The Wichita State Shockers have not gotten off to the start to their season they would have hoped as they are 5-4 after being ranked in the preseason poll. The Shockers have played much better lately as they have won three in a row including an impressive blowout win over Utah. The Shockers have had to deal with some key injuries this season including the one to Fred VanVleet who is now back but they also may be getting Anton Grady back very soon, according to Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports.
Grady injured himself on November 27th in a game against Alabama that the Shockers ended up losing. Grady suffered a spinal concussion and was taken off the court on a stretcher. This is clearly a very scary injury but Grady is determined to get back on the floor as soon as he can and he seems to be making some significant progress. Grady started practicing more intensely earlier this week and head coach Gregg Marshall thinks he might be able to return on Saturday against Seton Hall.
While Marshall is hopeful Grady can return it is basically out of his hands because Grady is going through the NCAA's concussion protocol.
"Grady is going through a spinal concussion protocol. He's going to do what he can and eventually comeback, maybe. I don't know. I let the doctors and the trainers, him and his parents, his family, deal with that. And when he comes back, it will be a plus," said Marshall, according to Paul Suellentrop of The Wichita Eagle.
Grady is in his first season with Wichita State after transferring from Cleveland State where he put up some nice numbers. Grady is in his final season of NCAA eligibility and he is using this being his senior year as part of the motivation to get back quickly. Grady also happens to be an important part of this Shocker's team as he has been starting at center despite being just 6 foot-8 and he is third on the team with his 9.0 points per game and leads the team with his 6.0 rebounds per game.
Grady wasn't shooting the ball well this season before being injured but his presence still had a big impact as you can tell by his rebounding numbers. The fact that Grady is even practicing is a big deal considering the scary scene when he first got injured but Marshall and Wichita State want him back because even though they have started to pick up their play recently, Grady should only help.
