Temple's Scootie Randall unsure of return date

The belief was that Scootie Randall would be able to play in mid-December.

Not anymore.

The 6-foot-6 swingman said he doesn't know when he'll join the Temple men's basketball team. The senior has been sidelined since having surgery in June for a meniscus tear in his left knee.

"I haven't really seen the doctor in two or three weeks," said Randall, who was the Atlantic Ten's most improved player last season. "He doesn't want me to see him every week, because, obviously, something isn't going to change.

"But I will hopefully see him this week or next week to see what's what."

The Communications Tech High product said he recently started running, but he hasn't practiced with the team.

Certainly Temple (3-2) wants him to return as soon as possible with the uncertainty surrounding center Micheal Eric. The 6-11 center reinjured his right kneecap in Friday's practice and missed Sunday's 67-64 setback at Bowling Green.

Eric's status for the rest of the season will likely be determined this week, possibly on Wednesday. There's a chance the graduate student, in his final season of eligibility, could miss an extended period of time.

Eric fractured the kneecap Feb. 15 and missed the final 10 games of last season. He averaged 10.5 points, 11.3 rebounds and 2 blocked shots in the first four games of the season.

"It's killing me a lot," Randall said of not playing. "But I have to look at it like there's nothing that I can do. Coach [Fran Dunphy] is not going to let me go out there unhealthy.

"I just got to keep pushing my teammates [from the bench] and make sure they are on top of their game."

Randall also missed seven games last season with hairline fracture in his right foot. He averaged 10.7 points and 4.7 rebounds on a team that finished 26-8 and reached the third round of the NCAA tournament.

Wyatt honored. Junior guard Khalif Wyatt was named to this week's Big Five honor roll on Monday. The Norristown High product finished with a game-high 19 points, four assists, three rebounds and two steals against Bowling Green.