Tuesday, March 18, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.
SUN WIRE REPORTS
Kentucky coach Rick Pitino plans to wait a couple of days to make a final decision on whether Derek Anderson will return to play for the Wildcats this week.
Anderson tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee less than two months ago, an injury that was believed to be season-ending.
"I didn't think there was any way possible Derek could play, but today he actually practiced with the team, full out, no-holds barred," Pitino said Monday during a broadcast of his radio show from San Francisco. "And I'm happy to report he was without question the best player in practice.
"It's as if he never left, he was never injured. Quite frankly, in my 22 years of coaching, it's the biggest surprise and shock I've had."
The Wildcats play St. Joseph's in the NCAA West Regional semifinals Thursday night at San Jose, Calif.
During the show, Pitino said he will wait until Thursday to make a decision on whether to play Anderson. After the show, however, he made it clear that he expects to have the fifth-year senior back and, at least initially, coming off the bench, The Courier-Journal reported today.
"I'd say he'll play," Pitino said. "I just want another opinion before I make the decision."
Dr. David Caborn, who performed the surgery on Anderson's knee Jan. 22, already has given Anderson permission to play, Pitino said. Today the team plans to have an orthopedic specialist from Los Angeles examine the knee. If that doctor gives the thumbs-up, expect to see Anderson play, Pitino said.
When asked what kind of role he sees Anderson playing, Pitino grinned and said, "High scorer, leading rebounder."
Anderson, a 6-foot-5 guard from Louisville, looked like the clear-cut Southeastern Conference Player of the Year before he limped off the Rupp Arena court Jan. 18 during a game against Auburn.
He was leading the conference in scoring (18.6), was third in steals (2.0), fourth in both field-goal percentage (49.1) and 3-point percentage (40.4).
The torn ligament was expected to keep him off the court until shortly before the NBA draft in June. But from the very beginning, his rehabilitation went well ahead of schedule.
Pitino has insisted that he couldn't risk bringing Anderson back.
"If he ever got hurt, I couldn't forgive myself," he said last week.
But doctors told Pitino that tests on Anderson's right knee actually showed it to be 16 percent stronger than the left one. A typical recovery takes 4-6 months.
"Some people, including myself, are kind of scared to death," trainer Eddie Jamiel said. "Thank God I don't have to make the decision."
* MICHIGAN PROBE: The University of Michigan has hired an Overland Park, Kan., law firm to investigate allegations of impropriety in its men's basketball program, university president Lee Bollinger said. Bond, Schoeneck & King, which specializes in investigating programs facing potential NCAA sanctions, will investigate whether a Detroit man gave cash and gifts to players, among other allegations. Bollinger said Monday that he and athletic director Joe Roberson "have discussed the idea of retaining an independent organization to examine these allegations, and we agree that this us an appropriate and necessary step." The university released a report earlier this month saying an unidentified booster was responsible for two minor violations of NCAA regulations and had been barred from further contact with Michigan athletics.
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