MSU's Shawn Witherspoon On The Mend

Murray State fans will be happy to hear Shawn Witherspoon is on the mend after breaking a bone in his foot during the Racers NCAA Tournament game March 17 in Dayton, Ohio.

Witherspoon says he still cringes at the thought of walking gingerly off the court midway through the first half.

Once Shawn was examined by team physician Dr. Hal Houston and trainer Eric Frederick in the Dayton Arena training room, including x-rays, his worst fear was confirmed.

Witherspoon had broken the fifth metatarsal of his right foot...his season was over.

“I had told the guys how big the NCAA Tournament was and how much fun it was going to be,” said Witherspoon, a junior from Oviedo, Fla. who led the Racers in points per game (10.6) and rebounds per game (7.7) during the season and was named first team All-Ohio Valley Conference. “We were playing great and we continued to do so while I was out. But in the locker room, I felt like I was letting them down. I thought ?It's the biggest game of my career, and here I am with a broken foot'”

Witherspoon broke his foot at the 12:02 mark of the first half, attempting an uncontested three-pointer which he missed. Witherspoon said he knew something was wrong but shook off the pain and played two more minutes and grabbed one more offensive rebound, before Witherspoon came to the bench.

Witherspoon was having a great game as well, with five points on 2-of-4 shooting, four rebounds (three offensively), and had one steal in only eight minutes.

Witherspoon watched the second half of the North Carolina game at the end of the bench with his foot propped up. The Racers played inspired basketball without him and led by as many as four and tied the game with 1:18 left, but eventually bowed out to the defending national champion Tar Heels 69-65.

“After we got so close without me in there, I was thinking, ?We win if I don't break my foot,'” Witherspoon said. “I've gotten past it for the most part now, but every time I see highlights of a George Mason game (the Racers would've played GMU had they beaten UNC. GMU has now reached the Final Four), I think ?That should be us.'”

Witherspoon's spirits are better and he has been in a walking boot since the injury. He'll be out of action for at least six weeks. After that he can begin some activity.

This is the second time Witherspoon has been injured in his Racer career; he missed the 2004 opener with a broken bone in his hand.

Known for his durability and experience, Witherspoon has played in 91 of the Racers' 92 games in his three years here, starting 54. He has 765 career points, on target to become the 33^rd member of the Murray State 1,000 point club next season. He will get a lot of consideration for OVC preseason player of the year going into the 2006-07 season.

That brings us to the subject of a new Racer coach, as Mick Cronin has returned to his hometown and alma mater Cincinnati. While the search moves along, Witherspoon said he has confidence in athletics director Allen Ward to find the right coach to continue the MSU tradition. “I completely trust the MSU administration that they are going to get the best-fit for our program,” Witherspoon said. “We're going to continue the MSU tradition with a new coach. This program is bigger than any one player or coach, and we're excited about the future.”

Murray State University Athletics

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