‘Very slim’ chance Brock Motum plays Monday

COUGARS

FROM PULLMAN — We have a zillion things to get to, but first wanted to pass along an update on the health of junior forward Brock Motum. Read on for more.

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Motum didn’t practice today and is still using a walking boot and crutches to get around. Coach Ken Bone called his status “questionable,” then later said that he thinks Motum has a “very slim” chance to play in Monday’s CBI championshp series opener against Pittsburgh. The good news is that nothing is broken. It’s a right ankle sprain, and Motum said he and the trainers are working around the clock doing everything they possibly can to get the swelling reduced enough for him to play Monday. If that doesn’t work, then they’ll do everything they can to get him on the floor Wednesday. But as of right now, it’s looking as if the Cougars might have to play their next game without him. “I’ll try my best to get on the floor, but I can’t make any promises,” Motum said. Ice and elevation are his best friends at this point. He’s even putting a drawer under his mattress when he sleeps in order to keep his ankle above the rest of his body. The only thing more he can do is wait. “I can’t speed the process up in any more way than I’m doing. I think mainly the thing is time. I’m doing everything I can. It’s just going to be time until it gets better.”… I asked Bone if he’d have Motum give it a go if he were close on Monday, or opt to wait an extra two days and save him for Wednesday. He said that’s a tough call. “In that situation, it’d come down to probably how he’s warming up and how he’s doing right before the game. Can he move on it, or is it just too sore?” If Motum can’t play, Bone said he’d be replaced in the starting lineup by either Mike Ladd, Charlie Enquist or D.J. Shelton, though he mentioned Ladd and Enquist first.

All for now.

Christian Caple can be reached at christianc@spokesman.com . Twitter: @ChristianCaple