Kentucky Coach Billy Gillispie expressed doubt about senior Joe Crawford being able to play against South Carolina on Saturday.
Whether that was coach-speak or a genuine concern about Crawford’s availability remains to be seen.
Foot pain associated with a plantar fascia condition caused Crawford to take himself out of UK’s game against Tennessee on Tuesday. Crawford did “a few things” in practice on Friday, Gillispie said. “But not much. I don’t know if he’ll play.”
[Hear Gillispie’s Friday press conference.]
Meanwhile, Derrick Jasper and Jodie Meeks participated fully in practice on Friday.
Jasper pronounced himself 75 percent recovered from the mid-June microfracture surgery he underwent on his left knee.
Even at less than full capacity, Jasper has contributed to UK’s 2-2 start in league play.
Gillispie expressed concern about Jasper continuing to limp.
“Sometimes it hurts,” Jasper said. “Every once in a while, there’s a sharp pain.”
Jerry Tipton of the Lexington Herald- Leader has covered Kentucky basketball since the 1981-82 season. That time includes five coaches, five Final Fours, four athletic directors, two interim athletic directors and many memories. Before coming to Lexington, Tipton worked eight years for the Huntington (W.Va.) Herald-Dispatch. He covered Marshall’s basketball team for two seasons before coming to the Herald-Leader.
Just another tip for Joe. It is an extremely painful condition and I applaud him for playing thru the pain. Prevention magazine recommends rolling your foot over a tennis ball on a regular basis to strenghten the muscle and prevent a reoccurence. It has worked for me.