The injury remains too freaky for Ball State coach Tim Buckley to fathom. Buckley has given up trying to explain how, or why, it happened not only to his best player, but maybe the best player coming back to the MAC next season.

Theron Smith, considering leaving Ball State after his junior season, had declared his intentions to join the NBA draft, and was working out for the Toronto Raptors in late May when the unexpected happened on a normal cut to the basket. Smith's knee popped -- he'd tore the ACL. Smith's next stop: surgery in June.

	Theron Smith has worked his knee back into shape.

No NBA draft. No summer ball. Fall ball? His future suddenly was in doubt when it came to the 2002-03 season.

Remarkably, Smith is on his way to a speedy recovery. He should be ready when practice begins Oct. 12. Smith did not sign with an agent when he declared for the draft, thus leaving the option open to return to Ball State for his senior season.

"It was just one of those things that the doctors said could have happened anywhere," Buckley said. "He was making a move with nobody around him.

"He's done a great job with the rehab and that's a credit to Theron and our trainer Tony Cox," Buckley said. "He's expected to be back five weeks from now. Obviously he's got to be checked, but that's what they feel is a legitimate target."

Smith isn't the first Ball State star to see his summer plans turn into rehab. The Cardinals' staff has a history with the exact injury in this exact time frame. Center Lonnie Jones tore his ACL in May of 2001 and returned in time for practice in October. It's not something is in the Muncie water that accelerates the healing process, but rather both players working hard enough and the injuries not being of the traditional ACL tear.

"You've got to slow Theron down and say that's enough for today, that's how he is in rehab and as a player," Buckley said. "That's the thing I admire about him is that never once did I see him whine about this. He had a great attitude from the beginning."

Getting Smith back for the beginning of practice is critical for the Cardinals in their hope to make another run at the NCAA Tournament. Ball State lost the aforementioned Jones in the middle and point guards Patrick Jackson and Billy Lynch.

Smith is a preseason tri-player of the year candidate in the MAC with Ohio's Brandon Hunter and Kent State's Antonio Gates. He will be the focal point of the Ball State offense. Smith, a 6-foot-8 senior, averaged 19.6 points and 10.9 boards for a team that shocked the college basketball world with opening wins over Kansas and UCLA only to fall flat in the MAC and miss the NCAAs.

Watching Smith return this quickly, let alone battle an ongoing stuttering problem, has just added to the team's motivation.

"He's our best player, the best in the conference. He never takes a day off," Buckley said. "This is another test of his will. It's almost like he never had the surgery."

As is the case most years, Smith isn't alone in his road to recovery. Injuries to key players struck as early as last November, leaving several stars sidelined all season. Others battled nagging injuries during the season, only to have surgery this past spring. Here are eight other names to know who are trying to get healthy before practice starts.

	Parker's second torn ACL cost him the 2001-02 season.

Jason Parker, 6-8, So., PF, Kentucky:
Parker won't be released to play in games until the Wildcats start practice on Oct. 12. But don't expect Parker to do anything too wild at Midnight Madness.

Parker set himself back six months at last year's Midnight Madness when he was shadow boxing in the locker room and suffered a second straight ACL tear. Parker had originally torn the ACL the previous June in a summer league game and was on schedule for a possible late-December return to the lineup before the freak injury.

There was some concern that he was cruising too much during his rehab last spring, but any of that talk has died down around Lexington. Parker has apparently been a model patient this summer, working harder on his knee than he did the previous summer. He is reportedly in good shape and as hungry as ever to return to the court. And the Wildcats' staff can't wait.

Parker started all 34 games as a freshman in 2000-01, averaging 8.6 points and 4.7 rebounds, and finishing his frosh season with a 22-point, 13-rebound game against USC in the NCAA Tournament. Kentucky's chances in the SEC East will look even brighter with a healthier Parker. If he's in the lineup, scoring and boarding in the low post, it'll take loads of pressure off Jules Camara and Marquis Estill.

Camara is more of a defensive presence and shot-blocker, who can't be counted on to score consistently in the post. Estill has had his moments, but he's not a low-post power player like Parker, rather more of a high-post center.

Parker hasn't played pickup games this summer and his return to the court in October will be even more anticipated than the arrival of heralded recruits Antwain Barbour and Kelenna Azubuike.

Ron Slay, 6-8, Sr., PF, Tennessee:
Slay was released July 24 to compete fully on the basketball court. And don't worry, he's been doing his regular chattering on the court as well as scoring in bunches around the basket.

Slay missed the final 15 games of last season after suffering a torn ACL in his left knee late in the first half of Tennessee's win over Syracuse. He had surgery Jan. 31, and that was after missing Tennessee's first two games and being limited in the first five because of a stress fracture in his right leg. Slay still managed to average 14.8 points, 6.5 rebounds and had led or tied for the team lead in rebounding in six of the games he played in prior to the injury.

