By Times Staff and Wire Reports
Published March 17, 2004
GAINESVILLE - Two days after a torn blister left him with an injury akin to a second-degree burn on his right foot, forward Matt Walsh said he will be on the court when Florida opens play in the NCAA Tournament Thursday against Manhattan.
Walsh tore a festering blister off his foot during Sunday's SEC championship game against Kentucky, leaving about a 3-inch hole across the ball and instep.
Doctors applied a silicone-type sheath to cover the wound and help the foot heal faster.
"I feel a lot better today, especially more than I did Sunday and (Monday)," Walsh said. "I don't really know what they did, but it's almost like fake skin. The stuff they did treatment-wise has helped me a lot and it's making my skin build a little bit faster, so I feel a lot better. It's not as raw as it was."
Walsh did not practice Tuesday, the Gators' final workout before leaving for Raleigh, and Florida coach Billy Donovan said he probably won't practice today.
"What health he'll have in terms of being 100 percent or 80 percent, I don't know that yet," Donovan said of Walsh's game availability. "I don't think we're going to find out much until he starts running around. He says he's fine, he said he'll be okay and I'll take his word for that. We'll just have to wait and see what happens."
MURRAY STATE: Forward Kelvin Brown was suspended indefinitely and will miss the team's tournament opener after his arrest on drug charges. Adam Chiles, the starting point guard, also was arrested but cleared to play. Brown was charged with theft, possession of marijuana and a second offense of possession of drug paraphernalia. Chiles was charged with hindering prosecution, possession of marijuana and a first offense of possession of drug paraphernalia.
CINCINNATI: Center Robert Whaley was reinstated, giving the Bearcats an inside scoring option. The 6-foot-10 Whaley quit the team Feb. 23 because he was unhappy with his limited playing time. He averaged 6.2 points and 2.7 rebounds in 20 games.
DEPAUL: Guard LeVar Seals might be suspended for the tournament opener for punching Cincinnati's Tony Bobbitt in the groin during Saturday's Conference USA tournament championship game. The junior said the punch was unintentional but referees said it was a fight calling for a next-game suspension. Conference officials are reviewing the punch.
MEGA MINUTE: CBS said it is selling 30-second spots for the championship game for a record $900,000.
