VALPARAISO — Welcome to the Athletics-Recreation Center, home of Valparaiso University’s walking wounded.
Bryce Drew’s Crusaders are hurtin’ for certain, but can console themselves with a 28-5 record and their second automatic NCAA bid in three years.
Veteran trainer Rod Moore stops short of summoning a MASH unit, but is busy ministering to guards Tevonn Walker (knee) and Darien Walker (nose). Keith Carter is still recovering from a dislocated big toe, but logged 33 minutes in the Horizon League championship game.
“I’m enjoying the experience even though I got hurt,” said Tevonn Walker, who was injured in Saturday’s semifinal game with Cleveland State. He started against Green Bay, but was pulled just four minutes into Tuesday’s finale. His tightly wrapped right knee would not cooperate.
“I just didn’t have enough push off it,” he said. “Not enough stability, but it’s feeling fine now.”
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His injury reduced the Crusaders to a seven-man rotation, four of them logging anywhere from 28 to 38 minutes. Now he’s looking forward to Selection Sunday, when the Crusaders learn when and where they will be shipped.
If he’s lucky they won’t play until Friday. Walker would welcome the extra day of rest and diligently applied ice packs
They’ll be seeded anywhere from eleventh to thirteenth, according to Coach Bryce Drew, who would not speculate any more than that.
Darien Walker took a shot to the nose when he tried for a mid-court steal against Green Bay star Keifer Sykes Tuesday. He never lost consciousness, but experienced dizziness.
“I tried to swipe the ball from behind, but Sykes turned around and his head hit my nose,” said Darien Walker, who was awaiting the results of X-rays. “It started bleeding a lot.”
If it’s broken the puffy-faced sophomore guard from Chicago Simeon (which won two 4A state titles during his time there), will probably be going with a face mask next week.
Drew knows the three guards won’t be completely recovered until after the season, but desperately needs strong efforts from them. Tevonn is averaging 10.2 points and leads the Crusaders in steals. Carter missed 10 games, but still ranks first in assists. He and Darien, who is scoring at an 11.1 clip, rank 2-3 in thefts.
Since Wednesday Drew is juggling precious minutes tending his players and fielding requests for phone interviews. Thirty-three games have taken their toll as they would with any team in this high-octane sport.
“Nobody’s 100 percent this time of the year,” he said, shrugging. “They’re (three guards) a little behind. Keith can still make plays.”
Tuesday the 6-1 junior turned in a fine all-around effort, which included seven rebounds, six assists and two steals.
“Our defense doesn’t rely on steals,” said Drew, who emphasizes a help approach rather than forcing turnovers. The Crusaders have limited 10 of their last 16 opponents to less than 57 points with a 9-1 record to show for their stinginess.
John Mutka is a freelance writer.