes:
txsvol -
Thanks for service to our Nations Millitary. I see where you are coming from. Knowing Jenny, I am guessing that she was trying to help the common person understand or said one thing and the writer put what they thought that she said.
Never heard of Rockwood in these parts, but I will have to check him out. Funny thing is that when you travel to different parts of the country, someone is always considered a guru....ala James Andrews in the south.
TommyJack writes:
txsvol: Bud Curtis is a pretty good shoulder man too.
txsvol#372416 writes:
TommyJack: You are right! Bud did a fellowship with Dr. Rockwood back in the early '80s. He entered private practice here afterwards. utchris2003: Dr. Rockwood, along with Dr. David Green, is the senior editor of the Orthopedic bible on Fractures. Campbell's Operative Orthopedics (from the Campbell Clinic in Memphis) is another authorative text. You might want to check out the prices of those texts at Amazon or some other place to see the value professionals place on his work. Dr. Andrews is really a sports medicine guru, and a recent documentary about his practice detailed the advances in rehabilitation that his physical therapists and sports therapists have made in helping athletes recover from injuries. Peace! And, go LadyVols! SAVol
LadyVolsEighTimes writes:
With all due respect to the Doc, I think I wil stay with Jenny Moshack on this one. Unlike you she really knows the girls, and when they are feeding her a line of chit.
It seems that if a Doc can't cut it or medicate it, they are at a loss. I'll take Jenny and Granny Clampett over a BS Doc that has to hear it from another Doc, or it just isn't correct.
adimatteo#261830 writes:
Best of luck girls, and Candace, dont do more damage to that shoulder, were all rootin for our lady Vols. Win or lose, they will make us proud as always, with their ability, desire and attitude...
TommyJack writes:
txsvol: thanks for the reply. Bud did both TKR on me...will probably do some shoulder repair soon. (falling apart lol)He's a good guy. What is your field of surgery?
txsvol#372416 writes:
There is a syndrome called Multidirectional Instability of the Shoulder (talked with one of those Rockwood-trained orthopedists) which may, but is not always, be non-traumatic. As I've already said, that is rare. LV8X, sounds like you are missing the spirit of scientific learning. I've read about some of the syndromes that cause MDI, but I've never seen it. TommyJack, I didn't know you were a local. I had saved this weekend for the Final Four, but we didn't quite make it. Go Vols! SAVol
TommyJack writes:
Sounds like ladyvols8 had to wait too long in doctors waiting room. Holy chit!
SFOrange writes:
kick their ass.
Go Orange.
mad_poly_uct writes:
98reax writes..."..ESPN WISHES.." that Parker doesn't play....lol!!! Are you friggin' kiddin' me!?!! If it comes down to anything but TN/Uconn, ESPN's ratings go down the toilet. Why do you think ESPN would not want CP to play?
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