University of Virginia Library

Cartilage Tear Befalls
Case, Cavalier Captain

By Bob Cullen

Team physician Dr. Frank
McCue removed the lateral meniscus
from the injured right knee of Chip
Case in surgery performed Sunday
morning at University Hospital. Case
tore the cartilage, on the outside of
his knee, in the first few seconds of
play Saturday night against George
Washington.

The operation revealed no
unusual complications or damage to
the ligaments, which along with the
cartilages, comprise the important
and vulnerable components of the
knee. Although he felt that it was
still too early to estimate accurately
how long the Virginia co-captain
would be out of action, Dr. McCue
told The Cavalier Daily that five or
six weeks of recuperation would
probably be required before Case
could play again.

The cartilage tear was the second
knee injury sustained by Case in as
many years. He missed all but the
first six games of last season due to a
ligament injury to his left knee. Dr.
McCue stated that Case was born
with unusually broad knee
cartilages, which made him naturally
more susceptible to knee injury than
the average man.

The injury dealt a crushing blow
to Coach Bill Gibson's basketball
team. As a second-year man, Case
had averaged 16.4 points per game,
and he was counted on to spark the
Virginia attack this season. In the
opening game Thursday night against
Richmond, he had scored 21 points,
with 19 coming in the first half.

A simple give-and-go play
resulted in the injury Saturday night.
Case brought the ball up court and
passed to Norm Carmichael at the
foul line. He then broke for the
basket, but Carmichael's lead pass
was a bit late, forcing Case, who took
the pass in the air, to attempt to
twist back toward the basket as he
came down. When his feet hit the
floor, the pressure caused his knee to
give way.

With a piercing scream, Case fell
to the floor, clutching his knee in
acute pain. Coach Gibson, along
with Trainer Joe Gieck and Dr.
McCue, soon gathered around and
eventually assisted Case off the court
and into the locker room. The clock
showed that 44 seconds had elapsed
since the start of the game.

The Cavaliers are scheduled to
play nine games and two
tournaments between now and
January 16 when they take a break
for exams. Case will probably miss
all of them, and return for the game
with North Carolina on February 4.

Co-Captain Chip Case (Below Referee's Hand) Lies In Agony Following Knee Injury

Case's Loss Will Profoundly Effect Cavalier Hopes For Prominence In ACC Competition