The injury bug seems to have established a nice little home for
itself inside Pauley Pavilion.
It struck again Thursday night after it had done another number
on men’s basketball senior guard Cedric Bozeman during Tuesday’s
practice.
Bozeman, a fifth-year senior who missed all of last season with
a torn ACL, could potentially miss the rest of this season with a
labral tear in his left shoulder. The injury, which is seen most
often in football linemen, is a tear of cartilage in the posterior
shoulder joint.
"I just feel terrible for Ced because he’s worked so hard to
recover from his knee surgery," coach Ben Howland said. "To have
this happen is just really frustrating for both him and the team.
He has a great attitude, he’s a great kid, and he’ll do whatever
he’s asked to do."
Bozeman, who had started all of UCLA’s games this season prior
to Thursday, echoed his coach’s sentiments, saying he’ll do
everything he can to get back this season.
"It was kind of tough to handle," Bozeman said. "It wasn’t as
bad as the ACL injury, but it’s something I can work through. I’ve
fought through a lot of adversity. This is nothing new."
Bozeman plans to rest and rehab the injury for three to four
weeks as Howland offered some hope, saying that there are cases in
which players have been able to play with a labral tear. Howland
said the team would petition the NCAA for a sixth year of
eligibility if Bozeman is unable to return this season.
But for now, it’s just one step at a time.
"Right now I’m just taking it day by day," Bozeman said.
And while there’s no such thing as a good injury, the Bruins
were fortunate that the first game Bozeman missed was the first
game that sophomore guard Josh Shipp was able to play.
Shipp, who had hip surgery before the season began, scored 11
points in 29 minutes Thursday night.
He said he felt good in the first half, but that his muscles
started to fatigue a little later on in the game. That’s simply a
natural part of the recovery process.
Two Bruins also suffered sprained ankles in Thursday night’s
victory. Sophomore point guard Jordan Farmar re-sprained his right
ankle early in the second half and did not return. Freshman forward
Ryan Wright sprained his right ankle midway through the first half
but later returned to action.
Farmar’s status for Saturday will be a game-time decision, while
Wright is expected to play.
UCLA was also without senior centers Ryan Hollins (groin) and
Michael Fey (ankle) on Thursday. Neither Hollins nor Fey will play
against the Bears on Saturday.