Injury Update

It looks like the Bengals will be short on bodies when they host Sacramento State and Northern Arizona in their final regular season games at Reed Gym this weekend. The Bengals are fighting to hold on to fourth place and a host role for a first-round Big Sky playoff game.

On our coaches' show Monday night, ISU Head Man Joe O'Brien said that two recent starters may not be available for action this week. Small forward Chron Tatum (right), who had a nice game in Missoula against the Griz Saturday night, sustained a moderate concussion in that game and is doubtful for Thursday night's game with the Hornets. His status for Saturday's game with NAU is also cloudy.

Point guard Sherrod Baldwin, who missed Saturday night's game against Montana after spraining an ankle in the win over Montana State Thursday night, is also uncertain for the Sac State game, but he sounded a little more likely to play. Baldwin took a limited role in practice Monday, and may be able to give the Bengals a few minutes Thursday night.

Baldwin and Tatum join forward Demetrius Monroe and guard Kal Bay on the injured list. Monroe, who has been suffering from a very painful bone bruise in his knee, is probably done for the season. Bay, who broke a bone in his shooting hand several weeks ago, is trying to get enough strength back in his hand, and regain enough game conditioning so that he can play a few minutes on Saturday vs. NAU.

Guard Austin Kilpatrick will probably get the call in the Bengal starting lineup Thursday night in place of Tatum, as ISU will go small with its four-guard lineup. David Busma, Felix Caspari and Phyllip Taylor will likely be the main reinforcements off the bench if Baldwin can't provide any minutes.

--Brad B.

And thanks for being a Bengal fan -- it ain't always easy, but it's always fun.