Denver senior attackman Todd Baxter, who made a gutsy return to the Pioneers’ lineup in Saturday’s 14-9 NCAA Tournament quarterfinal lacrosse upset over Johns Hopkins, is back on the questionable list and not expected to practice most of the week.
Just two weeks after suffering a partially torn knee ligament and high-ankle sprain in his right leg, Baxter tied midfielder Cameron Flint with a team-high three goals against the Blue Jays.
“He didn’t practice last week, so why bother this week?” DU coach Bill Tierney said today as his team began to prepare for Saturday’s Final Four semifinal against No. 7 Virginia (11-5). “I figure if he can get three goals without practicing, we have to keep doing what we’re doing.”
Baxter did not play in DU’s 13-10 NCAA Tournament opener against Villanova on May 14. He practiced at half speed last Friday and left Saturday’s game in the third quarter.
“He got better to a point where he could play, but he took a step back,” Tierney said. “He limped off the field and told me he was done for the day. We just don’t know. It’s just like last week. Hard to tell, but I would assume we’re going to get him for some sort of time on Saturday for sure. I don’t think he’s going to let this opportunity pass.”
The sixth-seeded Pioneers (15-2) will take a program-record 12-game winning streak into Baltimore’s M&T Bank Stadium on Saturday. They will play the first semifinal at 2 p.m. MT, followed by unseeded Maryland (12-4) against No. 5 Duke (14-5).
The championship game is Monday 1:30 p.m. MT.
Mike Chambers: 303-954-1357 or mchambers@denverpost.com
