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Kentucky's Patterson out for the rest of season
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LEXINGTON, Ky. — When Kentucky’s freshman phenom Patrick Patterson returned from his doctor visit Friday wearing a cast on his left foot, teammate Joe Crawford thought it was a prank.
“Stop playing,” Patterson said Crawford told him. “It isn’t April Fool’s yet.”
But Patterson wasn’t joking. The tough reality for Kentucky fans is that the star big man who leads all SEC freshmen by averaging 16 points a game will miss the rest of the season because of a stress fracture in his left ankle.
Patterson, who was wearing the cast at a news conference Friday night, said he had been experiencing some discomfort in his foot since Tuesday and decided to go in for precautionary X-rays. When the X-rays revealed the bad news Friday, Patterson says he cried.
“I thought I was letting down my teammates,” Patterson said. “I really wanted to be out there, just being an additional threat.”
The injury is a huge blow for the Wildcats, who face No. 1 Tennessee on Sunday in a battle for first place in the SEC East.
Patterson, a hotly recruit 6-foot-8 star out of West Virginia, has taken the vast majority of Kentucky’s shots in the paint and leads the Wildcats by averaging 8 rebounds a game. Without him, the Wildcats may have to rely more heavily on sophomore Perry Stevenson, freshman A.J. Stewart and seldom-used junior Jared Carter.
“It’s an obstacle,” Stevenson said. “We’ve been having them all season. All we can do is take it in stride.”
Kentucky coach Billy Gillispie said one player won’t be able to fill Patterson’s shoes.
“Tough day for us,” Gillispie said. “He means so much to our team as a player and person. I have not been around a freshman that has been asked to do more and has done more for a team since day one.”
Kentucky (16-10, 10-3 SEC) has three games remaining before the SEC tournament and may need multiple victories to sneak into the NCAA tournament field as an at-large team.
Patterson led Huntington High to three straight West Virginia state championships, the last one alongside fellow phenom O.J. Mayo, who plays for Southern Cal.
The three-time SEC freshman of the week was just 54 points away from breaking Rex Chapman’s school record for a freshman with 464 points.
Patterson said his doctor told him that playing through pain could jeopardize his ability to play next season. By resting the injury now, he is expected to recover in eight weeks and be fine.
As for leaving school early for the NBA — one subject of concern for Wildcats fans — Patterson says he had already decided he wasn’t ready yet, so the injury didn’t change his thought process.
Ankle injuries have plagued him throughout high school — albeit never to this extent, Patterson said. Earlier this season, he missed the game against Houston because of a sprain to his right ankle.
Patterson said he’ll make the trip to Knoxville for Sunday’s game to provide an emotional lift.
“I’ll be on the sidelines cheering my team on, doing whatever I can to help,” he said.
The injury means Kentucky must finish the season without the two huge recruits that new coach Billy Gillispie persuaded to join the Wildcats. Freshman guard Alex Legion left the team earlier this season.
It’s the latest in a series of injuries for Kentucky, which has also had to play several games without guards Jodie Meeks and Derrick Jasper.
Senior guard Ramel Bradley says he’s hoping after all this misfortune, there will be a Hollywood ending and the team can somehow finish with an SEC title.
“I just look at it as a movie kind of thing,” Bradley said. “In a movie, it always starts off bad and things get good at the end.”
© 2008, The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.
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Posted by General_Watermelon on February 29, 2008 at 2:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Too bad. I wanted to beat them when they were completely healthy so there would be zero excuses.
Posted by pdhuff on February 29, 2008 at 2:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
naw, Fritter, we'll take them anyway we can get them. There where times when Dupree wasn't available, but you have to man up and gut it out.
Posted by thesavageorange on February 29, 2008 at 2:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Feel bad for that guy.He's turned out to be a heck of a player.I agee w/ Fritter.
Posted by james on February 29, 2008 at 3:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I hate this for Patterson but maybe he is a quick healer and will be ready in 6 weeks, say, should KY make the National Championship game. O.K. - just kidding on that last part. Seriously, I do feel sorry for Patterson. GO VOLS
Posted by chrisw2967 on February 29, 2008 at 3:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
He is the best player on their team and he goes then goes Ky. Maybe he will transfer to Tenn , but Im like the rest of you , I do feel sorry for him he is a heck of a player
Posted by pdhuff on February 29, 2008 at 3:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Sad for this young man. Pro prospect. Ck out forums.kentucky.com - running amok.
I feel Kentucky will give it the old college try. We'll still need to bring our "A" game.
Posted by CatScratchFever on February 29, 2008 at 3:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Well this just sucks. Without P-Square we have no inside post presence at all. Oh wait, there is Jared Carter....7-feet of bumbling mistakes waiting to happen. Personally, I would rather have Patterson with one leg in a wheelchair than Carter.
Posted by GoVol on February 29, 2008 at 3:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Must make the Free Throws!
Posted by juicetke on February 29, 2008 at 3:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It's hard to feel sorry for a team that has had so much success but I do feel for the player.
