Nebraska Basketball’s Leslee Smith Tears ACL
Cruel fortune hit Tim Miles’ Nebraska basketball program on Tuesday. The university released a statement that senior Leslee Smith suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his left knee.
Tough news today... Stay strong LesLee http://t.co/Col2ipOENy
— Tim Miles (@CoachMiles) July 8, 2014
Smith sustained the injury while playing at the FIBA Caribbean Basketball Championships for the British Virgin Islands. Insult was promptly added to injury as Smith’s squad lost 89-60 to the Virgin Islands.
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This diagnosis doesn’t mark the first time Smith’s torn such a ligament. During his days at SMU in 2011, he tore his right ACL. Seriously, can’t the guy catch a break?
When asked if Smith’s injury altered any plans Miles had about redshirting incoming freshman center Jake Hammond, he told the Lincoln Journal Star, “Not ruling out anything,” via a text message.
Smith saw time in all of Nebraska’s 32 games, leading the team in double-doubles with three and had five games where he notched ten rebounds.
Lincoln’s 93.7 The Ticket’s Jake Bockoven openly opined about the potential of trying to get Smith back as soon as this season:
Accelerated surgery might be able to slide Smith in late in the season but idk if that would be best for him or the team. #Huskers
— Jake Bockoven (@jakebockoven) July 8, 2014
Personally, I believe this would be a mistake. I understand where Bockoven’s coming from.
Rushing recovery after an injury is no doubt the thought of a competitive player and Smith has shown himself to be very valuable.
However, it does no good for him in the long run as he becomes more susceptible due to rushing back and if the Huskers manage to mesh as a unit, why fix what isn’t broken?
In that case, he’s lost time he could’ve used rehabbing his knee for a hopefully far more injury-free future.
Regardless of the choices to be made, we at Husker Corner send our best wishes to Smith and the entire Nebrasketball family.
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