Duke Crews will never view the love of his life the same again.

"I look at basketball a lot different,'' said the Tennessee sophomore, who was sidelined since Dec. 14 when a standard echocardiogram being conducted by the UT Medical Staff on scholarship athletes turned up a heart deficiency. "You just never know when it could be all over.''

STORY TOOLS

• E-mail story
• Comments
• iPod friendly
• Printer friendly

More Men's Basketball

• ESPN College GameDay set for basketball
• Thunderbolts 'will not fail' with help from former UT players
• Odd couple enjoy their shots ... at each other

Share and Enjoy [?]

Get Reprints

Want to use this article? Click here for options!

Crews walked in those shoes for one month, wondering what his future held each day, searching his soul.

The original diagnosis was that Crews could be out eight to 12 months before resuming training, assuming he responded to medicine.

As it turned out, a prescription wasn't necessary. Crews' heart condition is not life-threatening as first thought, though he will continue to be monitored according to UT medical personnel.

Tennessee announced on Friday that Crews was cleared to return to action. The Vols play Ohio State today at Thompson-Boling Arena.

"We're just very excited Duke will be able to play,'' UT coach Bruce Pearl said. "He will be available for Ohio State, but I don't expect him to play.''

Crews said he could live with that after showing up for games over the past month knowing there was absolutely no chance he could play.

"The game days were the worst,'' said Crews, an All-SEC freshman selection last year after choosing to attend UT over Georgetown and North Carolina. "You go through the pre game, jump around and get crazy in the locker room, and then put your suit on.''

Crews dressed out in his uniform for two of the past three games. That proved a subtle hint that there were promising results from an MRI performed on Crews' heart two weeks ago in Atlanta.

Pearl said recently there was a possibility Crews' heart condition wasn't as bad as first thought, but Pearl asked that the information be kept confidential in the event further tests weren't as positive.

"I wasn't going to get my hopes up,'' said Crews, who received the first bit of good news on Monday. "I was staying prepared for the worst.''

It wasn't until Thursday afternoon that Crews learned the UT Medical staff had received enough information to clear him to resume his life as a basketball player.

Team physician Dr. Chris Klenck said Crews has undergone more than a half dozen cardiac tests since being sidelined, the results of which were evaluated by numerous cardiologists specializing in dealing with athletes.

Just before midnight Thursday, 2 1/2 hours after the Vols disposed of Vanderbilt, Crews went through his first workout with trainer Chad Newman.

"We're going to need 10 to 14 days to build a good endurance base,'' Newman said. "But he's cleared. He's ready to get after it.''

Crews' mother, Louise Patrick, has been in Knoxville the past three days to lend love and support.

"I got copies of all the reports and looked through them,'' said Patrick, who was just as vigilant during the recruiting process. "I feel good about it. But as a parent, I'll never be able to watch one of Duke's games the same. I'll always be worried about him.''

Crews will never forget the day the original test was performed.

"I knew what was going on, I mean, C'mon, I have to stay an extra three hours after everyone had left, and they put me on a treadmill with all these wires hooked up to me,'' he said. "The next morning, I go to coach's office, and there's Chad Newman, our trainer, Dr. Klink, our team doctor, John Currie, Coach Pearl and there's an open chair waiting for me and a diagram of a heart sitting in the middle of the table.

"I was tempted to turn around and leave, and just say, 'Tell me what's wrong tomorrow.' ''

Crews was told not to take part in any training of any sort, an order he couldn't help but disobey on a few occasions.

"Duke would grab a ball now and then and dunk and just have fun,'' said UT center Wayne Chism, one of Crews' closest friends over the past two seasons. "It's all good now. Duke's going to be back, doing his thing.

"I've tried not to let what's going on with him affect me, but I had been thinking about it a lot.''

Indeed, from the time Crews was sidelined, all of the Vols' players sported Crews' name, initials and/or No. 32 on their tennis shoes as a sign of unity and support.

"I knew my teammates cared a lot,'' Crews said, "but seeing the No. 32s and the 'DC' written on their shoes, that meant a lot to me.''

NBA first-round pick Kevin Durant, who made fast friends with Crews' in the AAU ranks, learned of Crews' condition when the Vols played Gonzaga at Key Arena in Seattle on Dec. 29.

"I wondered why Duke wasn't out there; I thought he had a twisted ankle or something,'' said Durant, who had a game with the Sonics that same night. "Knowing how hard he has worked, it's tough to see.

"But I'm going to pray for him, and I'm going to believe he can and will get better. I think he can most definitely play in the NBA.''

Crews said Friday he hoped to be ready for the Vols' game at Kentucky Tuesday night.

Crews is averaging 6.5 points and 4.6 rebounds in eight games this season, but his importance to the team exceeds statistical data.

"Duke has that toughness,'' Pearl said, "and he brings us a level of confidence.''

Crews said that confidence has not been shaken.

"I believe I'm stronger than ever,'' said Crews, who turns 20 on Sunday. "I'm going to play every game like it's my last.''

© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.