Hansbrough Mystery Continues

I remember the face mask.

I'm sure the name Gerald Henderson rings a bell with you too. March, 2007. Henderson breaks Tyler's nose in the last regular season game, forcing him to wear a face mask for the ACC Tournament. Painful. Ouch. If you have ever broken your nose then you are aware of the severity of the pain.

Shin pre-break, or shin splints, or sprained ankle. If you've ever had any of those you know that the pain is, well, lets say I'd rather sprain my ankle than have my nose broken.

Roy said today he "does not know" if Tyler will play tomorrow night against Michigan State.

That's good because the chance is there that he will play. I would expect him to play. Now wait; before you start looking at me like some kind of irrational superfan, more concerned about wins and loses than a player's well-being, let's look at what we know and don't know about Tyler Hansbrough.

What We Know: never missed a practice or game in his first three seasons. Practice! As Allen Iverson says, "We're sitting here talking about practice!" Yes, everyone misses a practice now and again. I believe I am correct, though, in saying that TH has not only never missed (until this season) a game, a practice, or a "scheduled workout." That last one can take place anytime during the year, not just the basketball season.

Played the ACC Tournament in 2007 after breaking his nose, and struggled with wearing a protective mask or not wearing it. Finally, it bothered him enough that he took it off in the NCAA Tournament second round game against...wait for it...Michigan State.

So, until this season, Tyler was the Cal Ripken, Jr., of college basketball.

What happened?

I wanted to believe the "Long Cramped Flight From Maui" storyline that was related as the reason TH did not play against UNCA. I stood in line and drank that Kool-Aid.

Today, though, I am bothered by this no-decision. Which leads me to...

What We Don't Know: If TH does not play tomorrow against MSU, then all of us need to be anxious. Not just me. Why? After the Spartans it is Cupcake City, Baby! for 5 games until the BC game in January. Meaning? Injury or not, IF there is a time to play Tyler it would be against a top-25 team, in an away game, on a national stage, on ESPN. Big time game. If the same player who struggled through a broken nose and a limiting mask--the same player who has never even missed a practice until last month--is not able to play through a shin injury that we were told was better and a sprained ankle that wasn't talked about a lot and coach seating on an airplane, then I will bet your life that something is wrong.

If he ends up playing tomorrow then forget everything I just said.

If he ends up not playing then pace around and call all of your Tar Heel friends and try and sort through it.

ESPN is saying that he will play. What do they know?