Home › Women's Basketball
Don't count Parker out
All-American's knee injury treated as a bruise
Wade Payne/Associated Press
Tennessee's Candace Parker has her knee wrapped by Kelly Mihalik before Friday's practice.
Wade Payne/Associated Press
Tennessee's Candace Parker smiles from the sideline as she watches practice on Friday. Parker was injured in the game against Mississippi State.
STORY TOOLS
More Women's Basketball
- Delle Donne says 'basketball is not part of my life'
- Lawson rewards Donovan's conviction
- Anosike missing team fellowship as Lady Vol
Share and Enjoy [?]
Get Reprints
Scared and nervous the night before, Candace Parker was mostly relieved Friday.
The upgrade in the Tennessee All-American's emotional state corresponded with the latest prognosis for her left knee.
The injury Parker suffered in the second half of Thursday night's 87-69 women's basketball victory over Mississippi State is being treated as a bruise. Her status is listed as day to day, said Jenny Moshak, the Lady Vols assistant athletic director for sports medicine.
Parker offered her interpretation of her status.
"It's nothing that is going to be months or weeks or anything like that,'' said Parker, who was getting around on crutches. "It's day to day. We're going to see how my knee goes.''
Further evaluation Friday, along with an X-ray, re-affirmed Thursday's postgame report that Parker did not suffer any ligament damage.
Two other Lady Vols who suffered injuries Thursday also are listed as day to day. An X-ray confirmed that freshman forward Angie Bjorklund suffered a broken nose. Senior guard Alberta Auguste aggravated the shoulder/biceps strain she suffered last week.
Parker's uncertain status for Monday's game against No. 7 Rutgers (TV: ESPN2, 7 p.m.) at Thompson-Boling Arena is better than her initial fears after tumbling to the court. Her left knee already had undergone two surgeries, including an anterior cruciate ligament repair during her senior season in high school.
Parker knows the diagnostic drill for ligament tears and played doctor right along with the physician who examined her.
"I knew everything,'' Parker said. "Sometimes it's kind of scary to be knowledgeable about things.''
And Parker knows her left knee very well.
"I was nervous because it was my left knee but then also it scared me more than anything,'' she said. "There was some pain. I didn't feel like the other times, which kind of was a relief.
"Yeah, I was a little nervous."
Experience also has informed Parker about the importance of icing the joint. As a result, she had virtually no swelling and was looking ahead to rehabilitation.
"I'm going to be rehabbing like crazy,'' Parker said. "Jenny and I are going to be buddies for the next 48 hours."
Parker expressed her optimism while sitting in a doctor's office Friday, when she mouthed the following to Moshak: "Don't count me out for Monday." Outwardly, Parker talked about her recovery with the big picture in mind.
"I think it's very important,'' she said, regarding Monday's game. "But it's not important enough to risk not being able to play in March. Jenny is going to give me the benefit of the doubt. She knows I know my body. What's important is to look past Monday. It's about getting through the season, not just one game."
Regarding the three injured players, UT coach Pat Summitt said, "I mean as big a game as it is to play Rutgers here at home - I'm hopeful they'll be able to play - but it they're not ready, they're not ready. Other people will have to step up."
There aren't a lot of other people, however. Without these three, Tennessee would be down to six players.
The outlook is most favorable for Bjorklund, who was wearing a splint across the bridge of her nose. She was on the court Friday but didn't participate in contact drills.
Auguste watched practice and was wearing a sling. She bounced back from the injury in two days last week. Whenever she returns this time, she will wear a brace in the hopes of preventing another recurrence.
© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
- Not Favre, but Ainge leads Jets
- NCAA tweaks clock in football
- ESPN College GameDay set for basketball
- Odd couple enjoy their shots ... at each other
- Ward knew 1998 Vols were special
- Clemson coordinator apologizes for recruiting joke about Alabama
- Strange: UT's sure of defense this trip
- The 1998 Vols: Where are they now?
- Foster has the mind of a coach
- Adams: UCLA to Southern Cal: Bring it on
Please download the latest version of Adobe Flash Player, or enable JavaScript for your browser to view the video player.
