Colorado University Athletics
Richards To Use Redshirt This Season
BOULDER?University of Colorado sophomore center Kara Richards, who has not played in a regular season game this season due to a broken foot, will miss the remainder of the year and use this as her redshirt season CU head coach Kathy McConnell-Miller announced on Tuesday.
Richards suffered a Jones fracture ? a fracture to the fifth meta-tarsal ? in her left foot on Nov. 15, just three day’s before CU’s season opening win over Cal State University-Fullerton. She underwent surgery on Nov. 16 and the initial diagnosis had her missing anywhere from four to eight weeks. Richards was in a cast until Dec. 28, and returned to light practice last week, but was not making the progress needed to return to the line up in the near future as soreness from her injury continues.
“I don’t feel I can contribute 100 percent to my team right now and not giving 100 percent is unacceptable for Colorado basketball,” Richards said. “This is the best decision for my team.”
Since Richards did not appear in any regular season games, she will take her normal redshirt season and will be a sophomore in eligibility for the 2006-07 campaign. She did appear in CU’s two exhibition games in November averaging 12 points and 6.5 rebounds.
“It’s disappointing not to have the opportunity to coach Kara this season knowing her impact on the game,” McConnell-Miller said. “However, after careful deliberation, Kara and I have decided this is in her best interest for the present and for the future.”
A native of Graham, Texas, Richards started in 26 of 28 games for the Buffaloes as a true freshman last winter, averaging nine points, 5.3 rebounds and one block per game. She earned a spot on the Waco Tribune-Herald’s All-Big 12 Conference Freshman team in 2004-05 and was named the Buffs’ Rookie of the Year.