Hurt Knee Halts Rose For Good

University of Idaho basketball player Reggie Rose, whose all-out style led to numerous floor burns and injuries, apparently will finish his career sitting on the bench. It’s become an all-too-familiar seat.

Rose reinjured his knee last week. At the time, the injury didn’t seem too serious, but he didn’t play in two road games last week and he’ll likely miss the final two games this week.

“I was going to start him against Utah State (last Thursday),” coach Kermit Davis said. “From what (trainer) Barrie Steele has told me, he’s done.”

Rose had missed five weeks with a knee injury before returning for three games. Last year, he broke his elbow in the regular-season finale and missed the Big Sky Conference tournament.

“He played his tail off,” Davis said. “It’s too bad.”

Rose likely will have arthroscopic surgery on his knee.

Baby talk

Idaho women’s basketball coach Julie Holt went to work Monday, but not in her office.

Holt was recuperating in a Moscow hospital after giving birth to Benjamin Edward on Sunday, about the time the Vandals were rallying to defeat Boise State.

Holt watched the game on tape delay from her bed at 11 on Sunday night. She broke down the videotape Monday morning and called her assistant coaches with a pageful of advice.

Holt will miss the Vandals’ two-game road trip this week. She is expected to stay in the hospital until Wednesday.

Idaho (12-12 overall, 7-5 Big West Conference) is chasing the East Division title. Nevada is 8-5. UI visits North Texas on Thursday and New Mexico State Saturday. Should the Vandals sweep and tie with Nevada, the Vandals will win the division on a tiebreaker.

The Vandals have qualified for the Big West tournament March 5-8 in Reno, Nev. Holt expects to be back.

“I’d never missed a game before, and of all games to miss it, was (rival) Boise State,” she said. “But I feel really confident in both the players and the coaches.”

Yasen, Purdue shine

Coeur d’Alene High graduate Corissa Yasen scored 13 points to help Purdue down Illinois 80-75 Sunday and earn a three-way tie with the Illini and Michigan State for the Big Ten Conference women’s title.

The game was played before 16,050 in Illinois’ Assembly Hall. It was the largest crowd ever at a single Big Ten women’s game.

Wrote the Chicago Tribune, “The unranked Boilermakers did their best with a collection of walk-ons, champion heptathletes (Yasen) and just three returning players - the ones who didn’t transfer after the firing of coach Lin Dunn last year.”

Purdue (16-9, 12-4) tied for the league title with Illinois (20-6, 12-4) and Michigan State (21-6, 12-4).

, DataTimes