Post by MizzouTiger on Feb 13, 2008 9:46:52 GMT -5
www.kansascity.com/167/story/487408.html
MU’s Carroll continues to play through pain
By MIKE DeARMOND
The Kansas City Star
LINCOLN, Neb. | In his dreams, DeMarre Carroll leaps effortlessly skyward and, elbow above the rim, throws a basketball through the rim so forcefully that the net erupts.
But only in his dreams.
Tonight — when Carroll leads Missouri into a 7:05 p.m. game at Nebraska — Carroll will be lucky to rise 6 inches off the Bob Devaney Center floor.
“Not much elevation,” Carroll admits, the result of an ankle sprained first back in December in a game at California, and again last week at Kansas. “All I can do is try to box out.
“I try. But I’m not quick to the ball. That’s limiting me a lot.”
That isn’t obvious by checking out the Big 12 Conference statistics.
Carroll, a 6-foot-8 junior forward, ranks sixth in Big 12 Conference games with 7.9 rebounds a game. Carroll’s three offensive rebounds a game is fourth behind only Nebraska’s Aleks Maric (4.63), Kansas State’s Michael Beasley (4.13) and Texas’ Damion James (3.44).
But that is more a measure of Carroll’s heart and guts than his jumping ability. And toward the end of recent games, his vertical could have been measured by the thickness of the Sunday newspaper.
“I just try to go out there and give my team what they need,” Carroll said. “I’ve just got to keep getting treatment, and hopefully I’ll get better.”
It is the same attitude that Carroll brings to the hope that Missouri’s basketball season — the Tigers are 13-11 overall, 3-6 in the league and losers of three of the last four — can be salvaged.
Carroll, perhaps because he is the nephew of coach Mike Anderson, will not give in to the aftermath of the Athena Night Club incident.
But on Tuesday, the latest echo from Athena found Anderson kicking Stefhon Hannah off the team because of a lack of academic commitment.
“We’ve got no choice but to get past it,” Carroll said. “We’re slowly coming together as a team. We’re just sowing and weeding out, you know, people who don’t want to come together or who are against us.
“Eventually we’ll get it together. Eventually, we’ll get this thing to work.”
Carroll contends he holds no grudge against Hannah. Or any of the other players who earned suspensions: Leo Lyons, Darryl Butterfield, Marshall Brown and Jason Horton.
Horton, like Hannah, faces an allegation of third-degree assault, although he remains with the team.
Carroll, by his example of playing through pain and demanding others make equal sacrifices, could be the leader Missouri needs among the players.
“We know that,” Anderson said. “He’s the energy guy. He’s a blue-collar guy. …. Sometimes guys lead by example. Guys see you every day, see what you’re doing. You’re busting your tail, guys respect that.
“Leadership is something that’s earned.”
MU’s Carroll continues to play through pain
By MIKE DeARMOND
The Kansas City Star
LINCOLN, Neb. | In his dreams, DeMarre Carroll leaps effortlessly skyward and, elbow above the rim, throws a basketball through the rim so forcefully that the net erupts.
But only in his dreams.
Tonight — when Carroll leads Missouri into a 7:05 p.m. game at Nebraska — Carroll will be lucky to rise 6 inches off the Bob Devaney Center floor.
“Not much elevation,” Carroll admits, the result of an ankle sprained first back in December in a game at California, and again last week at Kansas. “All I can do is try to box out.
“I try. But I’m not quick to the ball. That’s limiting me a lot.”
That isn’t obvious by checking out the Big 12 Conference statistics.
Carroll, a 6-foot-8 junior forward, ranks sixth in Big 12 Conference games with 7.9 rebounds a game. Carroll’s three offensive rebounds a game is fourth behind only Nebraska’s Aleks Maric (4.63), Kansas State’s Michael Beasley (4.13) and Texas’ Damion James (3.44).
But that is more a measure of Carroll’s heart and guts than his jumping ability. And toward the end of recent games, his vertical could have been measured by the thickness of the Sunday newspaper.
“I just try to go out there and give my team what they need,” Carroll said. “I’ve just got to keep getting treatment, and hopefully I’ll get better.”
It is the same attitude that Carroll brings to the hope that Missouri’s basketball season — the Tigers are 13-11 overall, 3-6 in the league and losers of three of the last four — can be salvaged.
Carroll, perhaps because he is the nephew of coach Mike Anderson, will not give in to the aftermath of the Athena Night Club incident.
But on Tuesday, the latest echo from Athena found Anderson kicking Stefhon Hannah off the team because of a lack of academic commitment.
“We’ve got no choice but to get past it,” Carroll said. “We’re slowly coming together as a team. We’re just sowing and weeding out, you know, people who don’t want to come together or who are against us.
“Eventually we’ll get it together. Eventually, we’ll get this thing to work.”
Carroll contends he holds no grudge against Hannah. Or any of the other players who earned suspensions: Leo Lyons, Darryl Butterfield, Marshall Brown and Jason Horton.
Horton, like Hannah, faces an allegation of third-degree assault, although he remains with the team.
Carroll, by his example of playing through pain and demanding others make equal sacrifices, could be the leader Missouri needs among the players.
“We know that,” Anderson said. “He’s the energy guy. He’s a blue-collar guy. …. Sometimes guys lead by example. Guys see you every day, see what you’re doing. You’re busting your tail, guys respect that.
“Leadership is something that’s earned.”