Grad-transfer forward Kerry Blackshear Jr. tried to play through his wrist injury Saturday against Kentucky, but the pain was too severe.
Blackshear 'Questionable' for SEC Tournament
Monday, March 9, 2020 | Men's Basketball, Chris Harry
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Test results to the injured left wrist of Kerry Blackshear Jr. both came negative Sunday, but the status of Florida's forward, No. 1 rebounder and second-leading scorer for this week's Southeastern Conference Tournament remains uncertain.
Pain and swelling will dictate whether the 6-foot-10, 240-pound graduate-transfer will be ready to go when the fifth-seeded Gators (19-12) take the court at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., for Thursday afternoon's second-round tournament action to face either 12th-seeded Ole Miss (15-16) or 13th-seeded Georgia (15-16), who play Wednesday night.
UF trainer Dave Werner said Monday morning that Blackshear, who underwent both X-rays and an MRI on Sunday, will not practice at all this week and his status for Thursday is questionable.
Blackshear, averaging 12.8 points and 7.5 rebounds per game, sustained the injury while fighting for a loose ball with just over six minutes remaining the first half of Saturday's 71-70 home loss to No. 6 Kentucky. Blackshear, who had no points and five rebounds over his 10 foul-plagued minutes in the period, had the wrist of his non-shooting hand taped at halftime and tried to play at the start of the second period, but took himself out of the game less than two minutes in because of the pain. He did not return.
"'KJ' is one of the toughest guys — maybe the toughest — on our team. He's one of the toughest guys I've ever coached," UF coach Mike White said after the game Saturday. "He hasn't missed a practice all year and has battled different things, including illness at times, and won't take a rep off. When he walked over to the sideline a couple minutes into the second and said, 'I can't go,' I knew it must've been really hurting him."
Minus their best, most experienced and savvy post player, the Gators were clobbered by the Wildcats down low. UK out-rebounded UF 19-7 in the second half, including 10-1 on the offensive glass, and scored 15 second-chance points off those offensive rebounds.
Wildcats forward Nick Richards, a candidate for SEC Player of the Year, had 17 points and five rebounds in the second half, and had his way against Blackshear's primary backup, freshman Omar Payne, who managed four points and one rebound over 14 minutes. Neither of the other reserve bigs, fourth-year junior Dontay Bassett and freshman Jason Jitoboh, grabbed a rebound, either.
The Gators had a light day of file, weights and shooting Sunday and will take Monday off before returning to practice Tuesday.
Pain and swelling will dictate whether the 6-foot-10, 240-pound graduate-transfer will be ready to go when the fifth-seeded Gators (19-12) take the court at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., for Thursday afternoon's second-round tournament action to face either 12th-seeded Ole Miss (15-16) or 13th-seeded Georgia (15-16), who play Wednesday night.
UF trainer Dave Werner said Monday morning that Blackshear, who underwent both X-rays and an MRI on Sunday, will not practice at all this week and his status for Thursday is questionable.
Blackshear, averaging 12.8 points and 7.5 rebounds per game, sustained the injury while fighting for a loose ball with just over six minutes remaining the first half of Saturday's 71-70 home loss to No. 6 Kentucky. Blackshear, who had no points and five rebounds over his 10 foul-plagued minutes in the period, had the wrist of his non-shooting hand taped at halftime and tried to play at the start of the second period, but took himself out of the game less than two minutes in because of the pain. He did not return.
"'KJ' is one of the toughest guys — maybe the toughest — on our team. He's one of the toughest guys I've ever coached," UF coach Mike White said after the game Saturday. "He hasn't missed a practice all year and has battled different things, including illness at times, and won't take a rep off. When he walked over to the sideline a couple minutes into the second and said, 'I can't go,' I knew it must've been really hurting him."
Minus their best, most experienced and savvy post player, the Gators were clobbered by the Wildcats down low. UK out-rebounded UF 19-7 in the second half, including 10-1 on the offensive glass, and scored 15 second-chance points off those offensive rebounds.
Wildcats forward Nick Richards, a candidate for SEC Player of the Year, had 17 points and five rebounds in the second half, and had his way against Blackshear's primary backup, freshman Omar Payne, who managed four points and one rebound over 14 minutes. Neither of the other reserve bigs, fourth-year junior Dontay Bassett and freshman Jason Jitoboh, grabbed a rebound, either.
The Gators had a light day of file, weights and shooting Sunday and will take Monday off before returning to practice Tuesday.
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