Injury bug continues to bite gameplan

Jonathan Taylor / contributing photographer Sophomore forward Chris Cathlin guards sophomore forward Cavell Johnson in the post.

When first asked about the injuries plaguing the men’s basketball team, JMU coach Dean Keener shakes his head.

"Where do you begin?" Keener said.

The Dukes are off to a rocky start this season under their first-year coach, with an overall record of 3-10. They have posted one win and four losses in the Colonial Athletic Association.

Senior guard Daniel Freeman started the season with promising numbers as he led the Dukes in scoring the first four games. He was second in rebounds averaging 4.5 per game.

Freeman developed a stress fracture four games in, to his right foot, which has kept him far from the court. After four weeks under close watch, Keener said the doctors told Freeman the injury was healing, and he is expected to return to the doctor Friday, for his six-week evaluation.

Junior forward David Cooper has joined Freeman on the bench due to a torn left meniscus. Cooper hurt his right knee in August and missed most of the preseason before playing four games at the start of the regular season.

He suffered a second injury to the opposite knee and underwent surgery Dec. 30. Although neither knee has been 100 percent all season, Cooper is predicted to start practicing with the team again next week.

Sophomore guard Ulrich Kossekpa and freshman guard Joe Posey haven’t seen the court all this season. Kossekpa is slowly recovering from multiple knee surgeries, including two torn ACL’s on his left knee, with the last one occurring mid-May.

"He just hasn’t been able to get up to game speed," Keener said. "And the intensity of his injuries are tough to quickly recover from."

Posey hurt his wrist last January while still in high school and arrived at JMU, where a physical revealed a disappointing x-ray.

"Two bones had been broken for so long in his wrist that they were literally dying," Keener said. "And in order to heal, he had to remove parts of his radius and place them in the spot of the broken bones."

Doctors said Posey must wear a cast for four months but should be healed once it is removed.

"The injuries the team has suffered has really given us a lack of depth," Keener said. "And we haven’t been able to implement our entire system offensively and defensively.

"When our team is healthy, we hope to get back to a full-court press style on defense and an up-tempo game on offense."

Keener and the Dukes host the George Mason University Patriots Saturday at 7 p.m.