Posted by Volfantm on February 8, 2008 at 2:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm glad it's not worse, hope everyone heals up well and soon. GO LADY VOLS!
Posted by utvolz on February 8, 2008 at 2:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Great News! I'm sure Candace will be spending the weekend getting treatment from Jenny and her staff.
Frank in Miami
Posted by FryeGuy on February 8, 2008 at 3:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
DAY TO DAY?
We're all DAY TO DAY!
Posted by 55Vol on February 8, 2008 at 3:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Broken nose? bicep injury? knee injury? this is the women's game and jwraymond1 says he has no interest. Play some ball with these young ladies jwray and they will clean your clock.
Posted by adimatteo on February 8, 2008 at 3:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
hope all goes well for all three of you. Wer'e all selfish fans who want to see team do well, but also want you ladies to be healthy for you.
Wishing you all a speedy recovery.
Posted by LadyVolsEighTimes on February 8, 2008 at 4:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It is so cool the way CPS & CBP always put the best inerests of hte players first, and academics ahead of athletics.
Having Jenny Moshak is a true blessing as well!
Posted by Volchaz on February 8, 2008 at 5:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Sounds like MSU beat us up. Glad CP3 is going to be ok...
Posted by rockytopron on February 8, 2008 at 6:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"whew" is right on all three players.
Posted by 98reax on February 8, 2008 at 10:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Who's going to say "I think we can win Monday night with Hornbuckle, Bobbitt, Anosiki, Smallbone and Fuller."? Anybody? I'm going to say we will. I have to admit, I gave us a half a hair's chance to get to the Final 4 last year, never mind a National Championship. What the heck do I know? I gave the NY Giants less chance than that to beat the Patriots. I know nothing. I'm saying someone will step up and we will win. Lex can be, has been a tremendous offensive threat. Bobbitt can score bunches. Niki has been known to take over the game. Example: against NC and Rutgers last season. Fuller stepped up big against DePaul. Smallbone is a miracle waiting to happen. Baugh, oh my goodness, now is the time for all rookies to step up big.
Posted by anthony on February 9, 2008 at 1:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Wow@@
Posted by camoman270 on February 9, 2008 at 8:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)
DAAAAAAAAAAAAANNNNNNNNNG.....DID A FIGHT BREAK OUT IN THAT GAME????????????
Posted by cgbtn on February 9, 2008 at 8:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Rutgers and LSU 3 days apart would be scary enough if every one was healthy. This week may cost us a number one seed, but just worry about getting well, Ladies. Candace is right: the rest of the season is more important than this week. We've won it all before without a one seed. Go, Ladies. We love you.
Posted by johnlg00 on February 9, 2008 at 9:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)
98reax, I think the lineup you mentioned is good enough to win if they all play out of their minds, but, if we only have SIX healthy scholarship players to throw against Rutgers, it will be the ugliest, slowest, grindingest game any Lady Vols fan has ever seen! Also, there will be increased chances for the remaining players to get hurt with more playing time in what already shapes up to be a physical game. This is why women's basketball teams need MORE scholarships than men's teams do, not less. In case any of you didn't know, women's teams are only allowed at least two less scholarships than a men's team at the same level. This is despite the documented fact that women suffer devastating knee injuries at a higher rate than men. The rule was a misguided attempt to increase the overall competitiveness of women's teams by keeping costs down so more teams could compete on the cheap--i.e., the "hold down the Lady Vols/Huskies rule". For Monday's game, if there is any doubt at all, all the injured players should sit, we should accept this loss if it happens, and get everybody geared up for the stretch run.
Posted by cgbtn on February 9, 2008 at 9:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
johnlg00, You make some excellent points. However, Pat has never used the full allocation of scholarships available to her. She does not believe she can spread playing time among more than 10 or 11 LadyVol-caliber players. In fact, few of the successful programs do use all of their scholarships -- for exactly the same reason. Advocates for other sports campaign for Women's basketball to give up the unused scholarsips to those other sports.
