Butler’s Rotnei Clarke sidelined at least two games with neck injury
By CHRIS GOFF
ISL Correspondent
Although team officials said late Monday that Rotnei Clarke is making progress in his recovery from a neck injury sustained during a nasty fall against Dayton, the Butler point guard will not play in Wednesday’s game against Richmond or Saturday’s showdown with No. 8 Gonzaga.
Clarke is not even cleared to absorb contact, let alone practice. He is dealing with what the team characterized as a “significant” neck sprain.
These will mark the first games that Clarke has missed due to injury in his four-year college career. Clarke played three seasons as Arkansas before transferring to Butler.
Team trainer Ryan Galloy said the decision to rule Clarke out of action this week was based partly on Clarke’s visit to a spine specialist Monday.
“We felt it was in his best interest to hold him out,” Galloy said. “We will continue to evaluate him.”
Speaking earlier Monday, Butler coach Brad Stevens had declined to rule out the possibility of Clarke playing in Wednesday’s game against Richmond.
Stevens then reiterated, however, that Clarke must be fully cleared by doctors to absorb contact before Butler will allow its top scorer to return to action.
Clarke missed the second half of Saturday’s 79-73 win over Dayton after sustaining the injury. While trying a fast-break layup, Clarke was hit hard in mid-air and fell face-first into the padded basket support. He left University of Dayton Arena on a stretcher.
Clarke is undergoing treatment at the team facility but is limited to light workouts. Galloy said Sunday that Clarke continues to feel soreness and stiffness in the neck. Tests revealed no fractures or other structural damage.
Clarke is averaging 16.3 points per game in his senior season and shooting a team-best 44.4 percent on 3-pointers.
Butler moved up to No. 13 in today’s USA Today Coaches Poll, four spots higher than last week. The Bulldogs jumped one place to No. 13 in the AP Top 25.
Stevens takes an 11-game winning streak into the game against Richmond (11-6, 1-1 Atlantic 10). On Saturday, Gonzaga (16-1) visits Hinkle Fieldhouse for a nationally televised game.
Butler will have to overcome the loss of Clarke for the streak to continue.
SMITH HONORED: Senior center Andrew Smith was named Atlantic 10 player of the week Monday. Smith scored 24 points and pulled down 10 rebounds in a 72-66 win over Saint Joseph’s. Against the Flyers, Smith scored 13 points, including seven after Clarke’s departure. The two wins lifted Butler to a 14-2 record, its best start since opening the 2008-09 season 19-1.
Smith is the third Butler player to earn the honor this season. St. Joe’s is the only other team with at least two winners.
A MIXUP: Stevens said he mistakenly believed that Dayton was permitted to select the player who would shoot free throws in Clarke’s stead. Khyle Marshall, just a 54.5 percent shooter, went to the line and made 1 of 2. Meanwhile, Kellen Dunham, one of the best free-throw shooters in the nation at 94.4 percent, stood and watched.
I was told they pick the shooter, Stevens said. Whether it was a miscommunication from me or from the officials, I couldn’t tell you. I was focused on Rotnei. It could very easily have been me. I was pretty sure I was told they would pick and (that) they picked Khyle. It’s OK. It happens.
