She is actually running and cutting now....so i am thinking soon. Getting back to practicing with contact is next on the list.
Thanks for info, lewishawks. I was actually thinking we might see her for a few minutes tonight, since she's been back at full practice for a couple of weeks. I guess it depends on whether the staff plan on using her in the Vol contest. If so, then I'd expect for her to see a bit of action this evening. I guess we'll find out in about 12 hours!
Per Twitter: @MarkRosner3: For those who asked, Karen Aston estimates guard Ariel Atkins (ankle surgery) will return for Big 12 play in January #Longhorns
well, this will give LaShann more time to get used to the pace of the game with Ariel out. We will need a tall guard/wing in the Big 12 and NCAAs.
I agree. I think Higgs will work herself into the starting at the 2 guards, with her size and speed, before it's all done. And this is prime opportunity to do it. Ariel will go to that primary wing spot with her size. That could be a lethal combo if Atkins regains her shot as Higgs continues to develop.
Would have liked to see Ariel guarding Diamond Deshields. Considering how much off-season conditioning and practice time Ariel missed, and it continuing until most of Fall, I am gonna have to keep my expectations low for how much she contributes upon her return. Her return from injury last season was not instant nor did really ever re-gain her form/groove from earlier in 2014.
I've thought about this since the Tenn game yesterday. She has missed all off season and preseason, which means she will have to play herself back into shape, get her timing and legs back etc, so I've been thinking "what if we redshirt her?" I'll know more forsure after the Ms State game, but if we can beat two top 10 teams without her, then why waste an entire season on what would probably be about 10 healthy games? Just a thought....................
She's healthy and practicing, and will be back for conference play. I can't see any way we're not going to see her this season, unless there is a re-injury. We need her, and she wants to play. And beating a couple of ranked teams doesn't mean we're as good as we can be, or will be with Ariel in the rotation. There are many times a player doesn't see action for a significant period of time, but that doesn't mean a season has been wasted. Unless something changes, she'll be back for the start of Big 12 play, which is just 4 weeks away.
Ariel is practicing. Does that mean she's playing in scrimmages, too? If so, I would think they could start working her into games for a few minutes at a time, but they haven't yet. Is there any word?
Coach Aston recently did an interview this week that the earliest we'd see Ariel is in about a week. But the staff wants to make sure Ariel is fully healed and so she might be held out until the conference schedule approaches. She also said Ariel is such a gym rat and though her body was in pain last year, she'd continue to go to the gym, ignoring what her body was telling her. Can't wait for her return.
I honestly wish she would redshirt, giving her more time to heal and catch up with the "system" as it is now..but I guess we will see...
I think the team really needs Ariel for the conference grind and the post season. The reports are that Ariel is healed and practicing. If so, I look forward to her return. We have two more home games after Stanford and before conference. Maybe she will get her feet wet in one or more of those games.
Well, seeing her play vs Arkansas & Sam Houston, i would say she IS for sure back and playing very well...welcome back, Ariel!!
No doubt she played well, her game just seems different at this stage. She is not the same player. She was a mid range nightmare for opponent, off the dribble and in set plays. I just haven't seen that player.
Patience? Ariel has been back only 2 games after missing the entire summer and fall rehabbing from surgery. She played hurt a lot of last year. In only her second game back, she scored 12 points in 19 minutes on 4 of 7 shooting, and 4 of 4 from the free throw line. She also recorded 1 assist, 1 block, and 1 steal against 1 turnover. I thought she played really well. Ariel has a high basketball IQ and is very dedicated. If she stays healthy this year, I think she will blossom.
Don't feed the troll. Everyone can see how good Ariel looks in just her second game back, hence the whole purpose of the post.
No one is trolling Ariel. I would love to see the mid range shooter of old. Even before the injury she seemed to be different player.
HOW anyone could criticize Ariel is beyond my comprehension. This young lady has worked VERY HARD to get her health back!!!!! Her attitude, basketball IQ and work ethic are second to none. Get off her back!!!!!
She will be just fine! She had a major surgery as did several others on this team. It takes time to get the body back. Just working out and practicing is totally different than game situations. Depending on what was done it will just take time. She looked pretty good for her first couple of games back. She is playing with different sets of girls also, with the new players in the mix. It's crazy that people expect these kids to be perfect or look as they did before, after putting their bodies through some of these surgeries! They do not WISH for surgery. They put their bodies through the tolls of rigorous practices and games along with crazy weight training (I think this group of ladies works out harder than some of our football boys!). Ariel has the work ethic to get back. She may not be 100% as of yet, but she will get there! She already looks pretty good to me!
Great game from Ariel tonight, but she has to do it consistently. I won't mind if she shows or proves me wrong.
Ariel and Imani both looked really good. If we don't clean up the FT shooting it's gonna bite us in the butt eventually. Overall, good start to Big 12 play though.
Ariel WAS a consistent performer last year before she was injured.....and that was as a freshman. Yeah.....I'm quite sure she (like the rest of us) is concerned with YOUR perception of consistency!!!!!
You can be sensitive about it all you want. And make excuses as to why she was about a 28% 3 point shooter and did not play very well last year overall. Just like I said, she needs to be consistent. And if you have a problem with that, get over it.
Yep, she also shot 29% from the 3 point line in conference play. She also shot 35% overall from the field in conference play. She also led the team in turnovers in conference play.The fact that she lead the team in scoring in conference play with such low shooting percentages and in turnovers along with Nneka getting injured it really shows you why they lost 9 games in conference play. There was no guard / perimeter player who was efficient shooting the ball.