Trying to get injured big man Isaac Haas back on the court is proving to be a whole team effort for Purdue, even beyond just the basketball team.
Addressing the media Monday, Boilermakers coach Matt Painter revealed he has heard that the school’s engineering students are working on a new brace for Haas, who is currently nursing a fractured right elbow. Painter did express doubts though that a new brace would change anything for the senior center. Here is what he had to say, per Brett Bensley of FOX59 News in Indiana:
The latest news on Isaac Haas isn't promising. But, Matt Painter has heard engineering students at #Purdue are working on a new brace to get Haas and his fractured right elbow on floor vs Texas Tech in the Sweet Sixteen. Painter remains skeptical – at best. @BoilerBall pic.twitter.com/hwoqchNNWV
— Brett Bensley (@brettbensley) March 19, 2018
Haas fractured the elbow during Purdue’s first-round victory over Cal State Fullerton and was originally ruled out for the remainder of the tournament. The 22-year-old is still attempting to make a comeback however but did not suit up for the team’s Round of 32 victory over Butler on Sunday after his original brace failed to meet NCAA standards.
The Boilermakers are set to play Texas Tech in the Sweet Sixteen on Friday night, but Haas still sounds doubtful at best for any of their remaining games. Still, Purdue tied for eighth in US News’ latest rankings of the nation’s best undergraduate engineering programs, so don’t put anything past them yet.
