Michigan Basketball, Eli Brooks Update: Hope For A Quick Return
"Michigan lost a huge contributor to its success early in Sunday's game when Eli Brooks went down with a left ankle injury. Without him, U-M was out of sorts on both ends in a 70-64 loss at Michigan State.
It looked bad when he Brooks had to be carried off the floor, but he was later walking gingerly on it in a walking boot.
Tuesday, Michigan Director of Player and Personnel Development Jay Smith said on a Michigan Alumni Zoom call with former Fab Fiver Jimmy King and SID Bruce Madej he was hopeful Brooks could return as soon as Friday. "
Cross your fingers.
He ain't playing till Sunday at the earliest. That was a bad sprain.
He very well might not play until Sunday or maybe not even until the first NCAA game. But it's hard to really tell how bad the sprain was from appearance.
People have said that these sprains often look worse than they are. Shit, when I saw the replay I feared he broke it.
But the fact that he can walk on it, stand on it, and ALL of the rumblings are that he could be ready as early as Friday show that this was not that bad of a sprain.
Unless this is all a smoke screen
Cool that the team doctors post on MGoBlog!
Somebody get him a bionic ankle
I trust doctors, Sanderson and the trainers, Coach Howard, and also Brooks to work together on making a good decision.
Honestly, I would love to see the team learn to win without him. Perhaps Brooks could be on the bench, and come in for a few minutes each half as a sub? It also has to do with how a game is going.
- If Michigan should be decisively ahead of their opponent Friday, and even Saturday, I would leave Brooks on the bench.
- If it was close, I would play him part of the time.
- And if we were losing decisively, I would also leave him on the bench.
I'm happy for Eli that he will get to play in the post-season in some form or fashion in his Senior year, after the whole thing was cancelled his Junior year. B1G or NCAA tournament, whichever.
Also, It's about damn time somebody said something. I understand HIPPA, but is it such an invasion of privacy to say something like: out, doubtful, possible or probable for any particular game?
More time for Zeb and Chaundee having to play within the starters isn't the worst thing if Brooks still isn't 100%. Chaundee is a 6th man on both ends of the court. Hyper aggressive, and it can lead to quick points on one end and steals on the other. He has to tone it down and play within the general pace of the game when he is getting extended minutes with the starters.
We need Mr Myagi alive and to do his thing on Brooks ankle. At least get him that bowl of steaming green water to soak it in.
That's great news, but I hope he doesn't rush back to BTT. NCAA tournament is way more important than BTT.
I hope he is back, as I think he is one of the most important Michigan players on the floor. The Book on Eli is: When Eli plays well, Michigan plays well.
I'm hoping they just rest him for the B1G tourney at this point. Its pretty unimportant for us this year. Give him an extra week of rest and lets gear up for the Big Dance.
Every poster here saying "BTT doesn't matter" is going to be posting crazy shit on here if we go 1-2 against the worst MSU team in 20 years.
With top medical team, cortisone shots, painkillers, ankle taping, and good stability basketball shoes- this makes sense. You can play basketball a little limited and still contribute...meaning top speed is not always needed. Defense is where it would be tested the most. He'd be better playing off the ball. Cutting and jumping could be limited. Running the offense and shooting generally shouldn't be a problem if only 90% or so.
Play Eli only at some backup point guard minutes during the Big tourney. That is his most important contribution. We should try to get by without him playing a starting or playing a lot of minutes.
Honestly, I'd be fine if he sat and rested for the NCAA tournament. There's no great need to rush him back for the BTT.
Brooks is one tough SOB
Not a new take, but it is undisputed that they are vastly better with a healthy Brooks - on both ends. His consistency brings confidence which leads to momentum which wins close games.
If it were me I'd be overly cautious. Save him for the NCAAs. Yes, I want to smash Illinois as much as anyone but not at that potential cost.
Useful.
This tourney has no weight on their potential seed line...much rather have him sit out and be healthy for the tourney.
Not to hijack this thread -- but just to add to it:
I ASSUME Franz is okay?
He did an interview yesterday. Am I reading too much into the fact that (1) nobody asked him about his injury; and (2) he offered nothing in terms of his health?
Or (3) the fact that he actually DID do an interview, at all?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvvrdMq4aFI