In a move that could be viewed as either miraculous or desperate, Marquette has cleared broken-footed point guard Dominic James to play in the today's NCAA Tournament game against Missouri.
James was ruled out for the season less than a month ago when he suffered a fracture of the fifth metatarsal in his left foot and underwent surgery to have a screw insert in the foot.
The injury is similar to that suffered by Missouri tight end Chase Coffman that has slowed the NFL Draft prospect for more than two months since the end of the Tigersf football season.
The news on James was broken late Saturday evening on the web site of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
According to that newspaper account, James underwent numerous tests, an individual workout Friday and then practiced with the Golden Eagles for 90 minutes Saturday.
Practice sessions in Boise on Saturday were closed to the public and the media.
According to the Milwaukee newspaper account, James showed no pain in the foot and was cleared to play late Saturday night.
We've talked to some experts in the field, and these cases are known, have happened in elite athletes ? college and the pros, Marquette athletic trainer Ernest Eugene to the Journal Sentinel. He's been so instrumental in this, obviously. He's been so dedicated being where he's supposed to be everyday, doing what he needs to do, and he's supassed every goal.
No word yet on whether James will start and he'll be wearing a custom-made orthotic in his shoe, but simply having James on the court for limited minutes would boost the Golden Eagles depth against a Missouri team that substitutes in waves an extremely up-tempo game.
