Ball State University guard Darren Yates will miss at least three games due to a stress fracture.
The 6-foot-2-inch junior will sit out six to eight weeks following surgery to repair the stress fracture in his right foot. This will include an exhibition match against Saginaw Valley State and games against Oakland City and Wright State.
Yates noticed some pain in his right foot about two weeks ago and saw a doctor. After an X-ray it was discovered that he had a stress fracture that was already healing.
Yates said that he underwent surgery because his specific injury had a large chance of recurring, and surgery could help prevent additional injury.
"I guess I was a little dramatic before it happened, because I really have never had surgery before," Yates said. "But after surgery I didn't feel any pain or anything, and I haven't really felt anything since then, so it went well. Hopefully I recover fast."
Yates averaged 15.8 minutes coming off the bench last season and averaged 3.9 points per game.
He is also one of only five letter winners returning to the team and one of only two guards who saw playing time last season. Still, coach Tim Buckley doesn't feel that losing Yates will hurt the team's depth too much.
"It's some else's opportunity to play." Buckley said. "This is your opportunity to push yourself and make us better and I think it's also going to push Darren to get back and be effective because of the competition level.
"This year for the most part, there are two guys for each spot."
Yates will not be able to practice in the immediate future, but will still be an active member of the team. Buckley said that Yates was at practice on Sunday and helped his team in any way he could.
"He propped his leg up and coached everybody," Buckley said. "That's what his responsibility is. I've said this many times before, Darren's not our best player, but he has the potential to be one of our best leaders."
Yates said that it was his duty to the team.
"I guess, that's all I can do," he said. "I gotta lead this team the best way I can, so since I can't play, I have to coach."
While Yates sits out, Peyton Stovall returns to the court after suffering a ACL injury in the first round of the Mid-American Conference tournament last season.
Buckley said that Stovall was already the fastest person in three-quarter court sprint during practice.
Yates said that having a friend like Stovall will help him out.
"He just told me to stay positive," Yates said. "It was hard to do before surgery because I had never had surgery before and I knew I was going to have to sit out games and sit out practices. He just told me to stay positive and pray about it."
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