Anchorage Daily News

By all indications -- both in their past performances and their ranking in UAA's pecking order -- junior transfers Casey Robinson and Chris Neal figured to be pivotal players for the men's basketball team.

As the Seawolves opened the Carrs/Safeway Great Alaska Shootout with a 69-61 loss to Hampton University on Wednesday night, though, Robinson was recovering from knee surgery earlier that day.

And Neal was watching the game from the bench, dressed in street clothes.

Hoops heaven, it wasn't.

Just four games into the season, Robinson is likely out for the rest of the season after surgery to repair cartilage damage. Neal's status -- he is suffering from two herniated discs in his back and contemplating surgery -- is uncertain.

And that leaves the Seawolves (0-4) with just nine available players.

"They're two kids we expected to play a lot of minutes,'' said UAA coach Rusty Osborne. "We felt both those guys coming in as juniors could play right away.''

The 6-foot-6 Robinson led UAA scorers with 15.0 points per game and 3.3 rebounds per game in the Seawolves' first three games, and he ate up 30 minutes a game. The power forward was coming off a season in which he averaged 17.5 ppg and 4.5 rpg for Eastern Wyoming College and helped the Lancers to the national tournament.

The 6-6 Neal played in two UAA games, averaging 1.5 ppg and nine minutes before his back problem flared again. He averaged 15.7 ppg and 5.5 rpg last season for San Diego Christian. Osborne envisioned Neal playing 25 to 30 minutes a game at multiple positions and was excited to draw on Neal's court smarts and maturity.

Neal, a native of Sydney, Australia, said he has suffered occasional back problems for years, but nothing as severe as his current crisis, which leaves him with pain in his back and down both legs.

He received two epidural injections over the summer, each of which brought a week of relief. In the preseason, Neal underwent a procedure to remove tissue and reduce swelling, and that allowed him to play in a season-opening tournament before his condition worsened.

"It's pretty tough to walk into Sullivan Arena for the Shootout and know you can't play,'' Neal said.

He has met once with a surgeon, and will do so again with his father, Graham, who is in town.

"It might be career-ending,'' Neal said of his injury. "I've just got to deal with it as it comes.''

Neal needs to make the best decision for his long-term health, Osborne said.

"You want him to be able to bend over when he's 40 and pick up his kids,'' the coach said.

With Neal and Robinson out, Osborne said the rest of the Seawolves have responded well to enhanced roles.

"No one's caught up in, 'Hey, coach, but I'm a shooting guard' or 'I'm a power forward.' It moves up the time table on people," he said, noting Kyle Doerr's 33 minutes against Hampton that produced six points, six rebounds and five assists.

"He goes from being in a suit last year as a redshirt to starting tonight, and I thought he did a good job,'' Osborne said.

For now, the Seawolves must endure.

And Neal, in typical Aussie fashion, retains his sense of humor.

"I'm on pain medication, so I don't feel too bad,'' he joked.

Find Doyle Woody's blog at adn.com/hockeyblog or call him at 257-4335.

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