Tuesday, Jan. 14, 1997

Injuries a real pain for Dunn's cagers

By DON WAGNER
Collegian Sports Writer

Right now, Jerry Dunn is probably wishing for either a huge can of Raid or a really, really big fly swatter. His desire for some kind of pest control is probably due to the recent injury bug that has been biting his team.

Penn State men's basketball home page

"It's like a bad dream that I can't wake up from," the Penn State men's basketball coach said yesterday at his weekly news conference.

Dunn discussed his team's recent rash of injuries, especially the most recent one to senior forward Rahsaan Carlton. Carlton ruptured the muscle covering the arch of his right foot against Illinois and will miss seven to 10 days, Dunn said. Carlton's absence means freshman Greg Stevenson will likely be his replacement in the starting lineup against Michigan State tomorrow at the Bryce Jordan Center.

The Nittany Lions' injury problems started with Dan Earl's back at the beginning of the season and have grown to include Aaron Jack, Dana Fritz, Titus Ivory and now Carlton. With all of the injuries, and his team's 0-3 start in the Big Ten, it would be easy for Dunn to get frustrated.

"Even with the injuries I still think that we've still had a chance to win, and we just haven't been able to get over the hump."

- Jerry Dunn, Nittany Lion basketball coach

"Even with the injuries I still think that we've still had a chance to win, and we just haven't been able to get over the hump," he said. "And that's the most frustrating part about it, that I know we are right there."

These injuries have meant the Lions have had to put some freshmen into the mix, namely Ryan Bailey starting at the point because of Earl's injury.

"He's doing an adequate job," Dunn said. "I think that what we'll look to do is take some of the pressure off of him and look at distributing the minutes a little bit more."

Dunn will be helped in his quest to lower Bailey's minutes with the return of Fritz, who practiced in full for the first time Friday and has been cleared to play.

Also helping the Lions is the fact football players David Macklin and Titcus Pettigrew have joined the team. Both may provide additional relief at the guard positions some time soon, but how soon has yet to be determined. It is likely both will be in uniform tomorrow night against the Spartans.

Something else Dunn touched on is the fact the Lions have not gotten many foul calls to go their way this season.

"I'm not sure why we're not getting some of the calls, period," Dunn said. "That certainly has to change because there are some things going on that I think are fouls that are not being called."