GREENSBORO, N.C. (AP) — Three-time Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year elizabeth kitley He will not participate in this week's league match. The next question is how will Virginia Tech's injured No. 11 star fare in the NCAA Tournament?
coach kenny brooks The coach said Friday that the 6-foot-6 graduate was working on rehabilitation after collapsing clutching his left knee in the regular-season finale against Virginia, but the top seed, who is aiming for a second straight title here He said he excluded her from the game against the Hokies.
“No matter how far we get, she's not going to be in this tournament,” Brooks said after the Hokies defeated Miami 55-47 in Friday's quarterfinals. “No offense intended, but we really feel like we want to stay focused and really try to run like we did last year.”
Kitley was injured Sunday night when his knee appeared to buckle as he landed a transition layup with 6 minutes, 5 seconds left. Kitley eventually left the court and headed to the locker room, then returned to the bench, but he never played again.
Brooks said the team is “taking it slow” and that Kitley is “rehabbling diligently.” Beyond that, there was little certainty for the team that reached the Final Four for the first time last year, with Sunday's selection just over a week away.
“We're going to be able to do some phenomenal things over the next week, not just from a physical standpoint, but from an emotional standpoint,” Brooks said, adding that the team plans to “do some amazing things next week when the time is right.” We will re-evaluate and see where it goes.”
Kitley joined his teammates on the bench and court during Friday's pregame shootaround, but was undressed, wearing a long-sleeved white Hokies Energy T-shirt and gray athletic pants. She was walking around a little above the third person. While she would high-five and applaud her teammates at the point arc, she often just stood there with her hands in her pockets and watched.
But when she participated in the pregame huddle before entering the starting lineup, she limped slightly as she cautiously made her way back to the bench area.
Her team had to struggle to get past Miami without post players who absorb defensive attention in the paint and free up space for 3-point shooters like Georgia Amoore and Kayla King. Ta. As for the team's offensive play-calling, as Brooks said, “Probably 75%, 80(%) of it involves Liz, and then we play it off.”
The other half of the prolific one-two punch that fueled Virginia Tech's rise last season, Amoore started off late, shooting just 5 of 26 from behind the arc. They scored points and overcame the Hokies.
“We just talked about everyone needing to do their part, nothing more,” King said. “Maybe it will get a little better. Everyone needs to step up a little bit.”
Still, Kitley's presence was significant. Returning to the arena, about 20 minutes from his hometown of Summerfield, Kitley was honored at midcourt as the opposing league's Kay Yow Scholar-Athlete of the Year and was named the league's top player for the third consecutive season. He was also recognized for becoming the third player to win. .
At the end of the game, Kitley high-fived King, a fellow college graduate, and smiled broadly, hugging his teammate with his right arm. She joined the postgame handshake line, but she did not speak to reporters after the game.
“(Injuries) are part of the sport,” Brooks said. “We understand that. When we talk to kids, our expectations are still the same. We know we can do it, but it's partly because of the leadership that we have. Thanks to you.”
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