Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Forward Murphy has broken rib

Starting Florida forward Erik Murphy has a fractured rib, according to Gatorzone.com, and is doubtful for Wednesday night's SEC opener against Georgia.

Murphy could be out for several weeks. How soon he returns will depend on how he tolerates the pain, UF coach Billy Donovan said Monday.

Murphy, a senior and the team's second-leading scorer (12.1 points a game), underwent x-rays Monday after sitting out Sunday's victory at Yale. Donovan said it could be four to six weeks before Murphy completely heals.

“(When he returns) is up to him and how he feels,” Donovan said. “Erik's a tough kid. I had two broken ribs in college and it was probably a good four to six weeks before I was actually pain free.”

Donovan said Murphy injured his ribs in the Air Force game on Dec. 29, but was fine in practice last week until he took another shot on the ribs in Wednesday's workout. He did not play in Sunday's 79-58 victory at Yale

“He came back on Friday and tried to practice and couldn't go,” Donovan said. “We tried to put him in shoot-around (before Sunday's game) and he did a little bit, but he was still challenged physically.