Slay, one of the more dynamic personalities on the court in college basketball, could step in as one of the most prolific scorers in the SEC. Forgotten about last season while he was hurt, Slay returns to a loaded SEC East as one of the best scorers.

"He could lead the league in scoring," Tennessee assistant Chris Ferguson said. "He's going to be our go-to guy and he'll have to put up numbers after we lost (Marcus) Haislip and (Vincent) Yarbrough. I think everyone forgets that he's back."

Sleeping on Slay and the Vols would be a mistake. Slay can score from the 3-point line in and is extremely active around the basket. He'll slide back to his nature power forward spot, next to 6-10 sophomore Brandon Crump inside and senior Jon Higgins on one of the wings. The other two backcourt spots will be filled by newcomers Stanley Asumnu and point guard C.J. Watson. If Watson is as good for Tennessee as Mo Williams was for Alabama last season, the Vols have a chance to be a thorn in the side of Florida, Georgia and Kentucky in the SEC East, let alone nudging South Carolina aside.

Romuald Augustin, 6-7, Jr., SF, Providence:
Augustin is back practicing with the Friars in preparation for their upcoming trip to Italy this weekend, although he's got a slight meniscus injury that has slowed him this week in practice. Augustin suffered a capsular sprain of his hip that kept him out of all but five games last season.

The injury took away Providence's best defender on forwards. When Providence made its run to the NCAA Tournament two seasons ago, John Linehan was the team's best on-the-ball defender, while Augustin was the one who shut down the opposing team's best scoring forward.

"He was the No. 1 defensive small forward in the league," Providence coach Tim Welsh said. "He would play Caron Butler, Darius Rice, Preston Shumpert, Gary Buchanan. Two years ago he held Darius Rice to 16 points in two games. But last year, Rice lit us up for 60 in two games."

The Friars were also too one dimensional on offense last season and needed another scorer. Augustin, who averaged 9.6 points as a sophomore, would have provided another pop inside had he been healthy. The most disappointing aspect of Augustin's injury was that it came two months after he had returned from playing for Canada in the World University Games. He was apparently playing the best basketball of his career prior to the injury.

The Friars desperately need Augustin to be in the rotation at both ends of the court if they're going to be a contender in a rugged Big East East Division where as many as five teams are being mentioned as possible division champs (Connecticut, Boston College, St. John's, Miami and Villanova).

Kenneth Lowe, 6-3, SF, Jr. Purdue:
Lowe still isn't 100 percent, at least in terms of his basketball conditioning, after missing last season with a right shoulder injury. He had the surgery in August of 2001 after having it operated on in high school.

Lowe's absence was felt on the defensive end for the struggling Boilermakers. Like Augustin for Providence, Lowe usually drew the opposing team's best defender. And that's exactly what he did for the Boilermakers on their recent trip to Europe last May. Lowe made the trip, averaging 10 points, but more importantly contributing as the team's top defender.

If he's not on the court, Lowe has to be a voice in the locker room. The Boilermakers struggled with leadership last season and missed Lowe's presence. He returned to that role during the team's trip overseas and held it again in the summer. If the players had to get together for pickup games, it was Lowe organizing the sessions. And Lowe was the first to volunteer to shut down, or at least attempt to so, Purdue's top scorer Willie Deane.

Whether or not Lowe can get back to his sophomore average of 11.3 points is still a question. But if Lowe can be the defensive presence and leader the Boilermakers missed a season ago, he'll be as important a newcomer as anyone the Boilermakers bring in this season.

Majestic Mapp, 6-2, Jr., PG, Virginia:
The Virginia staff is pulling harder for Mapp than any other player in their tenure. He has been a model citizen in the program and has had little to show for it on the court after two successive surgeries for an ACL tear.

Mapp hasn't played since the 1999-2000 season when he played in all 31 games as a reserve point. The Cavs expected him to be the starter last season when they brought in Keith Jenifer as a combo guard. But Jenifer ended up playing the entire season at the point, although players like Roger Mason Jr. helped bring the ball up on occasion. The end result was a lack of proven leadership at the position, something that a healthy Mapp would provide for a talented team that hasn't reached its potential the past two seasons.

Mapp has been working hard in rehab the past year after the corrective surgery to repair scar tissue in his right knee last year. "We want the best for him because he has worked his tail off," Virginia assistant coach Walt Fuller said.

The Cavs are still hoping that Mapp is the starting point with Rutgers transfer Todd Billet, Jenifer, JC transfer Devin Smith and returning reserve Jermaine Harper rotating as the three perimeter players around Mapp. If Mapp is healthy and able to push the Cavs on the break like Pete Gillen desperately wants, the Cavs will have as deep -- if not the deepest -- backcourt in the ACC.

Chris Marcus, 7-1, Sr., C, Western Kentucky:
A year ago, I sat with Marcus on the Western Kentucky campus and talked with the best big man in the country about the possibility he might return for a fifth year at the school. But neither of us imagined a nagging foot injury would lead to him earning his fourth season of eligibility back (after being ineligible as a freshman) by graduating.

