Precautionary x-rays performed yesterday afternoon on the right
thumb of forward Jason Kapono revealed a sprained tendon.
The injury, feared to be a hairline fracture, kept Kapono out of
Tuesday’s exhibition loss to EA Sports.
“He would’ve played on Tuesday if it were a real
game. I expect him to play against San Diego (next Tuesday) without
a problem,” UCLA Sports Information Director Bill Bennett
said.
Kapono has yet to sit out a regular season game in his four-year
career.
The senior said he jammed the finger at practice Friday while
trying to poke away a quick pass during a five-on-five drill.
Although a hairline fracture could have sidelined the
Bruins’ co-captain for six to eight weeks, Kapono never
seemed too concerned about the injury, joking with Steve Lavin
about redshirting as his coach passed by before practice
yesterday.
“I can show you guys how strong my left hand is,”
Kapono told reporters. “I can shoot threes with my left hand,
too.”
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Though most of the attention on UCLA’s rebounding woes has
been linked to the absence of Dan Gadzuric, the Bruins have also
missed Andre Patterson’s presence on the glass.
Patterson was in attendance at the game against EA Sports but is
not permitted to play because of academic ineligibility.
“If he does the work, then the potential is there for him
to return,” Lavin said. “He’s a great
kid.”
Former Bruin Matt Barnes had to sit out games during fall
quarter of the 1999-2000 season for similar reasons, but he
returned at the beginning of the 2000 calendar year.
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The Bruins managed just six assists, to go along with sixteen
turnovers, against EA Sports.
“We were dribbling too much,” Lavin said.
“We’ve got to give the ball up sooner and get a better
shot.”