UConn is looking to repeat this season for a National Championship. Unfortunately, their season begins with a rocky start with the news that Donovan Clingan will be out for a month with a foot injury. He will be ready for the season, but below discusses the need for Clingan to be fully healthy.
Donovan Clingan Out a Month with Foot Injury
Details of the Injury
Donovan has a foot strain, which is problematic for a player of his size. Clingan is 7’2” and 265 lbs, meaning tons of force is applied to his feet every time he plays basketball. Big men struggle with foot problems, take Yao Ming, Greg Oden, and Kristaps Porzingis as all prime examples of big men who struggled to keep their feet healthy. Clingan is a big guy, so the idea of his feet having issues is not a good sign.
There is an optimism in Storrs from UConn’s medical staff that Donovan Clingan will fully recover from his foot strain before the season begins and that this injury should not linger. Obviously, never a positive to have a preseason setback but this could be a lot worse.
— John Fanta (@John_Fanta) September 29, 2023
Clingan’s Role This Season
Donovan had to take a giant role this season. Dan Hurley said that Clingan will see more featured plays in the post. Hurley recently said that “The evolution for him is to demand the ball and demand that his teammates play up to a certain level,”. Donovan has a chance to dominate this season, as he showed incredible glimpses of All-American talent a year ago. He averaged 2.2 offensive rebounds in just 12 minutes a game, as well as 6.9 points. His role is to dominate games in the paint and be one of the best big men in the country.
Why This is A Potential Problem?
Donovan is a big player, that exerts a lot of pressure on his body when he plays basketball. More specifically, his force goes onto his feet. The idea of having issues with his feet is a problem that cannot be ignored. While UConn doctors believe it won’t be a lingering issue, there is no chance to be sure about that. The biggest injury concerns with bigs are feet and knees because of their size.
Last Word
The injury news about Donovan Clingan is not the best thing to hear if you are a UConn Huskies fan. Nevertheless, there seems to be optimism on his return. The Huskies need Clingan healthy to compete for a national championship, so his health is the highest priority. Donovan’s health is something to keep an eye on as the college basketball season approaches.
