Padgett could return for Cardinals in new year
Friday, December 28th, 2007Turns out Louisville senior center David Padgett won’t miss their remaining 2007-08 campaign after all. In fact, he may return sooner than later.
Padgett has been given the go-ahead to begin working out and it’s quite possible he may be able to return in January for the Cardinals. Potentially, Padgett may return Jan. 10th when Louisville will host No. 23 West Virginia.
Padgett has been sidelined with a fractured right knee since Nov. 18th, an 84-53 win over Jackson State. He was expected to be out a minimum of ten weeks and possibly lost for the rest of the season. Padgett originally hurt the knee in a November practice and then again during the game against Jackson State.
It was expected to be a big season, a coming out party of sorts for the senior, who was healthy coming into the season for the first time in quite some time. During his tenure in Louisville, Padgett suffered a broken foot just before the start of his sophomore season and then had to have surgery on both knees in March of 2006. Both injuries cost Padgett significant time in a red and white uniform. Last season in 33 games played, Padgett averaged 9.5 points and 5.6 rebounds per game for the Cardinals.
Louisville appears to be getting all of their ducks….er, cardinals…in a row. They’ve already returned Derrick Caracter and Juan Palacios this month, and with the potential expected return of Padgett, the Cardinals could boast one of the best front courts in the Big East.
They welcomed back forward Derrick Caracter back from a suspension on Dec. 18th against Marshall, in which Caracter had 18 points and a team high 8 rebounds in an 85-75 victory. Then four days later, the Cardinals got forward Juan Palacios back against New Mexico State. Palacios sunk two key free throws to give Louisville a 70-65 win over the Aggies.