Posted by johnlg00 on February 9, 2008 at 10:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)
cgbtn, now that you mention it, I think I remember Pat saying something like that. I am amazed that she hasn't reconsidered that position, given how many times over the years the Lady Vols have suffered from lack of depth when one or more players lose significant time to injuries. It seems that this has happened at least once every year. Already this year we have not had Cait McMahan or Kelly Cain at all, and Vicki Baugh and Alexis Fuller have rarely been at full speed. I don't know what the solution is, but it seems to be a recurring problem crying out for one.
Posted by cgbtn on February 9, 2008 at 11:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)
johnlg00, Whatever the solution may be, it won't be easy. Bruce Pearl has chosen to go ahead and award the scholarships and to bench the players who don't fit into his rotation number. Last year, the benched player transferred to North Carolina. This year Josh Tabb seems to be sitting through it on the promise of playing next year. However, it can't be long before players start asking Pearl for a guarantee that they will be in the top 9, before they will sign. I think Pat would just prefer to fight through the injuries instead of benching folks. Things didn't work out too well with Dosty.
Posted by wewhite on February 9, 2008 at 11:11 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm more worried about Bjorkland's nose than Parker's knee. Angie's consistent threes have killed many of our opponents, both scorewise and psychologically.
Posted by utchris2003 on February 9, 2008 at 1:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It is just a broken nose, I doubt that she will miss any playing time. There have been plenty of other LV's in the past that have played with broken noses, you just did not know about them.
Posted by pdhuff on February 9, 2008 at 3:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Count us out if we can't count Candance in. Need to get her well.
Posted by utmdm on February 9, 2008 at 5:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
De..ang! Believe we will need significant playing time from a least 2 of these.
Posted by orangebass on February 9, 2008 at 7:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
hey, don't worry we can still beat those kna...er rutgers without cp !! go lady vols !!
Posted by dopedawg on February 9, 2008 at 7:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Keep the faith baby!!! CP will be ok, and I dont think a broken nose will bench anyone. Even though its a home game, we must really be prepared!!
Posted by LadyVolsEighTimes on February 9, 2008 at 8:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Having Cadace would be great. However I feel we are still very capable of taking Rutgers,, especially at home.
Just think about next year; HOrnbuckle, Bobbitt, Niki, Fuller, and probably Candace will all be gone.
Posted by BigOrangeVol on February 9, 2008 at 11:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Going up against Viv and Van in consecutive games is a bear! Two Hall of Famers with 67 years of Head Coaching experience and a combined record of 1,467-531 for 73%. I think that Van is 7-29 versus Pat and Viv is 4-15. Van has LSU ranked at #8 with a 19-3 record and Viv has Rutgers ranked #7 with a 21-3 tally.
LSU has played a relatively weak schedule and lost to the only ranked teams they played; Rutgers and Maryland but their RPI is 8 and their SOS is 27. On the other hand Rutgers has an RPI and SOS of 3. They beat LSU, Geo. Washington, Maryland, Cal, Pitt and UCan't but lost to Stanford, Duke and WV.
Thankfully both these games are at The Summitt but with Rutgers on Monday and LSU on Thursday I'd be happy with a split if CP3 isn't at least 90%. Then we have to go to Memorial Rec Center and face Coach Chunky and Candy.
Posted by tenn32rebel on February 10, 2008 at 1:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)
BigOrangeVol:
Out of that group you named, we probably will still have Fuller. Remember, she redshirted with Candace their freshman year so she has one more year to be a Lady Vol.
Next year, she will be the most experienced player and must take a strong leadership role which is something she really craves. She is a native Tennessean (from Shelbyville in Bedford County) and wants to make all the home folk proud.
However, it will be a really interesting year with 7 freshmen next year. If Pat doesn't kill herself over that team nothing can hurt her!!! Go Lady Vols!!
Posted by tenn32rebel on February 10, 2008 at 1:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Sorry BigOrangeVol, it was LadyVolsEighTimes that listed those graduating LVs. Sorry!!!
(Requires free registration.)
Comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. You agree not to post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be banned. Click here for our full user agreement.