The Iowa freshman finds himself fighting the urge to do too much too soon as he works his way back from the knee injury that ended his basketball season before Big Ten play began.
“It’s all about patience, and that’s pretty hard,’’ Cole said. “They’re letting me shoot a little bit now. Although I find myself wanting to take that next step or jump a bit just to test it, I know I can’t.’’
Cole, who tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during Iowa’s final nonconference game Dec. 29, is healing quickly after undergoing surgery a week later.
He said doctors have told him his rehabilitation is going extremely well and is “ahead of schedule.’’ He adds that they also have insisted that he not rush things.
“Time is the biggest thing in allowing my knee to heal. As frustrating as this has been, I have to be smart about it,’’ Cole said.
That means the 6-foot-7 forward won’t see his next outside competition until the Hawkeyes open the 2008-09 season.
He said his return to full activity remains four to six months away, a timetable he won’t challenge. He does not anticipate competing in the summer Prime Time League this year but plans to be ready for the start of fall practice.
That wouldn’t surprise coach Todd Lickliter.
“He seems to be attacking the rehab the same way he attacked learning the system and learning how to become a great teammate,’’ Lickliter said. “It looks to me like his progress is well ahead of schedule, and I’m excited about that.’’
Cole earned six starts in the 13 games he played before suffering the injury, averaging 6.6 points and 4.8 rebounds.
Although he said it has been difficult being a spectator as Iowa has played its way to a 5-12 Big Ten record, Cole hasn’t let the season go to waste.
He has traveled with the team to most road games, seeing it as an opportunity to learn.
“I’m still a part of the team, and I do what I can to help,’’ Cole said. “Being able to go to the different arenas and see what the setup is and what the environments are like, that’s only going to help me next year. Going to those places now means they won’t be new to me when I am playing next season.’’
Steve Batterson can be contacted at (563) 383-2290 or sbatterson@qctimes.com.
