Report: Isaac Haas Still Alive, Thanks To Modern Science?

On Friday, Purdue issued a statement saying senior center Isaac Haas would miss the rest of the tournament with a fractured elbow. Less than 24 hours later, a report is out claiming Haas still might play for the Boilermakers.

CBS and TNT sideline reporter Allie LaForce tweeted Saturday afternoon that Haas practiced with the team that morning, wearing a brace on his injured right elbow. LaForce wrote that Haas was still waiting on NCAA clearance, but that if he obtained it, he will go through warmups and push head coach Matt Painter for playing time. Purdue will have the final say as to whether the 7-foot-2 center suits up on Sunday when it takes on Butler in the Round of 32.

Painter told the Indy Star’s that he doubts Haas will play, pointing out that he has a pretty big NBA tryout coming up and noting that the big man only went through a couple drills and not a full practice. Sports Illustrated also reported that Painter downplayed the possibility of Haas playing when he spoke with reporters after Saturday’s practice.

“He ran up and down today, did a few things and worked out,” Painter said. “I don’t see him playing.”

This year marks Haas’s final run in the NCAA tournament. It’s a shame he’s not going to get to finish it out, but not so much that playing through a broken elbow two months before the NBA Combine starts to sound like a good idea.