Joe Sports

Northwestern senior Kevin Coble just met with us before the Northern Illinois-NU opener and laid out his options.

1) The initial diagnosis is a mild Lisfranc mid-foot fracture. Here's what Wikipedia has to say about that. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lisfranc_fracture

2) He's visiting a second specialist on Monday to determine whether surgery is necessary on his left foot. It sounds like the first specialist suggested surgery, but everyone wants to be sure.

3) If he needs surgery, it would be four months before he could do anything on a court. Though he's on target to graduate in June, he's more than willing to redshirt and return next year.

Before we launch into this, I have a Kevin Coble update. Northwestern's senior forward plans to visit another specialist on Monday, which doesn't sound like good news with regards to his injured left foot. If you hear an opinion you like the first time, do you go to another specialist? I'm guessing the Coble family -- and understandably so -- is trying to find a way to rehabilitate his foot without surgery.

Actually, Coble's injury makes for a fitting start to this blog. As everyone knows and understands, the players inside the uniforms change with dizzying swiftness...but the game endures.

Apparently the NCAA Tournament gods are determined to make it as excruciating as possible for Northwestern to be the final BCS conference school to gain access to their March Madness shindig.

Just when the Wildcats were being seen as a squad with a solid shot to earn the program's first NCAA Tournament berth, along comes this news out of Evanston:

Senior forward Kevin Coble, a second-team all-Big Ten pick last year, injured his left foot in Tuesday's practice and figures to be out for a lengthy period of time. According to a team source, everyone will be told more on Friday after Coble visits a specialist.

You don't see a specialist to confirm an insignificant injury.

It's Christmas Day in the college basketball world (or Hanukkah...or Diwali...or Kwanzaa...or whatever religious celebration you choose to follow):

Illinois assistant coach Jerrance Howard (coachjhoward) has Tweeted that the Illini have received their trio of long-anticipated letters of intent.

SF Jereme Richmond (Waukegan), C Meyers Leonard (Robinson) and SG Crandall Head (Rich South) give Illinois its best class since McDonald's All-Americans Bruce Douglas and Efrem Winters led a massive group that arrived on campus in 1982. The Illini will finish on everyone's Top 10 list that cares more about quality than quantity.

Illinois coach Ron Zook declared Tuesday morning that he's "cautiously optimistic" that Juice Williams will play on his injured left ankle in Saturday's Land of Lincoln Trophy game with Northwestern. At the same time, though, Zook termed Juice's health as "questionable." He did not practice on Monday night.

"He's getting treatment 24/7," Zook said. "I was in there with him with the doctor and he was moving, pressing, twisting....I'd say you'll probably see him in uniform."

Since that's not a ringing endorsement that Juice will make his 43rd career start on Saturday, it's probably safer to assume redshirt freshman Jacob Charest gets his first start. Eddie McGee, who has been at receiver the last three weeks, will assume double duty throughout the week.

It's Land of Lincoln Trophy week. Northwestern at Illinois. 11 a.m. Saturday. ESPN Classic.

The state is abuzz. Well, at least they're buzzing in the greater Evanston area as the Wildcats are trying to clinch a bowl berth and defeat Illinois for the sixth time in the last seven years. However, there should be additional excitement amongst the Illinois clan with the Illini on a two-game roll.

Here's the latest on Northwestern quarterbacks Dan Persa and Mike Kafka out of Trienens Hall:

Well, well, well.

After Iowa shredded Northwestern on its first two possessions to take a 10-0 lead, the Hawkeyes became a turnover factory.

Iowa committed 4 turnovers in a 12-minute stretch of the second quarter and Northwestern capitalized for a 14-10 halftime lead -- and it probably should be more.

FYI, Mike Kafka started but Dan Persa has floated in and out. Persa, who ran the first six snaps he took, wound up with 19 first-half snaps while Kafka had 17.

Anyway, here's the turnover rundown:
14:04 2Q: Iowa QB Ricky Stanzi throws into double coverage and CB Jordan Mabin picks it off and returns it to Iowa's 48. NU forced to punt.

High atop Kinnick Stadium, you can see for miles in every direction...even as eyes from every direction are trained on Iowa's game with Northwestern today. The Hawks can get to 10-0 for the first time in school history and remain among the top 3 in the hunt for the two BCS title-game spots.

NU quarterback Mike Kafka will start today with his ailing left hamstring. He appeared to be favoring it slightly in warmups -- lingering on his straightened left leg on his follow-through as if to control how much pain he must handle -- but he'll go for awhile. Look for redshirt sophomore Dan Persa to get some time as well.

In case you forgot to track the NBA D-League's draft on Thursday night, we've got you covered.

Barrington HS alum Jason Richards went in the fourth round to the Utah Flash.

Dar Tucker, who left DePaul in March after his sophomore year, was taken by the Idaho Stampede in the second round with the 18th pick overall.

In the third round, the Stampede added former DePaul forward Delonte Holland. He was the leading scorer on the Demons' most recent NCAA Tournament team (2003-04).

In the fourth round, the Stampede selected TJ Cummings...son of Terry Cummings and a Homewood-Flossmoor HS alum.

In the fifth round, former DePaul shooting guard Draelon Burns somehow escaped Idaho and was taken by the Sioux Falls Skyforce.

(Late-night edit since no one is confirming this trade, reported first by the New York Daily News, as being official. Also adding a bunch of Gordon Beckham thoughts at the end....and a trade rumor we're inventing in this very blog.)

So the White Sox are supposed to be trading 2B Chris Getz and 1B/DH Josh Fields to Kansas City for OF/3B Mark Teahen.

Frankly, this deal makes the White Sox the resounding AL Central favorite next year. OK, just kidding, but it does give the Sox added flexibility in the outfield and infield as Kenny Williams tries to add pieces going forward.