Drake starter D.J. Wilkins out for the remainder of the season

[Da Coach]

Tough blow for Drake and Drake fans. Drake freshman D.J. Wilkins suffered a broken bone in his left ankle and will miss the rest of the season. Wilkins started 30 games for Drake, was one of their most consistent players and helped lead them to a tie for 1st pace, and the best overall record in the MVC (23-. He averaged 11.2 ppg, and shot 39% from three. He will be named to the All-Freshman team when the results are released tomorrow.

His absence in the MVC Tournament may be a break for ISU. ISU plays last place and 10th seeded Evansville Thursday night, who also lost one of their key players Shea Feehan, and if they win, ISU will advance to play Drake Friday night.

[tornado]

Wilkins averaged 12 ppg in the two contests against Bradley

[tornado]

Just for the sake of argument - and I don't know anything more than what's seen here --
but interesting theory- watch this video...


DJ Wilkins is seen IN THIS VIDEO vigorously jumping up and down, celebrating on this video after Drake's win Saturday- showing what appears to be absolutely NO hint of pain from his ankle....
This is immediately after the game as coach DeVries is just returning from his post-game interview (where he said it was just a sprain) and entering the lockerroom-- then just as Wilkins is celebrating & lands on his final jump - he looks down at his left ankle and grimaces as if suddenly in severe pain......and then he immediately limps to sit down and get the weight OFF HIS ANKLE and doesn't appear again in the video.
It appears that he is NOT injured while celebrating until that final jump...but if not it sure was pretty odd activity for a guy with a fractured ankle!!
...could he have caused the fracture with this activity?
https://twitter.com/DrakeBulldogsMB/...80796691365890

The first public statement after the game said: "post game, DeVries said sprained ankle, out at least a few days, then day-to-day"
Then later - it was said: "Wilkins will miss the remainder of the men's basketball season due to a broken bone in his left ankle"

[Da Coach]

That is not what happened. In that video, he is holding on tightly to the necks and shoulders of the 2 players on either side of him and jumping on one leg. He did not injure his ankle there, it was already injured well before that postgame locker room celebration.
Here is the proof. Here is the link to the archived video of the game-
http://www.espn.com/watch/player?id=...a-b4af9971e898

Set the video ahead to about the 1 hour 28 minute mark of the video (1:28:00) or slightly before that, which corresponds to just under 9:30 left in the game. Watch from there. D.J. Wilkins drives down the lane to the basket, and with 9:20 left, he lands and injures his left ankle. He limps and tries to put weight on the left ankle, but cannot do it. The ball goes out of bounds and the clock stops with 9:17 left, and Wilkins is removed from the game. He slowly limps to the bench with help and never returns to the game. As the video proceeds, he can be seen at the far end of the bench being attended to by a trainer, and for the last 7 minutes of game time he can be seen sitting down and occasionally standing up after a Drake basket and jumping on one leg avoiding any weight on the left ankle.

[bigjimmy]

Wasn't aware that this happened but big credit to Drake for not only letting it affect them but they actually outscored Missouri State 19-13 from the point Wilkins got hurt. The Redbirds did beat Drake twice, 69-55 in Des Moines and 67-60 in Normal, so they appear to have an advantage. ISU's overall length and quickness definitely gave Drake problems. Having said that would it shock me to see ISU lose to Evansville? Nope. Evansville might not have the most talented roster but they play hard, something the Redbirds don't always do. Game better not be close or the Redbirds will be driving back on I-55 Thursday night.

[tornado]

I just thought it was odd that he was not sitting with the leg up, icing it or already on the way to the hospital if it was indeed BROKEN.
If you were his doctor and suspected a broken ankle, would you have suggested that jumping up and down to celebrate is a good idea?

[The Old Guy]

According to my son who lives in Des Moines and is a Drake graduate, Drake is probably going to have to rely on seldom-used Sam Jones to fill in for Wilkins absence. As I told him, Drake was not supposed to win the Valley, but several players really came through. For Drake to advance, someone who is not expected to play a major role is going to have to step up and make a significant contribution. Good luck to Drake as they try to move forward.

[Da Coach]

I agree, they are going to miss him. Drake's only other point guard is Noah Thomas, but Wilkins averaged more assists than Thomas and fewer turnovers. Wilkins was also is 2nd on the team in 3-pointers and 2nd in steals.
Samm Jones has only played in 6 games all year for 19 minutes, so if he has to play much, it could be a problem. I also think freshman Garrett Sturtz will see more playing time.

[tornado]

Don't mean to be cynical about injuries but....
for the better part of an entire decade, Bradley had to play long stretches and in late season & tourney games without one of their starters & top players - and often played with two of their top guys gone atthe same time for the entire season
(Gilbert, Gillingham, Crouch, Ruffin, Warren, Maniscalco, Egolf, Singh, Dunson, Taylor Brown...)

and all I remember is others saying "you can't use injuries as an excuse". I don't recall ever seeing or reading one time about how Bradley or Jim Les should have gotten some consideration for so many injuries....in fact Les got canned based on the one year he lost TWO starters & All Conference-caliber talents to season long injuries (Maniscalco, Taylor Brown) and he still beat USC, Loyola Marymount, Creighton & UNI that year without two of his best 3 players.

Valpo was truly hurt by injuries this year but for the last two years we've seen the injury excuse used over and over by Dan Muller even tho he is the one who is 100% responsible for filling his roster with 5 ineligible guys who can't play this season and multiple other ineligible guys over the past several years that leave him perennially shorthanded when they do get an injury.