Posted by RockyTop1 on February 29, 2008 at 3:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
AirForceOne here we go into the wild blue yonder....are you really ex AF ? Or it just a handle you use?
GO VOLS!!! Here Kitty, Kitty...
Posted by Ironcity on February 29, 2008 at 3:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Tough break for UK and Patterson but we still have to go out and beat them. Usually the first game after something like this the team will play a spirited game.
Posted by GreerVol22 on February 29, 2008 at 3:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Lieutenant Dan Fritter..... Tyler had the Flu, Chism's ankle was still smarting, and Howell was shooting with both thumbs upo his wazoo. But did Vandy feel sorry for us? Unfortunately the big guys take the beating...ask Yao Ming...same kinda injury.
I would feel just a good about beating KY without Patt as I would FLA without Tebow...the real key is, how hungry will Chism and Crews be now?
Posted by bigfan502 on February 29, 2008 at 4:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Gatta look at history vol fans...the wildcats will cone into thomson full of fire and vinegar..records show they win three-to-one times against the vols when they have off-year. Vols must be ready to hold them off..regardless of the wildcat who is injured.
Posted by Volchaz on February 29, 2008 at 4:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I can hear the UK boards now...Feel sorry for us, we lost our best player, let us in the tourney...but we are Kentucky....
Posted by CatScratchFever on February 29, 2008 at 4:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I think I'm gonna go throw up now. I wonder if the NCAA would give us a medical redshirt for the whole team?
Posted by TommyJack on February 29, 2008 at 4:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Feel nothing for Big Blew, but feel bad for the kid.
Posted by dfreeman on February 29, 2008 at 4:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Doesn't help prep us for the tourney with PP out!! He's the kind of guy we'll see on a regular basis in the tourney!! I hate it for him as well!! As well as he's played this year he deserves better!! Go Vols!!
Posted by kdt0725 on February 29, 2008 at 4:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Personally I think this is awesome news.
Posted by VolJunkie on February 29, 2008 at 4:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Nice post dfreeman ... Georgetown and North Carolina come to mind and some of the bracketologists have us in the same region as NC. That said, UT may still have a bit of a hangover, UK will be the third tough game in 8 days, UF on the road 3 days after that, I think I'll take any break we can get.
GO #1 VOLS!!
Posted by VolJunkie on February 29, 2008 at 4:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
BTW, don't know how many opponents were feeling sorry for UT last year went CLo went out for that long stretch ... this is a tough game, stuff happens, the best teams deal with it and rise above. The others, well, they get invited to the Jr. Prom instead of the big dance come March.
Posted by yemmusdarb on February 29, 2008 at 4:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
YES!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by TurboFan on February 29, 2008 at 4:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
There goes my prediction of Ky making the tourney.
Greer, speaking of Yao Ming, was watching ESPN last Tuesday night and they kept interruptin the Yao Ming-out-for-the-season story with Tennessee vs Vandy game. Kinda annoyin.
Posted by Volchaz on February 29, 2008 at 4:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)
AF1, no excuses. If he was healthy, you'd be crying about having a first year coach, or losing Legion.... Take your beating Saturday, and support your team. That is all.
Posted by johnlg00 on February 29, 2008 at 4:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Tough news for the 'Cats! That kid could really play. Could be tough news for us as well. We probably don't know much about the guys who will be playing in his place, while UK will be playing their hearts out with nothing to lose. Might be a little tougher for our guys to get up for the game, subconsciously at least. I guess the best thing about it for us is that the 'Cats haven't had much time to get used to the idea or put in a new game plan. No time for pity, Vols; put on the same game face you would have expecting to play against Patterson and GET 'R DONE!!!
Posted by EDis4UT on February 29, 2008 at 4:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
HEADLINE VOLNATION:Kentucky's Patterson out for the rest of season
oh, well.
Posted by DoWhatNow on February 29, 2008 at 4:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I guess this proves nose boulders aren't a good source of calcium...
HEYOOOO
Posted by Orangeblood13 on February 29, 2008 at 4:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)
No mercy
Mercy is for the weak.
Gona be balck and blue heading back to Lexington with your tail between your legs.
Put it on em boys
Posted by THE_VOL on February 29, 2008 at 4:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
DARN! Don't ya hate when this happens??? Well look at the bright side - KY can get a few games to see what next year will be like without him. As for the Vols Sunday, well, A WIN IS A WIN IS A WIN!!!!!
Posted by EDis4UT on February 29, 2008 at 5:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
boss:
I do need to start going to bed earlier! Maybe it will start me cutting down on my typo's! LOL
Posted by GreerVol22 on February 29, 2008 at 5:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)
WD40, I agree but at least it broke the pain of watching the free throw contest for 2.5 hours...
Posted by bdredmond on February 29, 2008 at 5:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
GO BIG BLUE!! I'm guessing all of you guys that are saying you can't feel sorry for a team with so much success are having the same feelings that most other fans are having about the TN football program.
Posted by thesavageorange on February 29, 2008 at 5:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Orangeblood13 , Are you the Cobra ki Sensei from the Karate Kid?NO MERCY!!
