Colorado University Athletics
Fletcher Practicing, But Must Prove He?s Game-Ready
BOULDER GÇô TreGÇÖShaun Fletcher has returned to practice with the Colorado menGÇÖs basketball team, but whether he plays Saturday at Utah depends on how he shows between now and then. And, according to CU coach Tad Boyle, the 6-7 Fletcher has plenty of makeup work to do before heGÇÖs pronounced game-ready.
GÇ£HeGÇÖd better practice better than he practiced (Tuesday),GÇ¥ Boyle said prior to WednesdayGÇÖs work. GÇ£HeGÇÖs got to trust that knee and play with a little bit more intensity. ItGÇÖs not one of those deals where you stick one foot in the pool and check the temperature.
GÇ£YouGÇÖve got to jump in with both feet. ItGÇÖs go time. ThereGÇÖs no easing back into this thing and thatGÇÖs hopefully what heGÇÖs been doing over the last few weeks. ItGÇÖs time (now) that he jumped in and getting after it. So weGÇÖll see. But heGÇÖs got to earn it in practice.GÇ¥
Boyle said Fletcher was GÇ£very tentativeGÇ¥ in TuesdayGÇÖs practice and GÇ£not real aggressive and not real intense. HeGÇÖs got to understand thatGÇÖs not going to help us. The gift minutes were given in November and December. I expect him to play defense, help us make plays on offense, rebound GÇô the same thing I expect from everybody else.GÇ¥
Fletcher conceded heGÇÖs been hesitant since returning: GÇ£IGÇÖve been tentative; I havenGÇÖt had that breakout moment but IGÇÖm sure itGÇÖs coming soon.GÇ¥
A freshman wing from Tacoma, Wash., Fletcher suffered his left knee injury with family and friends watching at Washington on Jan. 12 GÇô the same game that CU lost junior point guard Spencer Dinwiddie for the season with a knee injury. Fletcher underwent surgery almost immediately and has spent the last month and a half rehabbing.
Never suffering anything more serious than an ankle sprain at TacomaGÇÖs Lincoln High School, Fletcher said after his knee injury he was determined not GÇ£to be one of those cases where you get hurt in college and just go away. I want to come back from this, have a good rest of the season and have a great year next and the following year and the following year. Just keep pushing it. I donGÇÖt want this to bring me down.GÇ¥
He said his biggest hurdle now is conditioning, noting that he tried to maintain his shooting and ball-handling skills while waiting to be cleared to resume running. When he returns to game duty, he will wear a brace on his left knee, which he said currently GÇ£kind of limits my mobility.GÇ¥
Still, he said his goal is GÇ£coming in, giving my best effort, doing whatever I can to help the team on defense . . . just trying to give a spark. IGÇÖm really hoping theyGÇÖre trusting me and put me in the game; IGÇÖll do what I can to help out.GÇ¥
Fletcher played in each of CUGÇÖs first 16 games, averaging 3.5 points and 1.8 rebounds in 10.2 minutes. Before the injury, Boyle was hopeful that FletcherGÇÖs length would be most beneficial to the Buffs on defense and in rebounding. Depending when he shows heGÇÖs capable of contributing, Fletcher said he believes he can help the Buffs first in those two areas.
GÇ£HeGÇÖs (Boyle) told me to just come in and guard, really,GÇ¥ Fletcher said. GÇ£The more I guard, the more IGÇÖll be on the court. But heGÇÖs told me since the first I got here, really.GÇ¥
Prior to his injury, Fletcher said he GÇ£used to leak out a lotGÇ¥ GÇô or sometimes prematurely leave the defensive end for the offensive end. GÇ£Now, I guess IGÇÖve got to stay in and rebound and try to keep somebody off the glass.GÇ¥
Fletcher believes he contribute in CUGÇÖs final stretch, but adds, GÇ£But right when I come back IGÇÖm not going to try and overdo it. IGÇÖm just going to try and do what I can.GÇ¥
After SaturdayGÇÖs game at Utah (noon, Pac-12 Network), the Buffs close the regular season with road games at Stanford (Wednesday, March 4) and California (Saturday, March 8). The Pac-12 Tournament runs March 12-15 in Las Vegas.
Contact: BG.Brooks@Colorado.EDU