UK/UofL to Play November 11th

[Joneslab]

Earliest rivalry game on record. Kentucky will play Louisville before the Champions Classic, which is wild.

https://ukathletics.com/sports/mbball/schedule/

[TrueblueCATfan]

I'm sorry but this is just stupid

[Joneslab]

One thing about this game is that for Kentucky, we'll likely not be at full strength.

You wouldn't think Quaintance will be available yet. Or if he is then he made a pretty miraculous recovery. So you'd expect with him that Kentucky will be a legitimate top 10 team. You'd rather face your archrival with all your dudes.

[KCKUKFan]

Jeff Goodman seems to think Quaintance will be practicing by September.

In any event, this is stupid.

[teamchemistry15]

Why do we keep assuming JQ won't be ready? Literally everything I've read about him has said he'll be able to play basketball in September. I know there's a long way between be able to play and being conditioned to play at this level, but let's pretend he's cleared mid September. Do we not think an 18 year old that was already playing D1 basketball can get ready for 20 minutes a game in 6 weeks to be ready in November? Is there something I'm missing?

[teamchemistry15]

I actually kind of like this. Both programs have legitimate excitement within the fan base for the first time in years. Both will be top ten to begin the season. It'll be one of those early season marquee match ups that everyone watches. It'll also give us the chance to see exactly where we are early in the year as opposed to right before conference play.

Why do so many people not like it?

[Joneslab]

Why do we keep assuming JQ won't be ready? Literally everything I've read about him has said he'll be able to play basketball in September. I know there's a long way between be able to play and being conditioned to play at this level, but let's pretend he's cleared mid September. Do we not think an 18 year old that was already playing D1 basketball can get ready for 20 minutes a game in 6 weeks to be ready in November? Is there something I'm missing?

Main reason is because I as told by a knee surgeon once to never believe players or their families when they talk about return dates. They're almost always ridiculously optimistic.

Quaintance's dad started talking about his return a week after his surgery. At that point a person literally cannot stand up.

I don't think it's a bad thing if he doesn't play. You don't want re-injury for one, but two you want him at full strength late in the season, not early. No reason to rush players back on that. Kentucky needs him to be the best he's been all season in March, not November. We saw last season what can happen when players are rushed.

[teamchemistry15]

Main reason is because I as told by a knee surgeon once to never believe players or their families when they talk about return dates. They're almost always ridiculously optimistic.

Quaintance's dad started talking about his return a week after his surgery. At that point a person literally cannot stand up.

I don't think it's a bad thing if he doesn't play. You don't want re-injury for one, but two you want him at full strength late in the season, not early. No reason to rush players back on that. Kentucky needs him to be the best he's been all season in March, not November. We saw last season what can happen when players are rushed.

Can't stand up? I guess I'm really out of the loop. My dad had a knee replacement a few years ago and they had him walking the same day.

[Joneslab]

Can't stand up? I guess I'm really out of the loop. My dad had a knee replacement a few years ago and they had him walking the same day.

Son tore his ACL and couldn't stand on his own for quite some time. IIRC they want you to do some minor things early on so as not to atrophy, but it's very light because the knee can't hold a person upright.

I doubt Quaintance had the sort of catastrophic knee situation my son did. His meniscus was so bad it literally exploded inside the knee. But anything to necessitate ACL surgery is a complete tear.

I don't trust what his dad was saying in the days/weeks after surgery. But it *shouldn't* be a big deal because there's no reason why he couldn't come back by December anyway, and that's plenty enough time to have him for the most important parts of the season. If he recovers more quickly like you do hear about sometimes, all the better.

[teamchemistry15]

Son tore his ACL and couldn't stand on his own for quite some time. IIRC they want you to do some minor things early on so as not to atrophy, but it's very light because the knee can't hold a person upright.

I doubt Quaintance had the sort of catastrophic knee situation my son did. His meniscus was so bad it literally exploded inside the knee. But anything to necessitate ACL surgery is a complete tear.

I don't trust what his dad was saying in the days/weeks after surgery. But it *shouldn't* be a big deal because there's no reason why he couldn't come back by December anyway, and that's plenty enough time to have him for the most important parts of the season. If he recovers more quickly like you do hear about sometimes, all the better.

Understood. I'm pretty dumb on it all.

[abroo588]

Son tore his ACL and couldn't stand on his own for quite some time. IIRC they want you to do some minor things early on so as not to atrophy, but it's very light because the knee can't hold a person upright.

I doubt Quaintance had the sort of catastrophic knee situation my son did. His meniscus was so bad it literally exploded inside the knee. But anything to necessitate ACL surgery is a complete tear.

I don't trust what his dad was saying in the days/weeks after surgery. But it *shouldn't* be a big deal because there's no reason why he couldn't come back by December anyway, and that's plenty enough time to have him for the most important parts of the season. If he recovers more quickly like you do hear about sometimes, all the better.

I think it depends on the individual. I tore my ACL playing football in the back yard on Thanksgiving Day 18 years ago, and was hobbling for a few days. Never got it messed with. Then a year later, I was in a car accident and the ACL went from torn to completely ruptured. The orthopedic surgeon I went to recommended I do PT instead of surgery (???!!!) and to this day, I have no ACL in my right knee. I wish I hadn't listened to him because now that I'm in my mid-forties, my mobility is lessened than it would have been in my twenties. Now I work out every day to keep my leg strong instead of letting a slight mis-step destroy the rest of my leg. I might decide to get it worked on later this year, but we will see.

[Joneslab]

I think technically you can even opt to not have surgery on an Achilles tear in some cases.

The freaky thing about an ACL is that people do tend to go on with their lives, and in some cases don't even really know it's happening. I heard a story once of a high school baseball player tearing his early in the season and then playing an entire season without realizing he'd torn his ACL.

The surgery itself though is extremely involved and one of the most devastating an athlete can go through. It also carries with it a high re-injury percentage if you come back too early. The difference between a 9-month comeback and a 6-month comeback is substantial.

[EKYCat]

ACL stuff used to be career ending. Like 30 years ago, guy blows his knee out, done. 6 months is pretty optimistic. I've not had any substantial injuries or surgeries to know this, but, they say it's almost as hard mentally to come back as it is physically. Almost like some sort of PTSD involved. You don't fully trust it for a while.

[teamchemistry15]

I think technically you can even opt to not have surgery on an Achilles tear in some cases.

The freaky thing about an ACL is that people do tend to go on with their lives, and in some cases don't even really know it's happening. I heard a story once of a high school baseball player tearing his early in the season and then playing an entire season without realizing he'd torn his ACL.

The surgery itself though is extremely involved and one of the most devastating an athlete can go through. It also carries with it a high re-injury percentage if you come back too early. The difference between a 9-month comeback and a 6-month comeback is substantial.

Wasn't it Purdue that had a QB that played a few games on a torn acl a few years back?

[Mr.Nezzer]

I actually kind of like this. Both programs have legitimate excitement within the fan base for the first time in years. Both will be top ten to begin the season. It'll be one of those early season marquee match ups that everyone watches. It'll also give us the chance to see exactly where we are early in the year as opposed to right before conference play.

Why do so many people not like it?

I've away liked the UK/ul game in December...it's a Christmas kinda thing.....maybe I'm stuck in my ways.
That said...I don't hate it. I will say that the way the schedule is kinda stacked with marquee names it making me think Pope is taking a few pages from Izzo's book. Just hope it doesn't end up back firing.