Rather than risk being a part-time women’s basketball player, Tennessee freshman Faith Dupree will undergo full-time rehabilitation for a sore back.
The Lady Vols announced Monday that Dupree, a 6-foot-3 reserve forward, will miss the season to address a problem that first sidelined her late last month. UT coach Pat Summitt said the course of action was recommended by Jenny Moshak, the Lady Vols associate athletic director for sports medicine, Dr. Greg Mathien, the team orthopaedist and team physician Dr. Becky Morgan.
“She’s in and out of practice,’’ Summitt said of Dupree, who will redshirt and have fours years of eligibility remaining. “Did we want a year of that? No. We want to get her healthy so she can play. So that’s the thinking behind it.”
Dupree, the former Webb School standout, missed a week of preseason practice, along with the first exhibition game. She played in the final exhibition and the first two games, against Baylor and Texas Tech. The back problem resurfaced, however, and Dupree missed more practice time last week as well as Sunday’s game at Virginia.
Moshak said Dupree’s back issues go back to high school and are magnified by insufficient hamstring flexibility and core strength, among other conditions. The rigors of a regular practice schedule were taking a toll.
“We need some time to get her body to where it can absorb these forces,’’ Moshak said.
The plan is to fortify Dupree’s back with a year’s worth of specific conditioning.
“This is going to be a gradual process,’’ Summitt said. “We’re not pushing anything. The main thing is we want her healthy next year to play.”
With Dupree sidelined, No. 6 Tennessee (3-0) will play at Middle Tennessee State (2-1) on Wednesday night with three true post players in Kelley Cain, Alyssia Brewer and Glory Johnson. Summitt said Taber Spani will continue moonlighting at forward. Alicia Manning also can play the position.
Cain’s surgically repaired right knee has held up well through the first three games. Furthermore, Moshak is encouraged by forward Vicki Baugh’s recovery from a second anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction on her left knee, which took place in late February.
In the second surgery, Baugh underwent a patellar tendon graft to repair the ACL. Baugh had been experiencing patellar tendon pain, which Moshak described as “typical” after such a procedure. But the pain has abated.
“It’s gone right now,’’ Moshak said. “Let’s hope it doesn’t come back.”
Rest Of The Story: While Summitt reiterated the players’ performance as being the prime reason for reopening the team locker room, Moshak was a consideration as well.
“She was probably the one who was inconvenienced from time to time, really probably more than anybody else,” Summitt said, “I know more than our coaching staff or our team in that her treatment, she had to move a lot of equipment to work on (the players).
“I’m sure, at times, Jenny was thinking: “I’ll be glad when we all get back in there.”
Notebook: Tennessee guard Shekinna Stricklen is among 50 players on the preseason watch list for the Naismith Trophy. ... Through three games, Johnson is shooting a team-leading 68.2 percent from the floor (15 for 22).
Tennessee's signing class for 2012
Tennessee Lady Vols 60, South…
Signing day celebration at Neyland…
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 31
revjulian writes:
tough loss. get well and let's get back next year for back to back NC.
first?
murrayvol writes:
When I saw the headline, I thought TDTN had hacked the KNS computer.
showmeyourTDs writes:
Makes sense now. After watching her against Texas Tech.... she has turtle-like quickness.
murrayvol writes:
On a more serious note, good luck in the healing process Faith. We'll see you in 2010.
rudy123 writes:
I always thought that "Dupree" was a fictional
football player for U.T. I didn't realize he had a sister.
BigRMan writes:
Faith, just have faith in God above, and the blessings he will send you recovering under Jenny's healing regimen. Then you will make 2010-'11 a real DuPree spree of points and rebounds from your rejuvenation. Best wishes for a complete recovery!
showmeyourTDs writes:
That was impressive
YankeeVol writes:
She seems young to have such a serious back condition...
BluezVol writes:
Ditto!
volboy81 writes:
can she redshirt?
Best of luck, Faith....look forward to watching you play in 2010-11.
Mr_Brownstone writes:
loved that movie, you,me and dupree
LdyVolFaninKS writes:
Work hard with Jenny and come back stronger. I wish they would expand more on what is injured. Seems to me that an 18 year old should have a back as strong as a horse!!
ladivolfan writes:
it comes with the height. I'm 6'1" and have had back problems since I was 10. Doctor says it is from growing so tall so quickly. Most tall females I talk to have some sort of back pain, even if it is minimal.
volfan_in_mississippi writes:
That's the only reason I read the article.
REVOL writes:
My thoughts exactly!
Get well soon Faith.
Go Vols! Beat Kentucky!
huntined#565710 writes:
Dang,hate to lose another player this year..
We wish her a speedy recovery and will look for her next year..
Gbovol writes:
Not as unusual for an 18 year old to have lower back problems. My 12 y.o. Grandson had a ruptured disc and had to put an end to all athletics for a year. However, given time and physical thearpy, he's healthy again. God be with you Dupree.
crimsonviper writes:
So did I Big.
Good luck to her next year.
I do wish TDTN would hack it. It would be lively no doubt...GBO!
ctownvol writes:
I was thinking the same thing you guys did. I just knew TDTN had finally had enough and smacked ol Dupree into next week.
Get well soon Faith!
billwall writes:
Does anyone know if Vickie Baugh will be playing this year?
CTOWNICON writes:
I sure hope so!
Ringside writes:
Free Dupree
GreerVol22 writes:
If Dupree is sidelined, then who will feed the ducks in Fountain Inn?
bugsme writes:
To UT personnel: Make certain you have checked Faith's Vitamin D levels. A British study reported early this year that Vit D deficiencies often cause lower back pain in women. I personally experienced this. Since beginning daily supplements I have had improvement.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Tough break for Faith and the rest of the team. Makes it even more urgent in the long run for Vicky to get well and back on the floor. Even though the need is greater now, we must all still be patient about getting Vicky back. Better to weather a spell of thin numbers in the post now if it means we can have a healthy Vicky when the games really count.
tonyvick#213307 writes:
I was getting concerned that she was not really a D-1 type player. I hope this explains it. Get well young lady.
showmeyourTDs writes:
So you disagree with me? That she is extremely slow.
98reax writes:
FreeToad, Grow up. Grow some. Find a website for your genre. Google that. Go there.
Must there always be idiots among us?
VolunteerLifer writes:
It sure seems odd that a recruited D1 player would have core strength and hamstring flexibility issues. One would think that young, active, competitive athletes at the highschool and college level wouldn't experience those things, that they would instead be experienced by the kids who didn't participate in sports. Strange.
I wish Ms. Dupree the best and hope this route proves successful, for her sake and the team's.
golfin_blondie writes:
I think that is the best decision she will ever make. Candice Parker sat the first year due to her knee injury and look what she did......my thoughts and prayers are with you. Take the year and get health for you and the team.
richvol writes:
Recruiting players that can't compete at this level,or are not ready to play physically,has been Pat's weakness in recruiting for the past 3 or 4 years. I hope Faith recovers and becomes a great player for UT but what's the likelihood of that? Too many wasted scholarships...get athletes that are in shape at least.
Share your thoughts
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.