North Carolina State University Athletics
Evtimov Has Sprained Ligament in Foot
2/16/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Feb. 16, 2006
By Tony Haynes
Raleigh, N.C. - The good news for Ilian Evtimov and the NC State basketball team is that a late night MRI taken on Wednesday confirmed the results of an X-ray taken earlier: there is no fracture in his injured foot. The Wolfpack's senior forward left Wednesday night's game against Florida State late in the first half, complaining that he felt a pop in his foot while trying to chase down a rebound. In an update provided on Thursday morning, Evtimov has been diagnosed with a sprain of the Lisfranc ligament in his foot. His status for future games is undetermined and will continue to be evaluated.
At the time Evtimov removed himself from the line-up on Wednesday, NC State was in the process of doing most of the damage that would lead to its 86-64 victory. The Wolfpack finished the opening half with an impressive 16-0 run, a spurt that allowed it to open up a 45-27 lead. Florida State would never get closer than 15 points in the second half as the Pack improved its record to 20-5 overall and 9-3 in the ACC.
When his injury occurred, Evtimov had six points and two assists. Perhaps more importantly, he spearheaded a defensive effort that held Florida State star Al Thornton in check most of the night.
By the time they returned to the court for the second half, NC State's players knew that Evtimov probably wouldn't be available for the rest of the night.
"It kind of threw our rotation off, but at halftime we talked about the fact that no one player was going to be Ilian for us," said Pack head coach Herb Sendek. "Guys collectively had to step up and do the things that they did."
Getting extended minutes in Evtimov's absence, sophomore Andrew Brackman certainly stepped up his play, tallying 12 points, five rebounds and five assists.
Guard Engin Atsur paced the Pack with 19 points, eight assists and three steals. A good friend of Evtimov's, Atsur said the entire team had to regroup upon hearing the news that their teammate was injured.
"I was first scared, but Ilian is a tough boy and I'm sure he'll get over it," Atsur said. "The whole team is hoping he'll be back with us as soon as possible."
A deadly 3-point shooter, excellent passer and perhaps NC State's best off-the-ball defender, Evtimov is certainly an integral part of the Wolfpack's success. The native of Bulgaria is averaging 11.5 points and four rebounds per game, while also shooting 43 percent from the 3-point arc.
Injuries are nothing new to Evtimov, who has battled knee problems throughout his career. In the first exhibition game of what was to be his second season, the 6-8 forward tore a knee ligament, an injury that forced him to the sidelines for the entire campaign.
In the release detailing his diagnosis, Evtimov, who spent of a good bit of his life in France, wanted it to be known that the Lisfranc ligament is named for a surgeon in Napolean's army, Jacque Lisfranc. The ligament is the one that was injured when soldiers got their feet caught in the stirrups when they were thrown from their horses during battle.
It's not surprising Evtimov would know something like that since he received his bachelor's degree last spring and is currently enrolled in grad school at NC State.
