While attending IU women's basketball practice Tuesday, I learned that redshirt freshman forward Sasha Chaplin was participating in conditioning drills without a walking boot.
I did not get to speak with Chaplin about how the foot injury that has sidelined her since Jan. 3 is coming along, but this latest development means she could be returning to action sooner rather than later, perhaps as early as next week.
IU coach Felisha Legette-Jack said there was no definitive timetable for Chaplin's return.
"That's the thing about the body; I wish it could just kind of go with the clock," she said. "When the time says midnight, you should be healed, but it's not that way. When she's jogging today (during practice), tomorrow she'll jog a little bit more, and it depends on how that foot feels.
"It's definitely healing. Any normal person, you'd just tell them not to do anything for another two or three months, but in basketball language, you've got to come out and try to make it happen. The doctors are saying she's healing, and whenever they give us the green light, that's when we're going to be ready for her."
Injuries have been an issue for Chaplin since her arrival at IU.
After suffering an injury early in her true freshman season, the St. Petersburg, Fla. native redshirted during the rest of 2008-09 and rejoined the team as a freshman this season, leading the team with 7.3 rebounds per game in 14 appearances.
Chaplin suffered her foot injury during the Hoosiers' Jan. 3 home game against Illinois and has not played since.
As her return approaches, sophomore forward Danilsa "City" Andujar, who has sparked IU off the boards lately, said she is excited about the prospect of adding Chaplin back into the mix in the post.
"I'm definitely looking forward to it," she said. "Now that I have the confidence, her confidence is going to just drive us up the roof. I'm pumped about her coming back, being as strong as we are now with only seven players."
Legette-Jack agreed.
"Let's try to play them together," she said. "It gives you some more choices. Everybody's got to be ready when their time comes"
