That's the elephant in the room for Siena right now, as they head into the first round against Purdue on Friday. The guess here is that the Saints' injured shooting guard won't even get on the court. He practiced on Thursday, but looked like he was moving a little gingerly out there, during a light workout. I spotted him landing on one foot after a few layups, and even during catch-and-shoot, he seemed preoccupied with his ankle, at the expense of concentrating on the rim.
He could play, though. But how much will he be able to offer? I think, at best, he could hang around the three-point stripe and launch threes, but that doesn't really help Siena, especially because Purdue really "gets up in you," as several Saints observed. The Boilermakers will recognize pretty quickly that Jackson has lost much of his mobility and spring, which makes it not much worthwhile to have him out there. And what about defense?
He seemed matter-of-factly glum after the practice, too, which says something. Clarence can ride the emotional rollercoaster, and if he isn't his usual bright, smiling self, there's usually a reason. I think he was expecting to make some progress on Thursday, and didn't.
It's not the end of the world for Siena. They can still win, and have some matchups that could pose problems for the Boilermakers, who have become more guard-oriented since they lost forward Robbie Hummel three weeks ago. We're still trying to figure out who Chris Kramer is going to guard. He's a four-time Big Ten all-defensive and a two-time Big Ten Player of the Year, and at 6-3, 214, he's built like a football player.
Does he guard Kyle Downey, who would replace Jackson? That could help Siena, since Downey isn't expected to score a lot, so Purdue would be wasting their best defender on a modestly productive player. Does he guard Edwin Ubiles? That would be interesting, because it would put a tough, big, physical guy on Siena's best player, but Ubiles is tall enough to shoot over Kramer. Does he guard Alex Franklin? Kramer might be tough enough, but perhaps for the first time in Franklin's career, he'd be defended by someone shorter than him. Purdue head coach Matt Painter said Kramer has been guarding some fours since Hummel went down.
More predictions and speculation tomorrow morning before the game, which for you fine people might be the afternoon.
That's assuming the other elephant in the room, the smaller-than-life-size - but still formidable - one whose head hangs over the bar at the Davenport Hotel doesn't disengage from the wall and drop tusks-first into the top of my skull. The media hotel is gorgeous, but the decor appears to have been a collaborative oevre by the interior design firm of Quatermain, Hemingway and T. Roosevelt. I have four paintings in my room, of rhinos, zebras, a cheetah and some other African creature that escapes me (I'm still at the arena). Also, there's a leopardskin divan, of which I have already availed myself, Cleopatra-style, a few times.
It's a tough job, but somebody's got to do it.
Think Siena's encouraged by the Robert Morris win?
