I don't...I don't even know how to start this post. Why...why does this stuff have to keep happening? I just...I just want to be normal.
Rick Pitino announced during his weekly radio show Tuesday that freshman guard Wayne Blackshear underwent successful shoulder surgery on his torn larbum this morning, and could return to the floor in 6-8 weeks. This goes against the initial report from last Friday which stated the injury would keep Blackshear out of action for at least four months, thus forcing him to miss the entire 2011-2012 season.
Deep breath.
Moving on.
Pitino also announced that junior point guard Peyton Siva and junior forward Mike Marra would miss Thursday's exhibition game against Bellarmine because of injury. Siva's injury is yet another Cardinal concussion, while Marra has been held out of practice since late last week because of a back problem.
So that moves Louisville's list of inactives for Thursday night to: Peyton Siva, Mike Marra, Stephan Van Treese (should be back next week), Wayne Blackshear and Rakeem Buckles. That could legitimately be a starting five.
Astoundingly, there was no update on walk-on guard Tim Henderson, who missed the Pikeville game because of an injury. Sophomore guard Russ Smith also sat out that game.
We're seriously one Gorgui Dieng injury tomorrow away from being about an 8-point underdog to Bellarmine. Don't be surprised at all if we lose this game. On the bright side, going against Jeremy Kendle for 30 minutes or so should be a terrific experience for Bullet.
The Cardinal bench is going to be an interesting(?) sight in a couple days.