SMU at Old Miss ---Jan 3rd ----Their big man is out!
Posted: Sun Jan 01, 2012 12:16 pmThe good news for SMU is that Mississippi's best rebounder Murphy Holloway and the heart of their team will be out for the SMU game, and they have lost two straight games including at Dayton Friday night;
Ryan Moore
Ole Miss forward Murphy Holloway won't play Friday at Dayton due to a sprained ankle. Holloway is averaging 9.9 points and 9.6 rebounds per game.
"Our immediate fear was he had fractured something in his ankle or in his foot," Kennedy said.
There was no break, but the high ankle sprain was severe. Holloway, who is averaging 29.9 minutes, 9.9 points and 9.6 rebounds per game for Ole Miss (9-3), won't play Friday at 6 p.m. CST when the Rebels travel to Dayton (9-4). He likely won't play on Jan. 3 when Ole Miss plays host to SMU. The Jan. 7 date at LSU is "realistic, and anything thereafter, I'd be disappointed. There would have to be another setback.
"He's progressing as well as could be expected," Kennedy said. "He's day-to-day literally, but the one thing he's got is he's genetically gifted and he's healing pretty quickly and we're being pretty aggressive. Right now it's a matter of getting the swelling out, getting his range of motion back, getting his strength back and then you worry about basketball conditioning and all those things."
Replacing Holloway's contributions and energy won't be easy. Steadman Short will play a larger role in the post. Terrence Henry will spend more time at power forward. Guards LaDarius White and Jelan Kendrick could see more time at small forward. Keeping Reginald Buckner out of foul trouble is more important than ever.
"We want to be able to put our five best players on the floor regardless of position," Kennedy said. "We'll try to figure out the best combination."
"Other guys (have to) step up and get their share of rebounds and doing their part for the team," Henry said.
Guard Nick Williams was even more emphatic.
"Guys just have to step up, man," Williams said. "It's next one in. That's how it's always been with any other team. Guys just have to step up. I think they will."
Ryan Moore
Ole Miss forward Murphy Holloway won't play Friday at Dayton due to a sprained ankle. Holloway is averaging 9.9 points and 9.6 rebounds per game.
"Our immediate fear was he had fractured something in his ankle or in his foot," Kennedy said.
There was no break, but the high ankle sprain was severe. Holloway, who is averaging 29.9 minutes, 9.9 points and 9.6 rebounds per game for Ole Miss (9-3), won't play Friday at 6 p.m. CST when the Rebels travel to Dayton (9-4). He likely won't play on Jan. 3 when Ole Miss plays host to SMU. The Jan. 7 date at LSU is "realistic, and anything thereafter, I'd be disappointed. There would have to be another setback.
"He's progressing as well as could be expected," Kennedy said. "He's day-to-day literally, but the one thing he's got is he's genetically gifted and he's healing pretty quickly and we're being pretty aggressive. Right now it's a matter of getting the swelling out, getting his range of motion back, getting his strength back and then you worry about basketball conditioning and all those things."
Replacing Holloway's contributions and energy won't be easy. Steadman Short will play a larger role in the post. Terrence Henry will spend more time at power forward. Guards LaDarius White and Jelan Kendrick could see more time at small forward. Keeping Reginald Buckner out of foul trouble is more important than ever.
"We want to be able to put our five best players on the floor regardless of position," Kennedy said. "We'll try to figure out the best combination."
"Other guys (have to) step up and get their share of rebounds and doing their part for the team," Henry said.
Guard Nick Williams was even more emphatic.
"Guys just have to step up, man," Williams said. "It's next one in. That's how it's always been with any other team. Guys just have to step up. I think they will."