Cue the Reggie White and Willis Reed highlights.
Marquette announced this morning that injured point guard Dominic James has been cleared to play today in the Golden Eagles' second round NCAA Tournament game against Missouri.
The senior broke the fifth metatarsal in his left foot in a game Feb. 25 against Connecticut and has been out ever since. He underwent surgery two days later and had a screw inserted.
At the time, it was thought he would be done for the season. But after undergoing a series of tests and other workouts, he practiced Saturday and was given the OK to participate Sunday.
"We've talked to some experts in the field, and these cases are known, have happened in elite athletes -- college and the pros," said athletic trainer Ernest Eugene Sunday in a statement released by the program. "He's been very instrumental in all this, obviously. He's been so dedicated being where he's supposed to be every day, doing what he needs to do, and he's surpassed every goal."
It's not clear whether or not James will start or how much action he'll see, but for a team playing shorthanded, any minutes the senior can provide will be welcomed.
"I don't know how much he'll be able to contribute," head coach Buzz Williams said. "The thing that I'm excited about is we're going to give him an opportunity to close out his career in the best way he possibly could. And I think the recovery has been due in large part to his work, but also because of the wisdom of Ernest (Eugene) and Dr. (Darrin) Maccoux.
The Golden Eagles and Missouri tip off in Boise, Idaho at approximately 3:50 p.m.