Getting and keeping everyone healthy this time of year can determine whether you make a Final Four or even win a national championship. Teams like Louisville and North Carolina went through key injuries early in the year, but now have everyone playing at 100%. Kansas struggled while Brandon Rush came back from ACL surgery and Sherron Collins worked to get his foot healed. Now they are ready to go and so are the Jayhawks.
UCLA starters Josh Shipp (strep throat) and Luc Richard Mbah a Moute (went for an MRI on his ankle) are both less than 100%. The Bruins will need them healed by this weekend if they want to get to San Antonio. Villanova lost a key insider in Casiem Drummond in the Siena game and is done for the year. Every team is given one rally game when an injury occurrs. The only question is will it be Kansas or was it the Siena game. Chris Lofton is playing with a banged up leg. The Vols need him badly to get by Louisville.
Coaching Note: Lute Olsen met with Kevin O’Neill today about the future of the two coaching together. Judging by some previous remarks about his not liking how things were being run in his absence, I find it hard to believe that these two will be able to share the bench next year.
