One thing was pretty much absent during Pitt’s most recent loss to Marquette- the presence of point guard Tray Woodall.
Woodall suffered a concussion during Saturday’s loss and played only four minutes, but that likely won’t be the case Wednesday night against Villanova as the senior floor general says he will be ready to go and plans to play.
The fifth-year senior was injured at in the first half Saturday when he collided head-first with Golden Eagles guard Derrick Wilson. Woodall said he felt better by the 8:00 mark, but doctors ruled him out for the remainder of the 75-67 overtime loss.
“I’m 100 percent,” Woodall said. ”I‘m fine and ready to go.”
Of course even if Woodall says he is fine, he must pass all of the concussion tests once he is cleared by the Pitt medical staff, which includes being symptom free for 24 hours.
Woodall was able to do some running and conditioning drills on Monday, but must be symptom free for 24 hours after that before being allowed any contact.
He participated in a full contact practice on Tuesday and his status for the Nova game will be determined on Wednesday. But Pitt will err on the side of caution and it will be fully up to the Panthers’ doctors.
“If the doctors feel he can’t play, even though he thinks he can play, he can’t play,” said Pitt head coach Jamie Dixon.
The Panthers really missed Woodall against Marquette, especially on the offensive end of the floor, where the senior has averaged 10.8 points and 5.8 assists on the season.
If all things go according to plan, the Panthers won’t have to be without Woodall for very long.
Photo Credit: USA Today
