Like most coaches, Missouri’s Mike Anderson is almost afraid to answer those phone calls that come in the wee hours.
“When you get a call that late, as a coach you know sometimes it’s not good news,” Anderson said.
That was the case early Sunday morning when, just hours after returning from the 66-62 victory over Colorado in Boulder, Anderson was informed that his best player, senior guard Stefhon Hannah, had suffered a broken jaw during an altercation outside a Columbia, Mo., nightspot.
Hannah, who tallied 13 points against the Buffaloes and ranks 11th among Big 12 Conference scorers (14.7), underwent successful surgery on Sunday and is expected to be out as long as six weeks.
“Right now (his return) is indefinite, because you never know how long it takes to recover from those things,” Anderson said.
Anderson said Monday he did not have enough information about the incident to determine whether Hannah provoked the brawl or was merely in the wrong place at the wrong time.
“I’m just concerned with how Stefhon is doing,” Anderson said. “The surgery went well. He’s sitting up. He’s doing well. That’s the most important thing.”
Sophomores Keon Lawrence and J.T. Tiller will get an opportunity to fill Hannah’s spot, Anderson said.
Anderson didn’t get much time to celebrate the victory in Boulder.
“That’s the mind-boggling thing,” he said. “We finally had a game where we overcame adversity. Then to get a call like that, it takes something out of you.”
Said Kansas State coach Frank Martin: “All you can do is preach it and talk to players about your personal experiences. Hopefully it registers. I worked the bars. I probably understand more than most that bad things can happen (in that scene).”
