Tamin Lipsey's back, but Keshon Gilbert won't be for third-seeded ISU in the NCAA Tournament

[simply1]

Wait that comment that you replied to was serious?

Hell if I know but I think so. It’s Monday so my brain can be slow to catch on too though.

 

[Cyclonepride]

It’s strange to me a players availability is part of the rationale for which seed they are placed.

For the team I saw mentioned (I wish I could remember who it was), it was a very important player and I'm guessing the thought is that they were a different team with him and without him (and presumably seeded based on how good they are thought to be right now). Not saying that I like that either.

 

[flycy]

Well, I'm in the minority that thinks that there is more to this (we'll never know for sure either way). I guess it bugs me that we saw him play quite recently, even if it was just for a few minutes, and while he may have looked not quite himself, nothing looked so serious that he couldn't play in a pinch, say if too many guards were in foul trouble or if say, a real serious injury occurred...say like when Lipsey truly was unable to remain on the court with HIS groin issue.

I'm certainly not surprised by TJ is telling the public (and when he announced it, for the sake of keeping the 3-seed in play). We have players like Lipsey gutting it out at less than 100%, we've heard nothing suggesting that doctors have told KG that he risks career ending issues if he continues to try to play. Okay, so KG doesn't have the same "explosiveness" and isn't 100%, but this is it, final games of his college career, no guarantee there is anything after this, why not be active just in case. People have talked about how emotional he is, maybe he suggested that he doesn't wanna play unless he can give 100% which would truly be unfortunate as we watch others on the team doing that and there's just no way that TJ wouldn't take a KG as a bench depth 75%, if KG was willing to be there to provide that

None of us are going to find out all the facts. Once again, we're all just guessing, but to me, this isn't cut and dry and personally, I think there's more to this and I don't want to see him on the bench.

Go back and look at the last time he checked in during the Cinci game in the 2nd round Big 12 game. He didn't look right at all and quickly checked back out. Had no burst, couldn't even keep up with slower players, had an obvious awkward gate, and looked to be in pain. It took all his effort to sort of defend. Right then I said to myself I doubt we see KG again this year. Based on the last month I half expected that to happen at some point. The Lipsey injury at the end of the game was the worrying one. We've played well at times without KG, but we are doomed if Lipsey can't go as well. Devastating to lose 2 guards of that caliber.

 

[Antihawk240]

I'm curious as to all this negativity and being upset with Keshon? He is currently hurt. He may be close to recovery, he may not be. His ultimate goal in life is to play in the NBA. People seem to forget that as soon as the tournament is over, kids start going to camps to workout for scouts. If Keshon goes out and reinjures himself his tryouts are going to be effected by it. I fully understand Iowa State gets players because of NIL. But the big time players are looking at Iowa State because of Iowa State's ability to put guards in the NBA. Gilbert wants to be in the NBA, TJ needs Gilbert in the NBA. Keshon was a phenomenal college basketball player. He has work to do to make an NBA team. His hill gets steeper if he goes into camp limping.

If Keshon was 100% healthy he'd be in the lineup. He's not. He stands an increase chance of encountering a set back.

It sucks big time for us fans, but he - and TJ-- are making the right call.

 

[NoCreativity]

People seem to forget that as soon as the tournament is over, kids start going to camps to workout for scouts.

This isn't a dire situation. I don't follow the NBA but the NFL spends high draft capital on guys who are hurt. Carolina just spent a 2nd round pick last year on Jonathan Brooks coming off an ACL tear.

From what I've heard Keshon wasn't even on draft boards before the injury and at the very least was a 2nd round pick. From what I know those guys don't even get an guaranteed money or minimum contracts and end up as a 2-way player and have to work their way up. He's probably getting more money from ISU than he would have in the G-league.

If he wants to make the NBA he'll likely need to work his way up through the G-leage. This groin injury doesn't change his path one bit. He'll get there eventually if he's good enough, the injury is irrelevant.