Mike Morrison continues to recover from surgery

Junior Mike Morrison recently underwent surgery to remove a screw from his knee. He is a key part of the Patriots' lineup, primarily becuase of his defensive intensity. (John Powell)

Immediately following the conclusion of the Patriots’ season, which ended abruptly with the loss to Ohio State on March 20, junior forward Mike Morrison underwent surgery on his knee to remove a screw.

Expected to be on crutches for just one day, he continues to crutch his way around campus.

“I had a screw put in my knee in high school when I tore my patella tendon and it healed up perfectly,” Morrison said. “But, the bone was pushing the screw out of my knee because it kept healing and pushing the screw out, so I got it taken out.”

Morrison played with the screw gradually pushing through his knee essentially the entire season.

“Oh it’s been happening,” he said. “You could almost look at some of the pictures if you get my legs in them, and you can see my skin and the lump where the screw is.”

Despite having a screw sticking a centimeter or two out of his leg, Morrison managed to start every game all year, averaging 6.8 points and 5.5 rebounds per contest. Although his stats may be modest, his presence on the floor is not. He provides the squad with hustle, defensive intensity, vocal leadership and can instill fear into the opposing team with his size and athleticism.

Not to mention he has had some pretty remarkable dunks over the years.

As far as the timetable for his return is concerned, it is still up in the air.

“I’m day-by-day, I should be back soon though,” Morrison said optimistically.

He expects to be ready to go free of pain at the start of the 2011 season. For now, however, his teammates are forced to practice without their low-post star.

“My teammates took me out of the text message group,” he said. “They don’t even tell me when they’re playing or lifting, you know, I feel left out right now.”

Morrison, along with the rest of his teammates, are already looking forward to next season. The lopsided loss to the Buckeyes left a sour taste in their mouths, making them even hungrier this time around.

Morrison summed up next year’s team with one word: experience.

“We’re still the same team and we got new guys coming in, and the young guys will be ready to step up,” he said.

Despite losing senior leaders Cam Long and Isaiah Tate, the heart of the team will be returning, including four starters, three of whom will be seniors.

Although replacing a player like Long is never easy, Morrison believes the squad has what it takes to overcome the loss.

“We’ve got a group of leaders all together, as a team,” he said. “Even this year, everybody knew what they had to do and did it.”

It was recently announced that the Patriots would face the Virginia Tech Hokies in Blacksburg, Va. in the opening round of the preseason NIT tipoff. They will also play in Charlottesville, Va. against the UVA Cavaliers. Two early road games against ACC opponents will certainly grab the attention of the NCAA selection committee.

“I’m very happy,” Morrison said about playing UVA, “but I’m mad I’m going to miss the return game when they come here two years from now.”