Maurice Creek out indefinitely…again

This one makes me absolutely sick. Maurice Creek has worked so hard these last 12 months to recover from surgery to repair his fractured patella (knee cap) on his left knee, and now the sophomore guard has another setback.

Tom Crean announced Monday on his weekly radio show that Creek is out indefinitely with a stress fracture on his right patella. This is not the same knee that cost him the entire Big Ten season last year.

A year and 16 days after surgery, Creek suffered yet another devastating blow. In Saturday’s 80-61 win over Michigan, he went down just minutes left in the game. Creek later returned for less than a minute before exiting once again.

The injury did not appear to be serious following the game. However after a couple days of swelling, Monday’s MRI results proved otherwise.

Maurice Creek has played in all 18 games this season averaging 8.3 points per game. He has started 13 games but still hasn’t recovered to 100 percent. What a shame.

“So much of it is that leg strength, so much of it is that mindset to feeling like your healthy. I thought he was right there,” Crean said. “This is a guy who probably would be leaving us after this season if it wasn’t for his injury last year.”

Because Creek has played in the majority of IU’s games, a medical redshirt is highly unlikely. That would leave him with two years of eligibility remaining. Last year Creek look liked a sure NBA player. This year his chance to play professionally was probable.

But the questions remains, will he get back to being the Maurice Creek of old?

At this time, I don’t think anybody can answer that.

—Crean reiterated multiple times throughout his radio show to send notes and cards to Maurice to keep his spirits up during this difficult time. If you wish to do so, send them to:

Maurice Creek
C/O Tom Crean
Univ. Dept. of Intercollegiate Athletics
Assembly Hall, 1001 E 17th St
Bloomington, IN 47408

Update 1/18:
Head Coach Tom Crean tweeted the following Tuesday night following practice.

Just finished a excellent practice. Maurice was in a positive spirit today. I am so proud of him for how he is dealing with all of this.

Maurice is going to have surgery to repair the stress fracture to his right patella this coming Thursday.

If this young man and his family can believe the the unknown plan that God has for us, we all can. We can never rush what God has in store

For us as people. There have been alot of prayers said for Maurice and support given and I hope you will all continue to do that. Thank you.