Jameel McKay’s future uncertain after Kansas win
January 26, 2016
UPDATE: ISU spokesperson Matt Shoultz confirmed to the Des Moines Register that McKay would have his knee examined by a doctor Tuesday afternoon.
Shoultz said that Prohm would give an update on McKay’s status Thursday afternoon when he is scheduled to meet with the media.
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Monday’s 85-72 win against No. 4 Kansas at Hilton Coliseum on Monday night showcased a lot of good for the ISU men’s basketball team.
It marked the Cyclones’ fourth win in a row, and their second against an AP top-five team in the past seven days. And as an added bonus, Iowa State is now the only team in the Big 12 to go 4-1 against a Bill Self-led Kansas team during a five-game stretch.
But something much more daunting hides beneath the 13-point victory.
Against Oklahoma last Monday, forward Jameel McKay left briefly because of a leg injury — something later determined to be inflammation. He returned shortly after against the Sooners and seemed to be fine.
He was fine against TCU on Saturday, racking up eight points and 10 rebounds in his 32 minutes on the court.
But against the Jayhawks on Monday, McKay was forced to the sidelines. His knee, once again, caused him trouble.
“It’s just a little irritation,” McKay said after the game. “It is what it is. It’s something I have to get over.”
McKay went out with less than five minutes to go in the game and was seen walking gingerly to the locker room. He returned to the bench shortly after but would not make it back into the game.
While he was out, ESPN’s Holly Rowe reported that McKay was once again dealing with inflammation in his knee. However, after the game, ISU coach Steve Prohm said he didn’t know the status of McKay.
“I’m not sure,” Prohm said. “I don’t really know until I talk to [the medical staff].”
ISU spokesperson Matt Shoultz confirmed to the Des Moines Register that McKay would have his knee examined by a doctor Tuesday afternoon. Shoultz said that Prohm would give an update on McKay’s status Thursday afternoon when he is scheduled to meet with the media.
McKay, though, went into more detail on the injury itself.
“It’s not really a pain, it’s just like an irritation,” McKay said. “It’s something that just makes my knee buckle. I could just tell when I’m playing.”
McKay seemed uncertain on his future after the game, too.
“I have to start thinking of myself personally, so I don’t know how far — how much more I’ve got in me,” McKay said. “It’s a struggle right now. My knee ain’t right.
“I’m going to keep going, we’ll just see how far it goes.”
The Cyclones will travel to College Station, Texas, on Saturday to take on Texas A&M in the Big 12/SEC Challenge. McKay said he was unsure of his status in that game, telling reporters he couldn’t definitively say he would be playing.
But whether he hits the hardwood on Saturday or not, McKay said he is confident that the rest of the team could get the job done.
“It’s no doubt that this is a good team, with or without me,” McKay said. “I expected them to win. They even took the lead once I got out. So good for them. Hopefully, they’ll keep the momentum up.”