By Bill Koch
The Cincinnati Enquirer

With his left knee wrapped and a pair of huge crutches resting nearby, University of Cincinnati center Robert Whaley sat on the bench Thursday afternoon before practice and said he would return in time for the Bearcats' next game, Dec. 17, against Clemson at Fifth Third Arena.

"I went to the doctor earlier today and he said it looked real good," Whaley said. "I think it's possible. I've just got to dedicate myself to rehab and getting it stronger."

Whaley, a 6-foot-10 junior, underwent arthroscopic surgery Wednesday to repair a torn meniscus in the knee. He was hurt in practice before the Nov. 22 season opener against Akron, then tried to play through the injury.

"All through high school I was taught that I wasn't hurt, just get out there and keep playing," Whaley said. "That was just drilled into my head. So now, no matter what the injury is, I try to go out there and play."

Whaley averaged 17 points and 8.5 rebounds in two exhibition games before the injury, and he averaged 7.0 points and 2.7 rebounds in the three regular-season games he has played in. He said the condition of his knee played a part in the decline in his numbers.

"I was trying to babysit it," he said. "Once they told me that it was hurt, that there was a tear in it, I didn't want to take the wrong turn or make the wrong move and risk injuring everything."

Whaley had hoped to continue to play with the injury, but after talking with his mother and UC coach Bob Huggins, he decided it would be wise to take advantage of the two-week break in the Bearcats' schedule and have the surgery this week.

"It's not about this year or next year," he said. "It's about a career, about later on down the line, so I decided I might as well nip it in the bud now and hopefully I can just be out for two weeks."

If Whaley is out three weeks, he would miss the Clemson game, the Dec. 20 Middle Tennessee State game and the Dec. 23 Dayton game. If he's out four weeks, he would also miss the Dec. 27 game against Miami and the Dec. 30 game against Elon.