North Carolina State University Athletics
BACK TO '83: Whittenburg's Career is Likely Finished
1/13/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Thursday, Jan. 13, 1983
BY TIM PEELER
RALEIGH, N.C. NC State guard Dereck Whittenburg’s career is most likely over, according to team physician Don Reibel, who announced Thursday that the Wolfpack’s leading scorer suffered a broken fifth metatarsal in his right foot Wednesday night in an 88-80 loss to No. 2 Virginia.
Whittenburg, who scored 27 points in the first half against the Cavaliers, suffered the injury with 15:25 remaining in the game, when he landed on
He was helped off the floor by Wolfpack head coach Jim Valvano and team trainer Jim Rehbock. When the coach asked Whittenburg if the injury was serious, the guard quietly said “Yes.”
“It’s a devastating blow for a senior,” Valvano said Thursday, “and for anyone who’s been playing as well as he’s been playing. There is no chance for any [NCAA] hardship. He has played his 10 games. It is going to be difficult to replace him and it does certainly make things a lot more difficult for us this season. But I’m concerned for Dereck Whittenburg right now.”
Team trainer Craig Sink did not rule out the possibility of a Whittenburg return following last night’s injury. But, he said, the fastest recovery he’s ever heard of for this type of injury is four to six weeks, which would be near the end of the regular season.
Whittenburg’s importance to the Wolfpack’s chances of excelling in ACC play and in the post-season is immeasurable the 6-foot guard is not only the team’s leading scorer and top outside scoring threat, but he is also a fiery leader who can motivate his teammates with a hard slap on the backside or an icy stare.
“Last night he had one of the finest halves of basketball I’ve ever been privileged to witness, with 27 points and a great, great effort,” Valvano said. “It reminds me of the Wide World of Sports the ecstasy of victory and the agony of defeat. That’s exactly what Dereck experienced, the tremendous euphoria of a great athletic achievement and then a broken foot which will sideline him for the remainder of the season.
“I am certainly disappointed about us losing a game, but I’m much more concerned about Dereck.”
The Wolfpack (7-3 overall, 0-1 ACC) won’t have much time to lick its wounds. Valvano and his squad face Georgia Tech Saturday at Reynolds Coliseum, travel to Chapel Hill to face defending national champion
Valvano said freshman Ernie Myers, who has played well at times this season, will inherit Whittenburg’s spot in the starting lineup. Myers scored 18 points in the season opener against
However, he is a streaky scorer who has also been inconsistent at times in his young career. He made only one of his seven shots and scored just two points in the Wolfpack’s loss Sunday at
The Wolfpack could also get more contributions from freshman George McClain, who has not played since the team’s win over
McClain, who averaged more than 25 points per game in leading
Sophomore Terry Gannon, who has a knack for hitting 3-point shots from the ACC’s experimental 3-point line, could also see more playing time.
You may contact Tim Peeler at tim_peeler@ncsu.edu.
