STARKVILLE – Mississippi State University officials said Monday evening that junior center Renardo Sidney is being listed as “day to day” following the first practice back together since the Christmas holiday.
Mississippi State coach Rick Stansbury was unable to update the public on the injury status of Sidney in a Monday afternoon teleconference.
The teleconference, which was put together by the promoters of the Showcase event featuring No. 15 MSU playing No. 6 Baylor tomorrow night (8 p.m., ESPN), was before the Bulldogs returned to the practice court a few hours later.
During MSU’s 82-67 victory over Northwestern State in Sidney’s hometown of Jackson on Dec. 22, the junior was unable to play in the second half due to what MSU spokespeople said was a strained patella tendon in his left leg.
The news of Sidney’s injury was given to the media with 10 minutes left in the game against Northwestern State but he was not made available after the contest.
After being checked out by the MSU training staff, the former McDonald’s All-American sat on the bench for the rest of the game with ice packs down his leg.
“I just know he couldn’t go in the second half and said he tweaked his knee somehow,” Stansbury said on Dec. 22.
In 10 games, the 280-pound center is averaging 10.2 points per game and 4.8 rebounds per game while shooting 55.6 percent from the field.
“I don’t know know for sure and we’ll practice so after that we’ll have a better feel for it,” Stansbury said Monday.
Sidney, who has been inactive for three previous games last month due to what MSU officials have said have been a groin and hand injury, had been producing 14.67 points per game with 7.67 rebounds per game in the previous three contests before the annual game in Jackson.
“I think he’s been a little bit better,” Stansbury said. “I’d like to still get more minutes from him but, again, I’ll take less minutes as long as they’re more productive. There’s been signs of him getting better.”
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