SOURCE: Jameel McKay's knee is structurally sound

[Cycsk]

Sure McKay says things that get fans bothered sometimes . . . but that guy plays hard . . . and has since he first stepped on the court . . . thus, I'm not very worried about what he says . . . he seems like a guy that wants to play every minute and hates sitting on the bench . . . I think that is a good thing!

 

[acgclone]

But you aren't worried about losing the opportunity to play a very good, UNFAMILIAR opponent that will arguably do more to prepare the team for the NCAA tournament than any conference game we play in? I guess nothing prepares a team for the NCCA tournament better than playing Coppin State.

So we should just rest everyone against every good team we play since the loss doesn't matter and only try to beat bad teams? Dumbest thing I've ever heard.

I agree that this will hopefully help us in March. I'm more interested in a deep tourney run than how the B12 race shakes out.

 

[awd4cy]

This isn't the NBA where they are playing 3, sometimes 4 games a week and an 82 game season. Resting McKay for this game I can understand. Resting the team and basically forefiting a win is just dumb.

 

[IAStubborn]

I wouldn't say he is good physically. They just said no structural damage. He obviously has pain, so maybe its just a bruise. Honestly, I would rest him against Texas A&M and try to to let him heal a bit more. I have a feeling that the better his knee gets feeling, the better he will be mentally.

He said it wasn't pain, "just didn't feel right". Which is consistent with inflamation. I think it's also probably a little bit of a crutch for when he feels he can't do what is needed when a team tries to do what Kansas did to beat us or that sometimes we need to exploit a different mismatch to give us the best chance to win and that may mean playing Georges at the 5 and playing small ball from time to time. What is great is we have options and.he is very good at the options he provides and that will be an asset to the NBA. The perception of not being a team player will be the biggest hurdle or obstruction for him in making a nba roster. Fred was great at getting players (outside of BDJ) to get that. Hopefully McKay buys in and fully understands that the team winning will be good for all 3 of our stars even if that means some nights one of them plays a reduced role.

 

[CyForPresident]

I'll get blasted for this, but I think we should sit most of the team for A&M. Can't risk injury in a game that doesn't hurt to lose and doesn't gain much to win.

Totally agree. I'd forfeit and have the team sit in Ames all weekend resting

 

[Dryburn]

Hopefully, the doctors were able to suggest some treatments/rehab that might help him more than what has been done so far. Also, I hope that since there is no structural damage, that might calm some of McKay's concerns.

 

[EnhancedFujita]

Hopefully the long time between KU and ATM will give him plenty of time to get it feeling better. I think we'll need him to play some minutes on Saturday even if he isn't 100%. Sounds like from the trainers that it won't get worse from playing on it, so maybe that will help Jameel mentally knowing that he isn't risking his career. Hopefully the staff can also reassure him that any reduction in minutes on Saturday is just to keep him healthy.

FWIW Jameel's quotes sounded like a kid who was concerned for his future. I'm a middle aged overweight guy that sits in an office for 8 hours a day and when I had knee issues 3 years ago it freaked me out and gave me a lot of anxiety. I can't imagine what that would be like for a big time athlete.

 

[rholtgraves]

Rest him. You can't risk long term for one game. That's just stupid. Losing the game isn't going to hurt ISU if they can continue to play well in the Big 12.RPI will be fine so don't know why people are worried about that.
I would like to know exactly what is wrong with his knee.

 

[Cycsk]

But you aren't worried about losing the opportunity to play a very good, UNFAMILIAR opponent that will arguably do more to prepare the team for the NCAA tournament than any conference game we play in? I guess nothing prepares a team for the NCCA tournament better than playing Coppin State.

So we should just rest everyone against every good team we play since the loss doesn't matter and only try to beat bad teams? Dumbest thing I've ever heard.

Not really all that interested in having a "practice game" for the NCAA tournament. I don't think a random game with TAM is going to do that much to "prepare" us for anything.

 

[Cyclonepride]

Goals? Maybe 1 single goal of winning the Big 12 regular season, that is it. Otherwise, a win at A&M is just as good as a win @ West Virginia.

That's just it. Similar type win on the resume, one gets McKay a little extra rest and an added conference win, the other does not. I'm not supporting the idea of resting a bunch of guys- just McKay (if rest would help).

 

[IAStubborn]

A win over West Virginia advances our goals more, and while a win at A&M may be slightly more impressive on the resume, you have to consider all the games between now and then. I would rather sit him until Tuesday (assuming that his injury will be helped by the extra rest).

Well crap, I guess we just gotta win both then

 

[rholtgraves]

I hope they don't even have him practice this week. Give him some days off for it to feel better.

 

[Cydkar]

I would rather have an MCL sprain vs some really nasty chondromalacia or bad patellofemoral issues. "Not structural" doesn't make me feel a ton better.

Craig Brackins went through the same problem for a while and it really disabled him.

What he said...what did he say?

 

[Cyclonepride]

Well crap, I guess we just gotta win both then

I think we can, even if we rest McKay. It would be harder without him, but not impossible by any stretch.

 

[isuforlife]

come on Jameel , youu are needed and fans love the way you play , get tough and show everyone

 

[AllIn]

It is excruciating for ISU to have to play on the road for a non conf right in the heart of Big12 season. I hope this falls on its face and its moved back to December next year.

Me too. Prohm mentioned in his post game that the reason for the move was to spotlight college basketball. With no NFL football on the networks are thinking they can attract more viewers. It's all about the $$$$$.

 

[chuckd4735]

Personally, I think If McKay is not 95-100% you sit him. After that, you play it by ear with the game. I wouldn't mind seeing Monte and Niang get 30-35 mins in this game and Cooke take the rest, but if the game is within reach, you have to keep your horses in.

 

[baagoe]

come on Jameel , youu are needed and fans love the way you play , get tough and show everyone

Yeah Jameel just stop being injured okay?

 

[8bitnes]

I think I'm going to post this in any further Jameel McKay threads.
#1 - He paid his own way for a semester, that's how bad he wanted to be here.
#2 - He loves his team and teammates. Despite knee pain, going to locker room, and sitting out the rest of the KU game, Jameel was the first one out of his seat and jumping up and down when Matt Thomas dunked.
#3 - He gets up and down because he's passionate.
#4 - All this talk about his head is the fan's doing. Quit making him the scapegoat du jour. First, free throws. Then, size. Then, effort. Now, mindset.
#5 - His recent instagram pic isn't an indication that he hates ISU men's basketball or even college/ISU. It's an indication that he has had enough of fan bullying.
#6 - Recall the Capital City YMCA league. Even when not playing, he was always present and always obliging to visit with and take pics with fans. He LOVED the fans and was VERY giving and accommodating. Fan attitude changed that.

Take a stand, be the supportive fan. Would you boo a player's performance when they are playing? Of course not.
Then, why the heck are you frequently singling one guy out behind the veil of your keyboard.

McKay was a huge presence in the post-season awards last year: Defensive POY, only unanimous Newcomer of Year, 3rd Team All-Big 12. He's a baller, not "was" a baller, he IS a baller.

 

[Gunnerclone]

I agree that this will hopefully help us in March. I'm more interested in a deep tourney run than how the B12 race shakes out.

This. This is great prep for March. Going to play an unfamiliar team in a gym we aren't used to shooting in is perfect. I hope they keep this set up. The fact that the team we're playing is really good is a bonus. People whine all of the time about how the Duke's and MSU's and KU's get all of these big games in non-con and even if they lose it's helping them later well we're getting that right now so stop crying about everything.

I think part of the reason that Emo Jameel has taken so much crap lately is because it's like looking in a mirror for a lot of people here.