Men's Basketball
Turner's Tumble Leaves Him Hoping for a Speedy Recovery
By John PorentasYou often hear it from people who are in violent car accidents or other violent events in which they are injured. It seems like the whole thing happens in slow motion, from the time they see that onrushing semi to the time it hits them and mashes their car.
OSU point forward Evan Turner had one of those slow-motion moments recently, but it didn't involve any kind of trucks, cars, motorcycles, or airplanes. All that was involved in Turner's moment was a steel rim and some hardwood.
Evan Turner braces for impact as he falls to the court against Eastern Michigan.
Photo by Jim Davidson"I thought I was in the air for like five or 10 seconds, but I pretty much just fell off the rim and hit the ground pretty quick," said Turner who had the advantage of seeing video of his fall in OSU's 111-60 win over Eastern Michigan.
Turner's slow-motion moment came on an innocent-looking fast break opportunity about mid-way through the first half. As it unfolded it looked like an easy play. Turner said that it was almost too easy, and that's what helped cause his problem.
"I got the ball and was dribbling up the middle of the court," Turner said.
"One of my teammates was on the right side and I was thinking somebody was going to stop the ball, but nobody stopped the ball at all.
"I was so surprised I kind of fumbled when I went up, and the kid (defender) kind of hit my right arm and I didn't have balance," Turner said.
The surprise of an unimpeded drive to the rim plus the contact was enough to throw off Turner's timing just enough for him to miss grabbing the rim to stabilize himself, and that led quickly to his slow motion experience.
"I just didn't grab the front of the rim. I missed the rim," Turner said.
Like his slow-motion experience with the fall, Turner's realization that was actually hurt was almost as slow and step-like.
"When I was falling I was thinking 'I missed the rim, I didn't put my hands on the rim,' and when I hit the ground I thought I had a concussion, because I thought I just hit my head, but when I turned one way I knew I was hurt," Turner said.
Turner finally realized he was hurt when a searing pain began going down his hip. That pain was not a result of his bone fracture, but rather the result of trauma to the muscles attached to the bones.
"When I first hit my back hurt a little bit, but what hurt most was right here on my side," Turner said pointing to the side of his hip.
"That really hurt. That hurt the most.
"On my side I've got a bunch of muscles that are really tight, so sometimes if I lean to the left too much it will hurt, but that's pretty much it, on the side of my hips. It's like some muscles that are really, really tight."
Evan Turner is tended to by the OSU training staff as his concerned teammates look on.
Photo by Jim DavidsonTurner left the court immediately after he was able to regain his feet. The event then resulted in a slow-motion day for Buckeye fans as they waited anxiously to find out if Turner was seriously injured. At first the word was good, that he was fine. Later, however, it was learned that Turner has fractured two bones in his lower back. It was announced that he would likely miss about eight weeks of action. Turner, however, now thinks that estimate might be a bit pessimistic.
"I don't feel like I'm overly hurt. Judging from the pain I first had when I first fell as opposed to now, I feel completely different," said Turner.
Turner is under the care of the OSU training and medical staff which has limited his activities in order to allow the damaged muscles to heal. The prognosis for his bone damage is excellent, but it is the muscle damage that is most likely to hold Turner out of action for any length of time.
"Lately I've just been stretching and walking on a treadmill," said Turner.
"I was fortunate enough to be able to lift yesterday and shoot free throws and I've still been dribbling.
"We've just been upping the ante on the tread mill and I've been doing the elliptical. I've been picking up the pace a little bit," Turner said.
That is good news for Turner and for Buckeye fans who are hoping for his speedy return to the court. The days immediately following the injury, however, did not raise those kinds of hopes, at least not in Turner.
"Those second and third days were really tough," he said.
"I couldn't even move off my couch.
"One day I rolled over and rolled onto the floor and couldn't get up.
"Dallas (Lauderdale) thankfully came over and picked me up and I was able to walk up the stairs," Turner said.
How fast can Turner return? That will depend mostly on his healing muscles, but Turner has some dates in mind that are important to him.
"My teammates and I have never won at Minnesota and never won at Purdue, and I definitely want to do that," Turner said.
"That's a hostile environment and the kind of game they might need me for."
The Buckeyes travel to Purdue on January 12, then journey to Wisconsin on January 16. The Purdue game comes just five and half weeks after the injury, two and a half weeks ahead of the original eight week estimate. That would be a fast recovery, but Turner seems very determined to make a run at playing in that game.
"I know I'm probably a ways away a little bit but if I needed to play tomorrow I would throw some Ben Gay on my back and go out there to tell you the truth," Turner said drawing a guffaw from reporters.
Turner's injury brought the inevitable question. Injuries to star players, particularly in their junior season, often hasten their move to professional leagues. Turner, however, said that was not the case for him.
"Honestly, money is cool and everything, but I just really want to be really good at basketball and get the full effect of being in college, being around my teammates, and enjoying the fruits of life and building memories," said Turner when asked if was hearing the call of the NBA a bit louder since his injury.
"That's the biggest thing I worry about. The only thing I'm really worried about with regards to money is just for my family.
"All I really like is gym shoes and Waffle House, so if I have a lot of gym shoes and I eat a lot of Waffle House I'm perfectly fine."
The shoes are no problem while he's at Ohio State. Nike provides plenty of those for all OSU athletes. As to that Waffle House thing, Turner has a big appetite there, but he doesn't need a whole lot of money to fill up.
"I get the double-waffle, double sausage patty, and hash browns and orange juice. It's like 11.75," Turner said.
It doesn't seem like you'd need NBA money with that kind of restaurant budget. When it comes time for him to make that decision however, we'll see if he takes that slow-motion trip to the NBA by staying another year or if he gets into the time-lapse mode and moves up from Waffle House to a really nice steak house.
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