By Chris Hine
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- In basketball, an injury can come with every pivot, jump or dive. It can happen at any time.
That's the message Bruce Weber conveyed to his team after Ohio State's Evan Turner fractured vertebrae in his back when he fell following a dunk in the Buckeyes' win over Eastern Michigan on Saturday. Turner will miss at least eight weeks because of the injury.
"You just feel awful for the kid. You hope he can recover," Weber said. "You want to beat people, but at the same time, kids only have an opportunity so long to play college basketball."
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- In basketball, an injury can come with every pivot, jump or dive. It can happen at any time.
That's the message Bruce Weber conveyed to his team after Ohio State's Evan Turner fractured vertebrae in his back when he fell following a dunk in the Buckeyes' win over Eastern Michigan on Saturday. Turner will miss at least eight weeks because of the injury.
"You just feel awful for the kid. You hope he can recover," Weber said. "You want to beat people, but at the same time, kids only have an opportunity so long to play college basketball."
Weber talked to his players about the incident, hoping Turner's injury provides a little extra motivation.
"This could be you tomorrow," Weber told them. "How about coming motivated every day, because you just don't know. It's a freak thing and we just wish him the best."
As for Ohio State's outlook, Weber said, "He went out early, but they've still got some talent there, so they're still going to be a pretty good team."
As for injuries involving his program, Weber said 2010 recruit and Rich South guard Crandall Head could possibly return from an ACL injury by late February. But Weber said that's the "best-case scenario."
"But he's got to be careful," Weber said. "He's got to make sure he's totally healthy."
"This could be you tomorrow," Weber told them. "How about coming motivated every day, because you just don't know. It's a freak thing and we just wish him the best."
As for Ohio State's outlook, Weber said, "He went out early, but they've still got some talent there, so they're still going to be a pretty good team."
As for injuries involving his program, Weber said 2010 recruit and Rich South guard Crandall Head could possibly return from an ACL injury by late February. But Weber said that's the "best-case scenario."
"But he's got to be careful," Weber said. "He's got to make sure he's totally healthy."
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