Posted by EDis4UT on February 29, 2008 at 5:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
yep. that's what we are saying.
Posted by Volchaz on February 29, 2008 at 5:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm thinking you'll find it hard to find a Vol Bball fan, feeling sorry for UK, only Patterson.. next stop: NBA
Posted by volboy81 on February 29, 2008 at 5:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
in the early 80s, Ky was ranked #2. They came in to Stokely to play Don DeVoe's Vols. He had suspended our 2 best players (Reggie Johnson & Chuck Threets.) The cats were ready to wipe up the floor with us. Tennessee won by 18......BEWARE! Dont get overconfident, but go out and waste those kitty kats!!!!!!
Posted by pearlific on February 29, 2008 at 6:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
hey ...Tennessee had to go to Rupp last year without LOfton....so NO EXCUSES
Posted by General_Watermelon on February 29, 2008 at 6:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
SJT18 playing basketball. Long (as are his post but some good stuff):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fgZ-KQ...
Posted by General_Watermelon on February 29, 2008 at 6:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Want us to loan you one of our players Kentucky? Will not matter.
Posted by murrayvol on February 29, 2008 at 6:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The bad news is this probably brings him back next year. What fun to think of facing a mature and seasoned Patterson at least twice more. He's very good and they have absolutely no shot without him on Sunday.
Posted by CatScratchFever on February 29, 2008 at 6:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Quote from today's press conference regarding Patterson's injury.
When asked by Jerry Tipton of the Lexington Herald Leader if there could be a tougher game to play right after an injury, Coach Billy Gillispie replied "Bring it on".
I like that.
Posted by Alphafemale on February 29, 2008 at 7:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Wow! What a blow for the Cats. This kid really stood out in our first game.
Posted by IPOrange on February 29, 2008 at 8:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
A "hotly recruit"? Never heard of one of those......
Posted by pdhuff on February 29, 2008 at 8:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
IPOrange 8:21 pm -maybe that's what ol' Josh Mcneil had in his room a while back. Maybe not.
Posted by IPOrange on February 29, 2008 at 9:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Heh, heh, heh. That's too funny, pdhuff!
Posted by james on February 29, 2008 at 9:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
GO VOLS. Beat UK by 40. They didn't care that Lofton was out last year and we shouldn't care about Patterson being out. Again, sorry for the kid but not for UK. They beat 'bama without their big man. They didn't feel sorry for them. Tough break but so was Crews being out and Tyler Smith being sick against Vandy. GO VOLS. Make that 2 hour trip feel like 4.
Posted by IPOrange on February 29, 2008 at 9:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree with the General - I'd rather beat a team healthy and whole. I hate to see any player pick up an injury. But hey, I ain't crying for KY. Life's hard and then you lose.
Posted by bricker865 on February 29, 2008 at 9:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hopefully that 'Gillispie look' is one that looks like he still wishes he was at A & M!
Posted by anthony on February 29, 2008 at 10:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Get ready for another big Blowout Big Blue!!! Pretend Fulmer is Tubby Smith, and Gillispie the next UT head football coach. Kind of always thought that the Kentucky fans brought this kind of a season on themselves by being hateful to Tubby.
Posted by yemmusdarb on February 29, 2008 at 10:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Dear UT Student Section:
Stop sucking so bad. We have one of the finest basketball arenas in the country and one of the worst homecourt advantages. Take a que from Memphis, Kentucky, Duke, and Vandy. Be loud the entire game and make people scared of TBA.
Dear old farts in non-student section seats:
At least TRY and do something other than sit on your hands the entire game. Everyone in the arena for EVERY game (unless we're up 20 points after the half) should have lost their voice by game's end. It really makes a difference.
**Also, can we get the people behind both baskets to get some of those circular, spinning wheels that look like the thing from the twilight zone? If I were shooting free throws, those things would trip me out for sure.
Posted by Sauderman on March 1, 2008 at 12:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Should have came to Tennessee
Posted by Sauderman on March 1, 2008 at 12:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Should have came to Tennessee
Posted by Sauderman on March 1, 2008 at 12:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Hey yemmusdarb, Maybe you should check out the home record as of late.
Posted by yemmusdarb on March 1, 2008 at 1:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)
yeah, that doesn't reflect that our crowd helped any. vandy has an undefeated home record too, but i have to think their crowd has alot more to do with theirs. nice try though.
Posted by pdhuff on March 1, 2008 at 8:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Man, are we set up for a fall. C'mon Vols, play like you just stole it and are getting away. Take them out early and late. Show why we have a lofty perch.ck out the KY blogs listed in the other article, esp the letter to Vol fans. Arrogant, I guess.
Get 'em BP.
Posted by DeeBee on March 1, 2008 at 4:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I checked out that letter to vol fans on the ky blog, totally tasteless, even said our most famous alum was a sports reporter?!? please!....I told them he had a mvp trophy from the super bowl...man they are singing the blues up there though........sweeeeeet....hope were not over confident now....
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