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As I, and many of us who saw replays and pictures of the injury feared, Nerlens Noel's knee suffered a severe injury. What we know right now is that his ACL, or anterior cruicate ligament, has been torn. This is consistent with a knee dislocation that was reported anecdotally by a number of people at the scene.
This is the latest update from UKAthletics.com as of this writing.
Noel will undergo surgery in the next two to three weeks and the normal recovery timetable is six to eight months.
— Kentucky Athletics(@UKAthleticsNews) February 13, 2013
Naturally, this complicates life for Nerlens and also for the Kentucky Wildcats. At this point, we are all just getting this news, and yes, it is bad. It could be worse, but let's hope not. Sometimes, in injuries like this, the damage to the articular cartilage can be more limiting than the ligament itself, since repairing ACLs is something of a routine procedure these days. If the cartilage is in good shape, a full recovery should be possible.
I'm sure we'll find out more in the near future. We'll be updating this story as often as need be.
I know everyone is unhappy about this news, but now our future is laid out before us in the near term. It's time to move forward on that basis. Feel free to use this thread for any well wishes for Nerlens, or to discuss the situation. We'll have updates as they become available.
UPDATE:
Teared up over this one:
@nerlensnoel3 I'm headed to Kentucky NOW to help you get thru this. This will make u much stronger, physically & Mentally. C u Soon LIL Bro
— Derek L. Anderson(@DerekLAnderson) February 13, 2013