Purdue awaiting word on Jacksons injury
Coach Matt Painter said Monday that there's no definitive word yet on the foot injury that has sidelined point guard Lewis Jackson "indefinitely."
Painter said he should "know something in the next couple days." It might not be good news for the sophomore returning starter, who was injured in practice Thursday, when he drove the lane, came down awkwardly and crawled out of the crowd.
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"You have to worry about what you have," Painter said, when asked about moving on without Jackson, at least for the time being, "and right now we're just trying to help him get through this and see where we are here in the next couple days with it.
"But you have to be consumed with what you have and keep your focus right there. Injuries are similar to recruiting; if you sit around and worry, 'Well, we don't have this guy or we don't have that guy,' then you're going to get beat. We have to be locked in and ready to go."
Purdue, of course, has plenty of experience dealing with injury after Robbie Hummel's back problems last year, in addition to other various injuries and illnesses that took hold last year.
"I thought we really grew as a team (through that)," Painter said, "and got better. We have experience going through this already and I think that experience will really help us in this situation."
Painter's concerned himself with Jackson's well-being.
After being suspended for the exhibition season because of an off-the-court incident that occurred in the spring, then for the season-opener for an unrelated issue, Jackson has yet to suit up this season.
In preseason practice, Jackson injured his eye and leg, too, though neither injury was severe.
"Some of those things he can't control and some of those things he can control," Painter said. "The thing that I've talked to him about is that the things in his life he can control, and this was something he couldn't.
"It's just something that happened in practice. He was playing hard. The guy who attempted to block his shot and cut him off was playing hard, too. It happens in competitive sports.
"I've just tried to be positive with him and make sure he understands what's in front of him academically and what's in front of him from a rehab standpoint once everything's cleared up. It's life. If you sit around and worry about things you can't control, it's going to make you stir crazy."
Painter said he didn't know yet whether Jackson would accompany the Boilermakers to the Virgin Islands this week.
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