La.Tech gets Raheem Appleby back for title push
There were so many storylines stemming from Louisiana Tech?s massive home win over Middle Tennessee that Raheem Appleby?s return was kind of lost in translation.
The truth is, his return after a 12-game hiatus may arguably be the biggest news to come from the win.
Appleby played just five minutes in Tech?s victory, which forced a four-way tie atop the conference standings, but his presence was more inspirational than anything.
?It was great,? said junior Michale Kyser. ?You could see the crowd when everyone stood up. Just seeing him out there playing some minutes was great.?
Appleby made his first appearance since a Jan. 9 ankle injury at the 9:14 mark to a standing ovation. He played three minutes before returning to the bench to stretch his ankle with a band, then played another two minutes in the second half and missed a runner off the glass.
The production wasn?t there, but that?s a given. Appleby wasn?t even expected to play, but he felt good enough after three straight days of practice to give it a go.
?The ankle isn?t bad,? Appleby said Saturday. ?I?m just not playing like I normally play. I?m not comfortable. I think that?s what it was.?
The good news is Appleby experienced no setbacks and will be available again to play today against UAB. His minutes are unclear, although Tech ideally would like to ramp up his court time during the next few weeks before the Conference USA tournament.
?I just go out there when (Tech coach Michael White) tells me or if he needs me to,? Appleby said. ?I?m not trying to push myself to get more minutes and force myself out there, I?m just falling into a role.?
It?s somewhat weird to think of Appleby as ?falling into a role,? but that?s what he?s limited to. While his ankle may be fine, the heavy tape job to prevent re-injury limits his game of using his quickness to get to the basket.
However, if Tech wants to make a run in the C-USA tournament, it will need Appleby. The Bulldogs appear fine without him playing much of a role and were 9-3 as he watched from the sideline. There?s no denying his presence, though, considering he led the team in scoring at 16 points per game before his injury.
Naturally, as Appleby?s minutes increase, the playing time of Speedy Smith, Jaron Johnson and Kenyon McNeail, who have flourished with Appleby out, will decrease some.
?We will continue to try and increase his minutes, but at the same time, some of these other guys are in such a good rhythm that you have to be careful and try to balance it the best that you can,? White said. ?We have a big one in front of us, and I have a lot of faith in these other guards and what they have been able to accomplish in the last seven weeks without Raheem. At the same time, I know what Raheem can do when he is at full strength. We will definitely throw him out there against UAB and he may play a few more minutes.?
