David Padgett out at least ten weeks, possibly career

by Mike Rutherford on Nov 19, 2007 4:41 PM EST in News

Louisville basketball coach Rick Pitino called a 4 p.m. press conference today to announce that senior captain David Padgett suffered a fractured right knee cap in the first half of Sunday's game against Jackson State and that his playing career at U of L is "probably" over.

Pitino said the best case scenario for Padgett would involve him being able to play in ten weeks.

The other options, according to Pitino, would be for Padgett to apply for a sixth year of eligibility or for him to let his injury heal and then try out for a pro team. He said that appealing for a sixth year would be difficult since Padgett already had to sit out a year after transferring from Kansas.

The injury will force Louisville to soldier on without its leader and most polished post player. Senior Terrance Farley and sophomore Derrick Caracter will now be turned to to pick up the slack.

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Who starts?

DC or Farley?

by Red C on Nov 19, 2007 5:01 PM EST reply actions

Farley will start

He may not necessarily play more minutes than DC, but he will start. Not completely sure why, but I have this strange feeling that T-Far is really going to step up.

by Mike Rutherford on Nov 19, 2007 5:21 PM EST up reply actions

dare i say...

we pull a memphis or a villinova and just play small ball?

by sam34gtr on Nov 19, 2007 5:08 PM EST reply actions

Oh, we'll be playing that too many times

since DC and Farley only have 4 fouls each

by frankpos on Nov 19, 2007 5:41 PM EST up reply actions

Damnit

Damnit Damnit Damnit Damnit Damnit Damnit

DC better change his attitude about defense really quick...

Go Cards!

by JMC @ Card Chronicle on Nov 19, 2007 5:49 PM EST reply actions

Who's fault????

It's fucking Steve Kragthorpe's fault..

by Schmuck on Nov 19, 2007 7:46 PM EST reply actions

Padget always reminded me...

...of that collapsing giraffe toy that everyone got in their Christmas stocking or Easter basket.

You know, that goofy giraffe (or clown) that would totally just collapse on itself when you pushed the button on the base, but would pop straight back up when you let go.

I'm gonna miss the Collapsing Giraffe.

by drhustle on Nov 19, 2007 8:25 PM EST reply actions

Does the name Mike Grosso

ring a bell?

Mike, like David, tried to battle on horrible knees

before there was fancy surgery

just wore big, clumsy knee supports

still beloved in the community for his sheer effort

David is one of my favorite players-- sheer guts, desire, class, intelligence

damn

by frankpos on Nov 19, 2007 9:13 PM EST reply actions

David

reminds me of Jason White, from Oklahoma.
NCAA let him play a 6th year

by sam34gtr on Nov 19, 2007 10:14 PM EST reply actions

last years football team

this reminds me of last years football season kinda, with one of the best players on the team out for the year at the very start of the season, people not sure how the team will react and how it will effect the style and caliber of play...i think farley will do well too, but the 3 pt shooting will now dictate how far we will be able to go in march

by GoCards5 on Nov 19, 2007 10:58 PM EST reply actions

3-point shooting

will be harder to come by without David as a reliable inside-out threat.

by adam10001 on Nov 19, 2007 11:49 PM EST up reply actions

Padgett

Keep in mind, when thinking about Padgett's potential 6th year, that he graduated HS the same year as LeBron and competed with him in all of those HS all-star games.

by Quinn1979 on Nov 20, 2007 12:40 AM EST reply actions

David is a class act

David Padgett is the kind of kid everybody wants on his team. He's not just a vocal leader, but someone respected by all those who play with him and coach him. There was never a question of effort; there was never a question of heart or dedication or any of the other things that make college basketball worth watching.

With his newly repaired knees, we were all anxious to see just how well he would play, how talented he would be, now that he's free of pain. Now this.

The previous injuries and the broken knee-cap are so different that there's no reason to say "well, his knees are obviously shot." I think this was a freak thing -- a collision in just the right spot that happened to split the bone; it has nothing to do with previous ligiment damage.

That said, I hope David does whatever's best for David at this point. I'd love to see him try to play for one full year for the Cards -- I believe that would help his draft status and the way the pros look at him.

Whatever he does, this is a big loss and a terrible tragedy for a classy guy. I'll hope and pray that good karma starts flowing Mr. Padgett's way soon.

by theoldman on Nov 20, 2007 11:11 AM EST reply actions