Pesky shoulder injury isn't derailing Falcons freshman

0 Comments | Gazette, The (Colorado Springs), Jan 29, 2004 | by TODD JACOBSON THE GAZETTE

Jacob Burtschi is stubborn.

He doesn't expect his ailing right shoulder to keep him out of Air Force's men's basketball game Saturday against San Diego State, and he's not changing the way he plays, either.

The freshman forward was held out of contact at practice Wednesday after partially dislocating his shoulder for the second straight game Monday against Utah.

He won't practice at full speed until Friday, when team officials will re-evaluate his shoulder, which he injured stripping a ball away from a Utah player in Air Force's 62-49 win Monday.

He injured the shoulder the same way Saturday against BYU, but X- rays taken on the shoulder Tuesday did not show any structural damage, Burtschi said.

Air Force coach Joe Scott said Wednesday that he believes his freshman will play, and Burtschi said it will be tough to keep him sidelined for Saturday's game at San Diego State.

"It's getting better today," Burtschi said. "It's not as tight. It's not as sore. It probably could be a game-time decision, but I am pretty sure I will have it in their heads that I will be ready to go by Friday."

Burtschi's aggressive style is likely the cause of back-toback injuries, but it's definitely the reason the freshman has worked his way into Air Force's lineup this season.

Burtschi is Air Force's first substitute off the bench and has played in all 16 games this season, averaging 4.7 points and 2.7 rebounds in 16.4 minutes.

He had two points against BYU and no points in 19 minutes against Utah, but scoring isn't the only reason Scott wants him in the lineup.

The 6-foot-6 forward takes charges, strips away loose balls and has a knack for grabbing key rebounds, while giving the Falcons much- needed depth off the bench.

"He is so valuable to this team. You never look at a boxscore when you have a guy like Jake Burtschi," Scott said. He is such an intangible guy in addition to his numbers. He gets loose balls.... That's not in the boxscore, and those are the types of plays that make you win games."

Before Burtschi got hurt against Utah, he feigned jogging up the court as the Utes inbounded the ball after an Air Force basket and quickly turned around to knock the ball away. As it went out of bounds, he dove for it, tipping it to a teammate.

And Burtschi's not planning on stopping the hustle any time soon.

"That's the kind of player I have been since I was little," he said. "I am not going to let my shoulder stop me from doing what I was doing. That's what I have done to help out this team. I am just going to go with it and if it happens again, it happens again. I am just going to have to take my chances."

CONTACT THE WRITER: 636-0256 or tjacobson@gazette.com