Spring Break
The Daily OrangeDevendorf vows to be 'same player' after injury
By Tyler Dunne
Posted: 9/30/08, 11:24 PM EST Section: Sports
Eric Devendorf sat idly on a chair alongside the Manley Field House basketball court last Friday. He watched teammates shoot around from the sideline, an isolation Devendorf never quite grew immune to last season. He strapped on his bulky black knee brace and tied his shoes, struggling to articulate just how refreshing it feels to play again.
Then the voice of assistant coach Mike Hopkins snagged his attention. The same Mike Hopkins that Devendorf spilled into against East Tennessee State, last year when he tore his anterior cruciate ligament. Devendorf shuffled toward his coach, and Hopkins whiplashed a hard low five at the Syracuse guard, followed by a harder chest bump.
Eric Devendorf can finally play basketball again.
"It's a great feeling," Devendorf said. "I'm doing what I love to do and having fun with my teammates, running up and down playing."
Since early August, Monday through Friday, Devendorf has participated in preseason workouts. Nine months after tearing his ACL, Devendorf can do everything - three-on-two fastbreak drills, half-court offense drills, everything. He does feel occasional soreness that requires ice afterward, but "nothing that hurts."
Devendorf credits his recovery to athletic trainer Brad Pike and strength and conditioning coach Ryan Cabiles. The tandem implemented a meticulous schedule stringent on not pushing too hard, while still pushing hard enough to ensure that the junior guard is at 100 percent for this season.
"Man, it's tough coming off that surgery," said Devendorf, who was granted an extra year of eligibility last week. "It's probably some of the most grueling stuff you can go through as far as having your knee straightened again and having to bend it all the way back."
Devendorf's rehab exercises were based on quick, stop-and-start lateral movement to simulate game action. Slowly, simulation gave way to reality. First, one-on-one games in early July, then 3-on-3 a few weeks later, and finally 5-on-5 in August.
Then the voice of assistant coach Mike Hopkins snagged his attention. The same Mike Hopkins that Devendorf spilled into against East Tennessee State, last year when he tore his anterior cruciate ligament. Devendorf shuffled toward his coach, and Hopkins whiplashed a hard low five at the Syracuse guard, followed by a harder chest bump.
Eric Devendorf can finally play basketball again.
"It's a great feeling," Devendorf said. "I'm doing what I love to do and having fun with my teammates, running up and down playing."
Since early August, Monday through Friday, Devendorf has participated in preseason workouts. Nine months after tearing his ACL, Devendorf can do everything - three-on-two fastbreak drills, half-court offense drills, everything. He does feel occasional soreness that requires ice afterward, but "nothing that hurts."
Devendorf credits his recovery to athletic trainer Brad Pike and strength and conditioning coach Ryan Cabiles. The tandem implemented a meticulous schedule stringent on not pushing too hard, while still pushing hard enough to ensure that the junior guard is at 100 percent for this season.
"Man, it's tough coming off that surgery," said Devendorf, who was granted an extra year of eligibility last week. "It's probably some of the most grueling stuff you can go through as far as having your knee straightened again and having to bend it all the way back."
Devendorf's rehab exercises were based on quick, stop-and-start lateral movement to simulate game action. Slowly, simulation gave way to reality. First, one-on-one games in early July, then 3-on-3 a few weeks later, and finally 5-on-5 in August.
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orange_thug_h8er
posted 10/01/08 @ 4:24 PM EST
Devendorf is a thug. Does "as good as last year" include cursing at fans and not attending classes?
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