Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, February 7, 1992 TAG: 9202070044
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BILL BRILL SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: DURHAM, N.C. LENGTH: Medium
HURLEY TO MISS 3 WEEKS
With 11:50 left in the first half of the Duke-North Carolina game on Wednesday, Bobby Hurley went to the bench during a TV timeout and told trainer Dave Engelhardt, "I heard it pop."The "pop" was the second metatarsal bone in the right foot of Duke's playmaker. The leader of the nation's No. 1 team will be sidelined for up to three weeks.
Hurley actually broke the school career assists record after breaking the bone during the 75-73 loss to the Tar Heels, a game that ended Duke's 23-game win streak.
He scored 11 points, all in the first half, and handed out six assists to run his total to 713. The previous mark of 708 was held by assistant coach Tommy Amaker.
Hurley played the entire second half, missing four shots and both free throws after a technical on the UNC bench.
"We examined it at halftime and there was no swelling, so we just retaped it," Engelhardt said.
X-rays Thursday showed the break.
"I was pretty stiff in the second half," Hurley said. "I couldn't push off." He watched Thursday's practice with his right foot in a walking cast that Engelhardt said will be removed Monday.
Hurley first hurt the foot last week, and again in the Notre Dame game. "We took X-rays Monday," said Engelhardt, "and I expected a stress fracture, but nothing showed. This break is clean. It's like a jigsaw puzzle that has fitted back together."
Grant Hill, the versatile 6-foot-8 sophomore, will replace Hurley at the point and either Tony Lang or Cherokee Parks will start up front. Either way, Duke won't have any starter on the floor shorter than 6-7 in Saturday's nationally televised game at Louisiana State.
Coach Mike Krzyzewski said redshirt freshman Kenny Blakeney likely would get some playing time. But Grant Hill's minutes will be extended. Duke worked Thursday on some defenses designed to give Hill a breather.
"I go by what our doctors say, and they say it should be right around three weeks," Krzyzewski said.
That would mean Hurley would miss a minimum of five games, four of them in the ACC. Virginia visits Duke on Feb. 26, three weeks after the injury, and the Blue Devils play at No. 4 UCLA on March 1.
"He should be back by UCLA for sure," Engelhardt said.
Keywords:
BASKETBALL