Marcus was a lock for the first round, possibly the lottery, because of his size and potential as an NBA center. He was, and still is, learning the game, but NBA scouts looked at him as a worthy work in progress. But all of Marcus' potential remains clouded while recovers from foot surgery he had in the spring.

Marcus was coy in April and May about the draft process, refusing to sign with an agent and not allowing any NBA teams to watch him work out or accept an invitation to go to any workouts in an NBA city. Finally, he announced that he would return to Western Kentucky and have foot surgery to repair a nagging stress fracture that allowed him to play in only 15 games last season, the first five and the last 10. Marcus returned for the NCAA Tournament and a heralded matchup with Stanford's Curtis Borchardt. Borchardt got the best of Marcus, but that single game shouldn't be an indicator of Marcus' potential.

While he's still a developing low-post presence, when healthy and clearing space in the middle, Marcus is difficult to move out of the post to say the least. He's still able to react quickly from one end to the block to the other, blocking shots and grabbing rebounds. But his ability to get out on the break remains the biggest question for NBA teams.

Western Kentucky coach Dennis Felton said Marcus had his first checkup Tuesday and the cast came off his left foot. But Felton was quick to set no timetable for Marcus' return. The Hilltoppers don't want to get into the business of naming a date, opening up even more scrutiny to his health should Marcus miss it. By saying they're in no hurry, Marcus can heal at his own pace.

"Time is on his side because all he needs now is to be healthy in time for the spring (for the NBA)," Felton said. Sounds like a coach who isn't counting on Marcus to be the determining factor as to how good the Hilltoppers will be this season.

Even without Marcus, Western Kentucky is and was a borderline top 25 team. The Hilltoppers have the personnel, notably point guard Patrick Sparks, to win the Sun Belt and cause problems on their non-conference schedule with games at Arizona, Auburn (Nashville), at Detroit, Southern Miss, Illinois State and either Butler or Hawaii in the Rainbow Classic in Honolulu.

"We've got a lot of guys who can play on this team," Felton said.

But getting Marcus back in the middle will certainly change the outcome for this team. He's simply too big to miss. The offense doesn't have to go through him when he's on the court, but he does need his touches to create shots for the perimeter scorers. Getting him to pass the ball out to the wings will force a defense to sag down and leave someone open. That's one aspect of his importance that can't be overstated. And neither can his presence defensively in altering, as well as blocking shots.

Marcus spent the summer working on his upper body to maintain his weight. But he stayed away from putting any pounding on his foot, at least until practice starts -- assuming he's ready to go by October.

	Wolfe is back playing pickup games in East Lansing.

Adam Wolfe, 6-9, Jr., SF, Michigan State:
The Spartans training staff, let alone the coaches, had never seen an injury quite like this one. Wolfe tore his hamstring, so severely that it was almost off the bone. The severity of the injury had some believing that he might not play again. But, there he was, two weeks ago, playing in pickup games on campus.

Michigan State coach Tom Izzo termed it a major step forward. But Wolfe has a way to go to get into Division I basketball shape. It's hard to judge his full recovery until he's out on the court playing full speed. Getting his timing and conditioning back is paramount before he gets onto the court for good during the season. But the pressure that is on Wolfe is all self-imposed. Anything the Spartans can get from the shooting forward (a career 34 percent 3 point shooter for a 6-9, 230-pound forward isn't bad) is gravy.

The Spartans have replacements in newcomers Paul Davis and Erazem Lorbek if Wolfe can't come back and earn his spot in the rotation next to, or with, Adam Ballinger. But if he can return, Michigan State will have a loaded frontcourt, at least in terms of skill players who can make face-the-basket shots, under Izzo. This won't be a power frontcourt, but it will be a prolific offensive unit with Wolfe.

Alexandre Sazonov, 7-1, Sr., C, Saint Joseph's:
Sazonov was one of the last two cuts by the Russian National Team and won't make the World Championships later this month in Indianapolis. But that's the only bad news on Sazonov -- at least as of now. Saint Joseph's coach Phil Martelli reports his center's oft-injured legs have finally healed enough to allow him to again be a regular contributor to the Hawks -- a must if they're going to stay in contention in the Atlantic 10.

Sazonov played in the first 21 games for the disappointing Hawks last season before a stress reaction in his left foot kept him out of the lineup. But, even when he was on the court last season, he couldn't do much after having preseason surgery to correct compartment syndrome in both legs. Sazonov couldn't practice regularly and was clearly not the same player he was the previous season when the Hawks went to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

The Hawks need Sazonov to be a shot blocker (65 as a sophomore) and a rebounder (3.5 as a sophomore, 2.0 last season) for them to have a presence underneath the basket. He's still not a go-to scorer in the post, but he can cause problems with his size if he's healthy and effective. The Hawks have the break-you-down point in Jameer Nelson but need a target in the middle who can finish around the basket. That's Sazonov if he stays healthy.

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