Wheeler: Rush makes impressive return

Thursday, February 7, 2008

It was June 1, 2007, weeks before the NBA draft, when junior guard Brandon Rush underwent surgery for a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. The injury resulted in Rush withdrawing his name from the NBA draft and returning to Kansas.

On Monday, the men’s basketball team defeated Missouri 90-71. Rush had just tied his season high 19 points and 6 rebounds. With the exception of the giant black brace that protects his knee, it’s hard to imagine that Rush ever got hurt, but it has been eight months of continuous recovery.

“I’m starting to get back to 100 percent. I’m gonna try and take off the knee brace this week,” Rush said after the game. Rush is hoping to take the brace off during practice this week and play without it for Saturday’s game against Baylor.

On media day at Allen Fieldhouse, Rush sat in a chair on the basketball court as reporters swarmed around him. It was several hours before “Late Night in the Phog,” and reporters drilled the 6-foot-6 guard with questions on when he was expected to return. Rush had not even fully healed from the injury and was already a preseason All-Big 12 player.

At this time, he couldn’t even participate in contact or even layup drills. Rush told reporters, however, that he could participate in everything but contact drills. Coach Bill Self just laughed at this and referred to his star guard as “Dr. Rush.”

“Brandon will not be the Brandon we saw at 100 percent last year, but I think he can be 100 percent of the new Brandon,” Self said. “Physically, he is going to be 85 to 95 percent of what he was, but that doesn’t mean he won’t be a better player.”

pullquote

I was a little nervous because I had not been out on the court in awhile, only in practice. I was a little nervous but I was not worrying about my knee at all.

-Brandon Rush

Once the team’s Late Night basketball scrimmage was ready to start, Rush acted as if he were going to go out with his teammates for some warm up layups. His trainers and coaches quickly stopped him.

Doctors anticipated Rush would be ready to return to play on Dec. 1, but he returned two weeks early for Kansas’ third game of the season against Washburn. He didn’t start the game but came in midway through the first half. Once Rush entered the court he received a standing ovation from the fans. In 12 minutes, he scored seven points and had two assists.

“I was a little nervous because I had not been out on the court in awhile, only in practice,” Rush said after the game. “I was a little nervous but I was not worrying about my knee at all.”

Rush’s nerves may not have completely calmed until Self criticized him for his aggressiveness after Kansas’ defeat of Loyola just before Big 12 Conference play started. Through eight games since then, Rush is averaging 15.6 points, 7 rebounds and 2.63 assists per game.

When asked about whether Self’s remarks on the aggressiveness of his play Monday night, Rush said, “It had everything to do with it, I just don’t want him saying that anymore.”

It’s been four months since Self talked about Brandon becoming a 100 percent of the new, recovered Brandon. With his improved performance since the start of conference play, Rush is playing as consistent of basketball as he ever has. After Monday’s game, Self said, “I still think he can do a little more.”

This Saturday, Rush may play without his knee brace for the first time this season. While Rush is playing the best basketball he’s played since tearing his ACL over the summer, the 100 percent of new Brandon may not be here yet. Maybe we will see 100 percent of the new Brandon this season. Maybe we won’t. Either way, Brandon Rush has turned into the All-Big 12 player he was picked to be in the preseason.

— Edited by Jared Duncan

Basketball Notes: October 9, 2007

Player commits, Rush heals

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