Grateful Cain ready to play

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - Kelley Cain was hoping that this women's basketball season would be all about playing.

Tennessee's center still is hoping - while she waits, wonders and endures down time and discomfort related to her surgically repaired right knee.

"Pray about it, that's all I can do really is just pray about it and hopefully it will get better - in time this will get better,'' she said.

Cain is cleared to play when No. 10 Tennessee (14-3, 3-1 SEC) faces SEC-rival Arkansas (11-7, 0-3) on Thursday night at Bud Walton Arena. Tipoff is 8 p.m.

To date, Cain has missed five games, including last Sunday against South Carolina, and been limited in others. The 6-foot-6 redshirt freshman hasn't played more than 20 minutes in a game and has reached that workload just twice.

In terms of actual lost games, a concussion suffered during a preseason practice has been the primary culprit. Accidentally bumping heads with a male practice player cost her four games.

Still, the most painful, vexing problem involves her right knee, which underwent a surgical procedure on Dec. 11, 2007, to correct the patella subluxation. Although the knee is structural sound, Jenny Moshak, the Lady Vols associate athletic director for sports medicine, said that it can take up to 1 1/2 years before the joint feels totally better.

"I have a feeling this is going to be sore, sore, sore and the next day it's not sore, whenever that will be,'' Moshak said.

In the meantime, the knee is sensitive to basketball-related activity, especially physical contact. Cain went down during the first half of last Thursday's game at Mississippi State after the back of her knee took the brunt of a collision with a State player. She sat out the second half and then missed Sunday's game.

"It's really hard,'' Cain said. "I always have pain in my knee. It's something I have to get used to. It takes time to get used to it."

Cain is philosophical about her plight. At least there's a chance of playing. Teammate Cait McMahan, Cain's rehab partner last season, decided earlier this month to forgo playing and become a student assistant.

"It definitely makes me more grateful that I'm still able to play,'' Cain said. "Because it's unfortunate that (Cait) can't, that kind of makes me want to play for her."

Cain also has maintained her sense of humor. She has a new rehab partner in Vicki Baugh, who's been recovering from a left knee sprain and is doubtful to play tonight.

"She feels like we're tag-teaming it,'' Cain said. "Once she gets back, I'm out. Or once I get back, she's out. That's what it seems like it's been."

UT coach Pat Summitt is patient, even though she's had glimpses of Cain's potential impact on the Lady Vols' post play.

"I think that Kelley already has demonstrated a toughness,'' Summitt said. "She's played with pain . . . it just takes time. You can't fast-forward it. You have to deal with it."