McKinnie has knee surgery out more than 4-6 weeks. Now back

[stillaphoenixphan]

www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20131024/GPG020101/310240480/UWGB-forward-McKinnie-miss-4-6-weeks-due-torn-meniscus?nclick_check=1
UWGB has had enough knee problems hope this is the end of the injury bug. The article said he had surgery yesterday.

[Nix]

Read somewhere that BW is hopeful he'll be back for the UW game. I sure hope so.

[GBPhoenix1]

This is really bad news. I think he is going to be one of the best players on the team this season. I would love for him to be back by the UW game, probably need him to win. However, I would rather have him take extra time if needed and be back for Alaska. That is a good field of teams that GB can compete with, McKinnie probably gives them a shot at winning that title and making an early statement.

[can opener man]

If we compare this years team to kowalcycks best team with evans, tilema, shactner. that team had no depth or had very minimal depth.

Yes its unfortunate to have an injury, the positive is that it seems to be no more than a month.

I really have faith in the bench of this team, plus I don't think anyone has done enough yet to be considered the 3rd guy on this team after alec brown and keifer sykes. From some of the posts I sense a degree of panic from a fans point of view.

Just from reading the posts about this upcoming team, one guy that seems to get left out is jordan fouse, my expectation coming in, is he would be that third guy or had the best chance. We are a rebounding, defensive team first, wardell has expressed that, that is our identity. All Fouse did as a freshman, was lead the team in rebounding and get named to the all conference defensive team. he averaged 7 points, 8 rebounds a game, as a sophomore, he has a legit chance to be close to a 10-10 guy.

This team is big on versitility, you have guys off the bench like vince garrett and greg mays, who could easily step up into that three spot on the team. There is a freshman named Kenneth Lowe who was recruited by New Mexico a top 25 program, that could easily to as good as fouse was last year. We have a JC transfer in Lamin Fulton that we don't know alot about but based on what he did at St. Peters as a freshman, could easily be an energy player that would be instant offense off the bench. Also Ryan Humphries and Daniel Turner are both veteran players to this program, who are capable of starting on alot of teams in this conference, and both of them stick to our idenity as tough rebounders and defense.

In the past we have had teams with obvious weak spots when we went to our bench, there are some players like findlay, love, botz that I didn't even mention, who can do more of the offensive side for us. I think depth will get this team through the times where we do have a guy in foul trouble, or a guy on the team does have to miss playing time for whatever reason.

[stillaphoenixphan]

I think can opener man summed it up very good. This is a team with great depth and great players. It also has some unknowns that could even make it better. I have very high expectations. 1st place and NCAA tourney. I know these are lofty expectations but feel this is a group that can do it. I think BW has matured and with DB's feed back will be even better. The only thing I'm not sure of is if Josh Humphries and Dan Turner are fully back from their injuries. Both micro fracture and ACL surgery usually take 12+ months. But good luck to both, I love watching them when healthy.

[Nix]

Not sure who Ryan Humphries is? I think you mean Josh Humphrey. He'll be fine this year. In fact I think he could even start with Al McKinnie out. I think the 5 could be Keif, Vince Garrett, Humphrey, Fouse, AB. From everything I've heard, DT won't be back until Christmas time, after first semester is done.

[gbcookie30]

I'm hoping that this give Kenneth Lowe an opportunity to insert himself into the rotation. I think that if come conference time GB has a front court rotation that includes brown, mckinnie, mays, fouse and lowe, us fans will be vey very happy.

[GBPhoenix1]

I agree that Fouse is perfect for the way GB plays and might be the third best overall player on the team. I just worry that his scoring comes from duck ins, transition and offensive rebounds. I am not sure that he has demonstrated any ability to generate offense in additonal ways like driving to the hoop or spot up shooting. I think McKinnie will be a very good third scorer who can score in a variety of ways and take a lot of pressure off of Alec and Kiefer. I see these guys as equally important in the overall scheme and I like the idea of them playing together.

[gbcookie30]

Any chance McKinnie is back for the game Saturday?

[shooting the J]

Scott Venci tweeted earlier in the week that McKinnie is doubtful for this game. It's been a full 6 weeks, Im beginning to get worried about his recovery, I hope I'm just being paranoid. A healthy McKinnie is a special player.

[Fanforever]

This makes me nervous and wonder if they would apply for a medical hardship.

[hoops]

What is a "Medical Hardship"?

6th Year?

[Fanforever]

Yes that would be correct. You generally see them done in football due to injury.

[hoops]

Like Evan Eschmeyer?

I am assuming there was a little more work done on McKinnie's knee than has been reported. Perhaps they did a little repair vs removal of the damaged menicus?

[stillaphoenixphan]

I too wonder what was really done. 3 years ago I had my menicus repaired. The radilogist report just said numerous tears a to the medial menicus to numerous to document and unable to find ACL. Repair was done and I was on crutches 5 days and played softball 2 weeks later. The Orthopod said I only had a partial ACL which was functional so he didn't fix it. Said it may last 3 weeks or 30 years? He'll fix it when it's totally gone.
Hopefully he comes back very soon because it truely would improve team, but if he can't I would still love to see him for 2 seasons.