Bracey's Ankle!

Mike Davis created a monster and now it is coming back to bite him.

IU awaiting Wright's call that he's OK - Indy Star

According to the Star:

Bracey Wright was cleared by the Indiana University medical staff to play eight days ago against Minnesota. The same was true for Tuesday's game at Ohio State.

In both cases, IU's leading scorer decided on game day that his sprained left ankle couldn't handle the rigors of a Big Ten basketball game.

That says a lot to me. IU is in its "key stretch" to make the NCAA tourney and their coach appointed leader is saying its not key to me, so I'll sit. It's one thing if the doctors are holding you back so you don't hurt yourself worse. But once they say you are cleared, it's all about you. Nice.

Also from the Star:

Wright's situation has put IU coach Mike Davis in a difficult position. While he no doubt needs Wright's offense in the lineup, he can't force his 20-year-old standout to play. Each time he is asked about the status of the 18.5-ppg player, Davis has been relegated to a wait-and-see approach.

Davis didn't think Wright would go against Minnesota. The coach expressed optimism that he would play the day before the Ohio State game, but after that game, when asked if Wright would be available today against Michigan, Davis shrugged his shoulders and said, "I doubt it."

Wrong. Wright's situation hasn't put Mike in a difficult position. Mike put Mike in a difficult position. This is what happens when you are the players' best friend instead of their coach. He can't force him to play? Sure he can. "Bracey, here's the deal. You play today or you sit the rest of the season and rest that ankle for the CBA." It's that simple. A little tough love goes a long way.

Here's a good Bracey quote:

"I could see when we got down on the road, we got kind of rattled with our young guys, and there was a lot of uncertainty going on," Wright said. "I think I could help that by being out there, because I've been in those type of situations and I understand what it's like to play from behind."

A lot of uncertainty going on? You understand what it's like to play from behind? Well that just says a lot about the IU program and Coach Davis now doesn't it?

"It's the cutting and not being able to run up and down at the speed that I need to be able to go," Wright said. "I'm just hoping when I wake up Sunday, it will feel good and I'll be able to go."

If you actually cut and drove to the hoop, or played defense, I might give you a little leeway. But standing outside the NBA 3 point line and chucking 3s doesn't require a perfectly healed ankle.

If I were Mike, Bracey would be sitting on the bench for the rest of the year. Time to send a message. Are you a part of the IU program, or are you only out for #1? We all know the answer and that has no part of IU basketball.