Robert Allen's journey back to the basketball court provides a needed boost for Ole Miss
The road back from any injury is tough for an athlete but when a basketball player such as Ole Miss’ Robert Allen is tasked with returning from an ACL injury it is a tough ask.
Some days in Allen’s rehab journey were tougher than others, leading to some tough conversations between he and Ole Miss head coach Kermit Davis.
Despite those dark days and heavy chats Allen pushed through and made his way back to the basketball court on Monday 11 months after suffering the injury.
“There was never a moment I doubted myself,” Allen said after Ole Miss’ season opener. “I was always confident in myself. Initially after my surgery the doctor did tell me that because of what I tore there was a possibility that I was not going to be able to play basketball again. It had nothing to do with me or the surgery, it was just how my body healed.”
Allen’s body healed better, and faster, than the doctors expected and Allen is back serving as a much-needed presence for Ole Miss on the court. In Monday’s opener against Alcorn State Allen scored 15 points to go with seven rebounds and two assists.
While Allen played 23 minutes coming off the bench do not look for the senior forward to be strictly in a sixth-man role the entire season.
“I love Robert. He’s a starter in my mind,” said Davis on Thursday. “I love having him come off the bench because he brings such great energy and he will start from time-to-time. I think he’s a great sixth man to come in. Perfect at the foul line. Really good defensively. Finished some balls around the rim, so it was really good to see him back out there in an active role.”
Ole Miss has gotten Allen back from his ACL injury but is still missing another injured player on the court.
After not playing on Monday the Rebels will again be without Daeshun Ruffin on Friday against Florida Atlantic at 6 p.m CT.
Ruffin is dealing with a bone bruise suffered a week ago during Ole Miss’ exhibition game against West Georgia. The sophomore was back after having an ACL injury of his own last January but is back on the shelf with a separate setback.
“Still making progress, doing a lot of bone (stimulation) on the bone bruise but he’s feeling better and better and better everyday,” Davis said. “I think he’s going to go back to the doctor maybe (Friday) or early, early next week to get a better and can get a better update at that time.”
With Ole Miss set to have a quick turnaround and play Chattanooga on Tuesday it might be without its top scorer for a third straight game.
